Official Luthiers Forum!

Martin O Concert, 14 Fret, 24.9
Body Length 18 – 3/8,
Upper Bout 10
Lower Bout 13 – 1/2
Tail Depth   4 – 1/4

These are the dimensions for a Martin 0, 14 Fret, Concert guitar. I'm looking for an accurate half tracing or whole tracing of the body. Can you help me out. I want to make a pattern for a very small body, thanks.

Bruce...John Hall might have this. If not, then call Danny (can't remember his last name) at Martin. He's in their custom shop.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks guys. I just figured someone would have one, they wouldn't mind running a number two around for me. I have the dimensions and could probably do a good job of mocking one up. Nothing like the real thing though. AnthonyZ is sending me one for a 12 Fret and that is probably more standard than a 14..... just thought I'd try again.Dickey38919.6236342593

I can send you one. What's the address?

Hi George, thank you.
My address is:

Bruce Dickey
1815 Skyline Drive
Russellville, Arkansas 72802

I just knew someone would have it. Thanks to you and Anthony Z I'll have both the 12 Fret O Martin and the 14 Fret O Martin, which was what I was aiming for guys. Hats off to both of you.

I think my contact stuff is on the front page of my website? www.dickeyguitars.com

If it's an accurate tracing, I'd be interested in the 14-fret as well. I could scan it and trace it in Autocad and I'd be happy to share that electronically.

I'm curious to see others' methods for getting an accurate tracing of a guitar shape. Do you find a way to prop up the guitar so the sides are exactly perpendicular to the paper, and then use a half pencil or something to trace it? Or just hold it down as best as you can and trace around it with a regular pencil?

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I usually trace it with a pencil after taping the paper at the neck and tail block. Usually I trace face down, rather than the back. Then I add a centerline and soundhole location for reference.

Jon, then compare measurements of the guitar to the tracing. A tracing inside a mold will need to include the line. A tracing outside a guitar body would exclude the line from the pattern. Again, careful comparison to published info coupled with tracings are pretty accurate.

I love my sliding glass door for duplication from the original to a working drawing. I tape the tracing to the window then another piece of blank white paper taped over that for the transfer. And... downtown there is a huge copy machine to get it done for under five bucks per copy.

I don't mind sharing.... give me a few days... PS What is your address?

I have a '38 0 18 here in the shop and I have a Mold for both 14 and 12 fret 0. I also would be glad to make as paper template of the shape and a side taper template. Let know.

Hi Addam, Thanks, if you wouldn't mind, I'd certainly appreciate it. This gives me a backup, plus a comparison to others on their way. I'll PM you.

Jon, I won't forget you, as I said, if I get it, you'll get it and I printed your address out for mailing already.

Thanks, Addam, and Bruce. That'd be great to compare. Like I said before, I'd be happy to share these electronically once I get them. I've worked out a pretty good method of scanning these in and tracing them in CAD (I'm sure others do this, too). It works out great for making jigs and whatnot. I just print out what I need and glue it to the piece and I can bandsaw or sand to the printed line.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

The martin 00-14 has 2 shapes. They did change them and the old one is a bit different than the new . The changed the radius on the body but the dimensions are the same.
go figure
john hall

Which year did they change the 00-14? I have a '55 00-18, is that the old one or the new one?

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Hi John,
I didn't know that. I was going for the O series Martin, mainly for some small tonewood that won't build anything larger without going three piece.

I think the Martin Flat Top Body Size chart I have came from you? It lists the O series a 13 1/2 inch lower bout while the OO is 14 1/8 on the 12fret and 14 5/16 on the 14 fret.

It states that the first year for the O series 14 fret was 1934, same for the 00, 1934.

Jon, I think the 00-14 means 00 size 14 fret.

Right, I realized after I typed that it was going to look like I was confused... I should have said, I have a 14-fret 00 from 1955... and is that the new or the old 14 fret 00 shape of which John Hall was speaking?

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

   the new shape was done more when they moved out of the old plant into the new sycamore plant in the 70's. I was out at martin about 8 years ago and I got some tracings off the production molds. Later I say an old handmade mold from the north street plant and that mold had an entire different shape.
When they standardized the production processes and make the cnc jigs the shape was changed more by accident as they old jigs often through wear did vary alot more than you may think . No one could tell me anything definitive about this other than they think this is when it may have occured.
john hall

A little off topic, but a similar template wear story. This may be common knowledge, but I was told that the headstock pattern for Martin had the sharper corners but over the years wore down, changing the sharp to a more rounded corner. Interesting trivia and the source was believable at the time.

Donovan

All the way from Yam Hill, Oregon and the workshop of luthier George D Armstrong, the tracing has arrived.

George that is cool grid paper, very nicely done and I want to send you a Wooo Pig Sooie Thank You from the hills of Arkansas!

Here is a note scribbled in the margin: Taken from a 1937 Martin 0-18 14 Fret

Just what the doctor ordered....   

The OLF tradition continues... SHARING

Okay, now it's my turn, Jon 'letseatpaste' here comes your copy...

Excellent... Thanks, guys.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Yeah, George sent me a copy, too. Very nice, THANKS George.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Glad you got the tracings, now I expect to see some O's
maybe out of Osage Orange. I remember seeing some big ones last time I was in AR (back in the 60's)

Thanks very much George and Bruce, just got the tracing today. Hope to have this up electronically soon.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR