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To me The body is a bit katyy-wampus in relationship to the neck. It appears they did the right thing and located the bridge based on the neck and not the body centerline. Of course this could be a photo illusion

To me it looks like the bridge is on an angle with the treble side lower than the bass side.

Nah, probably just an illiptical oclusion.

Studying once again the bookmatch, I pronounce it perfect. Look just inside the wings of the bridge and down, you'll see a similar darker area on both sides, perfect match. Also, this top is perfectly split along longitudinal axes, no runout, so no color variation right side, left side, it's perfect.

David Collins explains the loss of bearclaw, and I completely agree. Anyone running a sander and seeing that precious bookmatch vanish off a top, knows this is true.

So, my question to Bream: "How much did you pay for this guitar. Did you really talk the Sales Manager down, or...... did you fool yourself?" Second question: Bream, are you a salesman? There is an old adage that goes, "It's easy to sell a salesman." Grin.

Over the years I've seen that adage at work, and it's true.

We are all thrilled and overjoyed you got a great sounding Martin Guitar, and in the end, that's all that matters.

Today, cruisin' the MF catalog while enthroned, I see Martin's now offering a HD 28 Adirondack and Indian Rosewood guitar with bolt on neck for a paltry $1499. Amazing, bar raising event. Where are they finding these trees?

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I believe the bridge is square to the centerline of the neck but as I said in my previous post I believe the body is a bit out of shape and therefore the neck centerline is not set perfectly in line with the centerline of the body. This would cause affect you are seeing If they handled the error properly by locating the bridge centered and squared off the necks centerline. However I find it odd that this would happen considering the jig arrangements Martin uses

Ask John Griffin

The neck from one fret above the body is missing? But hey - who needs a neck anyway........

Good catch Hesh...

Actually this guitar was made upside down and that's the back we're looking at.

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Horton, MI

Don't know much about Martins but it looks like the saddle could have a wee bit less length.

Danny, that is a feature on the vintage series of guitars. The through saddle is something that was quite common on pre-war instruments. They did it on purpose.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Frets don't look polished.

Edit:

With a closer look, they don't look crowned either.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Nope, That isn't it either. Martin made the Drop-In Long Saddle. Wish Bream would log on and put us out of our misery!
Boy, this was a good one tho, he's got everyone quessing. I just can't see one thing wrong with it. Need closer photos. The hint is that he said it sounded good anyway. So, I'm thinking he thought there was something physically wrong with it, since it so stealthly by-passed Quality Control, and nothing aesthetic which wouldn't affect the tone enough for him to say something was messed up but it sounded so darn great. Who knows, this photo is not that revealing. Wish the guitar was lined up better. Could be the inside spruce center strip or the 14th fret is off a mm or two, but I just think it's how the guitar is sitting and they are perfect.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Has the issue with this guitar been revealed yet? I see nothing out of the ordinary or varying from specs for that model in the photo.

The rosette is right for the model, all Martin logos are upside down on the back reinforcement strip which happens to be right on the centerline on this guitar, the bridge is placed correctly and the compensation angle of the saddle is correct. the saddle length is correct since it's a through saddle or long saddle, the body shape is exactly right and the neck is set perfectly centered on the body, the herringbone is installed with the proper orientation and the top is obviously bookmatched. Those seemingly mismatched bear claw markings are not an indication of a poor match.

I'm not catching anything wrong with the guitar that would justify a need to drop the price to make a sale. Maybe the store was one that doesn't use the standard discounting that many do and had much more room to move than appeared. I'm anxious to hear what the trouble with it is now.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Nothing that would stop me from buying this guitar if it sounded great, but my guess is that the sides of the top were flipped top to bottom and turned around from book match.

Yeper you nailed. But I still the body looks slightly miss shaped

OMG!! I'm taking it back...I should have asked whats right with it!!

Here are some more photos, hopefully a little better,( Sorry original was poor...angle, lighting etc). ...what I thought may have been wrong..might not be...after reading your replies

I picked up

1. Stamp upside down..Just read Kevin's post...i guess thats ok



2. I thought bookmatch was flipped , as a few mentioned, but maybe not...



Others mentioned may be true, I know it's hard to tell from the photos...

Guitar was retail 3500. CDN...I got it for ...2500 tax incl...a bargain up here in the great white north...

As I said she sounds like a dream cosmetic flaws or not...Cheers...

Thanks for all the replies!!

I dont think there is anything wrong with it. The logo is correct. I noticed that the other day when I picked up an OM. Its that way so you see it upright when your playing it. From your perspective, not a listeners. The bookmatch looks correct. the bearclaw isnt seen on both sides, but others have explained why. Even if you flip it around, the beraclaw dosnt match then either. If you managed to talk down a salesman due to it, good job!!!

Talk about a witch hunt...

I think the title of this whole thread is a bit...let's see if I can avoid flames here..."disingenuous"...yeah, that's probably a better word than "misleading" or "bogus"...

Calling out Martin on a "Quality Control Boo-boo" when there is nothing to be seen that represents a true QC issue is just flaming for the sake of starting a conversation here. And for folks to jump in and comment, for instance, on the traditional long saddle as though it were the issue of QC...and then to admit that they don't know jack squat about Martins... Come on now guys, if you don't know one Martin from the next then just keep quiet. All you do is parade your ignorance in public.

And why does this appear here rather than over at the UMGF? That's Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum... Is the idea to get a bunch of luthiers to slag Martin so the price will go down on this great sounding guitar?

Signed

Rick Turner

who can't log in...perhaps to some folks' delight!

Bream, since there was nothing wrong with your guitar, could you answer that other question? Are you a salesman?

Great thread. Martin gets some free advertising to boot. You gotta love their stuff, even if they do sometimes make aluminum guitars, or formica guitars or plywood necks. grin....

Pay no attention to that Grumpy Californian..... grin x2....

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

It's still missing a neck...............

But that leaves more room in the case for your bong..........

Sorry to have upset or offended you Rick . It was not meant as a witch hunt,it was meant in fun, just an interesting, for me , life experience, I thought I'd share ...I love my Martin and what the Company stands for ..Cheers...

Hesh, your black tiger is missing a neck too. Did you have at it with the bandsaw? Or just more room for your...

Ouch! Sorry Rick. Sure wasn't trying to slam Martin. The few that I have played have been great. Just thought it would be fun to take a stab at it.

Danny

i was never good at these kinds of things....I need a nap now. Something just looks off to me, but that might be because i always thought dreads looked off.

Lets face it - half the no-minds that work in some guitar stores these days wouldnt know the difference if a top was joined right or wrong, if bearclaw was a defect, or if the inside brand label was upside down. Its quite obvious that the salesman in this store didnt, and a deal was had because of it. Could he even play ???

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"