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Old 07-27-2019, 02:29 PM
VBRick VBRick is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 87
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Michael, I am by no means an expert on these things, but my understanding is as follows: the Martin 21 series marries the tone woods of the 28 series with the appointments of the 18 series. So, for example you get the appearance of a D-18 and the tone woods a D-28. Why the “special“ designation? I believe the answer lies in the presence of the pyramid bridge, the wider nut, and the wider bridge spacing and the herringbone Rosette. Possible other features which distinguished this model from the dreads in the standard line at the time it was made. They have made this model intermittently. Here are the specs. Low profile neck shape. 1 and 3/4 nut width.

Model: D-21 Special
Construction: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
Body Size: D-14 Fret
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Rosette: 3 Ring - Fine Herringbone
Top Bracing Pattern: Standard ''X'' Scalloped, Forward Shifted
Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16''
Back Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
Back Purfling: Fine Herringbone
Side Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
Endpiece: Solid Black Ebony
Endpiece Inlay: Maple
Binding: Solid East Indian Rosewood
Top Inlay Style: Multiple Black/Maple Fiber
Side Inlay: None
Back Inlay: Maple
Neck Material: Select Hardwood
Neck Shape: Low Profile
Nut Material: Bone
Headstock: Solid/Square Taper
Headplate: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Large Old Style
Heelcap: Solid Black Ebony
Fingerboard Material: Solid Black Ebony
Scale Length: 25.4''
# Of Frets Clear: 14
# Of Frets Total: 20
Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1-3/4''
Fingerboard Width At 12th Fret: 2-1/4''
Fingerboard Position Inlays: Style 21- Select Abalone Squares - One At 5th, Two At 7th, One At 9th Fret
Fingerboard Binding: None
Finish Back & Sides: Polished Gloss
Finish Top: Polished Gloss With Vintage Toner ; Sunburst Available At Additional Cost.
Finish Neck: Satin
Bridge Material: Solid Black Ebony
Bridge Style: Pyramid With Drop-In Saddle
Bridge String Spacing: 2-5/16''
Saddle: 16'' Radius/Compensated/Bone
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Nickel Open-Geared With Oval Buttons
Recommended Strings: Martin Studio Performance Medium Phosphor Bronze (Msp4200)
Bridge & End Pins: Solid Black Ebony With Grained Ivoroid Dots
Pickguard: Delmar Tortoise Color - Beveled & Polished
Case: 545e
Interior Label: None
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