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  #1  
Old 09-29-2022, 05:48 PM
dcochran4 dcochran4 is offline
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Default War Era Martin 0-18 Inlays

I recently traded a lot of abeyant gear for what I’ve been told is a 43-45 Martin 0-18. I noticed that some of my inlays are snowflakes, and some are dots. I was wondering if anyone here had any insights about this.

Thanks!
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Old 09-29-2022, 05:59 PM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
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IMHO, the slotted diamond and two slotted squares are replacements.
The year can be determined from the serial number on the neck block.
Braces were scalloped until late-1944. The brace style makes a significant difference in value.
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Old 09-29-2022, 08:11 PM
dcochran4 dcochran4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arnold View Post
IMHO, the slotted diamond and two slotted squares are replacements.
The year can be determined from the serial number on the neck block.
Braces were scalloped until late-1944. The brace style makes a significant difference in value.

My serial number indicates a 1943, but as best as I can tell with a mirror, it does not have the fabled scallop bracing
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Old 09-29-2022, 08:36 PM
pagedr pagedr is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcochran4 View Post
My serial number indicates a 1943, but as best as I can tell with a mirror, it does not have the fabled scallop bracing
What is the serial number? Martin didn’t switch to scalloped bracing until 1945, so unless it’s some odd Frankenstein guitar that has had its bracing replaced, it should be scalloped.
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Old 09-29-2022, 09:35 PM
dcochran4 dcochran4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pagedr View Post
What is the serial number? Martin didn’t switch to scalloped bracing until 1945, so unless it’s some odd Frankenstein guitar that has had its bracing replaced, it should be scalloped.

89426 is the number I see. Here’s as best a picture as I can gather on the bracing:
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Old 09-30-2022, 12:13 AM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
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Quote:
Martin didn’t switch to scalloped bracing until 1945, so unless it’s some odd Frankenstein guitar that has had its bracing replaced, it should be scalloped.
The change happened in late 1944.
#89426 is from late 1944. 1944 serial numbers range from 86725 to 90149.
The last scalloped guitars recorded by Martin were a batch of D-18's 89902-89926, but there have been unscalloped Martins recorded before that batch.
The large rosewood bridgeplate is not original. Martin did those from 1969 until the mid-1980's. It should be a small maple plate that is 1 3/8" wide.
There are other indications that point toward a retop:
The cloth reinforcement at the X crossing should be dark brown.
The top appears to be Sitka, rather than red spruce.
The bracing is straight, rather than tapered.

Last edited by John Arnold; 09-30-2022 at 12:18 AM.
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Old 10-02-2022, 07:51 AM
KalamazooGuy KalamazooGuy is offline
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Yea that bridgeplate caught my eye too.
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