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Richard N. Johnston
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- Palo Alto, CA
- United States
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Martin's production was at its peak in '72, when they hit production records they wouldn't match again until the mid-1990s. By 1973, sales were already slowing down and the company probably had laid-off workers who would the get the first call when…
Chances are good that the binding thickness needed is not exactly uniform, and you cannot buy binding that's exactly the right thickness anyway. Since the guitar has a finish, here's one way to do it: Try to get the binding to the approximate thickn…
Without seeing photos, and photos of the inside of the guitar might be needed, I can't make an informed comment. Martin does allow employees to make guitars, but there are limits on the number and how they are marked. Dick Boak knows all that info,…
Great to hear from you, Floyd. As for that '46 D-28 you sold so many years ago, there are two ways of looking at it. From one angle, of course it would be great to have kept it and to have that same guitar today, especially considering its value. Bu…
This is a forum about the history of Martin Guitars, although we've veered into topics about repairing them as well. I'm sure there are other more general forums within Acoustic Guitar's online community where you can post this question and get a lo…
One of our repairmen at Gryphon, Alex, is from Long Island, and still has family and friends there. I'll ask him for recommendations. Or, you could call Gryphon toll-free and ask for Alex (888-493-2131). One way or the other, we should be able to ge…
If you tell us where you live we can probably recommend someone to work on your D-28.
Dick Boak would have more insider info on the D-21 Special, but it shares the same features of the OM-21 Special that preceded it. Both have a lot of "vintage" appointments, but are not reissues of an actual model made in the 1930s or early '40s. Th…
We hear comments like this quite often. Your "other" guitar is probably a fine-sounding instrument, but a major part of your satisfaction with it comes from your learning how to get the sound you want to hear from a guitar, and in 30 years you've no…
The 15 Series guitars were at a much lower price point when they were first introduced, but the prices of genuine mahogany then began to climb and they ceased to be as much of a bargain. For example, the D-15's list price climbed from $849 to $1349…
One particular experimental model I remember was back when Martin was first building acoustic basses. We were able to get two Dreadnought basses with maple back and sides, and we felt they had a lot more "bass" sound from the lower strings than the…
I'll have to leave your questions about Neil Young's Martins, and the Finite Element programs, to Dick Boak. I just stuck my nose inside a Martin made with Madagascar rosewood, and I have to agree that it does smell a bit different than the Indian r…
Sorry for the late reply, Bill, I somehow missed your question earlier. Your D-2832 was made with a solid Sitka spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. Once Martin introduced the 1 Series in 1992, the Shenandoah models were all discontinue…
Bernie:
The D-41 Special gives you a lot of pearl for the price, enjoy! (they are also great sounding guitars, of course)
Profile Information
- Which one of the following describes your involvement in music? (Check all that apply)
- Guitar-related website, Retail shop
- How many years have you been playing guitar?
- More than 30 years
- Which of these instruments do you own or play?
- Flattop steel-string acoustic guitar, Mandolin
- What is your website address?
- http://www.gryphonstrings.com
- Do you subscribe to or regularly read Acoustic Guitar?
- I subscribe
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