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Old 09-30-2022, 12:13 AM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
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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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