1920′s Martin guitar braces- what’s the difference in height of the main x brace steel vs gut , at the “x”

I wonder if you can tell visually, where “X” cross bracing just inside the mouth of the guitar, where the tense of a 1920 Martin guitar, steel or gut strings. Are supports of the largest steel strings, such as 3 / 4 “and supports the digestive tract is not as large as 1 / 2″ or something close to “X”? Thanks



One Response to “1920′s Martin guitar braces- what’s the difference in height of the main x brace steel vs gut , at the “x””

1. mirageguitarworks says:

   August 16, 2010 at 21:48

   No, you can’t tell.

   The 2-17 was adapted to steel strings in 1922, and all Martins were steel by 1929.

   The X bracing is usually sufficient for steel or gut strings, but unless you have a truss rod in the neck you might run into trouble.

   You may want to look at the string nut. If the slots are very wide then it probably had gut strings.

   Martin used a fixed an ebony truss rod in 1922 until 1934 when it was changed to a T shaped steel rod so it will be unlikely if you can determine if there is one in there just by looking.