1920's Martin guitar braces- what's the difference in height of the main x brace!
Question:
1920's Martin guitar braces- what's the difference in height of the main x brace steel vs gut , at the "x"
I want to know if you can tell visually, by looking where the "X" braces cross just inside the soundhole, if a 1920's Martin guitar is braced for steel or gut strings. Are the steel string braces taller, like 3/4" and the gut braces not as tall, like 1/2" or so right at the "X" ? Thanks
Answers:
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.