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Martin Top radius

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 3:29 pm
by jbjewitt
I read somewhere that Martin switched from a 40' to a 28' radius (which they use now) at some point. Do you know why they did this?

Am building a 00- 14 fret SS maple/sitka and was thinking of a 40' top Any issues with it?

Jeff

Re: Martin Top radius

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 6:07 am
by MaineGeezer
Just guessing, but I imagine it was to reduce the tendency for the top to crack with changes in humidity. A curved top will rise and fall. A flat top has no place to go.
A curved top will also, I think, better resist deformation from sting tension.

I am just guessing though. I may be way off.

Re: Martin Top radius

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 7:56 am
by tippie53
I am an authorized Martin shop . Since we don't have the Martin assemble fixtures we find that a 28 foot
Martin uses about a 52 foot radius on the braces and they put a 1 1/2 degree angle into the sides for the neck angle .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgRKKsxL-M&t=1130s

there is a slight dome in the side also . I find that this video works the best for me to attain the 1/2 in string height and the proper neck angle