Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

General Information about Building Kit Guitars
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

Post by tippie53 »

what Maine said
think of it this way , when you make cabinets you joint an edge in a square straight plane , here we are working n compound shapes same principal
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
tubegeek
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:49 am

Re: Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

Post by tubegeek »

ruby@magpage.com wrote: The pictured guitar is one of those and it was in perfect condition when it hit my daughter's repair shop (brooklynlutherie.com).
Is your daughter Mamie? I met Mamie when she worked at RetroFret (I'm a friend of Steve's.) Lovely lady with a serious licorice habit.
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

Yes she is - that was 2014 when she started her own business - 7 years now. She is doing great with Chloe, also from Retrofret.

Here she is playing my latest, a Martin 00 in Redwood and Maple with a Stauffer neck. FIrst a tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To7fHRS ... e=youtu.be

Then a great song by Gillian Welch
Ed M
ruby@magpage.com
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Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

and here is the second one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXX70Rq ... e=youtu.be

The site woildn't let me post saying there was a max of 2 URL's when I had just 2????
Ed M
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Martin Jumbo Kit Back Braces

Post by tippie53 »

martin kits are made from off fall parts.
Martin does use different radii on the back braces for what reason I don't know but I find this difficult. remember that Martin is a production plant and they jigs they have are not out there for the public. That said 15 and 20 ft radius are acceptable to make back . I don't think it makes diddly on tone.
The braces that martin uses today were change in the 80's from the lower flatter back braces.
Be sure your glue joints are tight and it will be just fine.
The advice give on this post is acceptable and will give you a good result. In my early days I used index cards and used them as shims to match the curves. Lots of ways to do the same thing and that is what makes this hobby so enjoyable.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
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