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Hi all,

Got a heck of a restoration to do at the shop, and I had a question to you all. It's a 1952 Martin D-18 in poor shape. It looks like we'll have to replace most if not all of one of the sides on her. But I was wondering if you guys knew of a good place to get some Mahogany to match this beauty. Looks like it has a really open pore with a dark fill, so I'd need something that is near this type to start with. Anyone know off hand what type of mahogany they used on these?

Anyway here's a pic of the damage... Hopefully I'll post some pics of the repairs as well!

Joe, it looks like a candidate for a duct-tape repair, just cover it with tape, it comes in brown.

Sorry Joe, just had to poke at you. Martin used pretty much straight-grain, quarter-sawn Honduras Mahogany, filled with dark filler and stained dark in the finish.

I would remove the side back to the end block, but only remove it to the end of the cracks in the other direction, straight across. Use a little half-lap strip on the existing side for the new piece to land on.

Even though it makes sense to replace the entire side, leave as much original wood as you can. That is what "Martin people" want to see now-days.

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My stella restoration wasn't even in that bad of a shape but there are some missing woods, I'd like to replace the side too but I don't know who has any flatsawn birch sides, and also it destroys its originality. I would back the hole up with a piece of wood reinforcement, then inlay the missing piece in. It is probably easier to do this with the back off. At least yours don't have any white glue goop to clean up... its harder to clean those off than you think!

If it was in the middle of the upper bout you can cover it with a volume control or EQ control...

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Give martin a call maybe they could help you out with the wood. Martin is quite good at repairs like this and they were known for keeping old piece of tops and backs and such for these type of repairs....Mike

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Might try Walter Lipton at Euphonon. The Mahogany I get from him sounds like what you're after. Calling Martin is a great idea too.

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The previous posts are correct with respect to wood type and minimizing replacement. If you call up Martin ask specifically for someone in the repair department... Some of those guys have 50+ years with the company. I can verify they keep stocks of old wood from previous repairs... Which is why I have a vintage D-45 top signed by Chris Martin IV from my time there. To be totally honest high quality mahogany will blend in well.

unless you are a repair center, I doubt that you will get anything out of the factory right now that is under LACEY act or CITIES. Your best bet is RC Tonewoods , Hibdon or Colonial. Matching old wood is not an easy task but with a restoration , you can get away with it.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
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