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Does anyone know what kind of wood Martin used for the thin strip on the back center seam of the 18 series? Is it best to rout out and inlay it after the plates are joined together or can it be sandwiched in at glue up? I am about to start on an OM-18 and I want to replicate an early 30's Martin as close as possible.

Here is a picture for reference. This is a 1932 0-18.

Also on glue -up but with Ebony or EIR.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

They were Brazilian, originally, I usually use two IRW veneer strips sandwiched upon glue-up.

Martin did use some BRW but it was per what was in the scrap bin. On the 18 strip on the back. Martin used the following.

black holly or pear ( dyed )
Ebony
or wood fiber.
Brw


.035 wide and all glued between the plates.

Edited original post

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Never gave it much thought, but I just checked my '51 000-18, and there's a good bit of variation in the coloring of the little strip, so I doubt it was black fiber, dyed holly, or even ebony. Since their rosewood of choice was BRW, and the headplate, fretboard, bridge and heel cap are all BRW, I would not be surprised if they used BRW veneer for this strip, also.

But suffice it to say that on a new build, anything dark and of similar thickness(I would say that John's specs of .035" looks correct) will do just fine.

Thanks guys. Looks like sandwiching it in at glue up is the way to go. I don't think they make router bits that small, now that I think about it?

Gil
I have a O-18 & a D-18 in the works, my local expert says Brazilian or ebony. the one we measured was .015.