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We have a wonderful '58 D-21 in for a major overhaul, and in checking fingerboard straightness with a 25.4" notched straightedge, we discovered the scale length to be closer to 25.25". I'm wondering if any other repair folks have come across this before. The bridge is in the right place for the scale length, so it must've been intentional during the build. The neck shows evidence of being removed, for what that's worth.
Killer Brazilian, though...

I'm curious if maybe Martin experimented with different scale lengths, or ...?


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Ken : There was a time when some Martins were short bridged but I think that was more likely in the 70's. But if that was the case someone may have put on a new fingerboard with a shorter scale then normal to straighten out the intonation. That's my best guess.
Tom

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The 25.4 scale is not that at all , that is the compensated length. So if you were expecting to see 12.7 at the 12th fret , that isn't how it works. Not sure of the exact number but I think the actual scale length is 25.32 . The bridge is set so the saddle is a bit longer than the scale length. If you put the saddle dead on the 12th fret you will be very sharp in your intonation. I don't see anything on the guitar that looks out of place as far as the fretboard is concerned .

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

Thanks for the input. I am aware that the actual scale length isn't 25.4, but of the four other Martins we have in the shop, and the twenty or so we've worked on in the last three months, our 25.4" notched straightedge fits them all, with wiggle room. This one the straightedge doesn't even fit...


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At one time Martin did a lot of custom work - the OM was an out growth from that, and even the Dreadnought model was built in collaboration with the Oliver Ditson company. I think it is quite possible they built a 25.25 scale guitar at someone's request. I believe Martin made some 7/8 size Dreadnoughts, but I don't know what scale length they used.

Interesting, Clay. This one seems to be a standard D-21 in every other way.


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