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I sure didn' trealize that. I'm starting a 00 version of a Norman Blake.......probably should stick with the standard 00 width so it's easier to find a case.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Hmmm...I wonder if that explains why my Martin 000 mold is 15-1/4" wide.

I didn't, but I suspect the guy who made it may have.

How many have you measured, Todd? Martin says it's a 14-fret 000 body.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

The Martin 000 14 fret while it will say on the Martin website and other places that the body width at the lower bout is 15 inches it is actually over 15 . I have a CF Martin template for the 14 fret OM/000 14 fret D 14 fret and Jumbo. Not all the information on the Martin website on body size is 100% correct .
The Norm Blake is made off the same pattern and molds of the OM/000-14.

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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

Over the years Martin changed the shape of the guitars . The early days were a bit more varied as each mold was hand made and that variance was a much as a 1/4 inch . Officially now they are over 15 inch. Few of the 000 14 fret or OM that I have seen are 15. The last OM (1937 ) I had in the shop was in fact 15 3/16 inches across the lower bout. I am not sure what year they standardized the building molds . I figure when they went from the solid wood to the plywood molds . They may have standarized the template changedwhen they went from the plywood to machined aluminum and CNC was introduced to the production floor.
The most notable body shape change was the 00 14 . I have a template traced off an actual production pattern from the 40's and the modern shape is considerably different not so much in the size but the shape. The 000 has the most notable change in the upper bout shape. The modern one seems to my eye to be a bit flatter at the neck.
I was given templates in 2004 to make molds and that template tracing was 15 1/4 but since it was traced off the original template there may have been human inference . I also had a OM mold from the 60's era a friend had from CF Martin that was 15 1/4 " I do have actual CF Martin templates for this model and will take measurements later today . I also have a 000-28EC and will measure that compared to the template .
Martin isn't the only one with variation . most production guitars have some variances over the years .

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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

Todd,

The book says that 14 fret 000's are 15-1/4" while the 12 fret ones are 15".

So you've measured some 14 fret 000's and they're 15"?

Kevin Looker

edit:
Sorry, hadn't read John's post, now I see that he too has seen some 15" 000's.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Todd
you coming to ASIA

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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

I don't doubt that 14-fret 000's vary in size. What I doubt is that they intend the Blake model to be larger than the others. I suspect coincidence.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.