"X" MARKS THE SPOT
Early Variations of X - Bracing
C. F. Martin 1840's Spanish Size 1, Style 28
This Martin has what could likely be the first variation of X-bracing, which appears at about the same time on a handful of Martin, Martin & Coupa, and Schmidt & Maul Guitars, in the 1840's. Schmidt & Maul guitars with this bracing pattern have been seen dated 1845 and 1848.
Martin & Coupa Alternate X Brace Spanish Guitar
Schmidt & Maul
Schmidt and Maul were early employees of C.F. Martin in New York, and later appeared at the same address as one of Martin's distributors. Schmidt & Maul made guitars very similar to Martin's in New York after Martin moved to Cherry Hill, Pennsylvania in 1839.
This Schmidt and Maul, dated 1847, has another early variation of X bracing.
This top photo shows a fan coming from the soundhole.
The second photo shows an X, at the bride plate end, on the treble side.
And this third photo shows the brace crossing the center from the treble side only.
On this 1840's Spanish Martin guitar the tone bar below the bridge plate extends across the treble side of the X forming a second smaller X, in a similar way as the Schmidt & Maul above has a tone bar which crosses the treble blade of the fan.
It should be noted that variations appear which are based on the fan, while other variations are based on a large X.
These are the variations of X bracing we now know of:
-the half fan/half X on the Lark St. 1845 Schmidt & Maul and on the hybrid-X Martin above.
-the fan with a tone bar below the bridge plate crossing the treble blade of the fan forming a small X on the treble side on this 1847 Schmidt & Maul.
-A large X brace with the tone bar below the bridge plate crossing the treble side of the X to form a second smaller X.
-the double X on Fred Oster's Martin illustrated in the new Longworth.
-the diamond around the bridge plate on the Martin that appeared on the Martin Guitar Forum
None of the Martins are dated, so we still don't know who did which X first.
Scalloped and Tapered Braces
I remember first hearing about pre-war Martins, and how they had "scalloped" braces that were different from the contemporary "straight" braces, in that they were contoured to make them lighter weight. Only relatively recently has it become common knowledge that the first "straight" braces made after the transition from scalloped braces in 1945 were actually tapered, which made them lighter than later straight braces.
Noticing that 1945 Martins have a wonderful, distinct, punchy sound, I've investigated further, and discovered that the tapered braces in 1945 were unique, having a slimmer taper than in the years until tapered braces were phased out in the late forties, giving these guitars their distinctive sound.
Tapered Martin Braces in 1945
1945 D-18
Tapered Martin Braces in 1946, which are much rounder than in 1945.
1946 000-18
earlymartin.com
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