Monday 13 November 2017

Martin Model America Double Back Guitar from 1906

guitarz.blogspot.com:









This 1906 Martin Model America is somewhat of a mystery to me. I've done some quick searches and have found mostly links to pinterest posts. That, and the page I got these pictures from.

What I cannot find is the "why'.

I have no idea what the advantage would be to having a double bod in such a way.

Does anyone know?

R.W. Haller



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13 comments:

  1. It's going to be all about projection … in the description of another guitar the luthiers say "This Double Back employs a second 'internal body' that resonates free of any restriction from the players body." While I don't expect the player's body to have an extreme effect, it may well be noticeable: https://www.dreamguitars.com/shop/shelton-farretta-double-back-classical.html

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  2. Oh, and this thread is cool: http://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/viewtopic.php?t=77336

    Cheers, -f

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  3. Some kind of rudimentary amp idea for extra volume?

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  4. 1906?
    Volume,probably.

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  5. My guess: You can very lightly brace the back of the guitar in order to obtain more volume to the sound as it vibrates, while the second back prevents the player's body from muffling the vibration.

    There've been a few of these ideas floated over time, including some that mechanically linked with a post/rod, the soundboard and the back of the guitar for this reason. Most of them technically just hide a second soundboard inside the guitar about an inch from the back. This one would have the advantage of not reducing internal volume though?

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  6. Some Appalachian dulcimers has double backs so you don't damp the sound when you play it on your lap. (I did it with mine) But it isn't a separate body as shown here.

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  7. It may well have a double sounboard. Violin type instruments have a sound post which transfers string vibration from the fromt to the rear of the body effectively increasing the vibrating area. Thats why they are so loud for small instruments. Guitars don't work like this as the backs contact the body and would dampen any vibrations so are built to really only let the top vibrate. I reckon this has a soundpost so the back of the main body vibrates theoretically making it super loud. Ive been experimenting with the same ideas.

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  8. Sure is nice to submit a perfectly normal comment and a month later it's not been approved by the blog owner.

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