The Twelfth Fret

After producing a large bodied instrument under the Ditson brand, in 1931 the Martin Company began producing dreadnought guitars that carried the Martin name. The D–1, like the earlier Ditsons, was a mahogany body instrument, destined to become the D–18. With the D–2, Martin introduced what may still be the most popular style of steel string guitar, the rosewood body dreadnought. All of Martin’s early dreadnoughts had the 12–fret neck of the Ditson design. It wasn’t until 1934 that D–28s and D–18s officially were offered with the 14–fret neck that most consider the industry standard today.

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