Fingerpicking a Martin D-35

[Ole Man Blues]

I like fingering picking with occasional strumming, chording and such.

 

I have been working on getting used the narrower string spacing of the D-35. 2 3/16" in front of the bridge. I love the balanced sweet tone of this guitar so much that I can't get rid of it for such small problem.

 

Any other D-35 owners have this problem?

 

Thanks in advance.......... OMB

[DonK]

That should be the same string spacing as on any Martin with an 1 11/16th nut width. I've owned and played a bunch of Martins as well as other guitars with this spacing and have never really had a problem. I use my D-41 for fingerpicking and love it. A guitar with a 1.75" nut width certainly makes fingerpicking a little easier, and I have a couple (the Gallagher, Taylor, and Tacoma), but I find that I can adjust pretty easily between the various spacings so it doesn't really bother me.

 

If it really bothers you, you could have a new nut and saddle made and move the strings a little farther apart, as long as you can live with having the E's closer to the fretboard edge. If you did this, you might want to have the frets shaped so that they run out to the edge of the board, making it a little harder to push them over the edge. It'd kind of be like Zager-izing your D-35.

[Sweb]

My fingerpicking really started to take shape on a '74 D-35 before it became unplayable. I didn't know anything back then about guitars, dimensions and all that tech stuff. But, that nut was starting to become too small as I progressed.

[Ole Man Blues]

Originally posted by DonK That should be the same string spacing as on any Martin with an 1 11/16th nut width. I've owned and played a bunch of Martins as well as other guitars with this spacing and have never really had a problem. I use my D-41 for fingerpicking and love it. A guitar with a 1.75" nut width certainly makes fingerpicking a little easier, and I have a couple (the Gallagher, Taylor, and Tacoma), but I find that I can adjust pretty easily between the various spacings so it doesn't really bother me. If it really bothers you, you could have a new nut and saddle made and move the strings a little farther apart, as long as you can live with having the E's closer to the fretboard edge. If you did this, you might want to have the frets shaped so that they run out to the edge of the board, making it a little harder to push them over the edge. It'd kind of be like Zager-izing your D-35.

My D-35 is 1 11/16 at the nut but thats not the problem, it lies in the fingering at the soundhole. Narrow, 2 3/16 at the front of the bridge. Widening the string spacing there would work but create another problem, bringing the strings TOO close to the edge of the fretboard.

I'll keep working with it because I love the guitar's sweet tone too much to get rid of her.......... OMB

[Sweb]

Originally posted by Ole Man Blues I'll keep working with it because I love the guitar's sweet tone too much to get rid of her.......... OMB

 

I chose this guitar because of its sound when I bought mine way back. It was sitting in a line-up of Gibsons (Dove, Hummingbird and J200) none of which had that sound. Okay, the J200 was sweet but far to much bling and boom for me. I've played all other "D" models and still come back to that. Don't know why the 28 gets such acclaim. If I got another Martin dread it would be the 35.

[catdaddy]

OMB:

 

Oh how I love those D-35's!! For inspiration give Jack Williams a listen. Plays and records with an old beat up D-35 and he's the most amazing fingerstyle guitarist I have ever heard! In his hands it is just so powerful and sweet!!

 

http://www.jackwilliamsmusic.com/intro.htm

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by catdaddy OMB: Oh how I love those D-35's!! For inspiration give Jack Williams a listen. Plays and records with an old beat up D-35 and he's the most amazing fingerstyle guitarist I have ever heard! In his hands it is just so powerful and sweet!! http://www.jackwilliamsmusic.com/intro.htm

 

 

Geez. How's come I don't know this fellow? I mean, I do now but where have I been? Thanks for the link.