1971 Martin D-35 S

[l***@gmail.com]

I have a Martin D-35 S guitar (serial number 278855). The Martin website
shows this guitar to be made in 1971. Can anyone tell me what the "S" means?
Thanks in advance.
_________________________________
Steve Cornelius

i believe S is for "Standard" as the neck meets the body at 12th fret. I have a '73 and I that's what a guy in ht know told me.
Cheers

PS If you ever want to sell it let me know. I was born in 71' :)

[m***@gmail.com]

Nice try, but resurrecting a 12 year old thread doesn't win the prize...

[hank alrich]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Nice try, but resurrecting a 12 year old thread doesn't win the prize...

And further, I think it more likely the S stands for slotted peghead.

[j***@gmail.com]

I just purchased a 1971 D-35-S. Slotted headstock. The "S" doesn't mean Standard. A D-35 Standard would simply be stamped on the neck heal as D-35. Same any any standard. The S means Slope Shoulder, I always thought it meant slotted but I recently see a D-18s non slotted, that was slope shoulder and 12 frets to the body.

[Chris Dunkle]

Post by j***@gmail.com
I just purchased a 1971 D-35-S. Slotted headstock. The "S" doesn't mean Standard. A D-35 Standard would simply be stamped on the neck heal as D-35. Same any any standard. The S means Slope Shoulder, I always thought it meant slotted but I recently see a D-18s non slotted, that was slope shoulder and 12 frets to the body.

Very nice. Does it have the wonderful sound that such instruments are
supposed to have? If so, you are a very lucky person.

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[Steven Bornfeld]

Post by Chris Dunkle

Post by j***@gmail.com
I just purchased a 1971 D-35-S. Slotted headstock. The "S" doesn't mean Standard. A D-35 Standard would simply be stamped on the neck heal as D-35. Same any any standard. The S means Slope Shoulder, I always thought it meant slotted but I recently see a D-18s non slotted, that was slope shoulder and 12 frets to the body.

Very nice. Does it have the wonderful sound that such instruments are
supposed to have? If so, you are a very lucky person.
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I wonder if it developed the top crack so common to 1970s Martins
between the pick guard and the bridge plate?
My brother has a D-35 from 1977. He got the crack. The sound is good,
but nothing outstanding as Martins go.

Steve

[j***@gmail.com]

Post by Steven Bornfeld
I wonder if it developed the top crack so common to 1970s Martins
between the pick guard and the bridge plate?
My brother has a D-35 from 1977. He got the crack. The sound is good,
but nothing outstanding as Martins go.
Steve

I have a 1978 D-35. Back in the 90s, I had some work done on it at a Martin dealer and he did a few warranty fixes on it. One was fitting a new bridge - as I understand it, Martin discovered their 100+ year old jigs had gotten worn and the bridges were way off, causing intonation problems. The other fix was replacing the pick guard. My had "the crack" and apparently it's caused by the pick guard shrinking.

jbj