Martin Shenandoah Acoustic

Why does a Martin Shenandoah take only light or medium strings?

I was in a guitar store and they had a Martin Shenandoah…one of those little 1800s style guitar, from before the time when Martin invented the bigger and louder dreadnaught……there was a label that said “light or medium strings only.” Why is that?
My acoustic guitar has fairly heavy strings and I downtown to D. I’m wondering why the Martin would require the light strings….
thanks

Probably either a small or non-existent truss rod. A truss rod is a metal rod that helps keep the neck straight and balances out the tension from steel strings. No truss rod = no balance = warped neck.

Saul

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