I think it's great not only showing how the Martins are made but the fact that you acknowledge each of your employees and how long they have worked there. Says alot for the company.
fascinating ,very informative to see how the guitars are made ,so much skill in every different stage of the guitar being made ,rare these days to see true craftmanship ,wonderfull to see ,i bought a martin sc 13 e guitar ,my first martin guitar ,it is everything a martin guitar is famous for ,beautifull tone ,gorgeous ,shows the quality and care expertise martin have in guitars, ❤ mick uk
I was in the factory 4 yrs ago with my 1947 d45 to have it all checked out new frets check neck it came back in fantastic condition I played it two weeks later at a farmade it rang out like a bell blew me away ty Martin guitars.
I find that same thing with a lot of these factory tour videos. The camera person doesn't have a clue what he's looking at so he sticks with what he knows. "Oh there's a face. I must film it".
I was at the Martin Factory back in the 1980s my friends father had a custom made D45 Chris Martin actually presented it to him and he handed it to me to play it, I was OMG I don't want to touch it if I put a scratch on it I could never pay for it. I was amazed as we took the factory tour what craftsmanship the Martin staff possessed and genuine love of their work.
Always a pleasure to see artisans and craft-folk orchestrated to collectively build such a beautiful thing. The pride on the faces of those folk; oldest to newest or vice versa as they showed what they did made me wish I had started sweeping floors there while I was still in school.
I had a 1974 D-28, back in the 70's when I was playing professionally. One thing about Martins is that they record perfectly, or as perfectly as you can play. The do not warble or waver in the recording like most other guitars do. I never liked the action, though, for my fast finger picking style. Very stiff. Now I have a Stonebridge and have the adjustable truss rod, and depth of projection I like. More belly and punch. Martins are THE bluegrass guitar and the D-45 was what Joan Baez and her sister Mimi Farina played. The were golden in concert. Very clear and full. Back then there was more emphasis on musicianship and poetry.
I've been to that factory once as a tourist. The next time I go as a buyer. Excellent place, excellent guitars.The museum was awesome. Hank Williams guitar in that case by itself was too.And you can pick their guitars off the wall in the lobby and play them. Yes they are the less expensive ones, but still, they're Martin's!
Really? What about the working conditions? Hard workers crammed inside - no space to breath - no ventilation - hazard all around... But hes rich and thats what counts.
@@cocosloan3748 OK Commie... But! This is the United States of America. Each and every one of the workers are free to find and accept employment elsewhere. And! I've spent most of my adult life in the industrial construction field. Several decades on nuclear sites. Nothing and nowhere in this world is as safety conscious and more regulated... These C S Martin working conditions are far better than virtually any construction site. G-eff-YS.
@@cocosloan3748 With all due respect, if you legitimately believe that these are somehow bad/overly hazardous/otherwise subpar working conditions then you really need to get out more. These are highly skilled workers building some of the best acoustic instruments in the world in what appears to be a very clean, well kept and well organized shop. I’ve seen many, shall we say, ‘less than ideal’ working environments first hand, and I see absolutely nothing here that validates your statement (and just to be clear, I’m not just blowing smoke, I spent 8 years in the oilfield, 6 of which were on spent on drilling rigs). I sincerely hope you’re just trolling.
“A person who works with there hands is a laborer. A person who works with there hands and there head is a craftsman. A person who works with there hands and there head and his heart is an artist.”
I wanted a d28 since i was like 8 now im 21 and finally have the money for it i cant wait to buy it. i adore martin guitars i would travel to the factory just to get a picture on the front door
Nice to see the inner workings of how these beautiful guitars are built. It's obvious that lots of love and care goes into their construction. Well done.
The tour at Martin Guitars is so informative & awesome. I live about 45 minutes from there & I took the tour & the people are so nice & knowledgeable. Best part was you were able to play some guitars after the tour. Definitely worth the time. You have no idea the quality until you take the tour & see the work being done. Great video & great company.
I think this is great. I wish I had ever the money to buy an original Martin Guitar, this is still on my my wish list. Martin is the best, I am sure about that!
I was 61 when I bought the guitar of my dreams. I'm not disappointed. Oh, I bought an old-school guitar, an OM-28. It's easy easy to play and sound like, well, like a Martin guitar. Love it.
Seeing all this and how perfect things should be. I now know why my Martin D28 is the greatest guitar I have ever touched. Many fantastic guitars later my Martin will never fall from the top place.
I've been playing guitar for +70 years. Many brands but all dreadnaughts. I play bluegrass with a guy who plays banjo and fiddle more'n he plays his 1968 Martin D35. So I play his 35 more'n he does. But last year I devided to be a Martin owner. Bought a DRS1 Road Series model. It's no 35 but it's a GOOD sounding guitar. I joined the Martin Owners Club and Martin sent me some really cool stuff. Martin Owners Club logo Tee shirt, a set of Martin light gauge strings, 2 key rings, a MOC baseball cap. But what I like most of all are the 2 magazines. One showing the last NAMM guitars, and the history of Martin Corporate leaders. If it sounds like I'm hauling water for Martin. I AM!!!! Ooops. just remembered one of the many guitars I've owned wasn't a Dred. It was a 1946 F hole Kalamazoo Arch Top. My bad for forgetting.
Knowing the high quality of The Martin Guitar, these ladies with those razor sharp chisels are highly skilled (I hate to label them craftsmen) they are master-craftsmen.
Well, hardly. They are production line workers. A master craftsman doesn't do just one job, they build their craft, by hand. Not assemblers from CNN machined parts.
John Harrington I think it is safe to say they are both. Very skilled at what they do, producing a great product. Though I bet most would be hard pressed to go home and build an instrument in a small shop like a luthier does. Not saying what they do is better or worse, just different. I bought a Martin years ago, it was really entry level instrument at the time. I am a professional luthier and can tell you I am impressed with the clean precision work on a otherwise simple guitar. I have always admired the work that comes out of Martin’s factory.
@@johnharrington2400 Actually no. In fact you could call someone you're describing a Jack of all trades. A master, masters their particular trade and job. They are masters at what they do. The custom shop in particular the hide glue guys, are as good as any Luthiers out there
I have an old 78 D18 and an 8 year old D28. Please tell your staff they live with me every night on my gigs, thank you love peoples at Martin. all the best to you in the new year. Nick
Thank you for making and sharing this video with us, much appreciated. A view inside Martin many of us will never have the opportunity to see. Ignore the negative comments, some people were just never taught good manners.
Made the tour twice and enjoyed it both times. I thought I owned all the guitars I will ever need but watching this video, I may have a need for one more Martin.
I would think that "MARTIN" would have a more savvy cameraman produce a more professional presentation. I left the video about halfway into it to check the comments to see if the unprofessional camera work irritated anybody else besides me.
@@martin5940 I would think that "MARTIN" would have a more savvy cameraman produce a more professional presentation. I left the video about halfway into it to check the comments to see if the unprofessional camera work irritated anybody else besides me..
When I think of a Martin guitar, I imagine the history of craftsmanship and attention to detail. The beautiful tone of a vintage Martin guitar is a testament to the art of the guitar maker, who's dedication to the music is the key to his accomplishment. ...Then I see millions of them being made on an assembly line, and all of that is lost.
If you think that at any point in modern "guitar" history, a Martin guitar wasn't built on some form of assembly line, then you're sorely mistaken. In the 30's and 40's there were jigs for every stage of the building process, there was even an entire room that was kept at above 98 degrees for the gluing process, and you had individuals who did one assembly step, and that's on the "holy grail" prewar instruments. Why would you assume that there's less skill in finishing a neck shape now or fitting a dovetail joint or laying binding or shaping braces than there was then? They don't get spit out of a machine where you throw a log in one end and a Martin guitar comes out the other side.
@@mattgrimmer9909 Most of the luthier work is now done by CNC robots. The other folks are just assembling "kits". Just about anyone can buy a Martin kit from Stew-mac and assemble it with minimal skills, producing the equivalent of a new factory made Martin. That is a fact. I heard one played alongside a 2012 Martin. The clone, built by an amateur, not an experienced luthier, sounded better than the 2012 Martin.
Also, the Chinese Martin D-45 copy, sells for about $150. It looks and sounds very much like the real thing. That's how easy it has become to make a "Martin" guitar.
@@timhallas4275 Respectfully, you've no clue what you're talking about. A Chinese Martin D-45 Copy is not a Martin. It may be built out of the same types of woods and be the same basic shape, but the quality of the fretwork, neck angle, finish, brace voicing. You think because they look the same, that they are the same. It's just patently untrue. Explain to me what "Luthier" work you think a CNC does, that pin routers didn't do in the 50's and 60's. Go ahead, I'll wait.
@@mattgrimmer9909 First of all, I didn't say a Chinese copy of a Martin IS a Martin, did I? You can stop the strawman bullshit right now. Second: The Chinese copy of the Martin D-45 has the exact same neck angle, brace voicing, fret quality, finishing materials...ect. There is almost no difference. The reason why is simple. Chinese guitar factories are exactly like Martin Guitars factory. CNC machines guarantee the fit and finish of every guitar is the same as the REAL MARTIN D-45 that they are copying. The days of luthery are over for Martin guitars. They are more concerned with quantity than quality...just like every other guitar manufacturer out there. The kit that Stew-mac sells, is no doubt all produced with CNC machinery and if properly glued together will. for all intents and purposes, BE a Martin guitar. Time to wise up, my friend. Nothing is anything like it used to be. Not even your beloved Martin guitar.
I started playing guitar 70 years ago using an F hole Arch top body (Gibson). Chemistry with F Holes never materialized. So I shifted to upright Bluegras bass viol. I have no idea why it took 68 years to buy my 1st Martin. This year in fact. Arrested development? This doesnt mean I wasn't playing Martin standards. Guy in our Bg band who played Gibson RB250 let me play his 1968 D35 on a regular basis for over 45 years, when I'd do stints at the mic. I now play accoustic/electric bass.
I'm so glad I watch this. I have a D15 and in 1 month I am getting my hd-28 sunburst that I fell in love with. I especially love the robot polishing the body. And I am a huge fan of Chris Martin the 4th
I have a Mexican made drs1 now called a D-10e I believe, as well as a D-35. I have to say for the money, the Mexican made Martin is great but the D-35 is in a league of it's own. I've yet to play a guitar that could touch it. Keep being awesome Martin.
Very informative! Eye opening to see how guitars are made! I only see that no one at the plant is using ear protection. Noise level appear high with all the cutting equipment, quite sure some of them already have hearing loss after so many years.
I prize my Alverez Regent model #5212, not for anything but the fact my wife bought it for my birthday present many years ago. I lost her after 44 years of blissful marriage, AZ claimed her, May 1st, 2019.
It was a quick part of the video but those logos on the bridge plate, etc. appeared debossed-not embossed. Embossing produces a raised image. Debossing produces a recessed image.
Don't know if I will ever be able to afford one; but I sure would like a Martin. It was lousy filming but I appreciate seeing all the handwork. Think they should get rid of their robots. Handmade is handmade.
Machines replacing the jobs that were once done by hand...the Old Factory that is used for selling kits and parts (last time I was there) should have been set up as a true handmade section using old type tools and manners of building that produced the guitars from 1930-1943..kind of like in Colonial Williamsburg. Its really not impossible maybe it could be done with a separate private corporation that doesn't carry the burden of all those entitlements and those guitars sold direct to keep the cost simply very expensive instead of for the rich only.Concerning entitlements.. Guitar makers can go on working until a very old age as it is a very content occupation. I knew two..one was still doing it 6 days a week at 92 years old..and the other passed away still doing it until his mid 80's. The 92 year old mostly did repairs in his later years..but the 80+ year old was hand making the guitars just as they were made when Lloyd Loar & D'Angelico was still around. The guitar I have from him is the most special and proves itself to have that little extra in it...quite a lot of extra actually. In the end he was not well..I saw a guitar at the end that was having so many cosmetic mistakes every one around him was concerned.. but when I played it..every one gasped at the sound. Only one other guitar Id ever played sounded as good as that thing...a 0045 1930's Martin. That humanly created "toil" matters.
It's nice to know in this day and age you can still buy a guitar that is made by hand, without CNN's, this just isn't one of them. In fact, it's not even close.
When you’re the most popular guitar in the world you need to cut corners to boost production. They’re not cutting corners on quality so if you want to go spend $12000 on a completely hand made guitar that won’t sound as good go for it buddy.
What an stupid comment. I will never get rid of my om-28. The sound and tones of this guitar has a great feeling and soul. How do you think Martin can make a profit if it wasn't for this technical production line, and it's still hands on.
one Sunday my grandmom and I were touring around Nazerath were she was born oh say a zillion years ago but we stalled out in front of a facility while we were traveling around and low and behold Martin Guitars? what a surprise, unfortunenatly they were closed so no tour Rats! Someday I hope to take the tour,even though I've got a Gibson without a case and goes the others Like my Carlo Robello.
I bought a GPCPA4 Rosewood in 2017 and I love it. I bought a Zager December 2019 and I think it’s a better made guitar than my Martin and the zager is much easer to chord and produces more overall sound I was a bit surprisedThey are both wonder guitars.
Im watching the Johnny Cash show1970? What model 3 piece back .Open headstock block inlays and abalone everywhere. My D35 custom is normal head stock. Wow building a 60,ooo $ D45 AWESOME! !!
saya suka dengan gitar merk martin. gitar ternyaman yang saya pernah mainkan. suaranya pas sekali, empuk dan pas di tangan. tapi saya tidak mampu membelinya saya tidak memiliki cukup uang untuk gitar ini 😊
Thanks to the cameraman for giving an opportunity to go in a roller coaster ride just by sitting on my chair. i think i'll have to quit the video after 8 minutes of roller coaster and go for a tea. Otherwise I might end up throwing up.
