Conference napalm::guitar

191.0. "feelin' 'bout half past dead" by USWAV8::KINNEY () Tue Mar 10 1987 11:25

	Recently, on the return leg from Washington D.C. I talked my
fiance' into taking a day and re-route my trip to Nazareth PA and tour 
the Martin facility. (she is VERY tolerant of me) As it worked out there 
was a big tour group there from a local high school and we almost left 
because that seemed a tad zooish (even for me!). I'm glad we stayed, the 
receptionist found out that we had made a special trip and, along with 
another couple, introduced us to the secondary tour guide, Chris Martin. 
You got it, Mr. Martin hisself. He was quite the gentleman and truly proud 
and in love with what his company was doing. While touring the Martin facility,
the steel string shop, and the Sigma and Shenandoah shops, heres just a few 
tidbits.

. All Martin guitars are set for medium action with medium guage strings 
  when they leave the factory unless it's a custom order.

. Martin will custom make any guitar that you want to any spec you want
  out of any material you want. They will even allow you to come in and 
  select the quarter sawn log that it will be made from. They may or may
  not put thier name on it depending on the requested construction. This
  to avoid the apperance that a very special order is available as a 
  production model.

. Many famous players have had their own luthiers actually come into the
  plant, and using the facilities, built specialized custom guitars. Martin
  however will not put thier name on it or warrent it.

. Martin thinline pickup is now one piece with the wire going through the
  corner of the bridge saddle instead of the middle, eliminating the need to
  split the bridge to install. The pickup is standard on all Shenandoah 
  guitars and Martin will install it in any new guitar at your request.

. Martin is spending considerable time, care and attention on the new
  Jumbo series, calling it the dreadnaught of the 80's. They are back
  ordered now and cannot make them fast enough. I played a demo and
  was very impressed.

. Martin will put as many as seven coats of lacquer or finish on a 
  guitar and after various sanding and buffing operations the finish
  is about twice the thickness of a human hair.

I watched as the craftspeople hand carved necks, did intricate binding and
fret work, repaired guitars sent to them, all expertly and with great
care for the instrument and the reputation of the firm and all by hand. I was 
impressed with the cleanliness of the shop, the friendliness of the workers 
and the respect people showed for Mr. Martin. They all knew him and called him 
by name and he had something personal to say to all of them. 

I also enjoyed the gift/guitar shop there. They had everything from brand 
new to pre war, and they have a special of the day that changes daily. The
two days I was in the area there was twelve string (forget the model) for
$149.00 including case and the next day the special was a D-28 (used)marked 
down to $395.00 from $895.00 also including case.

BTW, part of the old north street plant is now used for high tech acoustic
and sound research, looking, still, for that perfect bracing design, amoungst
other projects I suppose.

Quotable quotes from Chris Martin:

'I would rather own a brand new Martin guitar than any so called 
vintage Martin guitar. We are making guitars better today that sound better 
than at any time in the history of the company. These will mellow better 
with time also.'

I dont know if that's a sales pitch, but this is a man who believes his 
product is the best in the world for the price and is doing everything
he can to make sure that it stays that way. I would recomend this tour
to anyone. Of course theres not much else to do unless you like unemployed
steel workers, pickup trucks and scrapple.

If anyone is interested in teh current suggested retail price list from
as of 2/1/87 I would be happy to reprint it here.

    
    Dave.

    Please, do.

	C.F. MARTIN INSTRUMENTS RETAIL PRICE LIST  
		2/1/87 (Subject to change)

*Cutaway
+Low Profile neck - Standard
H Herringbone design
Low Profile Neck add $100.00
Sunburst add $120.00
Left Handed add $120.00

DREADNOUGHT - all use 640 case (add $147.00)
-----------
  D-18	       $1207.00
  D-19		1273.00
  D-28		1411.00
 *DC-28		1543.00
  HD-28		1719.00
  D-35		1489.00
  HD-35		1773.00
  D-41		2291.00
  D-45		3791.00


DREADNOUGHT  - all use 640 case (add $147.00)
(low profile neck)
-----------
 +D-18P	       $1207.00
 +D-28P		1411.00
 +HD-28P	1719.00
 +D-35P		1489.00
 +HD-35P	1773.00


KOA DREADNOUGHT - all use 640 case (add $147.00)
---------------
  D-25K	       $1361.00
  D-25K2	1489.00
  D-37K		1553.00
  D-37K2	1679.00

TWELVE STRING - all use 640 case (add $147.00)
-------------
  D12-18       $1273.00
  D12-28	1489.00


GRAND AUDITORIUM - all use 550 case (add $147.00)
----------------
  M-18	       $1277.00
+*MC-28		1615.00
  M-36		1503.00
  M-38		1901.00


JUMBO "M" NEW MODELS - all use 550 case (add $147.00)
--------------------
 +J-21	       $1509.00
 +J-40		1701.00
  J12-40M	1763.00


NEW MAPLE MODELS - all use 550 case (add $147.00)
----------------
 +M-64	       $1585.00
 +J-65M		1647.00
  J12-65M	1711.00


SHENANDOAH DREADNOUGHT
----------------------
D-1832	       $ 899.00
D-2832		 940.00
D-2832L		1040.00
D-3532		 950.00
D12-2832	 950.00
HD-2832		 999.00

SHENANDOAH AUDITORIUM
---------------------
000-2832       $1010.00

All SHENANDOAH prices include the 2nd Generation Martin thinline 332 pickup 
and the 300 series hardshell case.


The Martin Thinline 332 Acoustic Pickup retails for $84.50. Martin will 
install the Thinline as original equipment on any new Martin or Sigma
model for $104.50.

For custom orders call The Custom Shop 1-800-345-3143 or in PA 1-215-759-2837

The Martin Guitar Company
Nazareth, PA 18064

    RE; 191.*
    
    WOW.

    WOW.  The first D-18 I bought in '72 was $600 with hard case, new.
    The second I bought through a pawn shop was $500.  That was
    around '76/'77.  I take it these are suggested, milage may 
    vary type retail prices.  If these are prices for new then
    are used intruments getting these kinds of prices, also?
    
    =ken

    re:  -.1
    
    No retailer that I know of gets full retail for a Martin guitar.
    The biggest music store in Atlanta will sell them for just over
    half the list price.  
    
    Used Martins are semi-reasonably priced.  I often see D-18's
    advertised for $500-600, D-28's about $100 more.  That's for average
    quality, non-vintage guitars.  Any rosewood Martin (D-28 & up)
    made before 1969 automatically costs at least $100 extra.  In
    69, they changed from Brazilian rosewood to East Indian rosewood.
    
    Anything from before 1960 is likely to cost $1500 to $5000, or more.
    Stephen Stills once paid more than $8000 for an old Martin at an
    auction, to keep a Japanese guitar company from taking it apart
    to see how it works.
    
    Bob