Martin Guitars

[rst]

I got up this morning at 5 and turned on the tube.  Surfing the guide I saw that PCN - Pennsylvania Channel Network was showing a two part series touring Martin Guitar in Nazarath, PA.  This channel tours and televises Pa companies and also sells videos.  Is spite of the obvious craftsmanship, and all the celebrity endorsements they have had since the company was established in 1833, the thing that struck me the most was their finishing process.  There have been many topic discussions regarding finishing here on FOG and my first job out of school was as part of the finishing process at a custom kitchen manufacturer so I'm prejudiced as far as my interest.  Martin's is a 13 step and three week process that results in as finish that can double as a mirror.

 

[JBag09]

Yes, it’s spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, buff, polish. I think I’ve been told for your standard full gloss guitar there’s  2.5 hrs of human touch time per guitar. A lot of it is curing in the drying room.
Also, that show was quite a few years old, and a number of things have changed since.

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[AlexThePalex]

Ouch, such a nice finish, and I always manage to ruin it in just a couple of weeks.  [tongue]

 

[butzla]

Is this the video?

 

[AlexThePalex]

The video about Greenfield guitars is always very nice to watch:

 

[rst]

Jim the video you referred to is Martin's The PCN video is twice as long and shows more history and also the new museum they built.

 

[JBag09]

Ok I just had to watch this entire video, first thing I noticed, was 4 of the people in the video have retired since and one has passed on.
Second thing I notice is how they jump all over the factory with the order of the way things are done in actuality.
And I can’t believe they left out the entire Sawmill, machine room/CNC are where all the parts are made. But I know those are in the long version of the PCN video. Which actually the guy who did that tour is also retired [emoji3061]
And still, I have not yet seen the museum, lol

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[Cheese]

Really impressed with the Martin video. Haven't had time to watch the Greenfield one yet.

I guess the thing I'm most impressed with is all of the handwork that's involved. That's pretty impressive. No wonder they cost what they do.

Very interesting post. Thanks.  [big grin]

 

[Cheese]

Speaking about guitars, here's a short video from Mark Knopfler.  Interesting how effortlessly he travels from chord to chord and from music style to music style.

 

[six-point socket II]

Knopfler  [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy]

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Vondawg]

As Chet said to Mark while trading solos on the “Neck to Neck” album....”ah..you’ve played before”......love it !

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for the video. The great masters are often humble.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Interesting how effortlessly he travels from chord to chord and from music style to music style.

An insane amount of lonely hours with just the guitar as your only friend.

 

[Deke]

I have had two Martins and there really isn't anything like them. Plus they may be the only US guitar manufacturer who did not go through a ten - twenty year period of making junk like Gibson and Fender. My D35 is beautiful, but from past experience with my other Martin, their finish seems to react with the rubber or other materials commonly used on guitar stands, so I never ever place it on a stand. I should probably figure out exactly what causes this.