Posted on 07/05/2009 6:57:05 PM PDT by Son House
Workers at C.F Martin & Co. are putting finishing touches on the solid-wood 1 Series model, so named for its simplicity. It lacks inlay, as did the company's stripped-down 1930s model, and is expected to sell for less than $1,000, breaking a key price point and far less than its $100,000 limited-edition guitars made of Brazilian rosewood. More popular Martins generally sell for $2,000 to $3,000.
Initial reaction is promising. The company, which had sales of $93 million last year, introduced the 1 Series in April and promptly sold out its first year's output of 8,000 guitars.
"We needed something so we wouldn't have to start laying people off," says Chris Martin, the company's chief executive and sixth generation of his family to lead the closely held company, which was founded in 1833 in New York City. Martin employs about 575 workers, who make 52,000 guitars a year, at the plant here. It has another factory in Mexico that makes beginner guitars.
Meanwhile, Martin's inventories of its high-end guitars ballooned. The company eliminated overtime and didn't replace workers who retired or quit, cutting its staff by about 50.
But given the special woodworking skills involved in guitar making, Martin wanted to avoid layoffs. The company figured it is better to find a way to keep workers occupied than face the challenge of having to train new ones after the economy recovers. The solution: Copy what many big retailers do offering a lower-priced alternative. The dilemma was how to do that without sacrificing quality or muddying its image.
It's an approach that many believe saved the company during the Depression, when Mr. Martin's great-grandfather introduced an all-mahogany unadorned guitar, void of inlay and frills, which sold for $20 to $30, a small fraction of the price of its other trim-laden models.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Cool article — thanks for posting. Sweet screen name, too.
Like I been saying, the “frippery slope”:
“the company began struggling when consumer spending swooned last fall. Guitars aren’t necessities, and anything other than food, shelter or clothing has felt the downdraft as job losses mounted, home prices fell, and investment values dropped. Since autumn, Martin’s sales have dropped 20%.”
We are in for rougher times. At least Martin is keeping the jobs here.
BTW, I only played on a Martin once, and it had a good sound. But so does my Guild, and my Yamahas.
parsy, who still can’t really afford a Martin
Yep, I think we’ll be surprised at all the companies that die out or go else where because of Democrat policies. Everybody is skimping, this just reminded me of the pre-war Martins. Here’s the current highest Martin on ebay
1944 Martin D-28 Herringbone Scalloped Snowflakes
Buy it now price: US $59,950.00
A buddy of mine has his dad’s 1920’s era Martin archtop. He plays slide on it. Definitely has that Robert Johnson sound.
If we hang on a little longer, OUR instruments will be pre-war as well. ;>)
My bro has a Martin, but never let me play it. I was just doing a two point pivot tremolo adjustment on a Squire. When I news googled guitar that came up with this article, I thought it a bit of relief from the other news
STRATOCASTER® ADJUSTMENT AND CARE
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php
For a two-pivot model such as the American Series bridge, use your tremolo arm to pull the bridge back flush with the body and adjust the two pivot screws to the point where the tremolo plate sits entirely flush at the body (not lifted at the front or back of the plate).
Allowing the bridge to float freely (no tension on the tremolo arm) using the claw screws in the tremolo cavity, adjust the bridge to your desired angle—Fender spec is a 1/8” (3.2 mm) gap at rear of bridge.
FYI - SH lived in Rochester (my town) for many years
I have a D-18 that I bought in the early 70s for $500. It has mellowed in color and sound very nicely over the years. I have had to have the pick guard replaced, but apart from that it’s been trouble-free.
Once had a chance to buy 2 very old relics but they didn’t take my $50 offer after telling me their history, the Grandfather built one and the other was still a mystery, instead of having bridge pins that went all the way through, the pins were just little wooden pegs that the holes didn’t go all the way through, Think it could of been a ‘gut string’ thing
Squiers are good guitars. I had an acoustic that I gave to a family member because it was so easy to play. I have a Fender Nashville Tele that I have been promising myself I would learn to play better on,but never do seem to have enough time.
parsy, who wishes he didn’t have to work.
And we can sell them to the rich folks overseas in countries prospering from low tax rates, thanks Democrats!
My first guitar was a Kent electric, I couldn’t tune back then, so it was more a toy
I read Gibson just laid off a bunch of workers. And Fender just jacked their prices through the roof. And the bottom is falling out of the vintage market (this is actually a good thing, unless you were holding on to that ‘65 Stratocaster to send your kid to college).
I play a 1970’ vintage HD-35 almost exclusively. I do have an old beater Ovation Balladeer I take camping. Looks like a good opportunity to add to the stable.
Try this one, best leap in my progress, thanks to Fred, I have several of his stuff, Fretboard Road Maps is way more popular, but more complicating too, this one is a gem;
Understanding Chord Progressions
Yep, we may be in the best ‘buy’ niche in a long time, in the future the cost of manufacturing may be held hostage to the global warming alarmist
Thank you. I will get it this week.
parsy, who needs to practice more
Yup...And, It'll be so dramatic that it'll have a unique name.
Well, I exaggerate a *little.*
After playing that monstrosity for about a year, I met a guy who let me try his Martin D-28. I wept. How could such beautiful sound come so effortlessly and painlessly? After that, I had to have a Martin. I couldn't afford a D-28, but I found I could just reach a D-18 with my budget. And a D-18 is a fine instrument in its own right, maybe just a touch brighter in tone than a D-28 (but not as purty).
I wish Martin good luck with this new endeavor. But I have found the better the instrument, the more pleasurable it is to play, and better instruments cost $$$,
Where did you hear that?
Yep, got my Squire done, and I’m very happy with it, previous owner had raised the screws for the pivots and it must of made his set-up prohibitive, I got it at the pawn shop after returning a flat panel monitor for store credit, the $80 Squire was the only guitar with potential, turned out to be the standard series and barley used, rear humbucker(ssh) still has plastic on it
“at one point - Elvis played a leather covered d28 as well -”
You might be right, but I think it was a D-18 = mahogany vs rosewood as on a D-28, and the D-28 has a white binding around the top while the D-18 does not. Of course, wrapped up in that leather thingy, you couldn’t see the binding.
Got one that I need to fix. No name. Made in Korea. No truss rod, but “steel reinforced neck.” Double pickguards with roses on them. Action is too high down the neck, but it has a real sweet sound where playable. Appears to be spruce top, mahogony body and rosewood neck. Wondering if I can add a tailpiece to it?????
parsy, who has it hanging on wall
Reminded me of a recent acquisition, only I don’t have the bridge or the tremolo, they’re supposed to be Italian copies, it’s like this one;
NORMA 1960’s Red Sparkle 2 PU Tremelo / EX SOLD
http://www.guitarshop.net/norma.htm
I own lots of stringed instruments and many more over the years. My martin DM doesn’t even get played - just checked and kept in the case. Its to precious to play for me
they seem to have a good reputation. I think mine is from 70’s. I ran the serial number once, but they can’t pin down the decade. The wood has started turning darker though like my Yammy from the 70’s so I think it is from then. Good tone. Well made.
parsy, who wishes he could play more (and better) Oh heck, I may kick out “Duncan” here in a few minutes. I heard this kool version on youtube from some german named lammerhirt.
Made in Korea. Underrated, I think the Koreans have done some great work like the Samick Artist series.
On laminated top guitars a lighter string gage sometimes is better, seem to explain it easiest, the string tension can pull too much on the ones that aren’t solid, especially the older ones. I actually use 10s on the laminates, and 11s on the solid tops, figuring, I don’t play professionally, so don’t need to pull up the neck as fast.
An after market compensated plastic saddle can help too, seems some manufacturing use the cheapest plastic that can be softer, for keeping done cost
Don’t know how to explain it, but even cheap guitars sometimes come out different from others in their run and just have the right feel and sound. I bought a $60 Johnson once that I was just sitting in guitar store playing while they worked on one of my other ones and I swear it was was just perfectly made and had a great sound, whereas all the other ones just like it sounded and played like crap.
parsy, who always figured musical instruments have souls
I got a Harmony Sovereign ØØØ, that’s got a split down the middle of the top, I’m afraid it’s from drying out, just can’t remember if I got it that way, or my lack of attention did it. One day I wish to have The Podium(world famous for Harmony restorations) in Minneapolis restore it,
but Democrats have surely interfered with my future earnings, so I’m not confident it will happen that way
I once bought a Norma for this little boy I was helping raise. It had a gold foil pickup and sounded great.
parsy, who has been thru a few guitars.
Yep, a decent fret job is what I like to see. Just got the Rogue 000(on sale $59, couldn’t resist), great run so far, but I’ve heard there is the risk of the neck warping if they hadn’t properly dried the wood.
Someone mentioned the acoustic tone of an electric can tell a lot too, never really considered it till this Samick strat copy, it’s the artist series(90’s, Korea) I think it’s ash(light weight) with a maple veneer top, heck of a tone
I have one of those Greg Bennett samicks with the hollow body, and two humbuckers. Looks kinda like Lucy except for the color. Great sound. I think the tone of electric can be told from unplugged sound.
Not good enough to swear to that, but I think so. Some electrics just sound good even unplugged.
parsy, who needs a bunch of practice
It's cool when that happens.
I once bought an Ibanez and there were about six of the identical same model hanging on the wall. Identical. All perfectly tuned. But one of them sounded far, far better than the rest.
I spent an hour going from one guitar to the next, strumming and playing, and I always came back to The One. Somebody could have blindfolded me and mixed all these identical guitars up and I would have been able to pick out The One every time. Easily.
I bought it, still own it, and it is still my favorite guitar. It's magic.
I had an Ibanes Roadstar Seies II. Great. Then somebody broke into my house and stole it. Along with 3 other guitars. Now I only keep one or two at house when I am gone, ones that i can replace.
parsy, who thinks guitar thieves should burn in ...
“Yep, got my Squire done...”
Squires are built “about” as well as US made Strats in terms of materials but they are often not finished as well. So, a tuneup can work wonders. Fortunately, other than frets, that is easy with Fender-type guitars. A friend of mine had borrowed a Squire strat that his boss had bot for his kid but the kid lost interest. It was truly an excellent guitar, every bit as good as a US-made Strat. (And I own and have owned plenty of those) When his boss wanted the guitar back, I urged him to buy a replacement rather than give this one back, it was that exceptional.
I have owned a few Squires, they are great values. What I will say is that they have a modest tendency to have dead spots somewhere on the neck. And I’ve also seen that on US made guitars, but much, much rarer. Some Squires will be pure junk, but if you find a good one, they can be pretty darned good.
What a pity. I used to think that way about my Martin. It's a beautiful instrument my wife bought for me when I graduated with my Masters. Then one day, a friend, someone who can play the heck out of ANY stringed instrument told me what I will tell you.
A guitar is a living breathing object. It isn't a "painting" in-cased inside a hermatically sealed, light-tight cocoon. It can't live an' breathe in a case. Get it out and play it. What? You gonna wear it out? You gonna get a big bad old scratch on it? So what? It is a guitar for chrissakes. Enjoy it and play it.
I took my beautiful Martin out of that bulletproof hardshell case and it now lives in my C & C on a stand. I play it more than I ever did. I love the sound, the tone especially after I get 'er a new set of Martin Marquis Medium guage strings... Enjoy life. Don't try to "save it"; you can leave your wealth to your children, but enjoy that beautiful instrument while you can...
I saved for 20 years and finally bought a Taylor.... now i don't want to wait and buy some others, but with kids, college and life... guitars are a luxury.
my friend, truer words were never spoken. I've had an Ovation for 20-21 years, an old Gibson that is older and an "Applause" that is a faux Ovation.... just bought my Taylor guitar and I can't even explain the joy I feel when I'm picking a tune. The sound is beautiful and the action is so low and pure. ....... Here is a man that believes like you do... look at his guitar and listen...pure unadulterated joy...
Thanks, that’s a pretty cool site. I used to have an L-5, a 1969, it just represented too much money to justify owning it. Fairly replaceable guitar. Finding a 1955 L-5, though, that’s a different story.
I have a 1977 Ibanez Srat...exact well made copies of the old 60’s Fenders...been said they are much better than the Fenders of the 70’s...it has the sweetest maple neck you have ever laid your hands on...none of the Fenders of today can touch it...glad i hung on to it!
i had a pretty beat up blonde ‘53 L4 at one point - later an es175 and now a blonde Guild XR175 since ‘80
Now if i had the expendable cash.... http://www.tylerguitars.com/index2.html
I bring a tear to my eye.
BTW, check out Collings Gutars. They are two miles from my house and I've toured the factory and played some of their gear. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECTLY MADE.
thanks for the info, I’ll check out Collins... I know what your mean. I’ve spent about 5-6 months learning some Tommy Emmanuel songs and when I finally learned the endings...... just a big smile on my face.....
Yep, we may be in the best ‘buy’ niche in a long time, in the future the cost of manufacturing may be held hostage to the global warming alarmist
The previous Administration would've downsized and outsourced these menial jobs to China.
Then we could all afford a "high-end" Martin for less than $100 at WalMart.
I’m a fan of the older Guild archtops, even though they are plywood. I have a ‘54 X-150 and a ‘56 X-175. Before 1957, they had a 25.5” scale length which I need with my big hands. Plus I think they intone better and have friendlier string tension (good for jazz boxes) IMO.
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