Posted on 02/04/2004 2:39:17 PM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
U. NAZARETH TWP. -- C.F. Martin & Co. Inc. -- more commonly known as Martin Guitar -- boasts it has been crafting its trademark instruments in the United States.
That's about to change.
The company plans to ship production of its DXM series to its plant in Navojoa, Mexico, later this year, CEO Chris Martin said Tuesday.
"It's going to be labeled 'assembled in Mexico,'" Martin said of the guitar line.
Some 50 workers at the company's facility in Upper Nazareth Township who make the DXM model will be assigned to work on other products, Martin said. The transformation is expected to happen in the fall.
"Change is difficult, and we decided to make this change ourselves," said Martin. "It's better than having something uglier being forced upon us."
At least one worker said the company is turning its back on its made-in-America business legacy -- a point echoed by the head of the area chamber of commerce.
Martin said a combination of rising operating costs and greater competition in guitar-making overseas forced the decision.
The company, which recently celebrated a milestone by making its 1 millionth guitar, employs about 200 people in Mexico out of a total work force of 800 employees. Workers in Navajoa turn out strings, mandolins and smaller guitars known as "Backpackers."
Martin has operated in Mexico sine the early 1990s, when the North America Free Trade Agreement took effect.
Martin admitted it took a while to alleviate fears about any layoffs for employees in Nazareth.
He insisted the move would not result in job cuts, and he expects the company will see an increase in orders this year after lagging sales during 2003.
One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said Martin officials brought in Mexican workers last fall to learn how to craft full-size guitars. He said company supervisors misled employees about whether the guitars would wind up being made in Mexico.
Martin described the DXM model as one of the "least expensive, lowest parts" of its guitar line. The worker, however, said DXM production helped carry the company during last year's sales decline, because it's a quality alternative to more expensive Martin brands.
The employee said workers have taken the news hard.
"We hate to see the Martin name made in Mexico, really hate to see that," he added. "It's just a very sad day."
On its Web site, the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce lists the community as being home to Martin Guitar.
"Needless to say Martin and Nazareth are synonymous," said Bill Brackbill, who is chamber president.
Brackbill said the decision by Martin is symptomatic of a greater concern -- local jobs being shipped overseas.
"Outsourcing to foreign companies seems to be a standard of business today," Brackbill said. "I think someone has to take the bull by the horns and just work with businesses to keep those jobs in the United States."
Martin said companies in today's global business environment can strike a satisfactory balance and keep jobs despite economic and competitive pressures.
"The critical point here is we made a commitment to our co-workers to keep them here in Nazareth," Martin said.
Anthony Salamone can be reached at 610-258-7171, Ext. 3603, or by e-mail at tsalamone@express-times.com.
If you have never heard "Redneck Jazz Explosion" from Danny Gatton, than you don't know what you are missing.
They didn't call him the greatest unknown guitarist for nothing. Tragically, he killed himself in the mid 90's.
Don't know how many of you know about www.tdpri.com but it is the world wide home for everything telecaster. Great folks and info, history, discussion, tele nitty gritty, the works...
You will have to register and obey the ground rules (no religion, no politics, no cussin') but the TDP is a great web community of tele stranglers...
tele-bob
I first saw him on Austin City Limits. My jaw almost hit the floor.
Perhaps his best recorded performance is "Redneck Jazz Explosion" recorded at the Cellar Door in Washington DC, in 1978.
The lineup includes Buddy Emmons, who is without a doubt, the worlds greatest pedal steel guitarist. My first taste of the recording was "Rock Candy". I did not know who was in the lineup, nor did I have a clue that there was a pedal steel player in it. Buddy Emmons uses (I'm guessing here) a compressor and a leslie or chorus, but it sounds kinda like a B3 organ on acid. I had no idea at the time, that a pedal steel player could play that fast, with precision chops. Perhaps my favorite tracks are "Song of India" and "Coming Home" of which anyone who claims to play guitar will either be inspired or severely depressed after they hear it.
Unbelievable!
Much Agreed!
Please tell us what kind of guit-boxes you have.
nice
i got a 1961 Gibson SG,Ibanez AX70 and a Fender Tele
the SG is my dad's and the tele is too but there at my disposal for shows
teles are excellent for slide guitar..granted im a crappy slide player
I gave my son my 1969 D-18 for Christmas. He thought it was the best gift ever, and has been playing it exclusively over his other guitars since then.
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