Martin picks Mexico for guitar work

The Express-Times ^ | Wednesday, February 04, 2004 | ANTHONY SALAMONE

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

'Least expensive' DXM to be assembled in foreign plant; no jobs cut in Nazareth.

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.

[Huck]

I had a Guild Starfire once. I think it was a 67. Nice guitar. Isn't it an archtop?

[Gone_Postal]

how do you like the Taylor, I think they sound pretty good but I never played one

[Liberty Valance]

I watched your video and thought it was great! And a beautiful guitar as well. Fender does make a fine instrument. Thanks for letting us see and hear it.

[Mr. Jeeves]

how do you like the Taylor, I think they sound pretty good but I never played one

I hadn't either, until I bumped into this one at a guitar show. After playing it for a few minutes, I had to buy it - it's incredible.

[budwiesest]

Martins high end stuff is still great but for my money Taylor guitars are better.

Depends on how hard you step-into the guitar. My impression is Taylors sound great at a lower string attack, whereas Martins can handle a good rip without sounding over-driven (especially as they age).

If it's driving bluegrass, a Martin will perform to expectations. If it's James-Taylor-type folksy stuff, then the Taylor will more than suffice. (Hey, I used Taylor twice in one sentence!)

I play a D-35 that's going to need frets soon. I kick myself for not jumping on a Santa Cruz in the D-18 configuration that was offered for about $2400. I played a new one and was amazed at the pickability (combination of tone, action, and presence in both high and low ranges). As a bluegrasser, passing up on this guit-fiddle has made me a "Man of Constant Sorrow".

[Doctor Stochastic]

I think thats the one with the composite top, the stuff looks like formica.

That would probably be what us accordionists call "Mother of Toilet Seat."

[Liberty Valance]

I was wondering when the keyboards were gonna show up...just when the guitar players were looking down at their tuners...:^)

[JakeSladder]

"I let my '63 pre-CBS Strat go to a pawn shop for a song while I was chasing women in my younger days."


Back in '65, I bought my first bass for 30 bucks, a Sears model..sort of like the Dan Electro style, had the lipstick pup, tape around the edges..played that one until June '66, when I bought (and still own) my '66 Fender P Bass. Best bass I've ever owned, still love it..

A man I knew who was an established upright bass fiddle player used to come over and show me a few things about bass, came over one day , and asked me if I would be interested in buying his electric bass. I looked at it, and of course I wasn't interested because I had just bought that new '66 Fender. So, I politely refused the offer and that was the end of that. Well, what he was offering to sell me for 150.00, was a 1952 Fender Precision, natural finish, tweed case..etc..Who the hell collected guitars in '66? LOL...Damn..

[MetalHeadConservative35]

gibsons rule plain and simple

the perfect gibson: 60's les paul in sunburst finish..trapezoid inlays..50-11 strings EMG pickups and gold hardware now THATS beautiful

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Guys...buy a high end Takamine

those are real nice

you guys are mean!! its 1:30 in the morning and guitar centers closed!!! lol thats okay though goin tomorrow to sign up for the "cutting heads" guitar off (other wise known as guitarmageddon) wish me luck!

[flashbunny]

That's my plan. I used to have an american standard strat with the then-sorta-new fender lace sensors. Sounded nice but nothing special.

A little while ago I pick up a MIM fat strat for cheap used and after setting it up right it sounded incredible even unplugged. Much more alive and resonant then the american made one that would have set me back 4 times as much. Now I just need to pick out which SD pickups I want to swap the current ones with and I'll be set. But the stock MIM pickups aren't that bad to get by with at all.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Excellent!!! :: applaudes:: very nicely done!!!

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Never let a woman get between you, and your Strat!

Lol so very true

[bk1000]

"I am about to take the plunge into MIDI"

Argh! Those four-letter words frighten me! I haven't gotten that far...yet...Still trying to wring out everything possible from vacuum tubes. My current
stash includes a '70 LP Deluxe, '74 SG, '78 B.C.Rich,
early '80s Steinberger (don't laugh), newer PRS, newer
Epiphone Dot, and my Flamenco is a Hermanos Conde (mid-grade). Recent bout of Gear Aquisition Syndrome (GAS) produced a PA system I have absolutely no use for. Thinking about adding a preamp and playing guitar through it. Any old rockers around Atlanta wanna jam?

[Huck]

I'm actually pretty stingy with gear. Not much G.A.S. here. Actually, I saw a one man band at a wedding, and he showed me his set up. A nice synth, a laptop full of midi files, a bunch of mp3s for in between, and he's earning 125/hr. Making decent money. I figure on trying it out. Except I'll play guitar on top of it. I would have the option of singing vocals (say, Night and Day, Sinatra style) or doing it instrumental with the lead on guitar. If I get MIDI guitar, I could do leads with a sax sound or a trombone or whatever, plus have nylon string sounds, steel string sounds, amp models, etc.

I have been Captain Analog for a long time, but if I can make this work and build up a clientele, I might become Captain MIDI. I would like to change my career, and music was always my dream. This plan seems feasible. I could do pub gigs, weddings, parties, old folks homes, plus lessons. Wish me luck. This is gonna take priority over my hot dog truck, which is sitting in the back yard, and on the back burner. Dare to dream!

[Wolfie]

At least Martin isn't laying anybody off. But, the move to bring in a cheap import version of a quality product has been the traditional death knell in many a guitar line, as players start to NOT differentiate the crappy model they started out on from the quality instrument costing hundreds (or even thousands) more.

[Squantos]

Excellant video ~!.......I'm a Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg and Richard Gilewitz fan myself ........I have an Old Alverez and a Ovation Ultra, heavy on the Legg modifications such as banjo tuning peg etc. Trying to teach myself the blues and some slide as we get closer to November elections...... looking at adding a Dobro or maybe a 12 string next to further my confusion.

Again....great home grown video ! A keeper !

Stay Safe !

[bk1000]

Sounds like a plan to me. I have heard a couple of these knob twisting gurus and am impressed. Drum machines always sounded 'canned' to me, but I think the software has improved to give a more natural, imperfect quality. Plusses to your idea include not having to deal with other musisian's egos and not having to share the groupies.
Could be a real winner. If it dosen't pan out, convert the hotdog truck to a funnel cake wagon and make a fortune. Heck, the one man band may even draw a crowd to the funnel cakes. You could be your own enterprise.

[singletrack]

Every player has his own "should'na sold it" story. Mine is my selling a Flatiron (small US company) mandolin made in the early 80's. The companys now gone, the flatirons left are out of my price range and the market is flooded with Asian mandolins.

[lormand]

Thanks for the compliments guys.

However, I wish I had the time to spend to play as well as this guy