Free Republic

Via Andrew Lawton at Landmark Report: One of Gibson’s leading competitors is C.F. Martin & Company. The C.E.O., Chris Martin IV, is a long-time Democratic supporter, with $35,400 in contributions to Democratic candidates and the DNC over the past couple of elections (though, to be fair, he did donate a whopping $750 to Republican Congressmen in the 90s.) According to C.F. Martin’s catalog, several of their guitars contain ''East Indian Rosewood.' In case you were wondering, that is the exact same wood in at least ten of Gibson’s guitars. If true, it adds another piece to an increasingly disturbing puzzle.

In the past 175 years, C.F. Martin & Co. defined the shape, construction and sound of the acoustic guitar. And the company still eyes each detail. Employees sweat the big things, like dwindling supplies of rare tone woods. They sweat the small stuff, like the exact orientation of each pick guard. The company is taking the year to celebrate C.F. Martin Sr.'s arrival in New York City in 1833 where he set up his first shop on Hudson Street at what is now the mouth of the Holland Tunnel. CEO Christian F. Martin IV said the anniversary is remarkable and...