Making Martin's D-28

An article in Acoustic Guitar appeared today by Teja Gerken (read it here) featuring the Martin Guitar Company's D-28. The D-28 is considered to be the most influential steel string guitar ever made.

Gerken toured the Upper Nazareth plant, included many photos of the guitar at various stages of production, and wrote about the craftspeople he met. I particularly liked the fact that he recognized the employees pictured by name, especially given his comments about them (see below).

I haven't been in the new plant and do have to make a point of going over. While I don't play guitar I did work there in the string department after school, summers, and over Christmas break. When I was there I alway liked being able to walk back through the plant to see the work being done and in the repair department where guitars were sent in by players from around the world. You never knew when one might be tagged Peter Townsend or another world famous musician. Having this company really is a treasure for the community.

Some highlights from the feature article:

In order to increase consistency and quality, Martin, like most other guitar factories, makes use of high-tech innovations. They use CNC (computer numerically controlled) routers to shape necks, and vacuum jigs for gluing braces; largely automated side-benders; and completely robotic finishing and buffing. However, even today, Martin guitars are accurately described as “handmade,” since the great preponderance of construction is still performed by the skilled hands of craftspeople who, in some cases, represent the second or even third generation of family members employed by the company.

Though I was intrigued by countless aspects of my visit to the Martin factory (for example, the metal shop, where many of the tools, jigs, and fixtures used in the guitars’ construction are made in-house), what I found most impressive was the dedication, concentration, and pride in one’s work evident in every craftsperson I talked to or observed.

This article will also appear in print in the May edition of Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Do you play a guitar? Have a Martin story to tell? Been on a tour of the new plant? Tell us about it in the comments or email me at editor@newsovercoffee.com