The family-run C. F. Martin & Co. have been building high-quality acoustic instruments since 1883 through six generations. Founded by German immigrant cabinet maker Christian Frederick Martin in New York City, the company relocated headquarters shortly after to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1839, where they are still based today. The Nazareth premises is also home to the Martin Guitar Museum, housing over 170 classic guitars and memorabilia.
Through almost two centuries of technological and cultural development, Martin have been responsible for many of the innovations that are now standard for modern flat top, steel-string acoustic guitars. The family-run C. F. Martin & Co. have been building high-quality acoustic instruments since 1883 through six generations. Founded by German immigrant cabinet maker Christian Frederick Martin in New York City, the company relocated headquarters shortly after to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1839, where they are still based today. The Nazareth premises is also home to the Martin Guitar Museum, housing over 170 classic guitars and memorabilia.
Through almost two centuries of technological and cultural development, Martin have been responsible for many of the innovations that are now standard for modern flat top, steel-string acoustic guitar construction, including the Dreadnought body style, scalloped x-bracing, and 14-fret tenor neck (designed to entice under-employed banjo players to switch over to guitar during the Great Depression).
Martin have been the instrument of choice for many of the 20th century’s most noteworthy players, including Jimmy Page, Neil Young, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neko Case, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Joan Baez, Thom Yorke, Woodie Guthrie, Willie Nelson and countless others.
Martin offers instruments ranging from their low-cost DX range, built from laminated wood in their Navojoa Mexico factory, up to their hand-crafted Custom Shop models. They created their millionth guitar in 2004, a diamond and ruby-encrusted affair worth an estimated $1,000,000. r construction, including the Dreadnought body style, scalloped x-bracing, and 14-fret tenor neck (designed to entice under-employed banjo players to switch over to guitar during the Great Depression).
Martin have been the instrument of choice for many of the 20th century’s most noteworthy players, including Jimmy Page, Neil Young, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neko Case, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Joan Baez, Thom Yorke, Woodie Guthrie, Willie Nelson and countless others.
Martin offers instruments ranging from their low-cost DX range, built from laminated wood in their Navojoa Mexico factory, up to their hand-crafted Custom Shop models. They created their millionth guitar in 2004, a diamond and ruby-encrusted affair worth an estimated 1,000,000 dollars.
