Author Topic: How C.F. Martin Is Keeping Things Going (Read 358 times)

george_wright · « **on:** July 06, 2009, 09:53:26 AM »

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article(new window) on how C.F. Martin Co. is keeping production rolling during the economic downturn.

Santa Cruz Guitar company and Taylor are also mentioned, but nothing about Alembic.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:01:23 AM »

Thank you for sharing that.

southpaw · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2009, 11:01:23 AM »

Thanks George, good reading...

artswork99 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2009, 11:52:57 AM »

Yes, good reading... 575 employees and 52,000 guitars out of the Nazarath plant each year. Hard to listen to them say that it is still largely run as a handcrafted process when they mention robots doing functions.

glocke · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:49:16 PM »

Hard to listen to them say that it is still largely run as a handcrafted process when they mention robots doing functions.

I live about 40 minutes from the Martin factory, and recently went on a tour there. I meant to post about it earlier, and wish I had since I have forgotten many of the details.

From what I saw, much if it IS still a handcrafted process, especially for the more expensive items in their catalog. The robots do alot of the more repetitive functions it appears, such as making soundhole cutouts, some models (not sure if it is all, get put on a buffing robot), but much of the actual guitar building is still done by people who appear to have a significant amount of skill.

Here are some pics.

http://gallery.me.com/glocke12/100123/DSC_1432

http://gallery.me.com/glocke12/100123/DSC_1432

jerryme · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:15:23 PM »

For the money, brand new Martin's are a complete ripoff.

Colin

artswork99 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2009, 07:08:05 PM »

It's good to get a first hand report on the Nazareth, PA plant. I wonder if the Mexican plant operates the same way.

glocke · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2009, 04:32:54 AM »

For the money, brand new Martin's are a complete ripoff.

I don't want to start a heated debate about guitar pricing, but seriously, is there ANYTHING that when bought new is not grossly overpriced and a rip off?

What about a brand new insert name of manfacturer here, is that brand new custom guitar or bass really worth $10,000.00-$12,000.00

I have a friend that paid $10,000.00 for a guitar made by a guy who should be well known in the jam band community (at least the phish community), and I look at it and wonder what makes it a $10,000.00 guitar, especially since it had to be sent back to the builder for a neck replacement because improperly cured wood was used in the neck.

I'm not picking on any single company here, Im just pointing out that pretty much everything when bought new is grossly overpriced. Thats the beauty of capitalism, if something is too expensive, than that is reflected in that companies sales.

That said, Id still have no problem ordering up a brand spanking new series II bass if I had an extra 12k laying around.

(Message edited by glocke on July 07, 2009)

(Message edited by glocke on July 07, 2009)

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2009, 07:16:55 AM »

For the money, brand new Martin's are a complete ripoff.

My '53 D-28 cost more than a new one and it was beat up when I got it. A new D-28 is around $2300. A comparable Taylor is in the same ballpark. You can certainly find more expensive acoustics. Where can you find a guitar of comparable quality and tone for less?

Bill, tgo

artswork99 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2009, 08:00:15 AM »

For the money, brand new Martin's are a complete ripoff.

I agree Gregory... insert name of manufacturer here.

Bill makes a good point that there are vintage Martins that sell for very high dollars.

(Message edited by artswork99 on July 07, 2009)

olieoliver · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2009, 08:15:39 AM »

Try pricing the the WWII and pre WWII Martins, WOW!

OO

artswork99 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2009, 08:27:18 AM »

Like any collectable... it's all in the eye of the beholder. One thing I think we all can agree upon... Alembics rock!

olieoliver · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2009, 08:47:36 AM »

Both my old Martins, mid 66 D35 and early 52 D18 are priceless to me.

Of course they were my grandmothers.

OO

jerryme · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2009, 07:48:26 PM »

www.worlandguitars.com
Brian Worland makes super nice guitars that in my mind and to my ears sound much better than brand new Martins.
Vintage Martins are a completely differnt ballgame than new ones. Also, Martin charges really high prices for guitars made from Indian Rosewood, when for the same money you can get not so generic tonewood. Martin also sells guitars with laminate back and sides for almost a thousand dollars (seems slightly overpriced to me).
My Henderson cost me $1500, and new it sounded like a decades old guitar. 12 years later I would put it against any 25-35 year old guitar in the world and they just don't sound (to me) to be anything near as good. Last year I was offered a 1963 Brazilian D-28 and I turned it down.
Of course we are talking about something that is highly subjective. Alembics to me (and most of you) are worth every penny (and I don't even own one!) simply because they are better in every sense of the word than what is available at any price. This does not hold up in my opinion in terms of the Martin guitar company.
Colin

glocke · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:20:11 AM »

Looks like Brian Worland makes some nice guitars. A few years back I was in a band with someone who played a Charles Fox acoustic, to this day that is the best sounding acoustic I have ever heard.

I am rather surprised to see the hating on Martins though. They are a good company who make a fine product, take care of their employees, and offer excellent customer care. I took my D41 with me when I went on the tour, and was given a free set up that included a new set of strings, and a new bridge.

After looking at the Worland prices, I went to check the price I paid for my D41, and it was comparable to the price of a Worland Jumbo, unless the actual price of a Worland is less than advertised on his website, the price difference is only a few hundred dollars.

Alembics to me (and most of you) are worth every penny (and I don't even own one!) simply because they are better in every sense of the word than what is available at any price.

Yep. I don't think any other company offers what Alembic has to offer.