Members The Real MC Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 I've been to the factory three times - 1982, 1992, and last week. It was a great visit and the visitor center is MUCH better than it used to be. The factory tour was fascinating but the museum is excellent. They have exhibits stretching all the way from 1830s Martins to the 1,000,000th Martin. The new family CEO - Chris Martin - is dedicated to the Martin legacy and has done an excellent job of introducing new models and maintaining an impressive collection for the museum. The improvement to visitor resources is remarkedly better since my last two visits. If you want your Martin modified - add a pickup, add a preamp, custom inlay work (your own personalized fingerboard) - you can bring it to the factory and they can do the work while you take the tour. Well worth a visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 What, no pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjoxyz Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 Did it last Summer. Excellent experience. I just remembered, they gave us spruce soundhole "cutouts" with the 155th Anniversary graphics laser engraved. Haven't seen them since we returned. Damn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members missedmyexit Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 If you want your Martin modified - add a pickup, add a preamp, custom inlay work (your own personalized fingerboard) - you can bring it to the factory and they can do the work while you take the tour.Well worth a visit. Really how much does some customer inlay work cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted June 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 Don't have an answer to that, sorry. Judging from the price difference between D-28 and D-35/41/45, I don't think it would be cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 Great report. Someday I hope to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sangemon Posted June 3, 2009 Members Share Posted June 3, 2009 It's a great tour. I've been there a number of times now, and I currently have a guitar at the factory for repair. I drove it down last week. My 90 year old father was visiting and I asked him if he'd like to come. He's never played a musical instrument and knows nothing about guitars. So he said, "OK" and we packed up my D12-35 and drove down to Nazareth, about an hour and a half away. When we got there the receptionist invited us to hang out in the museum while waiting for Dave from the repair department to come out and talk to me. Dad went into the museum while I signed us up for a tour, and then Dave came out and I left the old man in the museum while I went over the repair order with Dave. What a nice guy. After leaving my guitar with him we took the tour, which Dad really loved. Then we had meatball sandwiches at Mivajo's across the street and headed home. When we got home Dad was all over my Martins. He wanted to see all of them. He was checking out all of the little details that he had seen being put together at the factory, the bindings, the nuts, the bridges and saddles. He was fascinated with how everything he had seen that day came together in the end product. The following day he headed home to L.A. After he got home I spoke with him and he told me that on the plane ride home they had shown the movie "Walk The Line" all he did through the whole movie was look at the guitars. I just got an email from him few minutes ago. He said, "You should write a song. Call it 'Caught Between The Saddle And The Nut'". I think I've created a monster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Florida_Gator Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Great memory you just made there, Sangemon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 It's a great tour. I've been there a number of times now, and I currently have a guitar at the factory for repair. I drove it down last week. My 90 year old father was visiting and I asked him if he'd like to come. He's never played a musical instrument and knows nothing about guitars. So he said, "OK" and we packed up my D12-35 and drove down to Nazareth, about an hour and a half away. When we got there the receptionist invited us to hang out in the museum while waiting for Dave from the repair department to come out and talk to me. Dad went into the museum while I signed us up for a tour, and then Dave came out and I left the old man in the museum while I went over the repair order with Dave. What a nice guy. After leaving my guitar with him we took the tour, which Dad really loved. Then we had meatball sandwiches at Mivajo's across the street and headed home.When we got home Dad was all over my Martins. He wanted to see all of them. He was checking out all of the little details that he had seen being put together at the factory, the bindings, the nuts, the bridges and saddles. He was fascinated with how everything he had seen that day came together in the end product. The following day he headed home to L.A.After he got home I spoke with him and he told me that on the plane ride home they had shown the movie "Walk The Line" all he did through the whole movie was look at the guitars. I just got an email from him few minutes ago. He said, "You should write a song. Call it 'Caught Between The Saddle And The Nut'".I think I've created a monster. Great story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Do Fret It Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 It's a great tour. I've been there a number of times now, and I currently have a guitar at the factory for repair. I drove it down last week. My 90 year old father was visiting and I asked him if he'd like to come. He's never played a musical instrument and knows nothing about guitars. So he said, "OK" and we packed up my D12-35 and drove down to Nazareth, about an hour and a half away. When we got there the receptionist invited us to hang out in the museum while waiting for Dave from the repair department to come out and talk to me. Dad went into the museum while I signed us up for a tour, and then Dave came out and I left the old man in the museum while I went over the repair order with Dave. What a nice guy. After leaving my guitar with him we took the tour, which Dad really loved. Then we had meatball sandwiches at Mivajo's across the street and headed home.When we got home Dad was all over my Martins. He wanted to see all of them. He was checking out all of the little details that he had seen being put together at the factory, the bindings, the nuts, the bridges and saddles. He was fascinated with how everything he had seen that day came together in the end product. The following day he headed home to L.A.After he got home I spoke with him and he told me that on the plane ride home they had shown the movie "Walk The Line" all he did through the whole movie was look at the guitars. I just got an email from him few minutes ago. He said, "You should write a song. Call it 'Caught Between The Saddle And The Nut'".I think I've created a monster. I dig it. Neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TSMusic Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 One of these days I guess I should go, ain't like I'm not 30 miles away at best. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SoTotally Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I have a visit to Martin on my to-do-soon list. After my kid is born and is old enough to stay with grandma, I'm gonna rope the wife into taking a drive down with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted June 4, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Oh while you're at the Martin store buy the "My Favorite Martin" CD. Excellent music. (I know, tongue-in-cheek title) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankthomson Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 i did it a few years ago. it was like santas workshop...all asses and elbows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members odo Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I went two years ago, Great Tour! Here is a slide show I put together: [YOUTUBE]Z2NsywPGu08[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Cool video. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TESmith Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Nazareth is about a two hour drive from here I have been to Nazareth racing sprint cars years ago (I was pit crew not driver) But never been to Martin I may have to borrow the idea and take my Dad and go He is 82, and a non musician as well. He does love quality construction, he is a good wood worker as well as tool and die maker and engineer, He would probably enjoy it very much. I think we would both enjoy the tour I think it would be a wonderful idea! Hmmm has anyone ever tried to put a day together where several of us from here go and meet up there, could be an idea as well? (or is that a been there done that thing?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Queequeg Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Nazareth is about a two hour drive from hereHmmm has anyone ever tried to put a day together where several of us from here go and meet up there, could be an idea as well? (or is that a been there done that thing?) well... you might say that.UMGF has what they call the annual NazFest.huge Martin rally in Nazareth, PA.usually in August.every motel/hotel/B&B (and manger I imagine) is sold out for 100 miles around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankthomson Posted June 5, 2009 Members Share Posted June 5, 2009 really?sweet.fac tour;>..and you even get a real soundhole cutout as a souvenier.wicked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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