Martin Factory Tour - Part II

[BrandonRayCollins]

I love my Martin OMC 160gte Check it out on my video's :)

[damrak1969]

I love watching these factory videos. I think Taylor guitars really made a leap forward with their NT bolt on neck design that bypasses all the chiseling and sanding to fit that neck joint on an acoustic, plus it allows the neck to be easily reset in the future after the wood has changed. However, I have great respect for the old world craftsmanship of guys that can do it like the guy in the video. That's what you're paying for!

[cashmartinswdgt]

Thanks for posting ! Best guitars out there !

[kellytttt]

now in mass production like china ! also CF martin guitars made in mexico!

[Broyale26]

I own a Martin 000X1AE acoustic-electric with a solid spruce top. I like it alot and love the sound. The problem is that its made in Mexico. Should I be concerned? Hopefully, one day I can upgrade to one of the solid body models.

[ezekielwahwah]

Fascinating.

[74LesPaul]

I toured the Fender factory in Mexico a few years ago. At the time they were putting out over 500 guitars a day. . using two shifts. I also noticed that they use the same CNC machines that are found in most other gutiar factories including the Fender factory in Corona. The workers are very skilled and appreciate their jobs. At the time they were begining to build Fender Bassmans. . tons of pine stacked for the cabinents.

[MrDugOut]

Only the X series is made in Mexico. That includes the DX1, DX1-R, DXM, DCX1E, DCX1R3, 000CXE Black, and 000X.

Some of the X series have Sitka Spruce tops, most have HPL tops and all have HPL sides and backs.

One shouldn't be surprised that a Martin guitar that costs $500 is not made in the USA.

[gitrpicker]

A D12X1 would never have the resonance equal to that of a solid-wood guitar. Composites showed their ugly faces in Ovations, and I've only heard ONE Ovation which sounded good acoustically.

Let me say this: I repair guitars, and I've had customers actually claim their tinny Yamaha is the best sounding guitar they've ever heard. These people obviously didn't have good ears for tone. (cont.)

[gitrpicker]

(...Cont.)

Plywood/composites don't sound as good as solid wood. If they did, Martin wouldn't be moving their upper line guitars so well. Composites are sometimes costly to design but not usually not much so to manufacture. I've never heard a Martin below a -16 sound as resonant as, say, an HD-28. The upper-line Martins are more expensive mainly because of the materials which produce such superior tone...at least up through the -28 & -35 series. Above that (-40 & up), you're paying for looks.

[paperbacklou]

Interesting comments, gitrpicker. Thanks for the info.

[MrDugOut]

I'm trying to figure out where I said ALL of the X series guitars are made in Mexico?!?!

[peterm3964]

Everyone gripes about Mexican production . Dont forget that SPAIN is the home of guitar and Spanish influence is very strong in Mexico .

Caliofornia was once owned by the KING OF SPAIN .

[gitrpicker]

Yep. Peter, but the old Spanish guitars were made by craftsmen. Mexican labor is cheap...not just less expensive.

[gitrpicker]

There's a huge difference between doing a simple job carefully & correctly and just throwing something together like most Mexican products are made.

You've never built a guitar OR been to Mexico, have you, Keith? Try taking a razor-sharp chisel and adjust a neck angle by cutting a sliver of wood off the heel of a mahogany neck...a sliver which graduates from 0 to 1/128 of an inch...smoothly and evenly. A monkey can do that??

[XaviersAutumn]

Some martin models are made in Mexico, the lower line martins

Luckily mine is made in good ol' Pennsylvania! lol

Martin HD-28VE

Get one!

[mybig88]

regarding frekijsimpson's comment ...I don't see any Mexicans in this video. wouldn't doubt if CFM has a Mexican factory for their lower line models.

[frekijsimpson]

they don't want America to know they have a huge plant in MEXICO - lol

[montezumasrevenge]

Next, film the Mexican factory

[zthetha]

Amazing! Have played and loved guitars since I was a kid but to see them being made - especially the neck/body joint - is little short of miraculous. The slightest variation in this angle can make the difference between a great and an average guitar. And these people are working so quickly! if I had my time over again I would love to be a luthier - if I had the skill.

[treatb09]

@zthetha i've built two guitars, an its easy as long as you have patience, its never to late to try something new man, there are many schools our there and many ways to build