Martin Guitar Preserves a Handcrafted Heritage

By Sara George, Photography by Ryan Hulvat

Is it tone, beauty, handcrafting, teamwork, quality control, lifetime guarantee, or the mystique of big-name performers that makes a Martin Guitar—a “Martin?”

Founded in 1833 Germany by Christian Frederick Martin Sr., the C.F. Martin & Company (home of Martin Guitar and Martin Strings) has been located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, since 1839. The Martin Guitar name enjoys world renown on a mythic scale. In August 2000, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission unveiled a marker at the original North Street factory in Nazareth commemorating the life and legacy of C.F. Martin. The marker reads, in par, “One of the oldest musical instrument manufacturers. Its innovations in acoustic guitar design—including the x-braced flat-top and Dreadnought guitar—went on to exert a formidable influence in the industry.”