Martin Guitar Company

There are so many interesting places in Pennsylvania including the Martin Guitar Company.

I went to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in eastern Pennsylvania to take a free tour of the factory of the finest guitar made anywhere. More than 200 guitars are made at Martin each day, many more than when the company first opened in New York City in 1833 (it moved to Nazareth in 1839).

Mr. Martin himself happened to be in attendance that day - in the pink shirt.

These are the tables in the entry hall lobby.

This is part of a very large display of the famous artists who have played and recorded on Martin guitars including Dylan, Young, Stephen Stills and Robbie Robertson.

The tour started with discussions and descriptions of types of wood — the tops are usually made with spruce, the sides and backs with mahogany and rosewood — and ended with a look at a few finished instruments. We had on earphones so we could hear the tour guide speak as we toured through the factory.

We watched Martin employees soak wood so it could be bent into the sides of guitars; use clothespins to glue the interior linings; smooth frets; and stain bodies.

Prices for the factory-made guitars range from $299 to many thousands of dollars. The most popular Martin model, the D-28, retails for $2,849. And Martin still makes custom guitars that can cost more than $100,000.

Our tour guide has worked there for a long time and knows everyone.

Notice those clothes pins?

Shapers.

Glue and tape.

Refining.

I wanted to stop and watch but we had to keep moving.

After the tour we played expensive guitars in the soundproof room. Fun!

Time to leave but nice to know this company is thriving. People still love fine musical instruments.