Martin Guitars part 3
The fourteen fret neck was suggested to Martin Guitars by Perry Betchel a then famous banjo player. He thought this arrangement would make the guitar a more versatile instrument.
It became so popular that it featured throughout the all Martin model lines. Such was it's popularity that all other guitar manufacturers of the time picked up on the idea and incorporated it into models of their own.
Guess where the Dreadnought guitar got it's name. From a class of British warship. Not a lot of people know that. Drop that into conversation when you get the chance.
The Dreadnought is a large bodied guitar made specifically for supporting vocals with it's impressive bass response.
Again most manufacturers of acoustic guitars now incorporate a version of this model into their own line of instruments.
Frank Henry Martin died aged 81 in 1948.
This left C.F. Martin III to watch over some of the most prosperous times of the company.
With the war behind them many people found themselves with more money in their pockets. This coupled with a resurgence in interest in the guitar and the upcoming folk scene, 1948-1970 saw huge growth in the Martin Guitar Company.
While the demand for Martin's products far outstripped supply this did leave them in the situation where orders for their guitars stretched for three years into the future. So while demand was high they lost many sales because of their inability to supply.
Frank Herbert took over from his father running the business in 1970. He quickly began purchasing other musical related businesses.
He expanded the Sycamore Street production facility, introduced the Backpacker guitar, and expanded the limited edition line to include signature guitars for many famous players. Eric Clapton, Gene Autrey and Mart Stuart, but not Tommy Emmanuel, sacrilege.
He also introduced the X Series which brought computer aided production into the Martin build process for the first time.
He is still in charge today and travels extensively to keep abreast of guitar development around the world and also to visit the company's dealerships.
Long may he reign.
With the war behind them many people found themselves with more money in their pockets. This coupled with a resurgence in interest in the guitar and the upcoming folk scene, 1948-1970 saw huge growth in the Martin Guitar Company.
While the demand for Martin's products far outstripped supply this did leave them in the situation where orders for their guitars stretched for three years into the future. So while demand was high they lost many sales because of their inability to supply.
Frank Herbert Martin
Frank Herbert Martin joined the company in 1955 and in 1964 helped his father build a completely new production plant in Nazareth. The Sycamore Street facility was based on one floor which made the production process more streamlined and easier to work with. The old plant was spread over 3 floors.Frank Herbert took over from his father running the business in 1970. He quickly began purchasing other musical related businesses.
- Vega Banjo Works
- Fibes Drum Company
- Darco String Company, owned by John D'Addario Sr, John D'Addario & James D'Addrio
- AB Herman Carlson Levin Company
Yet More Martins
Christian Frederick Martin IV was born in 1955 and after attending UCLA and leaving with a Degree in Business Administration, he took over the reigns of the company on the death of his grandfather CF Martin III in June 1986.He expanded the Sycamore Street production facility, introduced the Backpacker guitar, and expanded the limited edition line to include signature guitars for many famous players. Eric Clapton, Gene Autrey and Mart Stuart, but not Tommy Emmanuel, sacrilege.
He also introduced the X Series which brought computer aided production into the Martin build process for the first time.
He is still in charge today and travels extensively to keep abreast of guitar development around the world and also to visit the company's dealerships.
Long may he reign.