Martin picks Mexico for guitar work

The Express-Times ^ | Wednesday, February 04, 2004 | ANTHONY SALAMONE

[singletrack]

Nice choice.Tacomas are great. I was messing with their acoustic bass at the music store the other day and was impressed with the sound and value ( less than $600).I've had Larrame (sp?) guitars come highly recommended but I don't have any personal experience, so you might keep an eye peeled and tell me what you think.I'm playing a 1977 Takamine dreadnaught, one of the lawsuit guitars. The copies were so good that Martin sued and WON. Had the guitar for 25 yrs now and i still love it. Names are nice, but it always comes down to you and the guitar.

[gg188]

68 Martin D-18 i bought w college scholarship money new for $295 in 1968.

Gibson Custom Shop ES-446 I bought new a few years back. Full hollow body ES about the dimensions of a Les Paul.

Gibson SG Les Paul 61 heritage I bought when I bought the ES 446 (That was when Mars Music was going out of biz.)

I let my '63 pre-CBS Strat go to a pawn shop for a song while I was chasing women in my younger days.

[TheStickman]

I played Gibson's for more years than I wanna count. I still have the remains of a once screaming Maurauder Custom that need to go to the luthier for rebirth. However, for the better part of the last year I've been playing Godin Guitars on stage. Playing a model LG right now that had some SWEET Seymour Duncan pickups in it and a 2 octave neck.

I still wanna find the perfect LP Studio or a sweet fat SG. But for now, I love this Godin.

[Rebelbase]

For Martin's sake, I hope its their lower end guitars being made there. I don't know anyone who would plunk down a wad of cash for Mexican Martin.

[Rebelbase]

I missed the first sentence:

'Least expensive' DXM to be assembled in foreign plant

I think thats the one with the composite top, the stuff looks like formica.

[Willie Green]

I was afraid your post was going to say the entire operation was leaving Nazareth. Thankfully, the finest instruments will still be made there

For the time being.
But 3 years from now?
Maybe 5???

[Afronaut]

Good One,

I met the Reps from Martin Guitars at the Philly Guitar show this year. I told them that some of the finest moments I have ever spent is playing great Martin Guitars.

The prices have gone through the roof. But if you spend time and search for one you can get something that you can pass down for 100's of years. I presently own a 000-15s 12 fret piece that cost me 700 bucks used and it is a great guitar to play all day. leave it on a chair, up against the desk, walk by, pick it up and play some more.

The Mexican crap is like a sickness that will never end. The Fenders MIM are nothing that I would ever buy, But then you might and be pleased. I have been in Nazereth and have always been proud to own a Martin guitar. I bought a brand new Gibson Advanced Jumbo that I had to get picked out for me by a rep, to insure that it was Perfect, and it is. The Case was made in Canada, of course I called them and complained.

The Fender Custom Shop Vibroking is hand wired in the USA, But the birch cabinet is made in Mexico. I of course called and complained.

Mexico has a long history with Fender back to the 50's. Leo liked cheap labor. Recent Fender Custom Shop guitars are some of the finest that Fender ever made. I have two and they are great.

Here is a great link for Martin that shows the great folks there. Here

[gg188]

The Meximartin.

The DMeXM

[Ben Ficklin]

Circa 1970 Guild D 35, serial# 67862.

[4wurdobsrver]

I agree, I also have a MIM Fender strat that plays very nice with a maple fret board. I have not changed the pups yet but thats a must do. the stock pups are too thin sounding and not good at all. I also have a Epiphone Sheraton 2 made in Korea in 95. Plays like a dream. Pups were changed to Gibson 57's, a classic and a classic plus. This is my favorite guitar now. The craftmanship coming out of Korea on these guitars is right up there with the best. Unreal for the low cost. IMHO

[Mr. Jeeves]

Please tell us what kind of guit-boxes you have.

OK:

• Brian Moore C90P.13, violin burst over flamed maple.
• Brian Moore C90P.13, sky blue over quilted maple (on order).
• Brian Moore i8.13, vintage yellow over quilted maple.
• Brian Moore i88.13, turquoise over quilted maple.
• Brian Moore i5 bass, vintage yellow over quilted maple.
• Carvin DC400, deep purple over quilted maple.
• Carvin DC200, pearl blue
• Carvin AE185, blueburst over quilted maple.
• Carvin CC275, clear over flamed maple.
• Carvin CL450, clear over red cedar.
• Carvin V220C, jet black.
• Carvin C980, clear over spruce.
• Martin Backpacker, matte satin over spruce.
• Gibson "The Paul", walnut colored.
• Taylor 600-SPEC (Grand Concert), clear over spruce, flamed maple sides and back.

Let's not talk about amps and effects - I'll be here all night! I'm a huge fan of Brian Moore Custom electric guitars - they are perfect for the guitar synth stuff I like to play.

[Afronaut]

We have been here before Mr. Jeeves...!

[lormand]

The 61' SG has to be worth a good chunk of change. When I first started banging heads in 72', I started playing on a Sears & Roebuck SG ripoff. I was a big fan of Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath. He only plays SGs, and I have always wanted one since (along with many others).

But I am a dedicated Strat Man, 100%.

For what it's worth, here is a video of me playing my 89' American Standard Strat, using Cakewalk. I don't have a "studio" yet, and my kids ruin any attempt to record, as you can see and hear in the video.

Oye Como Va

[lormand]

"I let my '63 pre-CBS Strat go to a pawn shop for a song while I was chasing women in my younger days."

Let that be a lesson to all.

Never let a woman get between you, and your Strat!

[lormand]

OMG!

I wish I could commend you on the size and quality of your collection, but I don't know how to say it without emasculating myself :)

I'm not sure what violin burst is, but is this it?

[Mr. Jeeves]

That's pretty close. It's darker brown on the edges and medium brown in the middle like a violin, but it always looks reddish-orange in digital photographs. Mine has a rosewood fretboard.

[Mr. Jeeves]

We have been here before Mr. Jeeves...!

So we have! It's good to recycle the best topics at least once a year.

[Gone_Postal]

I play a 69 Fender Strat, a 73 Guild Starfire V, a 77 Gibson Les Paul Custom,
A Guild D45, And An Alvarez

[dljordan]

I had a 74' Martin D-28 that was wonderful. One of the worst mistakes I ever made was to sell it. I had a pair of gibson Hummingbirds from the 60's, a six and a twelve string. I liked them but always thought the strings were too close together.

[Gone_Postal]

Oh I forgot my Fender Jazz Bass it is made in Mexico plays ok