The Martin Guitar History in Brief
The history of Martin Guitar Company dates all the way back to 1796 in Germany, with the birth of
Christian Frederick (C.F.) Martin. At the age of 15 C.F. Martin began an apprenticeship to learn how
to make guitars. His work was well noted but battles between guilds in Germany placed to many
restrictions on Martin's craft, so in 1833 he left Germany to go to United States and set up shop in New York.
Five years later, C.F. Martin would sell his New York shop and relocate his Martin and Company to Nazereth, Pennsylvania.
Throughout the mid 1800's Martin Guitars would go through a series of innovations, including the "X"
bracing system designed for the guitar top. This unique system provides some of the classic tone still
heard and used in some of Martin's guitars today. C.F. Martin passed away in 1867 leaving his company to his son
C.F. Martin Jr. C.F. Martin ran the company for a brief eleven years and in 1888 he unexpectantly died leaving
the Martin guitars company to his 22 year old son Frank. Frank expanded Martin Guitar Company into mandolins and in
1916 Frank Martin would help a man name Harry Hunt design what was known as a "Dreadnought" guitar.
In 1931, Martin and Comany would incorporate the dreadnought design to create the now famous and revolutionary
Martin Dreadnought guitar. It is said that the Martin designed dreadnought acoustic guitar is the design that
many other manufacturer's dreadnoughts are based off. During the 50's and 60's Martin Guitar and Company's success
grew dramatically and even at times had a three year backlog! Due to such a backlog Martin guitars would build
a new factory in Nazereth where they still manufacturer some of today's finest guitars. Under the leadership of C.F. Martin IV,
Martin and Co. continues to build each of there guitars with extreme quality and beauty. All Martin guitars use top notch woods that
are expertly inspected and selected by the wood experts at Martin Guitar. Nothing else sounds like a Martin guitar.
Martin D-15
The Martin D-15 is one of Martin Guitars more affordable and, therefore, more popular guitars. The D-15 Martin Guitar is based of a popular design from the 1940's. The D-15 is made of geniue mahogany (or solid sapele) and has a rosewood fretboard.
Martin HD-28
The Martin HD-28 guitar is another popular Martin guitar. It's top is made of Sitka Spruce, the back and sides are made of rosewood, the neck is mahogany with an ebony fretboard. Some fine woods!
