Nazareth, PA, (NAMM, HALL D, Booth 5602) - Thursday, June 2, 2022 — C. F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar) today unveils several new releases and milestones at the 2022 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Martin displays their 2.5 millionth guitar at NAMM
First, the 2.5 millionth guitar made by the 188-year-old, family-owned company. Martin’s design team created the breathtaking instrument in partnership with Chris and Diane Martin’s personal jeweler, Gary Werkheiser of Werkheiser Jewelers Ltd., in Bethlehem, PA, to celebrate the milestone. The top of the guitar, set with 436 diamonds, depicts the map of the stars that C. F. Martin and his family would have seen in the sky the evening they arrived in New York City on November 6, 1833. In addition, the hand-engraved pickguard features a map of lower Manhattan from 1833 with a ruby set at the location of C. F. Martin’s first store at 196 Hudson Street.
The team of Gary Werkheiser, Kris Franzese, and Doreen Vashlishan spent close to 200 hours setting the stones and hand engraving the features. “Werkheiser Jewelers Ltd. is honored to have been a part of the creation of the 2.5 millionth Martin Guitar. We are truly proud of the finished product,” said Werkheiser.
“This guitar is the perfect way to honor C.F. Martin Sr.’s journey to America and to celebrate the Martin family’s continued legacy. We are thrilled to share it with the world,” added Chris Martin.
Martin Guitar created a mini-documentary about the making of the guitar which is available today at MartinGuitar.com.
About the Guitar: Custom D-2.5 Millionth
C. F. Martin & Co. has been family owned and operated since the first guitar came off Christian Frederick Martin Sr.’s workbench in 1833. As of 2022, there have been 2.5 million guitars produced. In honor of this milestone, the instrument design team, partnered with Werkheiser Jewelers to create a stunning masterpiece – the Custom D-2.5 Millionth – which will live in the Martin Museum in Nazareth, PA. The theme of the guitar represents Christian Frederick Martin Sr.’s transition from Germany to America. The gems that adorn this milestone guitar include 436 diamonds, six natural sapphires, and one ruby, for a total weight of 21 carats. For the back and sides, the team selected special Belizean rosewood from Hearne Hardwoods that includes birds’ eyes throughout the grain, which, in essence, replicates what you might see in the sky. The team decided to let the natural beauty of the wood stand alone on the back of the guitar. On the inside of the guitar, the design features inlay work that includes a coat of arms for C. F. Sr.’s hometown in Germany, the sailing ship he arrived on, and the storefront of his first shop in New York City. There is also a stainless-steel plaque on the inside of the guitar that provides a brief background of the instrument.
The headstock and fretboard include a Star of Bethlehem that looks like a compass rose, which aligns with the navigational theme of the instrument. It also incorporates precious metals into the fingerboard, including platinum wire inlay.
The pickguard is made of palladium, and it includes a map of New York City from the 1830s showing the area where the original shop was located, with the shop’s location marked with a ruby. The bridge is also unique, combining a pyramid bridge that would have been used in the past and a modern belly bridge that is used on our modern instruments.
Martin also created one replica of this guitar (serial #2,500,001) that will be offered up for auction. The replica was crafted with special Brazilian rosewood from Chris Martin IV’s personal collection, which has been in storage for many years awaiting an extraordinary project like this one.
Martin announces three new ukulele models
Since 1915, C.F. Martin & Co. has been building the world’s most sought-after ukuleles. And in that time, the company’s ukes have been all over the planet and beyond. In 1926, a Martin ukulele was a stowaway on Admiral Bird’s expedition to the North Pole, and in 2021, a special soprano uke was aboard the Inspiation4 mission to space.
Today, Martin announces the release of three new ukulele models: 0 Tenor Uke, C1 Uke, T1 Uke FSC.
0 Tenor Uke
Since 1929, Martin has been building tenor ukes prized for their full-bodied voice and significant volume. The 0 Tenor Uke features a neck, top, back, and sides made from Martin’s coveted stash of sinker mahogany that was salvaged from the bottom of a river in Belize. Sinker mahogany offers a dense and complex tone that makes this model stand out from the crowd. This model includes a beautiful satin finish and an old-style script logo. List price: $1,599
C1 Uke
Martin has been building concert-sized ukes of world-renowned quality since 1925. Smaller than the tenor, but larger than the soprano, the concert ukulele is a well-balanced, easy-to-play ukulele, perfect for anyone just starting out. The C1 Uke features a top, back, and sides crafted of koa fine veneer with a hand-rubbed satin finish, and it comes with a high-quality soft gig bag. The C1 Uke is a beautiful example of why Martin is still the name for superior quality ukuleles. List price: $449.
T1 Uke FSC
Built for serious players who want premium tone in an environmentally friendly instrument, this tenor-sized uke is made from 100% FSC® woods. It includes a sapele top, back, and sides and an ebony fingerboard and bridge. Players will feel good knowing that all the wood in this ukulele is responsibly sourced. This ukulele is constructed with an applied dovetail sipo neck for extra stability. It sports Ratio® tuners—a new feature on Martin ukes—to get in tune quickly and accurately, and its satin finish adds the perfect amount of shine. This sustainable model also includes a striking blue gig bag that was made from recycled plastic water bottles, pulled from the ocean. Set the right tone for the planet with the T1 Uke FSC. List price: $459.
Martin Guitar to Debut New Authentics, a New Take on the StreetMaster Finish, and a New Road Series Model at NAMM
Martin is also set to announce the release of four new models: D-18 Authentic 1937, D-28 Authentic 1937, 000-16 StreetMaster®, and the GPC-13E Burst. These new instruments are excellent examples of the company’s superior finishing techniques and ability to recreate the look and tone of historic guitars. All of the new models will be on display at the Martin Guitar booth at NAMM.
About the Models:
D-18 Authentic 1937
1937 was an excellent year for guitars with a perfect storm of craftsmanship, innovation, and materials. This Authentic Series replication of a 1937 D-18 stays true to the original with hide glue construction and historically accurate detailing. This guitar features genuine mahogany back and sides, an Adirondack spruce top, and a bracing pattern circa 1937. It includes period-correct "18-style” appointments, an Authentic neck barrel and heel, and new this year, a more accurate body profile based on dreadnought shapes from the early Golden Era of Martin’s history. Martin’s VINTAGE TONE SYSTEM® (VTS) is employed to age the top and braces, which captures the tone from the 1930s era. All this adds up to a new instrument that delivers the pleasing aesthetics and tone that were previously only found in vintage instruments. List price: $6,299.
D-18 Authentic 1937
D-28 Authentic 1937
Perhaps the most revered vintage D-28s are the ones created in 1937 with a forward-shifted hand-scalloped X-bracing, an Adirondack spruce top, and a 1 3/4" neck width. This model is an updated version made with Guatemalan rosewood back and sides, and some subtle spec refinements to make it even more faithful to the original. One of the major updates is a more accurate body profile based on dreadnoughts from the 1930s and 40s. Martin’s VINTAGE TONE SYSTEM® (VTS) is employed to age the top and braces, which captures the tone from the 1930s era. All this adds up to a new instrument that delivers the pleasing aesthetics and tone that were previously only found in vintage instruments. List price: $7,499.
D-28 Authentic 1937
000-16 StreetMaster
Martin's popular StreetMaster® finish was introduced on the solid mahogany 15 Series in 2017 as a respectful nod to the working musician. Now Martin has applied this beautifully distressed finish to East Indian rosewood and Adirondack spruce for the first time, and it is a fine addition to their 16 Series. The Adirondack spruce top also includes Martin’s proprietary VINTAGE TONE SYSTEM® (VTS), which ages the wood for a truly vintage tone that you’d normally have to wait many decades to enjoy. If you love the look of the StreetMaster finish but want the bigger and bassier sound you get from highly coveted East Indian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, this guitar was made for you. Whether your next gig is at the historic Ryman Auditorium or a day of busking in the big city, the StreetMaster gives you the look and feel of a well-worn instrument, with a limited lifetime warranty and the superb playability of a new guitar. This model comes with a soft-shell case, making it easy to take it to the streets! List price: $1,999.
000-16 Street Master
GPC-13E Burst
This full-gloss Grand Performance cutaway model includes a burst-finished Sitka spruce top and stunning ziricote fine veneer back and sides. It is a great-looking and great-sounding guitar at an affordable price. It comes equipped with a Fishman® MX-T electronics package that includes a built-in soundhole tuner that auto mutes the audio output so you can tune up any time without using a pedal. This guitar comes with a premium soft-shell case, so it is road-ready to join you on all of your adventures! List price: $1,549.
GPC-13E Burst
Martin Guitar to Unveil Several Special Edition Guitars at NAMM
Martin's 2022 NAMM Show display will also unveil the release of seven special edition models: DSS Hops and Barley, CS-SC-2022, Custom Major Kealakai, D-Robert Goetzl 2, D-Robert Goetzl 5, D-42 Special, D-17 Squadron. Each instrument is a testament to Martin’s artistry and craftsmanship.
About the Models:
DSS Hops and Barley
This limited-edition instrument is sure to become a collector’s dream guitar. It pays homage to the special grains made famous for their use in beer making. The instrument is crafted with highly flamed walnut back and sides, which produces a balanced sound that mellows to a warm tone over time. The top is made with sinker redwood and is complemented with a Guatemalan rosewood headplate and pickguard. The headstock, fingerboard, rosette, pickguard, and bridge are adorned with a combination of abalone, mother-of-pearl, and wood inlay, which depict hops and barley in various forms. The instrument combines some Authentic build features like a dovetail neck joint, hide glue construction, and a 1931 old-style logo. It also includes modern features like Liquidmetal® bridge pins and a comfortable high-performance taper neck. This model is limited to 100 instruments and includes a paper label signed by C. F. Martin IV. List price: $12,999.
DSS Hops and Barley
CS-SC-2022
The Custom Shop SC-2022 is packed with custom features, and it's the first Nazareth-made instrument with the revolutionary SC body style. It includes East Indian rosewood back and sides for a bigger and bassier sound than its predecessors, and it has a VINTAGE TONE SYSTEM® (VTS) top to give it that coveted aged Martin tone. It includes Liquidmetal® bridge pins, which add volume and style, and it comes with Fishman® Aura® VT Blend electronics. The look is further enhanced with European flamed maple binding around the top and the fingerboard and gold open-gear tuners. The CS-SC-2022, with its patented Sure Align® neck system, gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. It’s also equipped with a low-profile velocity neck barrel that ergonomically accommodates your hand as you move up the neck, giving you the comfort and playability of an electric. Another patented feature is the internal soundboard recurve to add more bass response. This model is limited to 300 instruments. List price: $7,999.
CS-SC-2022
Custom Major Kealakai
Major Kealakai was a guitar, trombone, and flute player trained by the Royal Hawaiian Band and was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. in 1916, Martin made the Major a unique custom guitar that was wider, deeper, and longer than a 000. Designed to be louder to help fill concert halls, this historic guitar was the precursor to the Dreadnought. Martin honors Major Kealakai with this limited-edition 12-fret custom instrument. It features a vintage gloss finished sinker mahogany back and sides that are complemented with Madagascar rosewood binding and a vintage gloss-finished Adirondack spruce VINTAGE TONE SYSTEM® (VTS) top. It also includes a dovetail neck joint, hide glue construction, an authentic 1931 neck shape and 1931 X-bracing, and a slotted headstock with Golden Age relic nickel side-mount tuners. This limited-edition gem comes with a quality hardshell case. List price: $7,999.
Custom Major Kealakai
D-42 Special
In conjunction with former Martin employee Dick Boak, Martin Guitar is proud to introduce a stunning high-end Dreadnought model: the D-42 Special. The idea for this model began nearly 25 years ago when Martin installed its first laser engraving machine, and Boak began experimenting with various ways to utilize it. Boak created an intricate pen and ink illustration of a complex floral design that was meant to be laser engraved into a tortoise pickguard, but the material proved unable to be safely engraved. Fast-forward 23 years, Boak came across his original illustration and thought it would make a beautiful piece if inlaid with pearl. He was right! Working with Bill Seymour and Jeremy Chism at Pearlworks, the trio modified the artwork to allow for the detailed pearl inlay work. The model also features premium-grade East Indian rosewood back and sides, with the highest grade of Sitka spruce selected for the soundboard. Scalloped forward-shifted X-bracing ensures the open projection for which Martin guitars are prized. Additional vintage-inspired appointments include antique white bindings; abalone inlay along the perimeter of the top, fingerboard extension, and rosette; a full gloss finish with top aging toner; and nickel open-gear tuning machines with butterbean knobs. This model is limited to 100 instruments. List price: $12,199.
D-17 Squadron
The artwork, with its unmistakable toothy grin, was executed by Robert F. Goetzl and inspired by the WWII squadron planes that were painted and made famous by the legendary American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers. The body shape and style are built on the foundation of a D-17, and the artwork is digitally applied on the Sitka spruce top. This guitar is sure to turn heads wherever you go. List price: $1,999.
D-17 Squadron
From an Homage to Beer Making, to the First Custom Shop SC Model, These Instruments Are Works of Art.
Martin Guitar Unveils the Rich Robinson Custom Signature D-28
Finally, Martin is proud to announce the Rich Robinson Custom Signature Edition D-28. Based on Robinson’s 1954 D-28, that originally belonged to The Black Crowes’ guitarist's father, it is the first signature guitar Martin has built that replicates the artist’s personal instrument down to the wear and tear from decades of playing. Robinson affectionately named the model "The Appalachian" in homage to his father, who played it on stage at the Grand Ole Opry; as a traveling musician with the Hillbilly Highway; and in his folk band, The Appalachians, during the 1950s and ‘60s.
“This guitar, which was passed down to me from my father, is the instrument I learned to play guitar on,” Robinson said. “It is the instrument on which I wrote our songs, and I played on every Black Crowes’ record. When Martin approached me about a signature model, I thought, what an amazing tribute to have for him. That's why I named it "The Appalachian," a nod to my dad and his influence on me.”
Creating this signature model was no small feat, but after a year of development, the design team at Martin got the look, feel, and sound just right. “When I play this guitar, it rings: it feels incredibly accurate, so close to the original,” Robinson beamed. “I wanted to make sure it had the same tuners, the same style of neck, and the same bridge. The way that it sings, the way that it all presents itself, it's just phenomenal, and I couldn't be happier with it."
About the Model: D-28 Rich Robinson
Calling all Black Crowes fans! Martin is proud to bring you the Rich Robinson Custom Signature Edition D-28. This model is a guitar player’s dream. This soulful representation of Robinson’s beloved 1954 D-28 is crafted with aged satin-finished East Indian rosewood for the back and sides and an aged Sitka spruce top that is finished with a very thin vintage gloss. It also features rearward-shifted non-scalloped bracing, which offers a very balanced tone and added volume. It includes some 1950s style vintage build characteristics, like Martin’s signature dovetail neck joint, authentic hide glue construction, an ebony fingerboard and bridge, and aged nickel tuners. Another custom feature requested by Robinson is a bridge with the wings slightly softened for comfort. The model includes a specially designed label signed by Robinson and numbered in sequence. List price: $6,999.
D-28 Rich Robinson "The Appalachian"
For more information on Rich Robinson, please visit www.theblackcrowes.com
To see these models debut, visit Martin June 3rd-5th at the 2022 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
HALL D, Booth 5602.
About Martin Guitars and Strings:
C. F. Martin & Co.® has been Inspiring Musicians Worldwide® for nearly two centuries with their superior guitar and string products. Martin guitars and strings remain the choice for musicians around the world for their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Throughout the company’s long history, Martin products can be seen and heard across all genres of music and in all segments of pop culture, from concert and theater stages to television and movies.
With an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices, Martin continually drives the acoustic guitar market forward, introducing innovative features that have become standards across the industry. These groundbreaking innovations include the introduction of X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar, and the “Dreadnought” size guitar. Martin has also led innovations in strings, such as introducing the first high-tensile strength steel-string core wire; the first nickel acoustic strings (Martin Retro®); the proprietary Titanium Core strings; and now the groundbreaking, new Authentic Acoustic line, which offers unmatched stability, tone, comfort, and longevity.
Learn more here: www.martinguitar.com/aa. Connect with Martin Guitars and Martin Strings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and via www.martinguitar.com.
