Meet Dick Boak and Richard Johnston to talk about the history of Martin Guitars

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Permalink Reply by Tom McNulty on June 9, 2009 at 2:24pm

Dick or Richard,
In the 1960s my mom and dad owned property in the berkshires where we camped on weekends. They sold the property in 1971. In 1999 I bought the property back. My mom passed away March 4th at the age of 89. She had planted 3 spruce trees there in the early 60s and we used to hang out in a small grove of apple trees. I want to cut down one of the spruce trees and one of the apple trees and build a guitar out of them. What is the down side of using apple wood for the back and sides? I've never seen it used.

Thanks, Tom

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Permalink Reply by Albertini "Custom" Guitar Works on June 9, 2009 at 2:44pm

Tom I am actually currently planing down by hand some discarded apple and pear trees! Where are you at? Berkshires? I do not know but I have been told that some of what was thought to be maple used in some of Antonio Stradivarius's violins was actually pear wood from his village or own backyard! Keep in touch and i will let you know of my findings and i would appreciate it if you would do the same for me? I also cut down some spruce trees of a certain species with my Father that needed to be removed from the local hospital ground and I have to warn you that is some very tough and hard stuff!!! Word to the wise make sure you have some extra chains and sharpeners on hand... Splitting is highly recommended to follow the grain in the wood to start.
Thank You Daniel T. Albertini
danielamusic@sbcglobal.net

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Permalink Reply by Tom McNulty on June 9, 2009 at 7:21pm

Daniel, I'm in Windsor Ma. Keeping in touch will be a good thing. Let me know how the apple comes out.

Thanks for the reply,

Tom

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Permalink Reply by Terry Lin on June 9, 2009 at 2:38pm

Mr Boak and Mr Johnston,

Great to have you both here!! I have the technical reference book which is a fantastic fodder for a Martin Guitar-head like myself!! Have been to the Martin Museum (and seen Mr Boak setting organizing the display), and have taken the great tour as well.

I'm a huge fan of the Martin 000-12 frets, (I own 2 discontinued 000's--a 000-16SGT and a 000-17S), and am wondering if there are any plans to release either or both of the following: (hint: they both use the same bodyshape!)

1. I love the 000-12 frets, but would love if Martin would put out a 000-12 fret Cutaway, a la the Merle Haggard?

I believe Schoenberg and Dana Bourgeois worked with Martin in the past, and Martin allowed them to make the 000-12 fret cutaways? They make some beautiful guitars...but they ain't Martins!

2. Nylon string, i.e. 000-16GRNE--any plans for Martin making at least ONE Nylon string guitar?

The only non Martin guitar I own is a Takamine classical, which is nice--but it ain't a Martin!!

I'd love to have my entire playing collection to be Martin guitars, (I also own a J-40M and a Little Martin LX1E, the top of which I hand tinted to make it look aged/"vintage"--hope you like it!) and those 2 would be great additions to my ever growing collection of Martins!

Thanks,

Terry Lin

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Permalink Reply by Albertini "Custom" Guitar Works on June 9, 2009 at 2:47pm

Thank you AGW, Richard, Dick and company here for this great resource and contribution to the knowledge database in my head! I have to go due to tornado sirens going off now... Yep its that time of year in Pittsburg Kansas! Peace and Love

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Permalink Reply by Michael Clonts on June 9, 2009 at 3:36pm

Dick and Richard - In September of last year, with a tear in my eye, I sent my '05 D41 back to Nazareth for a warranty re-shellac. There were problems with the finish on the binding. It came back last January with Chris Martin's signature inside (as I requested). The guitar looked, felt, played and sounded like a brand new guitar. I don't know if it was the SP's they put on it or what, but ever since then, it has been a real joy to play - over my other guitars (even my 00015). To this day, I still feel that this dreadnought has been a great investment. I'll go so far to say that I think the D41 is the best all around guitar Martin makes, not only for its beauty, but also for the sound it makes. I also want to compliment you on the new Martin books 1 and 2. I own them both and am enjoying them a lot.

Thanks for everything....

Mike Clonts,

Cottonwood, AZ

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Permalink Reply by Richard N. Johnston on June 9, 2009 at 4:41pm

Thanks for the kind words about the books, and you have lots of company when it comes to your opinion of the D-41 models. Other new models come and go, but the D-41 has always been a favorite.

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Permalink Reply by hd on June 9, 2009 at 3:56pm

I have a Martin 000-X1 and a OOO-15 and a D-28. Is it my ears but the 000-X1 actually sounds better than the 000-15? Is it that the 000-15 is not as nice as the D-15 or have others heard the same?

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Permalink Reply by Richard N. Johnston on June 9, 2009 at 4:46pm

My guess is that what you are hearing is the difference between the solid spruce top on the 000-X1 and the mahogany top of your 000-15. From years and years of selling Martin guitars, I've found that some people just do not like the sound of any Martin with a hardwood top (whether it's mahogany or koa). Spruce has a certain lively "quick off the line" tone quality that the heavier, denser, tops like mahogany or koa seem to lack. There's no doubt the top of a guitar (and the top bracing) does more to determine its tone than any other component, and probably more than all the other components of a guitar combined.

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Permalink Reply by Tim O'Brien on June 9, 2009 at 4:55pm

Hi Dick

Great to chat to you I play a great Martin OM41s and enjoy many hours a day playing, so thank you guys for making such a great instrument. My question is, although Martin guitars are an American iconic brand is there a role that you could see other countries such as Australia contributing to the Martin story eg using Australian woods, Artist models ect.

Tim O'Brien

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Schindelheim on June 9, 2009 at 6:13pm

I have a D-28 sunburst model that I picked up in 1980. I think it was made around 1971. Serial number is 325365. It needs some help;there are some cracks in the finish, the neck may have warped a bit and the pick guard has curled up around the edges. Would you have any suggestions as to what might be done to fix this beauty? And where would be a good place to go to have it done?

Thanks,
Joe Schindelheim

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Permalink Reply by Richard N. Johnston on June 9, 2009 at 6:20pm

If you tell us where you live we can probably recommend someone to work on your D-28.

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