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

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Permalink Reply by Bernie on June 9, 2009 at 10:56am

I am waiting for my D-41Special can hardly wait

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Permalink Reply by Bernie on June 9, 2009 at 10:57am

I ordered it in October and I may finally have it next week

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Permalink Reply by Richard N. Johnston on June 9, 2009 at 5:02pm

Bernie:
The D-41 Special gives you a lot of pearl for the price, enjoy! (they are also great sounding guitars, of course)

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Permalink Reply by kenny sultan on June 9, 2009 at 10:59am

Hey Guys,
Going techno on me!
See you both soon....
Take care
Kenny Sultan

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Permalink Reply by dick boak on June 9, 2009 at 11:27am

Kenny,

I am typing with one finger. It's a good thing no one is watching! It's akin to my guitar playing. I think it's a right brain/left brain thing! Forty years immersed in the guitar and almost that much on the computer. You'd think I could play or type!

dick

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Permalink Reply by James on June 9, 2009 at 11:55am

Hi Dick,

I suspect the forty years immersed down the hall from the finishing room with no vapour mask has probably helped as well! (But then again, look who's talking; I am dictating to my collie and she is actually doing the typing - so ignore any incidental references to cats, steaks or passing moose.)

Great to see another literary masterpiece on our beloved guitars. I am curious, as you look back on all of the unique instruments that you have been involved with during your tenure at Martin and researched with Richard for the latest book, which ones really stand out as special and why? (Other than the James D. Totten Signature D-42, of course!)

Thanks Dick. (Just think how proficient you'll become after another 40! Come to think about it, by then my collie will likely be dictating the next letter to me and asking you to ignore any references to guitars, sports or alcoholic beverages...)

Regards,

Jim Totten

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Permalink Reply by Albertini "Custom" Guitar Works on June 9, 2009 at 1:47pm

LMFAO LaughMyFreakingArseOff!!!

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Permalink Reply by Alan Osborne on June 9, 2009 at 10:59am

I am curious about the history of the Spanish cedar kerfing that gives my Martin that special smell. Martin Guitars seem to be the only guitar I have experienced that have that special smell even years their production. Is part of the reason that wood is used for the special smell.

I am also interested in the history of the documentation system that is used for each guitar based on its serial number. The spec sheet I get when I request it is so much more detailed than what other companies such as "Taylor" can give. So much information seems to be captured about each guitar.

The books are fantastic. I love the historical aspect of the the first, which really gives a person an idea of the roots of the American steel string guitar, and how it could have been a German standard had CF Martin not been forced out of Germany due to the guild issues.

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Permalink Reply by Richard N. Johnston on June 9, 2009 at 11:16am

Martin was using Spanish cedar for kerfing back when it was using a lot of that wood for necks (pre-1916). When the company began using mahogany necks instead, it still continued to use cedar for the linings (kerfing), even though it probably would have been easier to switch to mahogany linings as well. This tendency to continue an earlier style beyond when it is logical to do so is a big part of what makes Martin guitars special. The "dart" or "diamond" on the back of the headstock is another example. My favorite example of this trait is on the 00-21, which was the only Martin model made in the old 12-fret style with slotted headstock in the catalog for many years (in the '40s-'60s). All the bindings and purflings throughout the entire Martin line were celluloid, but they still gave the 00-21 wood purfling inside the binding and around the soundhole of the 00-21. It's doubtful that even 1% of its customers noticed, but Martin kept the earlier style alive on that model anyway.
I'll have to leave it to Dick Boak to answer your comment about the documentation

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Permalink Reply by dick boak on June 9, 2009 at 11:44am

Regarding documentation, I am a MAC and Martin Production is a PC. I keep a blank template that I use to develop new specs. I try to write specs in plain English so that the artists that I'm working with can comprehend them. Production specs are much more complicated. They call out every conceivable detail that might occur on the guitar. In the Custom Shop, each craftsperson working on an instrument simply refers to their job on the spec sheet that follows each neck and body through the shop. For interest's sake, I have uploaded my blank spec template plus the very detailed production specs for a D-28.

Attachments:

• SpecSheetTemplate.doc, 22 KB
• D-28 Specs.xls, 45 KB

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Permalink Reply by Bernie on June 9, 2009 at 10:59am

I will be going to Nazareth to pick it up and I will go the the factory (again) and pick up your book along with other items

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Permalink Reply by Bernie on June 9, 2009 at 11:02am

I read part of it in Acoustic Guitat Mag and I thought it was interesting, it must be nice to be arounf all of those incredibule old Martins. I am planning on making it to MOC get together next month

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