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C. F. Martin Acoustic Guitar factory

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The original C.F. Martin acoustic guitar factory is a place that I’d love to see before I die! Due to the fact that I’m terrified of flying, I think that driving would definitely be the route for me take. Anyone into a road trip?! It’s roughly 683 km (425 miles) from Toronto and only a 8 hour drive.

Over the years I’ve played on many Martin Guitars. Every one of them were very different in the way that they played or sound. When I was a younger, one of the small things that stuck in my mind, while playing one of these gems, was the contrasting widths of the necks.

I then started thinking to myself, with this Martin acoustic I could play a particular song on this one better on it then another one. Humm. Then while playing on a completely different Martin I could fool around with another song I would find that it was easier on this one then the one that I previously played it on and so on.

Some time later on, I came to the realization that not all Martin acoustic guitars are made exactly the same. Why where they like that? Remember I was only a 13 year old back then. I constantly thought that these guys must really know what they are doing. Over the years I would dream about where the Martin guitars were made and who these guitar makers were.

So if I walked through the doors of the original C.F. Martin plant, I bet it would be quite the experience. I bet I would be transformed back to those early days, contemplating why each guitar was unique from the other. I imagine that I might smell the scent of fresh cut wood, be exposed to some rare humidity that would be hanging in the air. The overall sense of history that you get by walking through it’s hollowed hallways would stay with me for a long time.

So considering the weather is kinda crazy this winter, I guess this video will be the next best thing to being there. Enjoy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmfu1hqIDuo&feature=related

Here are a couple of great video tours of the C.F. Martin factory brought to you by Premier Guitar.
Part 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Remember, Guitar makers are the arms dealers of the peace movement!

Keep on Jammin’





The Snake Bass

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This is a picture of a really neat looking bass that has a fantastic carving of a snake incorporated into it. Instrument(s) like this appear like they are made just for looks. Either made for looks of to play, this one will keep your eyes glued to it for hours.

I especially like where the bass luthier places the tuning pegs. It took me a few seconds to notice this, do you see where they are? Hey Chris, if I win the lotto, I’ll pick one up for ya!

Alvin custom made snake bass

If you happen to own this bass we’d love to hear more about it.

Keep on Jammin’

Larrivee plant tours part II

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Now I’d like to complete the final part of a post I did a while ago about a guided video tour of the Larrivee plant. If your a serious or casual guitarist, you might find some neat answers to questions about how they make acoustic guitars. Enjoy!

In video 4 @ 01:13, they talk about all the parts of the neck of a guitar. The way they carve the neck is a craftsmanship at it’s best. I was amazed at how many parts of it that has names attached to them. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks or words! The prep work before painting is neat as well as the technique itself. The finishing part that Larrivee uses in this section is called a UV finish. They use to use a lacquer finish now but took around 2 weeks to dry properly. The new stuff cures in a minute and a half in comparison to 2 weeks for the older finish. I wonder if the new finish they apply affects the guitar’s tone, even a little bit? If you know this answer, I’d love to here from you.

In video 5, they show a technician using wood shims while installing the neck of the guitar to the body. I just thought it would size up perfectly but for a supper snug fit, I can see how shims come in handy @ 01:52. The way the neck is glued onto the body has to be a bit stressful for the technician. This is brought to us @ 03:28. It has to be perfect or otherwise and little problems at this part of the process will be magnified at the end. If the friction fit dove tail section is not match perfect, I think that there you got some explaining to do! Near the end of this last video, at the final polishing/buffing stage, I was hoping that the guy was going to show us what might happen if he launches a guitar when using the buffing wheel. That would be priceless! At my second jewelry job, I did that launching thing once while polishing a necklace for a boss of mine and I mangled the hell out of it. it can honestly be quite dangerous.

Here are the remaining links to complete the Larrivee Plant Tour.

Part 4, and 5.

To finish off the tour I thought that I’d add video of the man himself Jean Larrivee the genius behind the Larrivee.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3P6HcKVTrY&NR=1

Keep on Jammin’

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