Martin Celebrates the 1 Million Mark
January 26, 2004
Such a simple number: a one followed by six zeros. Yet C.F. Martin & Company's millionth guitar represents so much: a family's dedication to an ideal that has endured for six generations, an incredible 171 years of musical history, more than 700 craftspeople whose talents and attention to detail can be appreciated in every Martin guitar, and countless guitar players for whom the Martin sound is their sound.
So it's only natural that the millionth C.F. Martin & Company guitar be a spectacular celebration of the Company's history and art.
Crafted from C.I.T.E.S. certified Brazilian rosewood, Adirondack red spruce, black African ebony and genuine mahogany, Serial #1,000,000 -- fittingly, a Dreadnought, one of Martin's most influential designs -- is the most elaborate instrument in the company's history, surpassing even the D-45 China Dragon (#700,000) and the D-45 Peacock (#750,000). Intricate inlays of abalone, mother of pearl, sea snail, 18-karat gold, white gold and precious gems, including diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and aquamarines, cover the back, fingerboard, headstock, rosette, pickguard and inset soundhole "rose." Similar inlays accent the sides and neck.
The inlays feature Victorian and Baroque imagery as well as some uniquely Martin elements. Tendrils of vines and leaves frame the top, back, sides and neck, and more elaborate inlays in the same style are set into the back of the neck and the sides. A grand trellis rises from an urn at the base of the fingerboard. A golden eagle peers from a flourish of leaves on the headstock. The pickguard features a guitar top with Martin's innovative X-bracing as well as tools of the luthier's trade.
Most spectacular of all is the guitar's back. An urn near the center supports an arbor of vines and leaves on which four angels play guitars, a mandolin and a ukulele, while near the top, two more angels place a wreath on the neck of an early Martin of the sort the founder C. F. Martin, Sr. made in his early years in the United States. Framed by cascading tendrils, "#1,000,000" is followed by the familiar "C.F. Martin & Co., Est. 1833" logo in abalone. Near the bottom, an engraved portrait of C.F. Martin himself completes the inlay.
Work on the millionth Martin began in early 2002, when master inlay artist Larry Robinson submitted drawings for the various inlay elements. After selection and parts preparation in Nazareth, the various pieces were shipped to Robinson's shop in Sonoma County, California. Nearly two years of cutting the inlay pieces (by hand, with a jeweler's saw), fabricating the designs, gluing them into carefully incised wood and flat-sanding followed. Robinson was assisted by world-class engraver Dave Guilietti, who engraved all the gold elements as well as the angels, cherubs and portrait of C. F. Martin, Sr. on the back. The jewels were tube set by Jeweler's Warehouse. The various elements were returned to Martin in late 2003. The jewels were placed in their settings by Larry Robinson in mid-December 2003 -- just in time for extensive photography in anticipation of the guitar's unveiling on January 15, 2004 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Even a special display module has been custom fabricated to house the instrument at the show, as well as the incredible Genuine Ostritch Skin Custom Case custom made for the one millionth guitar by TKL Case Company.
For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com. |
