The Birth of the American Guitar | Documentary

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00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - 06:13 - Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings and Pioneering Inventions
06:14 - 09:22 - Chapter 2: A New Home in Nazareth
09:23 - 12:55 - Chapter 3: The Ukulele Saves the Day
12:55 - 18:00 - Chapter 4: Inventing an Icon: The OM-28
18:01 - 22:47 - Chapter 5: The Birth of The Dreadnought
23:48 - 28:17 - Chapter 6: Woodstock and The Folk Revival
28:18 - 32:06 - Chapter 7: Martin's Greatest Threat
32:07 - 37:39 - Chapter 8: The Signature Boom and MTV Unplugged
37:40 - 42:34 - Chapter 9: A New Golden Era
42:35 - 43:31 - Credits

[edsautter]

Very enjoyable video Mary, bravo!

I was a Martin employee in the mid 80. I worked at the north st building. My desk was in the same area as C.F. Martin had his. I worked with Dick Boak there. It was an enjoyment to see this documentary. The J40 model guitar was made in that plant. It was Dick Boak who, with my help assembled the first prototype guitar. I was surprised to see the guitar become a production guitar later on. We also had a customer who would come in buy tops and mahogany that he made into guitars. The guitar he was making was the backpacker. Martin has since bought the design up from him. But then he was making them in his garage in New Jersey.
At the time the north st plant was a parts, wood supply house called Woodworkers Dream. Above us was part of their string winding and packing department and telemarking shipping dept. Above that was the attic. The attic was a wonderful place as it had archive paperwork in boxes there along with boxes of old uke, mandolin, guitar and electric guitar parts and many other odds and ends. I would love to go back there again and just walk the floors up there. The stories it would tell.
I'm sorry you didn't touch on the other electric guitars martin made like the F65. They were fantastic for there time. Just never took off and I'm sorta glad as Martin may not be the way they are today. This was a well presented documentary and overview of Martin, thank you so much.

[taperry]

So how does it feel to play a $300, 000 pre-war Martin? Seriously, I am so glad to see/hear you playing those precious guitars. It pains me to see such beauties locked away, kudos to Martin for allowing you to bring them out & letting them sing. Fantastic episode Mary!

[novaselineu]

Martin is a great place to visit. I used to live nearby, and have visited there several times.

My next door neighbor there once told me a story involving the Martins. Next to Nazareth is a small town called Tatamy. One day my neighbor was driving through Tatamy, in an area where there was nothing, and came across a motorhome that had broken down. My neighbor stopped to see if the driver needed help. It turned out that it was occupied by a bunch of Martins, and they did indeed need help. Now this was before cell phones, so they had been unable to call out. Instead, at least some of them got a little inebrieted while they were waiting around. They ended up piling into my neighbor's Buick, and he took them home. They even offered him a new guitar for helping them, but he didn't accept, telling them truthfully that he didn't play. I think Chris was one of the people he picked up, but I'm not sure he was one of the ones drinking. He swore it was a true story, and he was not a BS artist. I had always meant to ask Chris if the story was true, but I never ran into him to ask, during my visits to the factory.

[buaidhnobasify]

Around 17:30, you can see the joy in her face. I remember playing a Guild 12 string and having the same reaction. This is why I play guitar. Happy Happy, Joy Joy.

[roygarrett]

My wifes parents live within miles of the Martin Factory and museum. I've been there many times. My wife worked with CF Martin IV wife in the police dept back in the 80's. Very nice video. I own several Martins and IV signed my 83 D-28. The museum is very interesting and extremely cool. I've seen the instruments you play. Awesome experience for anyone that plays guitar.

[pcmountaindog]

To be offered the chance to play a Martin from the early 1800s all I can say is you have my compliments and respect. These guitars don't really belong to Martin alone, they belong to all of us and were meant to be played. It's great to see Martin understands this and was willing to place such a guitar in your hands.

[Kendrix_]

That's awesome. I played that same 1837 Stauffer style guitar you played in the video. A friend of mine that I used to work with went to school with a guy who was very high up in Martin. The two of us went there one day about 10 years ago and his friend gave us that same kind of tour, pulling guitars from behind the glass and letting us play them. Very cool experience. Martin is one of my favorite places in the world! Excellent video.

EDIT: OOH.. He mentioned Joseph Kekuku, one of the inventors of the slide guitar method/sound. He died in 1932 in Morristown, NJ and was buried in the Orchard Street Cemetery in Dover, NJ. (I grew up in Dover from.. 3rd grade until 7th grade). That cemetery kind of got overgrown over the years and the location of his actual grave is unknown. However, some years back, the local Blues society got together and raised some money to put a would-be marker in his honor. They wound up putting an ornate bench in the cemetery with his info inscribed into it. A very cool piece of musical history. Mary, if you ever find yourself looking for it for another video, let me know. I'll gladly show you where it's at.

[bniwa]

One of the best Martin docs I’ve seen. Your talents reach across and beyond the musical spectrum - Very professional, informative and entertaining of course. Bravo Mary!

[mazzysmusic]

Brilliant Mary. Everyone who loves music and guitars should watch this.

[jarrodhendricks]

As someone who grew up in Nazareth, I think we often forget what a key part Martin played in music history. Thank you for letting me remember!

[vxevxe]

Miss Mary sure looked like she was enjoying herself while playing those guitars. Love that look and smile.

[theapplepaul]

Wonderful documentary done by Ms. Spender, an international musical treasure herself.
I still miss the D18 that came my way back in the '70's. Eventually sold it to pay my mechanic for rings and valves on my '67 MGB.
Great guitars have their own individual personality, and this one was beyond special.

[jennifercall]

Thank you Mary for bringing us this documentary. I too am a Martin Fan. I also have spent a good portion of my life living in Germany and appreciate the German roots of the Martin. Very well done.

[mitchweissman]

As a retail guitar Sales person for years, and musician/guitarist, I can say the main thing I loved about Martin were it's people. They couldn't be more helpful and concerned with getting the guitars right in every way. Great video. I spent many an hour on the phone and countless emails with everyone at all levels. Always a pleasure.

[corneliuscrewe]

The tone of that OM-45 is positively dreamy, and it really suits Mary’s style to a tee.

[gordonvanamburg]

Mary! You knocked the ball out of the park with this documentary. So many fascinating stories historic instruments! I would be terrified to even touch those guitars you got to play. Bravo

[joeray_skrha]

Great job Mary... Bought my first D-35 in 1970.. Since then, the stable has grown to 21 Martins, including a D-45 Stephen Stills 20/91 and a Roy Rogers Braz. Continue to write on Martins and would be lost without them. Thank you to the gentlemen and ladies who built these wonderful instruments. They are clearly the American Stradivarius...

[shaunhouse]

Martin guitars even rarer than the one Kurt Russel smashed because Tarrantino "forgot" to say cut making "The Hateful Eight"

[missopowers]

This is very well done. Low key and professional, and covering the span of Martin's development and innovations with clarity and warmth. I've read most of the books and seen several other documentaries, and I am of the opinion that this effort is deserving of a place among them. I enjoyed it very much, thank you.

[fordsrestorations]

See Mary, people never get tired of hearing the history of music and instruments. It is because no matter how many times we hear it we always are able to learn more, you did a very good job on this