Martin Factory Tour

[GeeNorm]

Today I had the opportunity to tour the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA. I must say these are some very friendly folks.

I've posted some pictures on my personal (and quite simplistic) web site. You can view them here, Martin Tour Pictures

Norman

[Danny]

   Alright you made it

[rpm60912]

This is a treat!!! Thanks for sharing your pics.

ricky 

[L-fan]

Nice pics, thanks.  I have heard that Martin sells at a discount from their factory.  Did you find that to be the case?

[GeeNorm]

Nice pics, thanks.  I have heard that Martin sells at a discount from their factory.  Did you find that to be the case?

No ... but the local Nazareth music store is an authorized dealer. They should be considered the "Second Stop" on the tour. In a quaint multi-story building on S. Main Street the owner escorts you upstairs to a room with sixty or more cases containing all the most popular Martin models. He engages in an interview process to help identify the best potential fits. If you want to try them out you must first put on a full body length apron to protect the finish on the instruments. A very unique experience!

My diagnosis from the visit was that an HD-28 could soothe any M class urges. 

As for prices, they are the classic low overhead, non-commission owner salesman, make the money on volume operation. The owner pointed out that they don't pay shipping charges, they just drive over to the factory and pick them up. If you Google search for their website you will see that Martin doen't let them advertize the prices  I don't think I'm supposed to actually mention prices on the forum but in all the shopping I've done lately their flat percent off list blew me away. PM me if you want to know the actual discount.

Norman

[rpm60912]

Norman,

I'm curious to know if you picked up a match suitable for your occasional public gigs at the local store. No shipping charges. Profit on volume sales only.
No borders / customs to deal with.

Safe travels.

ricky 

[bhika]

Thanks for the photo tour Norman, some day I'll make it down there myself.

[Randy_R]

Thanks for the pics. I took a motorcycle tour thru eastern PA a number of years ago, and one stop was the Martin factory. Unfortunately it wasn't open for tours at the time I was there.   

[teh]

I've been there 9 times and the new museum and picking parlor they put in a couple of years ago is worth the extra effort.

I am planning to hit Larrivee's Vancouver plant during the week of 12/17 when I visit my son in Seattle.

[lyric_girl]

I've been there 9 times and the new museum and picking parlor they put in a couple of years ago is worth the extra effort.

I am planning to hit Larrivee's Vancouver plant during the week of 12/17 when I visit my son in Seattle.

I didn't know you could visit Larrivee. I would LOVE to go there too.

[rpm60912]

I didn't know you could visit Larrivee. I would LOVE to go there too.

Shame on me. I lived in Vancouver from July 1995 - September 2004. Back then, I would have thought Larrivee was a new brand of soda-pop. I was an avid jogger and a triathlon wanna-be. Couldn't have cared less for guitars - except for the worship leader in our church who made a plain Art & Lutherie sing. That was the beginning of my curiosity with guitars.

Now that I finally woke up, I sure would like to visit the Vancouver factory too - on my next visit, Lord willing. I had to wait until I live some 12 hours drive north east of there - Edmonton.  Oh well...

ricky

[Danny]

I didn't know you could visit Larrivee. I would LOVE to go there too.

Here is a link to a topic where I visited the Larrivee facility in Oxnard.
                                         http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=22941.msg202138#msg202138

[lyric_girl]

                            Here is a link to a topic where I visited the Larrivee facility in Oxnard.
                                         http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=22941.msg202138#msg202138

Well, I didn't need to know that. I am going to CA next summer when I go to guitar camp. Part of the trip is being planned specifically so I can go to Taylor and now you tell me that I can go to Larrivee too and see where Holly is from! I'm gonna need more days in CA at this rate!

[tmanson]

Your last name isn't "Blake" is it?   

[GeeNorm]

Your last name isn't "Blake" is it?   

No. My middle name is Norman and my first name starts with G but that all I'm saying,