Customer Reviews

Martin guitars

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have the slightest interest in acoustic guitars you must own this book. I can't think of a single way to improve it. The book is packed with gorgeous "guitar-ponography" pictures of Martin instruments of varying ages and the writing is just as entertaining as any fiction I've read. Can I say more? I doubt that I will ever read a book about guitars as good or better than this one. Compare my review about Ingram's L5 book if you like.

DO NOT HESITATE....to buy this book. It is a really great book. It takes you back, all the way to Germany and the Stauffer influence on Martin Guitar. It has all the different models and the history of changes taking place not only with the company but the effect upon the instruments they were building. Maybe I'm just crazy about acoustic guitars but now, I have a greater appreciation for this genuine American guitar company. Richard Johnston and Jim Washburn really did knock the dust off lots of cool Martin guitar memorabilia too. Inside the cover is and acknowledgement to Dick Boak as Consulting Editor, he is a Martin man through and through and wrote the text for Martin's Kit Construction book and drew the plans, I do believe. This is an authoritative book and great photos on most of it's 264 pages. Yeah, I kinda liked it, and you will too if you like acoustic guitars, especially Martins. Two thumbs up, Five Stars.

Like most guitar nuts I'm a Martin lover. I thought that enough books had been written about the company and there was nothing more to say. I'm happy to admit I was wrong. The writers went the extra distance getting personal stories and never before seen pictures of some of the most beautiful guitars ever made. Surprisingly, the authors also delved into the less than rosy times, labor disputes and the near end of one of the country's oldest family run businesses. The book is the type of "bible" that you can return to often and learn something new. I couldn't give it a higher recommendation.

I was just a boy in the 60s, in Italy, when i first heard that very particular sound. Only after a lot of years i could buy a Martin Guitar, 'cause they were too expensive for us, really impossible to buy! Today i'm a player and I play that sound, and I never got tired of it! Like Stephen Stills says in the foreword, it's something magic, pure magic. This book doesn't explain magic, but it shows it! Paging, photos, notes, history, all is excellent. The only gap (yes, there's one!), is the cover: paperback!?! It's like finding plastic instead of wood in your guitar! This book was made only for a hardcover! Thanks also to Amazon for selling & shipping with care and so fast! ..in any case highly recommended!

Wonderful book! If your into Martin's, this is a great read. This one's better than Walter Carter's book...

I found this book to be truly fascinating. American history often has blanks in it and one of those blanks has always been the archival of American music types and instruments. Martin is America's oldest guitar manufacturer and thankfully for us, they believed in meticulous records keeping, they kept every letter and even the envelopes ever mailed them as well as invoices and other types of business related material, giving us a small glimpse into the American music scene all the way back to 1833. The Authors had unlimited access into this treasure trove of documents which they carefully chronicled for us to enjoy and learn from. All I can say is Thanks! The many photos, copies of letters, and assorted tidbits of knowledge kept me utterly enthralled for well over two weeks, and my librarian has told me I am the fastest reader she has ever seen with almost total recall. If you enjoy peeking into the past, and love music, especially stringed instruments , particularly Martin's you'll love this book.

This is my true favorite CF Martin book. It is a little outdated by now, but it is, after all these years, still a great pleasure to read in the book. I use it as a reference on a regular basis because it has plenty of good information.

The amount of good or interesting pictures is endless. You can't wihsh for more.

I also enjoyed the format, it is not just a dumb collection of text and pictures. It has been designed to be enjoyed.

I understand there is also a paperback edition but I would definitely prefer the bound edition (which I have).

As the proud owner of 2 Martins, it was very interesting to read the story of the Martin family business. My only gripe is the book seems a bit dis-jointed, with explanation boxes / articles taking up to 2 pages, thus competing with the text, causing you either to lose track of the narrative whilst reading the boxes, or having to go back many pages once you have finished the chapter. Nevertheless, all the information is there, and it is an interesting story for any guitar enthusiast, not just Martin owners. I would recommend it.

A well-written and surprisingly honest narrative about the bountiful and lean years of an American business icon of acoustic instruments. And it is not kind to certain members of the CF Martin clan(and justified in doing so), some of them who almost ran the company into the grounds of bankruptcy through neglect, mismanagement and lost direction. Fortunately others in the family held the light of promise and kept the company afloat by refocusing on what they've always done best--making flattop acoustic guitars. And to this day, the current President of the company has learned from the company's past to keep CF Martin on a successful road.

There are also stories from famous musicians, most notably Steven Stills, who has some interesting things to share about his first Martins in his career.

All in all the writing and well-done photographs make this book a worthwhile read.

I bought it for the picture of my 0018 guitar but I love looking through this book. A beautiful book for beautiful guitars.