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  #1  
Old 01-06-2012, 11:51 PM
Thrillhouse Thrillhouse is offline
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Default Martin Custom Shop Question

I was in a GC today and played a bunch of Martins and other guitars. I talked a bit about the custom shop stuff with a salesman that told me about a recent trip he made to the Martin factory. He told me something that I thought was interesting but also difficult to believe. I was hoping someone here could either confirm or deny, just to satisfy my curiosity.

What he said was that Martin has the prototype of every guitar they've ever built (which seems reasonable) and that they also build doubles of all custom shop orders and keep one (which is the part I question). So like if I ordered a custom guitar they would build two exactly the same and send one to me and keep one for themselves. Is this right?
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Old 01-07-2012, 12:01 AM
bohemian bohemian is offline
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That being the case, they would need a basket ball gym or two to store the prototypes and custom doubles.

It is my understanding they make and keep prototypes of guitars put into production...

I have no doubt they keep interesting non production units as well.

PS..

I believe it is public knowledge....
There is no Custom Shop as a separate entity.

PPS..

You got this info from a GC employee?:
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  #3  
Old 01-07-2012, 12:42 AM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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It's not true. For one thing, as Bohemian pointed out, they'd need an incredible amount of storage space just to warehouse all those instruments. For another, not every custom instrument that Martin agrees to build has a combination of features and tonewoods that the company necessarily wants to preserve for posterity.

I have no doubt that once in a great while somebody will order up a really nice combination of features that will make the creative team at Martin say: "Hmmm....let's run up another one like that and keep it around for a while and see if it's something we might want to put into production."

But not every single custom order they get, heavens, no. For one thing, the main reason Martin agrees to build custom order guitars in the first place is for profit. If they made one for sale and then made a duplicate that used up just as many materials, there'd be little to no profit in that transaction.

What I suspect the GC sale clerk heard and then misinterpreted was that sometimes Custom Shop customers come up with really good ideas that Martin's management thinks might have broader sales appeal, and so in those instances they'll make up a duplicate so they can have one to keep on hand for the brainstorming sessions where they come up with new models.

But there's no way that would happen with every single Custom Shop order that comes in.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller
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Old 01-07-2012, 12:46 AM
Jeff M Jeff M is offline
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Guitar Center.
Nuff said.
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Old 01-07-2012, 12:56 AM
JoeCharter JoeCharter is offline
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Martin always makes the occasional run of "custom shop" guitars. Perhaps that was what the clerk meant?

I'm with the others in thinking there's no chance they have a twin of every order.
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Old 01-07-2012, 12:59 AM
Thrillhouse Thrillhouse is offline
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Thanks all. Pretty much what I suspected but I know this is a very knowledgable group so confirmation and the additional information is nice.

As far as GC goes I know, it is what it is. But honestly I've always had good experiences there. This guy was nice and overall seemed quite knowledgeable about the guitars on hand even if he was off about the other stuff.

And btw, I played my favorite guitar to date there today - a Taylor GC-8. Never thought I'd be saying that but it just floored me. I've played a lot of Taylors and some I liked pretty good but nothing I'd bring home. If my wallet was fatter I'd be playing this one right now!
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Old 01-07-2012, 01:34 AM
Mr Peebuddy Mr Peebuddy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bohemian View Post
I believe it is public knowledge....
There is no Custom Shop as a separate entity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXR7A...feature=relmfu
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Old 01-07-2012, 08:05 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bohemian View Post
That being the case, they would need a basket ball gym or two to store the prototypes and custom doubles.

It is my understanding they make and keep prototypes of guitars put into production...

I have no doubt they keep interesting non production units as well.

PS..

I believe it is public knowledge....
There is no Custom Shop as a separate entity.

PPS..

You got this info from a GC employee?:
There is a Custom Shop, in the same facility but it is a separate "shop", maybe you should get you information from a GC employee rather than put them down?
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  #9  
Old 01-07-2012, 08:11 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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Pure, industrial strength, weapons grade BS.

Martin often sells extra prototypes built in developing a special or signature edition. Elderly was selling a bunch of them last year including prototype D-28 Authentics.
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Old 01-07-2012, 08:17 AM
Fngrstyl Fngrstyl is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff M View Post
Guitar Center.
Nuff said.
Concur!!!
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  #11  
Old 01-07-2012, 02:06 PM
Mr Peebuddy Mr Peebuddy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmyAddison View Post
There is a Custom Shop, in the same facility but it is a separate "shop", maybe you should get you information from a GC employee rather than put them down?
its not his fault, alot of people think the same thing. as i said earlier, rumors started by the taylor proganda machine .
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