The Martin Archives is a unique inside look into C.F. Martin & Co.'s reign as America's oldest and most revered guitarmaker – viewed through a selection of images, correspondence, documents, and reproduced artifacts chosen from some 700,000 items the company has amassed over nearly two centuries. Many of these have lain unseen in the Martins' attic or vault for generations.
From the concert halls of the pre-Civil War United States to the Grand Ole Opry stage to Woodstock, Coachella, and beyond, Martin's instruments have been on hand to give voice to the human spirit. The Martin Archives offers insights into those instruments and the persons who made them, as well as the times the Martins lived through. While some guitarmakers predate the advent of the business computer, Martin predates the typewriter, electric lights, and even the steam locomotive, and its archives reveal what an interesting ride that's been.
In addition to all that is on its pages, The Martin Archives also contains pockets with reproductions of illuminating bits of its history, including old company records, letters from stars such as Gene Autry and Jimmie Rodgers, the purchase order for the first D-45 guitar, a handwritten history of the company on its 100th birthday by Frank Henry Martin, and other palpable delights.
“Singularly unique, inherently fascinating, exceptionally informative, profusely illustrated, The Martin Archives: A Scrapbook of Treasures from the World's Foremost Acoustic Guitar Maker is an extraordinary volume that should be a part of every college and university American Music History collection in general, and the supplemental studies reading list of guitar enthusiasts.” – Midwest Book Review
“I was stunned not only by the beauty and creativeness of the contents but speechless (which is rare) about the presentation...really a fantastic coffee table 'scrapbook' devoted to the rare history of unquestionably the finest acoustic guitars ever made. This book is definitely 'droolworthy' in my opinion. The photos, historic and otherwise rivet the reader and make one want to rush to the nearest Sam Ash and buy Eric Clapton's 1939 Martin for a mere $791,500...if it were available (which is not. My bank account will be happy about that)...The Martin Archives is a glimpse into that history and a book no acoustic guitar enthusiast will want to be without.” – Sierra Madre Weekly
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