By: Staff
When we stopped by the Martin Guitar Company exhibit, we re-introduced ourselves to Dick Boak, Director of Martin Guitar Artist and Limited Editions, who was surrounded by some of the best guitars on the planet. Dick’s always enthusiastic about the company’s guitars, but today he seemed especially proud of one guitar on display, and he offered up some background comments on this magnificent piece of world-class craftsmanship.
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“I’m holding the 1.5 millionth Martin guitar. When we reach a milestone like this we like to do something very special. About a year and a half ago we began to work with inlay artist, Harvey Leach, and scrimshaw engraver, Bob Hergert, to create this masterpiece, milestone instrument. It’s made with Brazilian rosewood, back and sides, plus an Adirondack spruce top.
The pick guard is inlaid with Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” in excruciating detail, with hundreds of individual pieces to match the painting. The “Mona Lisa” on the headstock is exquisite, with facial lines engraved by Bob Hergert. The fingerboard inlays are from the illustrated journals of Da Vinci and his most famous illustration, The Vetruvian Man, is inlaid on the back of the guitar.
Lastly, the tuning machine buttons are just phenomenal recreations of a Da Vinci drawing illustration by Tira Mitchell, one of the world’s premier metal engravers and metal workers. A special case for the guitar was fabricated by TKL cases’ Tom Dougherty, and a beautiful hand-tooled leather guitar strap by Chuck Smith, one of the world’s best leather workers.
So, were really honored to produce a special guitar like this when we meet a milestone. We don’t want everybody to believe that all of our guitars cost a million dollars or more, because we do make guitars for under a thousand dollars. [Laughs] This is special, it’s not for sale and it will soon be on display at the Martin Guitar Company museum.”
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Martin 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar
Tweets that mention NAMM Show 2011: Martin's 1.5 Millionth Guitar | Guitar International Magazine -- Topsy.com (13 years ago)
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Merlin (13 years ago)
Truly a work of art, too bad it will never live an ordinary life being played so people can hear the music. Martin should build a series of such instruments, and let them out at least once each year for a benefit concert. Or; They could build two sets, one acoustic and one electric, [Martin used to build electric guitars] for the benefit concerts. Invite the best to play them, all new songs that could then be sold to greater help the target benefit. Something to do with musicians would be the perfect target. An old musicians retirement home, a school for young ones just starting out, hearing loss clinic for old rockers, there are lots of possibilities. That way the guitars wouldn’t lead the sad and lonely life of never being played.
Publisher (13 years ago)
Yeah, thought at 1 million dollars a pop an exact replica would be tough to duplicate, but you’re right, it’d be cool if they built maybe 150 or so of these, just not all that expensive, maybe slightly cheaper or knock offs for people to collect if they wanted to and bring out and play at special events.
Martin Guitar News : NAMM Show | Guitar International Magazine (13 years ago)
[…] used this year’s NAMM show to showcase some of their new products including the 1.5 millionth Martin Guitar that Martin’s Dick Boak can be seen holding […]
Pneumatic Hand Engraving with Tira Mitchell - Inside Metalwerx (8 years ago)
[…] Her engraving appears on the tuning buttons of a very special guitar on display at the company, the one-and-a-half millionth guitar produced by Martin, a tribute to Leonardo Da […]