Specialties
Guitar Mill specializes in full-custom guitar parts, repair, restoration, vintage-correct replacement parts, 100% Nitrocellulose finishes and realistic finish distressing/relicing. Guitar Mill also produces the boutique line of vintage-recreation guitars called Mario Guitars.
We are a small family business, run by master luthier Mario Martin, his wife Shannon, his daughters and three employees. Our quality has been renowned the world over, and our guitars have graced the shoulders of such artists as Hunter Hayes, Chase Bryant, The Brothers Osborne, Saul Zonana, Brad Fernquist (Goo Goo Dolls), Greg Carillo (Brett Eldridge) and many MANY more!
History
Established in 2006.
Mario Martin began his luthiery career by working for Gibson for three years, and then training under master luthier, Evan Ellis, for five years in the Fender Custom Shop.
In the Spring of 2006, the Guitar Mill opened in its current location at 407 W. Lytle St. The Guitar Mill now has a dozen body styles while also offering services such as repair, handmade necks, set-up, restoration, aging/relicing, customization, rerouting and custom Nitrocellulose finishing services .
In 2009, The Guitar Mill Custom Shop was officially opened. The "GMCS" evolved from a high demand from Mill customers for a finished guitar. In other words, guitars built to Mario's standard of quality.
In 2011, The Guitar Mill Custom Shop became known under the new (current) brand, Mario Guitars®.
Mario Guitars® has been hailed for their superior playability, unmatched resonance and prolonged sustain.
Meet the Business Owner: Mario M.
Mario Martin has been singing and playing guitar for most of his life. He played as a country artist in his younger days, but it is difficult to pay the bills on music alone, so he took a job at Gibson. He worked there for four years and then went to work at the Fender Custom Shop in Nashville for 5 years. In 2005, he started the Guitar Mill out of the garage of his home. In 2006, he moved to the current location on Lytle St. In 2009, Mario started to produce his own line of boutique guitars called "Mario Guitars." Mario is still the owner of Guitar Mill/Mario Guitars today and oversees all the day to day production.