This review is only about the touring experience/ museum and not about the actual company or product. My boyfriend suggested visiting here as he plays guitar and has known about Martin Guitar for years and the fact they're fairly close to us, right in PA. There is a free museum and then there is the paid factory tour. It's $5 a person and only open M-F. They only take 8 people in each time slot and each slot is about an hour long. You get headsets (with sanitary coverings) and are shown around the factory floor while the staff builds guitars. It was such a cool experience and for the low cost of $5 - totally worth it. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and they really took us through every step. It was so nice to see workers doing everything in real time as well. The factory is fairly loud so I did need to turn the volume up on my headset fairly high. It's probably not the best idea for children but there were multiple children there and they do have special headsets for them. If you're looking to come and visit you do have to purchase tickets ahead of time and I would recommend purchasing them over a week in advance as when we went to book them the week of there were already many slots filled. The museum which is free to view was also so cool and took you through the entire history of the company and it's standing in the music culture from its beginnings in the 1800s until present day. There were so many beautiful guitars on display. Definitely a neat stop in Nazareth, PA. read more

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An amazing property with talented guides and a wonderfully logical sequence of stops along the way. Perfect for any student, musician, or casual listener. Exciting craftsmanship and memorable details. read more

Martin Guitar - Exterior of the Nazareth location. - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

The tour is great. It was amazing seeing all the processes that go into making a guitar. The people working there are very talented. Also a visit to the museum is a must. read more

If you play acoustic guitar, a visit to the Martin Guitar factory is a pilgrimage. The museum has been updated since my last visit almost 10 years ago and now has a better flow. So many vintage and historically significant guitars! The merchandise store is full of the latest Martin swag. At the back of the store is my favorite area, the Pickin' Parlor. Lots of high end Martin guitars on the walls you can take down and play. Any guitarists in the area should visit. read more

I purchased my first Martin guitar late last year. I have always dreamed of owning one, and I decided on the occasion of owning my first that I would make a pilgrimage to check out the factory. I'm actually a quality system auditor, so I've been in my share of factories over the years. This one is remarkably well run, and they really make an effort to take you through the entire factory as part of the tour. I suspect a great deal of thought went into the process for making the experience special for the visitors. To begin with the fact that they give you a headset which ensures that you can hear the tour guide no matter where you happen to be standing. What a remarkable bit of foresight, I wish other factory tours did this. Our tour guide was tremendous and was very patient with all the various questions along the way. You're gonna want to make sure to make your reservation well in advance as they have limited spots for each day. Also be sure to show up early and check out the little Museum attached to the tour. read more

Tour guide (I Believe her name was Susan) was grumpy to put it mildly. Actually bordering on down right nasty. She said she had been working there 40 years and I I don't understand why they would keep an employee like that with an impeccable reputation like Martin has. Would have given more stars with a different tour guide. Other than that it was enjoyable and the museum was wonderful but after a 3-hour drive I would have hoped for a better experience. read more

Always enjoy our Martin Guitar tours. Everyone that has joined has marveled at the incredible craftsmanship to build acoustic guitars. Have been on many tours over the years and learn something new every time. Highly recommend a tour, but be sure to book in advance to make sure you can get a slot! read more

Martin Guitar - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

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The tour was interesting. The woman who led the tour said that she had been working there for 36 years. Unfortunately, she had run out of enthusiasm and patience about 10 years ago. She was an unpleasant and angry woman. The museum was awesome. read more

Waited 44 years to get here! I received a Sigma DM-4 manufactured for CF Martin in 1979 & I still own it. I've always wanted to come here but I live in western PA. My visit was a spur of the moment visit, due to being in a nearby town for a different event. I was unaware until I arrived that you had to pre-schedule a tour online in order to see the actual factory. I could've gotten into a tour, but would've had to wait an additional hour and did not have time to do that. But, the museum itself is free & is very worth your time. It isn't large, but you could spend an hour in there if you read every detail regarding every piece of display and watched the small video segment. I found it quite interesting and fascinating as a guitar enthusiast. There is also a room with Martin guitars and you are welcome to pick up a guitar and play which is very cool. They also have a nice gift shop with Martin logo items for purchase. Well worth a stop if you're in the area nice large parking lot right outside the visitor entrance. You sign in electronically at the front desk where there is a receptionist. read more

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Answer the phone once in awhile. I had a tour on Monday morning and had an Emergency and was in the E.R. I tried calling them on Sunday and found out they close on Sunday. So as soon as I got released from E.R. I called on Monday around 9 am and my tour was at noon. No one answered so I left a message. No one called me back. I called again on atuesday and left another message. I called later and tried the main number and told them no one got back to me. He said he would call them himself and find someone to call me back. Finally a lady called me back and was rude and totally unsympathetic and said was insistent that I should have called back 24 hours in advance and now I have to drive to a library for a computer or find a computer somewhere to re register. She told me she is following policy and could do nothing to help me. I initially wanted to special order a guitar at the factory. The people there and totally rude dont call you back and are primadonas. Not a nice place. Very mean people. Don't go there unless you like being treated badly read more

What a great museum tour while near the area! Happened to be in Nazareth Pa. for a quick trip and had some time to kill. This place can be as quick as 30 minutes or you can definitely spend more time reading all the very informative write ups on each guitar. Beautiful craftsmanship of Martin guitars through the years. Very awesome displays of each guitars that were played by the greats such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain etc.. so nostalgic! Beautiful building outside and inside. I took two teenagers here and they enjoyed themselves. There is even a nice lounge area for you to play some guitars! read more

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If you are interested in not only one of the finest guitars ever made, but perhaps you would like to go to appreciate the process of handmade, craftsmanship in the USA, then go, and take older children who may not have ever seen this type of process. The 1 hour tour is a guided walking tour from start to finish of one of their fine instruments. At only $5 its an unbelievable value! (Make sure you make reservations online first!!) They give you a headset to be able to listen to your guide. Our guide was fantastic! Very knowledgeable, professional and engaging! Only suggestion I would make and why I left off 1 star, is there were 2 employees on the tour who brought 2 toddlers to see their other family who worked there, in action. Now, I can appreciate a "take your kids to work day" however this should not be allowed with other paying guests who drove here to tour for the first time and are interested in all the info that is being given. These two young women who work there had to stop and visit with practically everyone and the toddler ran off a time or two and she had to go chasing him, then as expected he got fussy toward the end and it was beyond distracting! So PLEASE, Martin guitar, consider putting an age limit on these tours, a 1-5 year old isn't going to gain any benefits from this tour. Also, do not allow employees to take a tour just to say "hello" to all their coworkers. Maybe have an open house day or employee event for this. Other than this, I highly recommend!! read more

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If you want an informative factory floor tour with a side splitting comical twist be sure to ask for Tyler to be your tour guide. He was a fountain of knowledge on the production of these wonderful instruments. Though, his interpersonal and communication skills left a lot to be desired. So much so, his performance was comedic ! From the very beginning we were amused by his introduction and the distribution of the head sets- The phrase the fast and the furious springs to mind! As we all tried to adjust them under Tyler's impatient gaze! One poor fellow couldn't hear and it seemed he had changed the channel by mistake. Tyler's disappointed and annoyed tone made me laugh as it was like a parent to a child when they had done something wrong! The strict instructions of where to stand and what not to do barked at us were hilarious! I was afraid to make eye contact with any of the workers just in case I got kicked off the tour or worse, I got them fired! If you have Tyler as your tour guide: Be sure not to mention any of the competitors because 'we don't talk about them on the floor' says Tyler! Be sure not to ask about the most famous person they have made a guitar for because ' we don't brag' says Tyler! Be sure not to ask how many models of guitars are produced daily or anything with figures, because 'you can look that up on the internet ' says Tyler! The list goes on... What really blew me and my party away and kept us amused throughout the tour was the way he was intolerant of those that posed such questions he couldn't answer. The stumbling, angry and kurt responses, though amusing, were unnecessary! I don't want to spoil the Tyler experience for anyone else as this is best savoured first hand! Tyler really did make us laugh! What he lacked in stature, he more than made up for with a rudeness that was so unbelievable, it really felt like we were on a hidden camera show! Ha ha ha! read more

This was a wonderful experience and very informative tour. There are some incredibly talented artists that work to make Martin guitars a world class standard acoustic instrument. read more

Excellent tour. We called and booked in advance which is the best way to get a comprehensive tour of the entire manufacturing process of Martin Guitars, from raw material thru finishing and assembly and final inspection and testing. Our tour guide Jim, gave us eye and ear protection as well as audio headsets so you didn't miss anything. We had a small group of 5, and spent about 2 hours in the plant. After the tour, Jim made himself available to chat and answer any follow-up questions. Make sure to take time to visit the museum which traces the history of CF Martin from its beginnings in NYC, many exhibits of guitars, ukuleles and other stringed instruments Martin manufactured in the past. Nice gift shop for your souvenirs. A small resturant (Stonewood) is right across the parking lot for lunch/dinner if you're hungry. Well worth the trip. read more

Martin Guitar - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

We went to this tour on Sep 27th, 2024. Loved it. Lasts about 45 or 50 minutes, not much walking between stations. We went early to see the museum and gift store in order to leave right after the tour. It is really an amazing operation. My Martin Special D Acoustic seems even more awesome now that I've been there! Guitar player or not, close to Nazareth PA or not, you would love that tour, so GO !!!!!!! read more

I bow before the mecca of amazing lutherie! Martin guitar company is an amazing place. I took the tour(free), and got to play guitars, many.... I started early and got into the first tour. Our tour guide, Cindy, was enthusiastic and obviously enjoyed her job. It seems people who work there are treated like family. The production like is fast and efficient, turning out 175 to 200 instruments a day! Cindy showed us everything and explained it all in simple terms for the tourist but with enough onsite for the acolyte. Displaying almost superhuman reserve, I managed to leave without buying another instrument....Marriage saved! Bottom line: great business, great tour worth the trip. read more

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(In order) Road Signs: Most people coming to Martin are probably going to take Route 33 then get off at the exit for 191 (Stockertown) and then drive thru a residential area to get to where the factory is at. All this is very easy as there are signs set up at each key spot needed and you truly should be able to find everything sans GPS. Parking: Parking is a bit tight as the lot is quasi-shared between employees, visitors with actual business at Martin and people taking the tour. Tour Times: Here's where some of the info posted on Yelp gets a bit clueless in particular from Bryan M. Unless you're bringing a group that is larger than ten no reservations are accepted/needed. As for times, they've been on a Monday-Friday schedule running tours between 11am-2:30pm for years now so I'm not quite sure what's so limiting or the need to confirm anything. Supposedly they attempt to start tours every thirty minutes but there is no exact set time as part of that is determined by what's happening on the factory floor and how long it took the docent/guide to finish up his/her last tour as some groups ask a ton of questions. Just be flexible as it's free and they'll get there when they get there. Our "time" was 11:30 although we didn't get underway until closer to 11:40-45ish. While you wait you can look around the lobby at the collection of records they have hanging on the wall that were made with a Martin, goof around with a few of the playable demos they have on the wall or even venture into the museum. Tour: Like David C., we had the guide who looks like Phil Spector yet talks like a cross between Joe Pesci and Christopher Walken during the SNL Cowbell skit but that's not to say that he wasn't fantastic because he was. He knew every step of the process inside and out along with knowing seemingly the name of everyone working there. Before the tour you are given a headset so that you can hear everything that the guide is saying which is needed as certain parts of the factory are very, very loud and you would never hear anything any other way. The tour itself goes between 50-70 minutes depending on how many questions are asked and if certain work stations are operating or not. An example being that we came during lunch so several areas had nothing happening but when we were passing the area where the robotic buffing happens we hung out for a while to watch the machine start it's process including putting the guitar down/spinning it around to start the other side as the operator had just come back to the station from lunch. Other than the area where the wood actually gets cut, you are close and personal with everybody you see. I mean close as in you could take stuff off of the work stations, read the technical info their reading or if they seemed approachable ask them a question or two directly. FYI on that last point, not everyone seems comfortable with direct contract with the public so if you ask someone a question be aware that they might ignore you or respond with only one word answers since they are working. The guys at the end who get to test/play the finished product seemed to be the most friendly towards answering whatever was asked of them as our group stopped (much to Mr. Spector's chagrin) for a few minutes to start asking them questions. Eventually you are led back into the lobby where the tour begins and then you are given your parting gift of an inscribed cut out sound hole which is awesome and you have the ability to ask the guide some questions in peace & quiet which three or four guys did for quite a while as the next tour group waited. As others have said, you can't buy a Martin at the factory. There are plenty of catalogs in the lobby showing you the entire product line and if you're interested they'll be happy to either direct you to their website which has a list of all Martin dealers or they'll give you a list you can take with you. On the tour you also learn that every Martin you see being made has already been spoken for via some sort of dealer/custom order and that they're usually around six months behind schedule. Although if you do need parts, they do sell that in town at the original factory building on West North Street. read more

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I only gave it five stars, since you can't give them more. I have taken several tours, since I love their guitars. They are without a doubt the finest acoustic guitars in the world. Everyone at the factory is extremely friendly. They treat you like a rock star that is their best friend. They show you everything that goes in to making the guitars from start to finish, with several examples for you to see. The tour guides are usually a retired worker or someone who has been there several years. They are always extremely knowledgable about the guitars and love their work. You get to see every step of the making of these masterpieces with an explanation of what they are doing and why. They also have a museum with some of the most incredible guitars you will ever see. If you can get there, be sure to take the tour. read more

Brought my son for his birthday. He purchased and guitar from the factory . a week later they called and said it was not marked correctly and they were going to charge the credit card and additional $1,000. we had a signed receipt . what kind of business charges more money after you leave the store. TERRIBLE BUSINESS read more

This was one of the better factory tours I've been on. Their visitors center is just great...The guitars are everywhere, on the ground, in the furniture, on the bathrooms, etc. There is a museum of the history of Martin and it's guitars, and most importantly, how the ukulele saved their ass (I ask guitar players when are they upgrading??). They have on display a lot of their original first version guitars and guitars from famous persons. The museum would take a good purveyor about 30 to 40 minutes if you wanted to read most things. Otherwise it's cute and cozy. Outside they have their store where you can buy goods and souvenirs and in the store holds their special picking parlor with a lot of their high end guitars and sometimes you can test new models to choose which one you like the most. Outside there are several guitars that you can play with including a single ukulele. The tours start at 11 am Monday through Friday and lasted us about 1.5 hours. They are led by employees and they take you through the entire process from start to finish. It's not super technical as far as design goes, but it's detailed in process for sure. There are some jobs, like the quality checkers at the end, that will make you jealous of what they get to do all day (play with new, finished guitars). You really get to go up close and center with each part of the process and see everything in action. It's surprising how manual the work still is and makes you appreciate the work and quality of their products. The end of the tour rewards you with a laser engraved sound hole cutout that you can use as a coaster or some other similar function and reminds you of the lovely smell of wood. Awesome way to spend the day...And it's free! read more

I own 3 Martin Guitars. I made the mistake of buying one of the guitars that are made in Mexico. It was defective and the side split along the seam. I emailed the HQ, they told me to take it to a local repair shop who said nothing could be done to fix it. I received no satisfaction from Bethlehem. Money down the drain. Don't buy their Mexican guitars. The US made are great, but I won't be buying any more Martins, read more

Exciting tour and great overall experience to see the process and the history of this great company.

The Martin Guitar Factory gets added to the "I had no idea!" list. So glad I found this gem right here in PA! While I didn't have time for the tour, I did explore the free museum. I thought it would be small, a quick in and out venture. Not so. I did not allot enough time in my schedule to take it all in completely, that's for sure. For any music fan, the museum offers a stunning history of both the musicians who use Martin Guitars as well as the development of the company and their instruments as well. Just outside the museum is an area where several Martin Guitar products hang on the wall. Not just for display, these guitars are meant for testing. My friend and I were the only ones there at the time so I took advantage of the photo opp. I grabbed a guitar, sat on a stool and gave my best singer/songwriter impression. Then I grabbed a ukulele and did my best Tiny Tim impression. While I could never afford one of these beautiful instruments, it was fun seeing the museum and learning more about the family tradition of Martin Guitar. I definitely need to make time to go back for the tour. read more

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If you have even a passing interest in musical instruments, and, especially if you play the guitar, you will find the Martin factory tour well worth a visit. You are guided along the factory floor, where you witness the entire production process, from selection of the raw wood boards, to finished, gleaming works of art. Admission is free to the public. The Martin family has owned-and-operated this business continuously since 1833, starting in NYC, then moving to this bucolic area of Pennsylvania shortly thereafter. Of course, the operation has expanded tremendously, but the instruments are still made by hand. The tour guide was proud of the fact that ordinary wooden clothespins and paper masking tape are still used to hold the guitars together while the glue dries. Attached to the factory is an amazing guitar museum, filled with priceless, historically-significant instruments, including Johnny Cash's signature black dreadnaught, for which the Martin factory always kept a special, tiny bottle of black touch-up paint on the shelf, just in case it was ever given the Willie Nelson treatment. read more

Martin Guitar - Hello, I'm... - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

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I live an hour from Martin, and so I've had the pleasure of doing the tour twice in the past year. A great experience for which I brought my wife the second time around so she could get a sense of why I'm a homer for these PA-made guitars. I can't imagine what they've left out of the tour, from a huge warehouse-type room of raw wood material to the polishing and playing of the final product. You get to see every step of the process from start to finish, and they're quite proud of it. I thought that watching the scalloped bracing being filed and the dovetail necks being fitted was particularly old world, and very cool. As others have noted, there's a spot in the lobby with some of the mid-range guitars (and a uke) to play. By the desk in the gift shop is a door that takes you into a room with some upper-end instruments to try out. You can hang in there and play as long as you wish, and there are some gorgeous instruments in there. If you're a player with something less, you'll probably leave like I did: Appreciating the work put into these guitars and wanting for an upgrade. DO NOT miss the museum on the left when you walk in. The room doesn't seem all that large, but there are a ton of vintage instruments in there, with a story to go along with each. It's all nicely done, and I'd give at least 30 minutes to go through that part of the factory. The museum gives you a great sense of the history of the company, and highlights some of the special guitars that they've made over the years. The workmanship put into some of them amaze me. The gift shop has T-shirts, straps, picks, jackets, stickers, etc. It's overseen by some pretty nice people in my experience, too. Any musician, craftsman, music fan, history buff or someone generally interested in how things are made will love to take a tour and look around the museum. read more

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Wanting to visit the birthplace of my D-18 inspired a one week getaway to NYC with the intention of stopping at the Martin Guitar Factory for a tour on the way back. The excitement of the big city made me almost forget about heading home via Nazareth, PA but am I ever glad I did. The whole group enjoyed the tour and I really can't believe such an entertaining and well run experience is free. Even for non-guitar players this is a must-see. Our guide was great and it was very interesting to see this marvel of modern American manufacturing and craftsmanship. My only complaint is that it was difficult to get some hands on time with the guitars in the playing room due to some self absorbed visitors but this is hardly the fault of the fine staff at Martin Guitars. read more

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I live very close to Martin Guitar but never took the tour until my family from CA came to visit. The tour did not disappoint and was fantastic! The employees all looked like they really enjoyed working for the factory, and it was quite interesting to see the process in action. At the very end, everyone is given a wooden coaster with Martin Guitar engraved on it. The tour is free. I would recommend calling in to double check tour times and availability. They also have an amazing museum! Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Elvis, Johnny Cash, etc... memorabilia. Absolutely fantastic! There is plenty of parking and there is also a pizza shop in walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat afterwards. If you love music, instruments, or just curious of how guitars are made, this is a must see. Hands down one the nicest tours I've been on. I would 100% recommend taking a tour. read more

Start to Finish: How The Experts Craft Guitars Visiting Martin Guitars was an expectant highlight of our trip to Pennsylvania! Entering the factory, we were greeted by the sounds of guitars. While waiting for the next tour to begin, half a dozen Martin Guitars hung on the wall invite visitors to enjoy. Some of the people on our tour showed off their talent. The tour begins with a high-level overview of the guitar materials and components. The guide provides much more detail as the tour progresses on the factory floor. Carpenters rough cut and plane the raw woods. Next, expensive machines laser cut the components with high precision. Surprisingly, the craft people hand-assemble most of the guitar. After sanding down the bodies, robotics coat and polish the guitars. In final assembly, workers painstakingly apply the pearl work, string wires and tune each guitar twice before shipping. In total, more than 300 artful steps produce the famed C.F. Martin Guitar. We were amazingly close to the workers as they carefully and skillfully completed their step in the fabrication process. Even though I have never played a guitar, the tour fascinated me with the guitar's complexity. The plant tour is a must see for any guitar enthusiast! After the tour, we explored the C.F. Martin & Co. Museum, featuring guitars and other instruments from the company's long history. The museum displays guitars played by Elvis, Johnny Cash and others. In addition, extravagant pearl work covers the 1,000,000th and 1,500,000th guitars produced by C.F. Martin. The 1,500,000th guitar, or the Da Vinci Guitar, replicates the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man on the guitar. Enjoy the free factory tour on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours run Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM. The gift shop sells great Martin Guitar souvenirs. read more

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By far the best. Be prepared to be treated like the most important person in the world. They should be giving seminars to other companies on how to treat their customers. They make the finest best sounding guitars in the world. Even though there is no comparison, they totally go out of their way to treat their customers like they are royalty. During the tour every employee is friendly and they show you how they are all the finest craftsmen in the world and total perfectionist. They answer any and every question. There is also a museum where you can see the history of their acoustic guitars. There are a couple of companies in the United States that has total brand loyalty, Martin Guitars, Harley Davidson, and pickup trucks. If you meet someone else that owns a Martin Guitar, you are automatically a friend. I have toured another guitar factory, and it was not even close to the Martin tour. There are also guitars on display for you to play. I asked about a model that wasn't out, and the next thing you know there goes an employee running to get it for me to play. When you call them up a real person answers the phone too. No phone trees and you get to the right person and you get the result you want, every time. It starts at the top and is the model for all companies on how to treat your customers. Martin is the BEST. The only problem is that you will walk out wanting to buy more guitars. read more

Martin Guitar - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

The guitars themselves are amazing. It was nice to see them made . But the tour was very unorganized and not done in a organized fashion. The tour guide was more interested in being a gitty flirt then a professional tour . I was disappointed in how the tour was handled . It was very hard to follow and understand read more

Excellent factory tour (schedule online well in advance). Nice gift shop. Interesting museum.

Excellent informative tour with headphones. Some sample guitars in lobby. Museum is interesting. Recommended for anyone who loves music and craftsmanship. read more

The Martin company provides one of the most interesting factory tours I've ever experienced. Most days, they have free tours from 11-2:30, every 20 minutes or so. It's on a first come, first served basis, with approximately 14 people per tour. We went on the day before Thanksgiving and ended up waiting about 40 minutes for a tour. This is absolutely fine, as there's a small but interesting museum that chronicles the history of the Martin family and guitar company that can easily take an hour. Conducted by a guitar factory worker at the end of his shift who clearly cared deeply about his craft, the 70 minute tour was extremely thorough. We crisscrossed the factory floor, witnessing each laborious step in creating a mostly hand-made guitar. We learned about woods, glues, fronts, backs, necks, finger boards, frets, laminates, inlays, strings, and many other aspects of the Martin guitar. At the end, you understand why these guitars are so classic (and so expensive). A wonderful way to spend a few hours, even for the guitar novice (I don't play). I just wish they still made banjos. read more

I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past dead. Actually, I came up from Baltimore with a family member to take the Behinds the Scene Tour (my youngest kid loved that it was called the BTS tour but only because of Rap Monster - that's another story). We stayed in a near by Hampton Inn so we could get to the tour which started at 9:30 a few minutes early. There is plenty of parking right across the street. We were greeted at the front desk (warmly!) which was brightly lit and you could see a selection of amazing guitars hanging on the walls. As others have said there is a gift shop and museum which are great to walk around in and the princes in the shop are very reasonable (I got two tee-shirts and a set of strings for around 80 bucks at the end of the tour). Where else can you play some of the finest guitars around? When the tour started we got ear plugs, a headset, and safety glasses (they fit over glasses) and were led around by a guy who ran the shop and has since retired. The factory is an amazing mix of high tech (laser cutters, CNC machines) and unbelievably talented crafts people doing what can only really be done by hand - selecting the best pieces of wood, making sure each piece is free of knots, matching the grains for each instrument, lovingly shaping the headstocks, and doing some intracrit inlay work. They are carefully cranking out the industry standard for acoustic guitars one at a time. You get very up close and personal with people who along with doing that work are friendly and willing to chat about their craft. There are some stairs to climb (one floor) and a large facility to walk through, but the pace was slow enough to take everything in. The smell of wood is a wonderful thing as is seeming that wood go from planks to finished, hand polished final products. At the end of the tour spend some time in the small museum and playing the guitars hanging on the walls. The ding of one star was only because while the process of making the guitars was explained comprehensively, little time was spend on either the quality of the finished products or on the art of those building them. I wish that some short video or demo was done at some point or more highlighting of the art work that goes into even the "base' models was focused on. And these are both wonderful sounding instruments and heirloom quality examples of art work. The 25 bucks was well spent - along with the 90 minute tour, access to the (free) museum, a relaxing time to look at guitars costing as much as a nice used car - we received a nice git bag (with a cool hat and a sound hole cutout at the end of the tour. I explored purchasing a guitar and spoke with a staff member who offered that I could play the model I was interested in in their sound room. The lowest cost model for one built on site (as opposed to in their Mexican factory) is north of $2000.00. In an effort to stay married and out of debtors prison, I left with 2 tee-shirts and strings. One interesting side note - the tour guide and one of the guys working on finishing necks who I spoke with both didn't play but did own multiple "really nice" guitars. If either of them are looking to sell.... One other side note - as I talked with the guy about purchasing a guitar at the factory discount price (a few hundred less than "list" price) he told me that if I already work with a shop that is a factory authorized dealer and end up purchasing one at the factory they will send that shop a cut of the sale so that the shop doesn't feel like the factory is underselling them. Nice touch. Everyone seemed happy to be doing their jobs, the workmanship is 2nd to none, and the tour was well worth it. I think even those who don't play at all would enjoy it. read more

I took the tour in July of 2009, on my way to a 3 game series between the Phillies and Cards @ CNB Park. I got to combine Guitars & Baseball. OK getting to the factory once you get to Nazareth is like being in a maze. But once you're there; Nothing Else Matters! I walk in, see the round info desk, my friend and I ask about the tours. We are handed badges marked D18 (the tours are IDed by guitar model numbers, ie D18, D28, D35, D41). We are then shown the waiting area not 20' away, a set of chairs which we will sit in until our tour starts. Off to the right I see several guitars (previously out of sight until we sat) lined up on stands. Hey, I'm in a guitar factory (might as well be an alcoholic in Lynchburgh, TN), I stand up walk towards them and someone from Martin just nods and smiles. That is all I need. I see something about 4 models over, rosewood, slotted headstock, cutaway, oval soundhole. This ain't no dreadnaught, this beauty is "Special" from the word go. I pick it up as an anthropologist holding the "Lucy" skull for the first time, wondering if there is going to be an electrical current going through me. I'm looking at the cutaway, the rosette, the slots, this thing is perfectly balanced in my hands. I've got a grip on this angel tighter than Heston with a Mossberg. I take her over to the first empty chair I see. She was made to fingerpick, this is how I play. We were made to be one! I look inside for a model #, that which I see is a label and it states Steve Howe Prototype# 2 of 4. Have I found the Holy Grail? Possible, let's play it and see. My god! Anything I want to do, she responds. I cannot hit a wrong note, the intonnation is perfect of everything that which I intended. "We met, we woo'd, and made exchange of vow,". I must've played an hour. I return her to her stand. Walk back to the info desk and inquire as to when my tour will start. They tell me 4 have already passed, but wait maybe they can still get me in the one which has just started, they're out of headphones (factory noises so everyone gets headphones to hear the guide), but they walk me swiftly through the doors, find the last tour just starting and tell me to stay next to the guide so that I can hear. I have now entered into the miracle of life at the Martin Guitar Factory. I am witnessing the beginning that would be the envy of Sagan and Hawkening, I have entered the birthplace of stars. My tour guide does not play as much, as well or with the same passion as I, but... he was previously the Quality Control Manager. Perfect for my purposes, He's Chad Knaus and I'm Jimmy Johnson, this tour was made for me! They allowed my camera whenever I chose (there may have been times they requested no pictures, but I cannot remember and it did not detract) I saw the construction from start to finish, necks, rosettes, bindings, they took time to explain the different bracing patterns, I saw custom jobs in mid-production, Prototypes which never made it to production. I didn't want it to end, but it was not over yet. As the tour finished I was told there was a soundroom into which I could go play. Now I am thinking. another opoptunity to go find my Angel and make music with her again. I walk into the soundroom, I know she is not here, but on the outside on the otherside of the wall. Perhaps they will allow me to bring her in. But I walk out and find her in the arms of a stranger, someone who is waiting for his tour and does not understand what he is holding. I return to the soundroom and there are several beauties in here. Some are classic beauties. I see one in particular, sloped shouldered, 12 fret, slotted headstock, the top appears to have some age, the neck is ebony and relatively wide (perhaps 1 7/8) this is a D28 that would have been played by Joan Baez. The question is, does she sing as well. Another hour later, I have fallen for 2 sisters, as different as Rose Red and Snow White, but both as perfect as they can be! I will do this again! read more

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Quite possibly the best tour you'll ever go on. I've been here 5 times and every tour is great. They really take you to every station and show you how a guitar goes from a few pieces of wood to a competed instrument. The museum is fantastic, and has a lot of beautiful examples of Martin guitars from the 1800's to the present. Make sure you stop in the picking parlor in the back of the 1833 Shop. There are some high guitars in there for anyone to play. They even keep a couple lefties in there as well. read more

Highly recommended for any guitar player or if you may play someday!What a great place to go!!! You can spend hours at the museum alone if history is important to you! Be warned that the smells of guitar production does affect some people! You can test many guitars while waiting for your tour and do it again after the tour. read more

Fantastic informational tour. I own a martin and this was a thrill for me to see the manufacturing side of the house. I was able to play the Clarence White D-28 in the room by the gift shop, what a beautiful sounding guitar. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. I love the history of the company and it was great to see the passion the workers have in the product they put out. read more

C.F. Martin has been manufacturing the finest acoustic guitars since 1833 in the USA. No name resonates more in the halls of country, bluegrass and rock-n-roll music worldwide than Martin Guitar Company. Their HD-28 Dreadnought is the most legendary acoustic guitar of all-time played by Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Shawn Colvin. Eric Clapton prefers the 000-MMV Grand Auditorium. It was a true pleasure to tour their factory. I enjoyed buying souvenirs in the awesome gift shop. Thank you to all Martin employees for their hospitality and crafting my beautiful new 000-MMV guitar! read more

Martin Guitar - My Martin 000-MMV - Walking Tours Near Me - Nazareth, Pennsylvania

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