Martin Custom Shop retirement fantasy

Jez6345789 · June 2015

Hi

May be selling up and semi retiring later in the year, at this point the whole thing is speculative if my business partner want to buy me out.

But been thinking about the one final guitar to take me to my grave and have been looking at Martin Custom shop, was thinking about a blinged out PRS Private Stock but not really that guy. I have yet to own a really decent acoustic have always had my old Yamaha from the early 70's around the house and bought a cheap vintage Mahogany guitar a few years back which makes a nice sound for blues.

I had a play around with their custom builder app on the website which is a nice way to waste and evening and came up with a couple of fancy flamed KOA ideas but would welcome if anyone has had any experience they state 4-8 months delivery which seems a little long.

I could do it through a US dealer as I am back and forth a few times a year in this incarnation you are talking 7-8k and with a tree of life 10k dollars I presume through a UK dealer this equates $/£

For this sort of money I want it to be something I want to play and keep

In the Acoustic arena are there other makers I should be bearing in mind, I am not a finger picking virtuoso so projection fast response is not what I am looking for here just a good thing to write and record with that is pleasing to the eye.

CHRISB50 · June 2015

There are bucket loads of one man shops for custom acoustics.

The place where you can reference a lot of the US builders in one place is the Acoustic Instrument Company website. He only sells one off builds from US luthiers. Most of them are works of art.

I would imagine you'd get more attention from that kind of maker compared to a big brand custom shop.

The problem is the build time. Most decent luthiers will have a waiting list which can be years long. It seems worth it though. Just depends on how much of a hurry you are in.

Check out the custom forum on the The Acoustic Guitar forum. There's loads of examples on there. And the shop I mentioned above post all the builds being done for their shop on there too.

It's the road I will go down when I buy another guitar.

Jez6345789 · June 2015

Thanks that useful to know will check it out

CHRISB50 · June 2015

Jez6345789 said:

Thanks that useful to know will check it out

No worries.

Below is a link to the forum I was talking about (above was posted at lunch on my phone on which it's a nightmare to link anything).

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=38

And below is the shop I mentioned.

http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/guitar-luithers-.html

There is a specific luthier who makes Martin style guitars but as one offs. When I remember his name I'll post it.

CHRISB50 · June 2015

That luthier is called Jimmy Caldwell.

http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Seems to specialise in Martin style guitars;

Based in Texas.

Jez6345789 · June 2015

Thanks got some researching to do. I only really looked at Martin as it was the guitar of my youth I never found the money for leccy ones always got priority as I could get more use out of them.

ESBlonde · July 2015

If the martin sound is your thing and you regularly venture across the pond, why not investigate some nice used examples while you are there? There is nothing wrong in a blingy guitar but the marketing saying goes ' the day you buy a Martin guitar is the worst it will ever sound'. So why not buy one (or more) that someone has already had matured and then sold on. Under $5k gets you some stunning used guitars over there and if you get 'the one' it won't matter about the lack of birds/moons because you'll just want to play it all the time.
The worst that could happen (if you have it properly insured) is that you get it home and decide it's not for you. you will likely get back everything you paid and then some.

SteveGV · July 2015

From personal experience the Martin Custom Shop and Westside (UK distributors) are one of the best to deal with. Huge attention to detail, accurate ETA's and full support at every step of the process.

The timescale will depend on how fancy you choose to get, and how busy the Custom Shop is at the time. We had a stunning L/H D-45 built for a customer with crazy inlays and personalised label etc and they quoted 12 months due to the extra work.

Best thing would be to discuss the options with a dealer, get some quotes back and have a good think about it. There's no obligation just to get a quote. Even if you started the process with a UK dealer they can move it over to one in the states if you preferred.

Slightly different vibe but Taylor BTO's are worth considering. Most things are possible and they probably work out slightly cheaper.

crunchman · July 2015

Westside put a horrendous mark up on the guitars they bring in. At list I assume it's Westside as some models are 15% more expensive in all UK dealers here than they are in Germany.

I'd get on the phone to a German dealer and go through them.

p90fool · July 2015

If I was looking for an acoustic guitar to see out the rest of my life with I'd definitely want to play it before I bought it.

I know it's not the question you asked but I'd be looking at vintage guitars for that money.

Howdy, Stranger!

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Martin Custom Shop retirement fantasy

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