http://www.youtube.com/user/cfmartingui ... ustangbase
Interesting tidbit on a large scale manufacturer managing a custom shop. Taylor and Gibson would be other large companies that run custom shops. Considering Guilds continual expansion, I could see them eventually opening a single order custom shop in addition to their small batch dealer ordered GSR runs.
I called Martin about a year ago and asked the building process of a custom shop guitar. Here was the breakdown:
1. The wood is bent in the bending machines (general area)
2. Neck is carved and assembled in Custom Shop.
3. Bracing and body is assembled in the Custom Shop.
4. Inspection of status is done in Custom Shop.
5. Binding is done in binding area (general area).
6. Final sanding is done in Custom Shop.
7. Dovetail neck is set in Custom Shop.
8. Finish is done in finish area (general area).
9. Final assembly (i.e. bridge, tuning pegs, strings) done in Custom Shop.
10. Setup with Plek machine and any additional filings done in Custom Shop.
11. Final inspection done in Custom Shop.
I, along with Toni, are owners of custom shop Martins, and I have to say that the fit and finish are some of the best I have seen in a guitar. The spruce is beautifully silked producing a three dimensional wave that can catch the eye even under the burst top. Tone is subjective, but to me it is one of the best small bodied guitars I have played.
This provides an interesting model for large scale manufacturers finding balance between meeting large volumes and maintaining a small shop to compete with boutique dealers.
Interesting tidbit on a large scale manufacturer managing a custom shop. Taylor and Gibson would be other large companies that run custom shops. Considering Guilds continual expansion, I could see them eventually opening a single order custom shop in addition to their small batch dealer ordered GSR runs.
I called Martin about a year ago and asked the building process of a custom shop guitar. Here was the breakdown:
1. The wood is bent in the bending machines (general area)
2. Neck is carved and assembled in Custom Shop.
3. Bracing and body is assembled in the Custom Shop.
4. Inspection of status is done in Custom Shop.
5. Binding is done in binding area (general area).
6. Final sanding is done in Custom Shop.
7. Dovetail neck is set in Custom Shop.
8. Finish is done in finish area (general area).
9. Final assembly (i.e. bridge, tuning pegs, strings) done in Custom Shop.
10. Setup with Plek machine and any additional filings done in Custom Shop.
11. Final inspection done in Custom Shop.
I, along with Toni, are owners of custom shop Martins, and I have to say that the fit and finish are some of the best I have seen in a guitar. The spruce is beautifully silked producing a three dimensional wave that can catch the eye even under the burst top. Tone is subjective, but to me it is one of the best small bodied guitars I have played.
This provides an interesting model for large scale manufacturers finding balance between meeting large volumes and maintaining a small shop to compete with boutique dealers.