Nazareth, PA, daytrip or weekend getaway

NAZARETH, PA –
DAY TRIP

Many people find a pilgrimage to the town called Nazareth a religious experience—but for a different reason than you might think. Nazareth is a mecca for musicians because it's home to the Martin Guitar Museum and Factory!

MARTIN GUITAR MUSEUM AND FACTORY

Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Del McCoury, Joan Baez and Paul McCartney: these are just a few of the musicians who swear by a Martin Guitar—a true American classic.

Established in 1833 by C.F. Martin, the business has been in continuous operation and has spanned six generations of the Martin family. Current CEO C.F. Martin IV has been at the helm since 1986 and carries on the tradition.

And now that tradition has a full-fledged museum to do it justice! Opened in late 2005, the Martin Guitar Museum is housed in a red-brick buliding meant to resemble the original factory. Once you step inside, however, the look is sleek and contemporary, with a guitar-shaped lobby and gorgeous lighting that sets off the approximately 190 instruments displayed here to their finest advantage. The exhibits take you chronologically through the history of both the family and the family business, with detours highlighting famous Martin owners like the late great Johnny Cash. (One section of the floor even recreates an original 19th-century factory workspace.) And finally, if the sight of so many beautiful objects has you itching to try one yourself, Martin offers the "Pickin’ Parlor," a room where adult visitors can play high-end and limited edition Martin models. (Kids, meanwhile, can get their hands on a smaller selection in the lobby).

Once you've been steeped in Martin's illustrious history, it's time to see how they're carrying on their tradition today. That's why every rock fan absolutely must, must, must head to the Martin Guitar Factory for a fascinating FREE one-hour guided tour, offered on a first-come, first-served basis every weekday between 12:30 and 2:30 pm.

Made almost entirely by hand, every Martin acoustic guitar is carefully crafted over a three- to six-month period and inspected for excellence. After watching all the detail and exquisite craftsmanship that goes into each and every guitar, you'll realize that these factory workers are actually highly skilled and dedicated artists. See them whittle, scallop, bend, and shape the wood into its final form. Watch how they bind, fit in the necks, and apply the pearl inlay.

The 800-employee roster is varied. Tatooed biker boys work alongside hip grandmas; their common thread—a love for music. Employees take pride in their product and the company is just as concerned about safety as they are about employee satisfaction and training. On the factory floor, you'll see cutting-edge ventilation systems and ergonomic workstations. In addition, the factory is environmentally responsible, using only certified woods from sustainable forests.

In both the museum and on the factory floor, you'll get a chance to eyeball some unusual custom guitars, including the "backpack guitar" (left) and the prototype for a guitar with a palm-pilot docking station. (In the museum you'll also see Martin's mandolins and ukuleles.)

Did you know that when a guitar is finished it sits in a case for eight days before being shipped? This is so it can acclimate— a process like the aging of fine wine. About 225 are produced per day, and all Martin Guitars carry a lifetime guarantee!

Once you've toured the museum and factory, you can check out the recently opened 1833 Store, where Martin T-shirts and baseball caps are available along with other paraphernalia. Alas, Martin guitars can't be purchased directly from either the factory or the store, but most nationwide guitar shops carry a selection of Martin models starting at $300 and up. (If you just can't wait, there's a also a Martin dealer one mile from the factory!)

In conclusion, all we have to say about the Martin Guitar experience is that you'd better go soon, before word gets out and they start charging for the factory tour!

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