Martin & Co Virtual Custom Shop

Located on the Martin Guitar website, the new user-friendly program is a fun and easy way to try almost limitless ideas for creating unique models. The application is graphic based, thus allowing the user to immediately preview his choices while providing detailed specifications and approximate pricing.

The detailed steps at the online Custom Shop begin by choosing the shape and size of the guitar. Built in many different sizes and shapes, with different materials, all produce a different tone, some subtle, some dramatically different. Consumers will be able to choose the body style, orientation (right or left handed) and scale length.

Next step is selecting tone woods (top, back and sides). A diverse array of premium tone woods, from exotic to traditional, are available. Each has its own unique character, color, figure, texture and tonal qualities. Martin then expertly applies the finish (sunburst, natural or toned “vintage” lacquers) to protect the wood, enhance the sound and further customize your instrument visually. The neck’s wood, shape, headstock, tuning machines, decal, inlays, bindings and fingerboard can also be selected. All in all, consumers will be able to customize nearly everything from the headplate, fingerboard, pickguard and bridge to the back and sides.

Once completed, consumers can print out their custom order that outlines all the essential, unique specifications and virtual mock-ups of their guitar, then bring it to their nearest authorized Martin dealer for a quotation on the guitar of their dreams. Typically, customers can expect about four to eight months from time of initiation for a Custom Martin model to be delivered.

Also, more options will be added regularly to the software configurator, so if a particular feature does not appear, it does not necessarily mean that it is not offered…