Martin – Gretsch & the “Long Game”

For those who may not know, Martin and Gretsch are both immigrant German families with lineage stretching back to a 19th Century American founding date. Both gained stature with the advent of rock-n-roll in the 1950s. Martin excelled as an acoustic guitar builder while the Gretsch family fully embraced the new-fangled electric guitar phenomena.

Dinah & Fred Gretsch with Martin Executive Team

Fast forward to Monday, July 24, 2017 when Dinah and Fred Gretsch stopped by to visit the Nazareth, Pennsylvania home of Martin.

“We left NYC first thing in the morning in the rain and heavy traffic and emerged some 80 miles and 2 hours later to sunshine and green hills,” the Gretsches reported. “Martin President Jackie Renner and her team greeted us for a get-together lunch along with senior team members.  We very much enjoyed sharing industry ‘stories’ old and new.

Deb Karlowitch, Dinah Gretsch, Jackie Renner

Frank Untermeyer gave us the Factory tour, and Tim Teel hosted the Museum tour.

This was the first Gretsch Family visit at the Nazareth compound as far as anyone can remember.

The Gretsch family and the Martin family share a long legacy of instrument building.  We congratulate Chris Martin and his team on their dedication to the importance of a place and the people it takes to manufacture world-class string instruments.”

The Martin Company Museum and Factory tour is open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It’s an exceptional tribute to the musicians who play Martin guitars, the dedicated people who build them, and the Martin Family who continues to highly value both.