brace shaping-Martin Guitar Factory

[@firehouse6226]

The level of sharpness of the chisel is astounding.

[@markynsaibasandarsondiengd2298]

Yeah, There's none available like that in india, would have loved to get one.

[@OldSilkRoad]

It is wonderfully satisfying to watch his experienced hands at work.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

That's what she said.

[@Dang...]

Experienced craftsmanship on display.

[@elibryrob]

There are some videos of Dana Bourgeois demonstrating the process of top voicing/“tap tuning.” I imagine that this man, here, has done this for such a long time that he can probably determine how good the tone will be by the stiffness and weight of the top and the shape of the braces; but I personally feel like a better and more complex tone can be achieved by taking your time with it like Dana does. But, of course, I know that Martin’s productivity levels would totally be brought down, so I fully understand the reasons for doing it as they do.

[@cristallostranito661]

This is roughing work. If you notice some wood shavings stick to the chains. Probably later he or someone else will do the voicing work on the soundboard.

[@boshi9]

@@cristallostranito661 Martin doesn't do voicing / tap tuning. They are simply shaving braces into a predetermined shape for a particular model. What you see here is pretty much the full process, except for some sanding at the very end to remove the scratch marks.

[@terrythegnome2408]

@@boshi9 yep retail guitars aren't voiced. Their custom shop isn't even voiced anymore.

[@hillbillyrik]

With the level of noise in that factory, tap tuning would be absolutely impossible, I've seen the same video you saw, with Dan Bourgeois, and I totally agree with you, I hope that somewhere along the line in the Martin factory some fine tuning is being done, if not...those Martin guitars are way too expensive..

[@51MontyPython]

Absolutely freaking incredible how easy he makes that look. I'd be so nervous and jittery my first time, it would have to be just comical watching me attempt the same next to him. Respect.

[@grandnaguszek7417]

The guy does this for a living, if he screws one up its no big deal - he just tosses it in the "affordable guitar" bin and grabs a new one.

[@el34glo59]

@@grandnaguszek7417 lol affordable guitar bin? That's not how it works man if he messes up it's done. Certain models have certain bracing patterns and shaving done. You can't just throw it in a cheaper models bin.

[@trackie1957]

@@grandnaguszek7417 There is no “affordable guitar bin” at Martin. When I toured the factory, they pointed out the wood chipper they use to destroy any instrument that has a defect that can’t be corrected. They don’t want any defective Martins out there to damage their name.

[@ashleymiller7439]

What he's doing in the video looks easy because it is easy. He's just rounding the edges and tapering the ends. Anybody could do that.

[@stevepethel6843]

Skill talent efficiency and sharp enough to shave 4 sure

[@trackie1957]

Incredible skill, wonderfully sharp tool, and this would not be possible without top quality materials. That said, Martin is a factory, so you won’t get the ritual tsp tuning so many commenters mentioned, but you will get exactly what they intend to make based on many, many years of experience. I toured the factory years ago and learned that any Martin , regardless of model, that has a defect that can’t be corrected, gets thrown in a chipper. No factory second Martins. Ever.

[@capohd28]

Except for Martin kits. That may be true of complete or near complete guitars, but 2nds of individual parts are usually put into Martin guitar kits for builders. Martin actually has that as disclaimer when you buy the kits. That being said, even the kits have some pretty nice wood. It's like only very minor flaws that create reject parts, or possibly non-matched sides, etc.

[@russparker1647]

Seriously sharp, and thin chisel, perfectly clear, quarter sawn wood with no grain run out, LOTS OF EXPERIENCE.LOL . Enlightening video.

[@FriendM2010]

No words needed. Artistry… 👍🤘

[@jtp9805]

He never tapped the top for tone. This job would take at least half an hour in one of the small production shops, with continual tapping for tone as they go along. He shaved the top like he was peeling cucumber.

[@fishbake7]

Even if he was to tap the top for tone, how would he ever hear anything in that shop?

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

What I've noticed from other builders is they shave it to the general point of where this video ended, then they start tapping around and refining the braces.

[@dontsubscribeme9547]

Bracing pattern and taptone is all baloney homey.. All bullshit......

[@rjlchristie]

@@dontsubscribeme9547 It's not invalid. Many different bracing patterns work and equally, many don't, that alone is evidence that bracing and strutting has bearing on the end result. Tap tone is certainly an indicator of the top's response, however, what is contestable is how it is interpreted and the validity of any individual's claims to be able to do so. Unfortunately there is plenty of scope for woo and voodoo science.

[@el34glo59]

@@dontsubscribeme9547 bracing patterns are bullshitl? Um no buddy, bracing is one of the most important things on the guitar

[@JayKeller]

Great video. I love to watch this and imagine that it's my guitar top that Dale is carving.

[@quad1000]

pretty sharp knife folks...and the eye to match I have to believe

[@rjlchristie]

It is reasonable to assume that this was a standard carve applied to all tops with that pattern. Also presumably further refinement will follow according to each top's material and acoustic characteristics. This guy worked so quickly that I don't suppose CNC could save any time doing this operation.

[@boshi9]

There's a standard carve for a model that he follows. This particular one is their "golden era" style bracing since you can see him hand beveling the "X" braces instead of starting with preshaped ones like on standard guitars, meaning this is either an Authentic or some kind of Custom Shop order with that option. There's no refinement for each individual top at Martin.

[@NKBobcat]

Nothing but respect for his skill. Makes if fun to watch. He's done so many perhaps there is no need to constantly test for tone? I'm sure he knows its right based upon shape.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

No, shape alone does not yeild a desired result in tone. If it did, all guitars would have the same shapes.

[@sc12100]

Looks like he's carving GE style bracing.

[@dickiebrewer1232]

I took me 3 hours to do what took him less than 4 minutes. and his guitar probably sounds waaaay better than mind. DANG.

[@Pickinbuddy]

The top and bracing are 95% of an acoustic guitar's sound. This was extremely interesting to watch...

[@chulido74]

위대한 조각가네요. 그가 나무를 조각했을 뿐인데 아름다운 소리라는 작품이 탄생합니다.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

IF I WORKED IN ALL THAT NOISE I'D JUMP OUT THE WINDOW ! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BUILDING GUITARS OR JET ENGINES ?

[@el34glo59]

TRICK-OR TREAT lol

[@spitfirekid1]

I’ve been inside the Martin factory MANY TIMES and never heard any noise close to that.

[@bluescreekguitars3346]

these are on the customs the productions are all preshaped. The man is an artist and this shows a sharp chisel is a tool it it doesn't shave it is just a pretty piece of metal

[@stephenhenion8304]

I'll bet he made my D28 Custom.....just saying 🎵🎶🎵... he did a great job!!

[@homerorodrigues4167]

I would like to know the address of the Martin guitar factory. and also email

[@CrazyCow500]

I was under the assumption that the amount of shaving was contingent on the flexibility and tone one is attempting to achieve. That means it unique to every top. This craftsman didn't once pick up the top to flex it or tap it. Can someone correct me if I'm wrong please.

[@raytristani]

You are not wrong about this at all. I too was very surprised that he did not pick up the soundboard and tap it to at least hear the natural note of the treble or bass sides of the bracing, then shaving more as needed. I am an amateur at this, but that would be my approach.

[@nellytheelephant.trumptrum4039]

He has tapped many guitars and now doesn't need to - vote Trump if you are a moron !

[@joannes7009]

+Nelly The Elephant. Trump Trump Trump vote if your an idiot period they both suck.

[@hmmm7399]

Because every piece of wood is different. Not just the soundboard, the bracing too.

[@johnnycmajor]

You never Trump idiots even have to show up on guitar making vid.. for fucks sakes.

[@filavadrit]

manual dexterity awesome!

[@Budweiserebel07]

Good God, how sharp is that chisel. One sneeze and somebody loses an arm.

[@NeoRichardBlake]

Nah, the bracings are just made out of butter. ;P I was actually thinking similarly.

[@alann5003]

Anybody know what model that is?

[@mikereynolds3294]

I wonder what brand chisel .........nice n sharp

[@hullinstruments]

Mike Reynolds looks like it’s installed on one of those screw on file or rasp handles, and it almost looks like an old mill bastard file that’s been ground smooth and turned into a chisel. I’ve seen many of them done that way and they do make great chisels if one knows how to grind and heat treat properly.

[@PaulHeagen]

Not a matter of chisel brand. Has more to do with how it is sharpened. His is not particularly sharp. A sharp chisel can take off a strip of wood you can see through.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Three Cherries Custom Tap Tone. $29 each, sharpening? $5000.

[@vincentlussier8264]

It 's a wonder how these craftsmen scallop the right amount of wood without removing too much.those chizzels must be sharp as hell because they can slice layers of wood paper thin! With their skilled hands they are slowly tuning the top for its treble side an the lower bass side. But how do they know when to stop scalloping on each and every one of those braces? How do they know how to maintain the sound of the D28 model from let's say aD18 or a D45? All craftsmen at Martin, Gibson, Thompson, Taylor and all American guitar builders are a rare breed of very skilled people who are building and preserving one of America's favorite pastimes and professions among the musical community, and have made Americans so proud! Even if you don't play guitar, the music you enjoy hearing is comes from these great guitar builders anyway!

[@stavrospapadimitriou7631]

If it's scalloped, it's not a D-28. A herringbone, maybe...

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

NO, he's not tuning a damn thing, he's constructing a shape used on all guitars in that series.

[@orisguitars7315]

This would take me a lot longer.

[@sc12100]

and take me a lot more tries

[@haroldrull4943]

My take is , what brand of chisel does he use?,,,

[@hullinstruments]

Harold Rull Exactly! To me it looks like one of those “screw on” file or rasp handles made by Nicholson. The chisel almost looks like an old mill bastard file that the teeth have been ground off of.....and it has been made into a chisel. Would make sense considering it looks like a file or rasp handle it’s attached to. I know it’s more important how the work is done instead of what brand tools are used,… good Craftsman can make do with very little in the way of tools… But it sure is interesting for the rest of us… Especially folks like me to try and use the best quality tooling to make up for my lack of patience and skill LOL

[@el34glo59]

@@hullinstruments a lot of their tools are Originals from back in the day, especially for certain guitars they make

[@jamesfetherston1190]

More like, “what sharpening stones does he use”.

[@valueofnothing2487]

Give that guy $1,000!

[@thePonker]

nice steel... is the grain perpendicular to the top?

[@PaulHeagen]

No, it runs parallel. That is the only way you can get a chisel to go through it.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Wrong.@@PaulHeagen

[@toughguy2248]

is that butter?

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

I could be wrong but it looks as if that chisel was sharpened on a wheel. Regardless, it's shaving sharp.

[@guitardude4700]

Not His first rodeo is it?

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

3rd. He shaped Taylor Swift's bracing.

[@DB-rr1eo]

This looks like a GE braced top.

[@romanbelov]

Почему бы сразу не ободрать до нужной формы, а затем вклеить?

[@dontsubscribeme9547]

With those many thick strips of wood on the soundboard... What is left to vibrate in response to strings....

[@el34glo59]

That's not even that thick.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Get a braceless guitar!

[@jeefunk8833]

Wow

[@oaktree1628]

That was probably for an HD-35.

[@andstr4150]

I was understanding that tuning the top was a long process. I get that this guy does so many a day he can probably feel it but damn i didn't know it was like that.

[@stavrospapadimitriou7631]

This is the reason that for every great sounding Martin, there at 2 that sound meh. Nobody ever mentions that though, do they?

[@andstr4150]

@@stavrospapadimitriou7631 Good point haha. I always wondered why a lot of them weren't super impressive.

[@KBorham]

This fine craftsman was not tuning the top, he was shaping the braces, so they matched what he was taught. Every piece of wood is different. The process shown will give an acceptable tone for a factory guitar.

[@andstr4150]

@@KBorham You are right. I guess the ease that this man does the task is pretty crazy to me

[@jamesfe5]

This is why there is too much belly bulge in guitars with this type these days. There is one flaw that compromises strength in this system . There is one slight difference without changing the brace pattern one bit , but it will add profound strength to the sound boards ability to keep flat ..engineers use this strength very often......

[@Strabbs12345]

I am a carpenter of 27 years experience, and this isn't realy that hard to do, he does it quickly, but if the timbers nice and dry, and not 'wild' and the chisels sharp, it's just simple pairing. Nice to watch however

[@haroldrull4943]

Do this in 30 years or more, you can close your eyes and still can do it perfectly.

[@redrock1963]

With that chisel I'd through to the bench before I knew about it.

[@el34glo59]

Lol at all the KZbin luthiers bitching about them not tap tuning. They know what they're doing. And no they don't technically tap tune. But that's why there's variation in some Martins and something for everyone. Also, they do some finer shaping later

[@tameromari2102]

Who knew you could use butter as braces.

[@rmstevens01]

$1,000 more for 3 minutes work. What a racket.

[@stavrospapadimitriou7631]

Looks so easy, but that's practice for you...

[@brad42948]

Oh man... he just did in 3 minutes what takes me three days.... at least.

[@ernestschultz5065]

he's probably been doing that for 40 years

[@TomKrall]

cuts that thing like butter

[@TheGrasspond]

what bothers me is he never once tap toned the top.

[@SouthSeaTrader]

exactly my thought. A good point in the process to replace with a machine.

[@pmscalisi]

I often wonder how important tap tuning really is. I don’t think that Martin tap tunes anything. As others have said Martins can be all over the place with how they sound. Maybe tap tuning provides consistency?

[@UAL320]

It’s a factory, nothing more, nothing less. This is not Bourgeois or Collings or Santa Cruz tapping and customizing each top. You get what you pay for.....which with Martin is generally just fine.

[@R.C.Bullar]

ASMR for guitar nerds

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

This is NOT "voicing" the guitar top, which is the "art" (since there's no applied science here) of removing material to produce a desired sound characteristic. However, there is a reason why he's taken a lot of material off at this stage rather than STARTING with smaller braces, and the answer is left for you to puzzle over.

[@zensational.]

Doesn't even say he's voicing it... drink some water, and touch grass.

[@Timzorrr]

This is really interesting! This is what I take away from this video: 1 Martin is relying on its Brand/Name and can pretend to craft guitars and people don't notice or care. 2 Martin makes tons of guitars and have learned that shaping the bracing is not that important so make it look like a luthier worked on the guitar and no one will notice. 3 Maybe shaping the bracing is important but don't learn the craft from a Martin Luthier.

[@waltdude]

So all this malarkey about the tuning the top is marketing hype?

[@jamesfe5]

Yes you are right, because once the body and sides are added, two slightly different sounding free standing soundboards when tapped , will sound no different when complete guitars , it will usually be equalized through the physics of the guitar shape and bracing, it is currently a challenge for the industry.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Pretty much. Pro luthiers concern themselves with how much stiffness they want in the top. Still, you can get a soundboard that has little response and won't produce any "bong" when tapped, and you must reject that board. Only takes a few taps to detect a bad board, but luthiers don't adjust for tap tones.

[@mauricecoutanceau2297]

Amazing technique, sharp chisel, but I didn't see him listening to the sound board once. How can you make an instrument without listening to it? I will Never buy a Martin guitar if this is the way they are made

[@el34glo59]

Don't buy one then. Martin knows what they're doing. They select certain wood and allow some variation. That's why everyone sounds a little different. And everyone has different tastes. Trust me, they know what they're doing. Also this is roughing. They go into more detail after this. But they don't have the time to individually tap tune every top. Which is not even proven. Now if you want to shave more for flex, sure. Which they actually do to an extent. Tap tuning is a not some scientific fact. Martins imo still sound better than the guys that tap tune. And there's a reason for that

[@ChicagoBulls1984]

@@el34glo59 also martin literally invented this type of bracing!!

[@Hollcall]

Bet He sharpens His own Chisels. hahahaha His level of skill is obvious . Years of repetition.

[@westpenncyclist]

Yea! Some more filler for HPL!

[@vincentlussier8264]

Westpennycyclist, what the hell is your comment supposed to mean?

[@pmscalisi]

I though HPL was basically Formica

[@PaulHeagen]

Does Martin actually think this benefits their brand to have this video?

[@el34glo59]

Wtf is that supposed to mean

[@PaulHeagen]

@@el34glo59 Easy fella. Just ask your question without all the expletives. The point was that it appears Martin shapes all the bracing the same and does not voice the tone woods. So, they are not truly custom guitars; they are production guitars with some hand work. That's all.

[@steveb9325]

@@PaulHeagen(with respect.) they (Martin) never said their guitars are custom made. Now, of course, they have a " custom" (made) department. You can have a "custom" made Martin of your choosing (size, tonewoods; neck shape etc). Just like: Collings, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Froggy Bottom, Olson etc. All you need is to know exactly what you want and plenty of cheese!!! Cheers!!!

[@steveb9325]

@sd lm well, alright then. Good to know how you feel. Take care.

[@Dildobagginses]

​@@PaulHeageneasy fella, just make your point without telling other people what words to use. And this isn't advertised as a custom guitar, mine turned out lovely

[@paulshrubb2734]

why not carve the braces before they are glued in with all the shaping already done, by a robot

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Braces are left fat at the start so that spreads out the load on the braces with less forcing or tensioning while the adhesive sets. Later, after the soundboard has set or acclimated to the fat braces, material can be removed with less trauma and tensioning errors than starting with thinner braces initially.. I mean, I'm just making stuff up here.

[@Dildobagginses]

​@@NeverTalkToCops1nah that makes perfect sense you can't clamp onto a triangle point

[@jeffthompson1696]

Listening to the tap tone? Great tech skills, but no sense of musicality.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

None needed, he's just conforming to a general spec.

[@PaulHeagen]

Impressive speed and precision, but not "custom." This is a factory job. Unless he checks the tone of the top during the process, he is simply trimming each brace to a predetermined spec.

[@onesource9527]

who says he's done?

[@jefferyfulkerson3584]

NEVER BUYING A MARTIN

[@johnnycmajor]

Good more for me.

[@dangitbobby0001]

K

[@el34glo59]

Your loss

[@Dildobagginses]

Sweet