The Martin Guitar Museum is proud to announce the opening of a new exhibit celebrating Frank Herbert Martin, the visionary leader who transformed Martin Guitar into a global brand and expanded its legacy far beyond acoustic guitars. The exhibit will officially open on October 6, 2025, and will run through October 6, 2026* at the Martin Guitar Museum in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Frank Martin officially joined the family business in 1955 and quickly distinguished himself as a talented salesman and strategist. By the early ’70s, he became president of the company and ushered in a bold new era of innovation and expansion.
Chris Martin IV, son of Frank Martin and current Chairman of the Board of Martin Guitar, shared the following personal recollection of his father’s leadership during those transformative years:
“My dad joined the family business the year I was born. 1955 was the beginning of the ‘folk revival.’ Thanks to The Kingston Trio, the revival became a boom. Folk bands toured the country playing coffeehouses and college campuses. Demand for Martin guitars was so strong that my dad convinced my conservative grandfather that the old factory at 10 West North Street in Nazareth didn’t have the capacity to meet the ever-growing demand.
In 1964 we opened the new factory at 510 Sycamore Street in Upper Nazareth Township. Bands like Peter, Paul and Mary, The Limeliters, and The New Christy Minstrels were pop stars. What else happened in 1964? The British Invasion. Led by The Beatles. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were headliners at the Newport Folk Festival. The times, they were a-changing. Yes, Dylan went electric, but the acoustic guitar became an integral part of the folk-rock sound. The late ’60s and early ’70s were a good time to be in the acoustic guitar business.
My dad bought a guitar string company called Darco. Brilliant move. Guitars need strings, and strings need to be replaced.
Politics and music were an integral part of the conversation about the Vietnam War and segregation. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young became a supergroup. They all played Martins. As did The Beatles. As did many other popular bands from that era. The Eagles were the last of the folk-rock supergroups.
Musical tastes and trends began to change. Disco and digital-sampling keyboards became popular. Hair metal bands helped sell pointy electric guitars. By the late ’70s and early ’80s, the acoustic guitar became yesterday’s news. Demand tanked. The company hit hard times. My dad retired and moved to Florida.
Thanks, Dad, for making the business what it was during those interesting times.
And then, in the late 1980s, MTV Unplugged helped create a resurgence in interest in the acoustic guitar that continues to this day!”
Under Frank Martin’s leadership, Martin Guitar also launched the Sigma brand and acquired Fibes Drums, Vega Banjos, Goya, and Levin, broadening the company’s reach into new markets and instruments.
The new exhibit will feature historic instruments, archival materials, and personal stories from Frank Martin’s era of leadership, offering visitors a unique perspective on the company’s evolution during the mid-to-late 20th century.
The Martin Guitar Museum will host a special grand opening event on Monday, October 6, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 510 Sycamore Street in Nazareth, PA, featuring hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Members of the press are invited to attend and explore the exhibit firsthand.
*Display dates are tentative and subject to change.
