Luthier
Mario Martin Guitars
- Luthier
- Mario Martin
- Founded
- 2009
- Location
- Nashville, Tennessee
Mario Guitars® are known globally for their superior playability, lightweight construction, unmatched resonance and prolonged sustain. Mario’s custom finishes and relic/ageing work have been noted by many to be the amongst the very best in the industry.
Starting out as a musician, Mario Martin has been singing and playing guitar for most of his life. In 1996, Martin went to work at the Gibson Guitar factory in Nashville. After three years of assisting in the production of hundreds of Gibson guitars, Mario went onto a building role in the Nashville-based Fender/Guild Custom Shop. Following his time working with Fender, in 2004 Mario found himself in a management position with MIRC (Music Instrument Restoration Corporation) based out of Franklin, TN. Overseeing factory authorised repair work for Yamaha Guitars.
In 2005, with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Mario decided to start his own lutherie venture, "Guitar Mill" based in Musfreesbro. In 2009, The Guitar Mill Custom Shop was officially opened. The Guitar Mill Custom Shop evolved from a high demand from Mill customers for our product in it’s final form – a finished guitar. The “GMCS” guitars were high-end boutique guitars; custom built in the Murfreesboro, Tenn. shop where they were named after. Mario Martin’s signature and “Hand Crafted In The USA” was proudly adorned on the back of each headstock. “GMCS” guitars were the precursor to Mario Guitars®.
In 2011, a turning point appeared for Mario. The Guitar Mill Custom Shop became known under the new brand Mario Guitars® – replacing the former headstock logo with current “MM” inscription. The re-branding occurred when Mario felt the need to more closely associated with his product, thus naming it after himself.