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Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53976		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
You used to be able to order things like truss rods from Martin. I think it was called the guitar maker’s connection or something like that. I can’t find it on their website anymore. Is it called something else or is it no longer an option?
Author:  Skarsaune [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 6:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
It’s been out of operation since covid hit as far as I can tell, and got omitted on the last update of the website. IE, when you go to the 1833 shop on the website, Guitar Maker’s Connection used to be one of the categories. And kits, parts, etc showed up in the 1833 shop.

I sure hope they do open it back up. It was a good source of parts, at least for me.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I hope so too. Hopefully someone who knows will chime in with some info.
Author:  bluescreek [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 2:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
closed till further notice
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I didn’t want to call you out directly but was hoping you might have input. :)

Do you have a sense of if “until further notice” means more like until we can safely staff the operation once COVID is more under o toll, or more like until we decide that we aren’t goi g to continue this part of our operation? If you don’t feel like you should say, I completely understand.
Author:  phavriluk [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I bought truss rods and a truss rod wrench from the 1833 shop in October through Martin's web site.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
phavriluk wrote:
I bought truss rods and a truss rod wrench from the 1833 shop in October through Martin's web site.

They currently only show truss rod wrenches in the shop, no rods :(
Author:  bluescreek [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
GMC is closed no one is there , they were doing internet sales but that required 2 guys go to GMC to pack orders, They stopped doing that. Hopefully when COVID l is under control it may reopen
Author:  jfmckenna [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I've been using Bitterroot truss rods and will vouch for them. They are the same, or very similar, low profile Martin design. I've not tried the ones Stew Mac makes.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 1:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
jfmckenna wrote:
I've been using Bitterroot truss rods and will vouch for them. They are the same, or very similar, low profile Martin design. I've not tried the ones Stew Mac makes.


Thanks for that source, I was not aware of them. This is, I’m sure, a dumb question, but what is the difference between the dual action and 2-way rods? They have both and it looks like the price is the same.

Which have you used?
Author:  doncaparker [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I have not used the Bitterroot truss rods, but judging from the photos, the two way rods look like the current Martin design, and the dual action look like practically all other non-compression truss rods being sold these days. The current Martin design has the adjustment nut inside a barrel. The barrel stays still, and the nut (which is welded to the rod) inside the barrel rotates. The other way of doing it (the dual action, in Bitterroot terms) has the barrel acting as the adjustment nut itself, and the whole barrel (which is welded to the rod) rotates.

At least, that's what it looks like. I definitely like the current Martin design best, and I'm glad there is another place to get them while Martin is not selling them.
Author:  doncaparker [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
Actually, their VC Two Way looks the most like the current Martin design.

But, in an inexplicable terminology inconsistency, they call something a Two Way Custom Shop model, and it is is designed more like the dual action rods than the two way rods. Sheesh.

Nonetheless, I'm going to order a few of the VC Two Way rods and see how they compare to the Martin rods.
Author:  bluescreek [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
bitteroot for me no failures easy to use and reliable
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I didn’t see the VC rods because I was looking at the 12 fret rods. I guess those are not available in that length.
Author:  CarlD [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I'm another Bitterroot customer. They've worked great so far. Used a variety of lengths and types, an ABG, a 14 fret and a 12 fret.
Author:  jfmckenna [ Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I have not bought any from Bitterroot in a while though I am ready to buy another batch. I remember going through the same thing questioning what they mean by this and that option. All I remember is that after some careful reading I figured it out. So just go back and re-read their descriptions.
Author:  doncaparker [ Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
doncaparker wrote:
Actually, their VC Two Way looks the most like the current Martin design.

**********

I'm going to order a few of the VC Two Way rods and see how they compare to the Martin rods.


I ordered and received some VC Two Way truss rods from Bitterroot. I have to say, they are very, very close to the current Martin design. Three differences:

1. The flat bar on top goes all the way to the end of the barrel on the Martin design, but stops right before the barrel on the Bitterroot design. This should not matter during normal operation, because the middle of the flat bar would normally be pushing up on the middle of the fingerboard, and the ends of the lower round bar would normally be pushing down on the neck. But it is a difference.

2. The shrink wrap goes to the very end of the barrel on the Martin current design, but stop about 3/4" from the end of the barrel on the Bitterroot design. I can't see this having any effect on anything.

3. The Martin rod takes a 5mm Allen wrench, while the Bitterroot rod takes a 4mm Allen wrench. That doesn't really matter to me, since I have long handle, right angle wrenches in both sizes.

Bottom line for me: I'll gladly use the Bitterroot VC Two Way truss rods as a substitute for the current Martin design.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I went ahead and ordered a 5 pack of the two-way 12 fret rods. Ended up being cheaper with shipping than it would have been from Martin. Next time I need 14 fret rods, I’ll order the VC rods.
Author:  doncaparker [ Thu Mar 04, 2021 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
Another nice thing about Bitterroot: They included cards in my order that show a code for a 20% discount if you are a GAL member.
Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is Martin’s guitar making connection still a thing?
I'm hoping the shop opens again. I bought 2 EIR back and side rejects sets for about $90 a few years back. They had some mineral deposits in them. Good enough for me. Plus, they are a short drive from my daughters house so I can just pop in when I visit.
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