Keith, Martin Learn More +
- Sort by Default
- Display 15 Products per page
-
Add to Compare
2013 Martin Keith Auriole “Old Soul,” Macassar Ebony/Redwood
Now here’s a fun one that’s in a category all its own: Martin Keith’s hybrid Auriole model, here in Macassar Ebony and Redwood. This one, dubbed “Old Soul,” comes to us from 2013 in primo condition with Martin’s smoothly engineered adjustable neck, zero fret, and carbon fiber reinforcements. Additionally, this Auriole has a K&K Pure Mini pickup installed, here with an 1/8” vintage jack (adapter included). In particular, this Redwood is from Martin’s personal stash of Redwood salvaged from a late 19th century West Coast railroad. The upper register is particularly crisp and present, and balances well with the bass and mids for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. The unique combination of a floating bridge in a flattop design adds clarity and sustain to the bass register, and the offset soundhole gives the player a touch more in their own ear.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, hybrid guitar, archtop, eve fret, skbSOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Redwood, Ebony - Macassar Add to CompareBrand New Martin Keith OM, Curly Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce
Firecracker-crisp, proven to be louder than your brother-in-law’s howls at football night, and a smooth playability that adjust on-the-fly: yeah, our latest OM from Martin Keith can show you how it’s done. The curly Honduran Mahogany back and sides is so figured as to put your favorite Maple sets to shame, and a tight-grained Adirondack Spruce top seals the deal. Then, Martin’s adjustable neck pocket takes this guitar to a whole new level: with one twist of an allen wrench (accessible just below the heelcap), you can easily raise or lower the action to suit your playing needs—crank it up a notch for digging in with picks, then coax it down quick and slick for a fingerstyle arrangement in DADGAD.
Keith’s fit and finish more than meets muster, and his aesthetic flair is contemporary without being distracting. Trimmed in Ebony, featuring a zero nut and EVO frets, weighing in at only 4.5lbs: this Keith OM kills it from genre to genre like Manny Pacquiao boxes through title fight after title fight.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Mahogany - Honduran Add to CompareNew Martin Keith Auriole Curly Maple/Sitka
Looking to build an alternative to modern 6 string flattops, Martin Keith took his years’ experience working with Joe Veillette’s shop and applied it to a synthesis of flattop and archtop design: the Auriole. These are big guitars with a great, balanced tone and crisp articulation. Keith achieves this with a wide fan braced Sitka Spruce top, radial braced Curly Maple back, and a Mahogany neck with carbon fiber core (rendering the neck sturdy and lightweight). Add to that a zero fret on the Katalox fretboard and a fully adjustable neck, courtesy of the included allen key, and you have a robust instrument capable of performing equally well in a variety of applications. The Auriole is definitely a flatpicker’s heartthrob.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2.22 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Maple - Figured
As a working musician, I have always been aware of the difference that details, even small ones, can make in the feel, sound, and function of an instrument. These differences can be as basic as a the weight, the points of body contact, or the neck shape – they can also be more subtle, and even the small differences can affect how an instrument inspires the player. Instrument building is an ever-evolving discipline, and the possibilities are constantly redefined by new materials and technologies, and new demands from progressive musicians. These new methods and new needs will always drive instrument builders in new directions, and this exploration is the greatest joy of my craft.
We've known Martin Keith for years through Joe Veillette's shop. He's a very talented builder and I love the way he's merging modern technology and tradition. The results are awesome!