Collectible Guitar Summer 2026 | Page 83

MARTIN ARCHIVES stayed in place through each generation of the Martin family and through every shift in the wider culture of music.
Frank Henry Martin, who ran the company from 1888 to 1945, is the figure Ahner credits most directly with establishing that principle as the company’ s institutional character. Under Frank Henry, Martin built the mandolin, the ukulele, the dreadnought, and the orchestra model( OM). He is

I0034H considered by many historians of the instrument to be the father of the modern acoustic guitar.“ He really set the company on that direction of, we’ re not going to do things the same as we’ ve always done them,” Ahner says.“ And I think that’ s part of the reason why the company has been successful.”

Frank Henry’ s grandson, Frank Herbert Martin, who led the company through the
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