A Man, a Guitar, and a Company Extraordinaire

Friendship and family might not be the same unless you live on Marco, Goodland, or the Isles of Capri. Throughout the years, and especially during the special season of Thanksgiving and the holidays, truly talented and unique members of the Marco Beach Boys and Girls family stand out with anecdotes that are truly timeless.  

Christian Frederick Martin was born in Germany in 1796. When he was only fifteen, he began his career as an apprentice guitar maker. After three years of study, he knew he had found his labor of love but the young Christian also felt frustration with the local politics regarding the manufacture of stringed musical instruments. The German guilds that regulated the artisans and musical instrument commerce were in a constant quagmire of conflicting opinion. Regulations were in place to provide quality control, but as a result, innovative thinking and new designs were not encouraged.

Dispirited by the guild regulations, but inspired by new and very private ideas, CF Martin immigrated to the United States in 1833. He then opened a small guitar shop in New York and excitedly began experimenting with new guitar design. He invented the “X” bracing structure system responsible for Martin’s innovative resonate sound and with the new interior design Martin Guitars not only rang true but they were stronger and more warp resistant.

After five years in New York, Martin yearned for the rolling knolls of Germany and found a new home and a new site for his guitar works in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. CF Martin passed away two years after the Civil War but the company continued under the direction of his son CF Martin Jr. The Martin heir ran the business until his premature death only ten years later and subsequently handed over the tradition to his son Frank Martin who was only 22 years old. Frank later diversified the company and began making mandolins during the First World War. With the aid of master artisan Harry Hunt, Frank Martin began developing a revolutionary new style of instrument he named the “Dreadnought” Guitar. As happenstance would provide, the “Dreadnought,” was just in time for the “blues players” of the 1930’s and an entirely new musical genre. With the Great Depression and hard times being a way of life for almost a decade, the dreadnoughts ruled and the blues became bona fide and then unstoppable. The “Dreadnought” today remains unique in sound and style and is a favorite guitar worldwide.

When BK - Bill Koetting decided it was time for a new guitar, he wanted a Martin Dreadnought and specifically a Martin D-18. As with most young musicians, favorite musical instruments are often for sale at a price well above financial range and the new Martin Guitar was no exception. In 1963, the pricing for a new Martin Dreadnought was set at $350. Even one hundred dollars was a lot of money in the years where the average income was about $50 dollars a week and before the days of credit cards. BK was compelled to have a friend co-sign to guarantee credit.

At the time, Martin guitars were famous for their sound and quality, and to back up the extravagant price, there was a lifetime guarantee. BK bought the classic Dreadnought Martin at McMurray Music Company in St Louis, Missouri and began traveling through love, life, and music, and settled on Marco Island in 1975.

Thirty-five years later, BK visited the fine folks at Martin Guitars in Nazareth Pennsylvania. The old Dreadnought D-18 was in need of some work as the years of use and traveling had taken a toll. The guitar, according to the original warranty, was indeed equipped with a lifetime guarantee for the instrument, but only with the original receipt or bill-of-sale. After over thirty-five years, BK did not have the original sales document.

The old dreadnought needed a new neck, fretboard, some minor parts and some refinishing. The bill for the repairs and restoration was almost $1,000, but at the time, BK had no way to prove that he was the original owner. He did, however, remember the name of McMurray Music Company where he bought the guitar and called the store to ask about a receipt. The St Louis music store was still in the same location but had changed ownership several times. According to the current proprietor, providing a copy of the original transaction was just not possible.

With the disheartening information, but also with the name of the McMurray Music Company, BK returned to Martin Guitars and told his story. The Martin folks were sympathetic and very helpful. They immediately began to search their records and found that a Dreadnought D-18 with the same serial number as BK’s guitar was shipped to the McMurray Music Company in St Louis Missouri in late 1962. That was enough for the folks at Martin and all of the restoration work was free of charge: no charge to the original owner! 

BK’s Dreadnought D-18 will always be a vintage classic. Bill Koetting was not only one of Marco Island’s greatest musicians, but he was also one of the most versatile. BK played for years with the Wild Flowers, a contemporary Bluegrass group. The group often made appearances in Goodland at the Little Bar. BK also played the traditional standup with bass and sang great folk ballads and will always be remembered for his version of: “I’ve Been Everywhere,” and “Merry Christmas from the Family,” by Robert Earl Keen.”

The end of a wonderful era passed with BK. He will always be part of our lives and remembered today and during this upcoming holiday season as a true treasure to anyone who knew him. With BK’s amazing talent and seasoned years of experience, it only takes one strum on a Martin guitar to recall the echoes and the memories of a very special Marco man and his extraordinary guitar.