Car Talk


	No, we're not kidding. The world-famous C. F. Martin Guitar Company the company synonymous with great sounding acoustic guitars, has apparently lost its corporate mind. Later in 2008, Martin is launching a special-edition Click and Clack Martin Guitar. How did this happen? How many corporate heads will roll? Will Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Sting, John Mayer, and Beck now refuse to be seen playing their Martins? Will Johnny Cash roll over in his grave? And why would anybody want one of these things? To find out, Car Talk spoke with Dick Boak, Artist Relations Manager for Martin.
		----------------------------------------------- *Car Talk: Click and Clack.... and guitars?! What's the connection?* Dick: Well, there's always been a sort of bluegrass thing going on behind the scenes at Car Talk; which us astute folks at Martin Guitar discovered. David Grisman's "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" is the show's theme song, of course, and in addition to the antifreeze in their blood, we've noticed a few bluegrass references slip out of Tom and Ray's mouths over the years. So we got in touch, and sure enough, Ray's a guitar player and vocalist, and Tom's a hoot on string bass. We were delighted to find out that Tom and Ray have been in an assortment of bands through the years, and that they regularly get together to alienate customers in local establishments. I'm sure you've heard their hit song "Far, Far Away!" *Car Talk: We only know "Far, Far Away" as where we hope our customers will be when our repairs fail again.* Dick: Oh, sorry. It's a bluegrass joke: a heckler from the audience yells the request, "Do you know how to play the song "Far, Far Away" - as in, we hate your music and wish you could play far, far away!

Car Talk: Well, that solves that request mystery. We'll let Tom and Ray know.

So you got in touch with the guys, and asked them if they minded if you took your company down the crapper by making a special-edition guitar for them?

Dick: More or less. We worked together over - it seems like a couple of years to design a guitar that was true to the Car Talk personality

Car Talk: So the special Car Talk-edition guitar shows up late to the gig and complains about all the work?

Dick: No. You must be thinking of our George Jones model. The Car Talk guitar does get grumpy if you don't change the strings every 3,000 chords.

Car Talk: OK, so we understand Car Talk's connection to the guitar now. But aren't you worried that their abject lack of musicianship is going to affect Martin Guitar sales and the prestige of the Martin Guitar brand in general?

Dick: C. F. Martin has defined quality, integrity, and tone in acoustic guitars for 175 years. Let's just say... it was a great run, while it lasted!

Car Talk: So how do you get a guitar to lay a patch, or bounce up and down like a low rider?

Dick: It won't do that, sorry. I know it's hard to believe, but the Car Talk guitar is actually very cool! Some misguided few might even use the word collectable.

Car Talk: Tell us about it.

Dick: Well, the tuning buttons are cast in the shape of little chrome cars, and the neck is inlaid with Tom and Ray in a beat up old jalopy, spewing car parts down the fingerboard: a muffler, fender, tail pipe, battery, tire and wrench - all in genuine mother-of-pearl. The pick guard is imprinted, in very small letters, with the famous Car Talk credits. The guys are even peeking out of the sound hole. Scary, I know, and bound to diminish sales.

In spite of all of this lame Car Talk humor, the instrument simply sounds fantastic - it's a quintessential Martin bluegrass guitar!

Car Talk: Let's say someone reading this was foolish enough to want to part with some hard-earned cash for one of these limited-edition Click and Clack guitars. Where can they get more info?

Dick: Any authorized Martin guitar dealer, or check out the Car Talk page on our web site, starting on June 20th. You'll find the specs, the photos, the story, a silly video - even the owner's manual.

Car Talk: Uh oh! Another owner's manual to lose.

Dick: We're working on an optional glove box in the guitar case, but our designers have hit some snags.

Car Talk: Do we get a commission on the sales?

Dick: Your chief legal council Hugh Louis Dewey didn't read the small print? We're donating Car Talk's proceeds to buy Tom and Ray's families a soundproof room in which their bluegrass band can practice.

Car Talk: Seriously, where's the dough, Dick? We've got cappuccino to buy.

Dick: Actually, Tom and Ray agreed to donate all of their proceeds to charity. And if they don't remember that, I've got it here in writing.

Car Talk: Well, okay then, how about a free pick at least?

Dick: You're pushing your luck!

Car Talk: What will C. F. Martin do with its share of the proceeds?

Dick: Try to buy our reputation back.

Car Talk: It's a little late for that, don't you think? Anyway, give us a peek into the future. What have you got planned? A Terry Gross edition? Garrison Keillor?

Dick: Terry's been strictly electric ever since Dylan plugged in at the Newport Folk Festival, so that's out of the question.

Garrison Keillor? Now there's a musician! He came to Martin Guitar's hometown a year ago, for a special Christmas show. In fact, Pat Donohue, the fantastic guitarist from The Guys' All-Star Shoe Band, has his own custom-edition Martin guitar. And, unlike Tom and Ray, Pat actually knows how to hold a guitar.

Car Talk: One more question. Have you played the Click and Clack Martin guitar?

Dick: I have.

Car Talk: Does it have a Boston accent?

Dick: All kidding aside, the Car Talk guitar has an amazing tone, and wonderful artistry. It's a great instrument. If you find yourself at the junction of cars and guitars, this really is your chance to own a piece of musical - and automotive - history.