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Collection: Mario

In 1996, Mario Martin went to work at the Gibson guitar factory in Nashville. Getting some much needed experience in a fast paced production environment. After three years of helping to produce hundreds of Gibson guitars, he landed a building position with Fender Guitars. There at the newly formed Nashville based Fender/Guild Custom Shop, he honed his building and finishing chops. Working alongside esteemed master luthier, Evan Ellis, Mario absorbed every bit of knowledge possible on cr. . . Show More >

In 1996, Mario Martin went to work at the Gibson guitar factory in Nashville. Getting some much needed experience in a fast paced production environment. After three years of helping to produce hundreds of Gibson guitars, he landed a building position with Fender Guitars. There at the newly formed Nashville based Fender/Guild Custom Shop, he honed his building and finishing chops. Working alongside esteemed master luthier, Evan Ellis, Mario absorbed every bit of knowledge possible on crafting guitars - start to finish. Following his career with Fender Musical Instruments, in 2004 he found himself in a management position with MIRC (Music Instrument Restoration Corporation) based out of Franklin, TN. overseeing factory authorized repair work for Yamaha Guitars.

In 2005 Mario was ready to set out on his own and a year later Mario's newly created Guitar Mill moved into its current location at 407 West Lytle St in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a facility that has grown to encompass 4,000 square feet. Guitar Mill has gone from offering two guitar shapes to now having more than a dozen body styles while also offering services such as repair, handmade necks, set-up, restoration, aging/relicing, customization, rerouting and custom nitrocellulose finishing services.

In 2009, The Guitar Mill Custom Shop was officially launched. The Guitar Mill Custom Shop evolved from a high demand from Mill customers for product in its final form – a finished guitar. The GMCS guitars were high-end boutique guitars, custom built in the Murfreesboro, Tenn. shop they were named after. Mario Martin's signature and “Hand Crafted In The USA” was proudly adorned on the back of each headstock. GMCS guitars were the precursor to Mario Guitars®.

In 2011, a turning point appeared for the small custom guitar maker. The Guitar Mill Custom Shop became known under the new brand Mario Guitars® – replacing the former headstock logo with current "MM" inscription. The re-branding occurred when Mario felt the need to be more closely associated with his product, thus naming it after himself.

Mario Guitars®' instruments have been hailed for their superior playability, lightweight construction, unmatched resonance and prolonged sustain. Many Mario guitars are the lightest guitars of their style, one of the major woods used is paulownia, which is known for being incredibly lightweight while also maintaining structural integrity and having unbeatable resonance. Mario's custom finishes and relic/aging work have been cited by many to be some of the best in this field. Mario is also proud of the fact that he also builds non-aged/pristine guitars.

Mario Guitars®' instruments have been reviewed by Premier Guitar, Guitar Player, Guitar World, and have made appearances on stage with some of today's top musical acts. In 2011, country star Hunter Hayes started playing Mario guitars almost exclusively; Hayes now owns four Mario guitars, one of which he played in his musical appearance in the 2014 Grammy Awards. Just recently, Grammy nominated country duo Brothers Osborne began endorsing Mario Martin’s talents, playing his T-Styles with pride! Many other artists have caught on as well, and the demand for Mario’s work is at an all-time high.


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10 products
  • Mario Guitars - various
    Mario Guitars
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  • Mario sales archive:

  • Mario Martin Ash Body Strat w/ Brazilian Fretboard - Preowned
    Mario Ash Body Strat
    sold
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    $2,000.00
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    $2,000.00
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  • Mario Candy Apple Red Metal Flake Honcho
    Mario Honcho
    sold
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    $3,935.00
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    $3,935.00
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  • Mario S-Style #1022735
    Mario S-Style
    sold
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    $3,665.00
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    $3,665.00
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  • Mario S-Style Nicotine Blonde
    Mario S-Style Nicotine Blonde
    sold
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    $3,175.00
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    $3,175.00
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  • Mario Jazz Faded Shell Pink
    Mario Jazz
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  • Mario 2-Tone S-Style
    Mario 2-Tone S-Style
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  • Mario Sherwood Green Honcho
    Mario Honcho
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  • Mario Inca Silver Honcho
    Mario Honcho
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  • Mario Candy Apple Red S-Style
    Mario S-Style
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