Country music's favorite guitar made in Lehigh Valley

NAZARETH, Pa. (WPVI) -- Country music's biggest stars will be hitting the stage this week for the Country Music Awards.

And as we found out, many of the performers - along with generations of country music stars - have hit the stage strumming a guitar made in the Lehigh Valley.

It's the Martin guitar, which is crafted in Nazareth, Pa.

"Everyone works on each guitar as if it were their own," said Chris Thomas of Martin Guitars.

Since 1833, each and every one of the more than one million Martin guitars have been handcrafted and carved, polished and painted, sanded and strung right here in our area.

Each beauty is born from scented rows of custom woods, from mahogany to red spruce to East Indian rosewood.

"One of the biggest comments we have is people wish they could bottle the smell," Thomas said.

It can take up to eight months to make one Martin guitar.

Christian Frederik Martin brought his craft here from Germany 181 years ago. Six generations later, some of the biggest names in the biz made their musical mark on a Martin.

"In the 20's we built a guitar for the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers."

Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash were also Martin fans.

"Johnny had the very first black Martin guitar," said Thomas.

Modern day country music stars are also Martin loyalists, like five time CMA award nominee Dierks Bentley - who even created his own signature model.

Martin offers free tours Monday through Friday.

Meanwhile, Action News is in Nashville for ahead of the Country Music Awards. Follow us at #6abcCMA for the behind-the-scenes excitement!