Martin Releases Jason Isbell Signature Models and New Strings

All-New Martin 0-17, 0-10E Jason Isbell now available

All-New Era PB Strings Also Released

“The Martin 0-17 Jason Isbell is a limited-edition model crafted to replicate the pre-war 0-17 at the heart of his latest album. Limited to just 50 instruments, it’s built entirely from solid sinker mahogany paired with Adirondack spruce Golden Era scalloped X-bracing for a warm, expressive voice. The sinker mahogany neck, inspired by Jason’s pre-war 0-17, combines with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge for classic feel and playability. 17-style appointments and a vintage gloss finish complete its timeless look.

“This one replicates the 1940 0-17 that I used on Foxes in the Snow,” said Jason. “The Brazilian [rosewood] for the bridge and the fingerboard is a really special thing. The fact that Martin was able and willing to do that for these guitars makes me really, really happy… and the neck on this one is pretty identical in shape to the original guitar. It’s a very simple guitar to look at and to play, but certainly not simple to put together.”

The Martin 0-10E Retro Jason Isbell brings that spirit to the Road Series in a stage-ready form. Featuring a satin-finished all-mahogany 0 14-fret body, scalloped spruce X-bracing, and Martin E1 electronics with a built-in tuner, it delivers warm, focused tone and plug-and-play performance. With East Indian rosewood accents, 17-style inlays, and nickel open-gear tuners, the guitar balances vintage-inspired looks with modern versatility.

“This guitar meets the artist’s criteria that the instrument can’t be the challenge,” Jason said. “They’re well made, they’re easy to play, they sound good, and they don’t scream, ‘Look at me.’ At this price point, a whole lot of people are gonna have access to it—and that’s great because it encourages beginner guitar players and singer-songwriters to have something that is quality. I could take this guitar and just make a living with it.”

In addition to the new guitars, Martin is launching an all-new line of strings: Martin Era™ Strings. Designed to set the standard for acoustic tone and playability, they combine the best of Martin’s string-making innovations into one premium offering. Era strings feature a patented Lifespan® treatment to protect against corrosion, Flexible Core construction to enhance comfort and fretability, and silk-wrapped ball ends to help protect your prized instrument. Together, these features establish a new benchmark for what phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings can deliver.

Within the Era line is Jason’s first-ever signature set: Martin Era™ Jason Isbell Signature Strings. Developed with a traditional SP® core to match his distinctive sound, this Artist Light set is custom-voiced for strength, balance, and consistency. Finished with distinctive red silk-wrapped ball ends, they reflect his exact touring and studio-tested preferences, giving players direct access to the same feel and performance that inspire his music.

“I’ve used Martin phosphor bronze strings for a long time—12-54 on almost all of my acoustics,” said Jason. “I know how they’re going to react, how many shows I can get out of them, and they don’t take long to break in. You stretch them right when you put them on, they won’t go out of tune. This is a really big honor for me.”

Durability and reliability were essential to the design. “I don’t have to worry about being fragile, being gentle with the strings,” he added. “They sound good for a long time, I don’t have to change every show, which my tech loves, and I love also.”

0-17 Jason Isbell Photo Gallery HERE

0-17 Jason Isbell Spec Sheet HERE

 

Woodstock Day 3 – Sly and the Family Stone – Take You Higher

Sly and the Family Stone Take You Higher

and then some! Sunday August 17, 1969

Woodstock Day 3 – Country Joe and the Fish, Rock n Soul Music

Country Joe and the Fish

Rock n Soul Music

Lighting up the crowd on Soggy Sunday, August 17, 1969

Woodstock Day 3, act i – The Jefferson Airplane – August 17, 1969

Sunday started at dawn with what Grace Slick called the Jefferson Airplane’s “Morning maniac music.”

Here’s Saturday Afternoon on Sunday morning.

“Acid, incense and perfume…” at Woodstock, August 17, 1969.

Woodstock Day 3 – August 17, 1969

Sunday’s lineup was pretty okay.

I guess. If you like that sort of thing.

Joe Cocker and the Grease Band went on at 2:00 PM.
Country Joe and Fish went on at 6:30 PM (after the thunderstorm)
Ten Years After went on at 8:00 PM
The Band went on at 10:00 PM
Johnny Winter went on at midnight
Blood Sweat and Tears at 1:30 AM
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and 3:00 AM

Woodstock Day 2 – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Excellent Performance by John Forgerty’s Creedence ends the evening

I Got a Spell On You with some seriously great guitar solos!

Front man extraordinaire, John Fogerty refused to allow any of their performance to be used as part of Oscar-winning documentary or resulting soundtrack album. It may have been about money, but it certainly wasn’t about the performance, which is so good and fortunately became available many years later.

Here is a killer version of Herb Slotkin’s soulful I Put a Spell On You, which shows off Fogerty’s powerful lead guitar skills.

And here is their entire set, put together with archival footage.

Woodstock Day 2 – Santana – August 16, 1969

Saturday Was Rainy at Woodstock

A mix of folky acoustic and searing electric lasted til the next morning

Rain delays required unscheduled acoustic guitar performances by Country Joe McDonald and John Sebastian, the latter there as an audience member but recruited to help out.

But then a band known only in San Francisco took the stage at 12:30 pm. Named for leader Carlos Santana and reputedly tripping on LSD and in front half a million people, they ended their set with one of the pinnacle performances in rock history,  instantly vaulting Santana and 20 year old drummer Michael Shrieve into rock immortality.

Woodstock Day 1 – Joan Baez, August 15, 1969

Young and Very Pregnant Joan Baez Wows at Woodstock

Sweet Sir Galahad was her first really good composition

Miss Baez referred to Woodstock as the eye of the hurricane of that turbulent time, with good reason. She was among the half-millions people who marched on Washington on August 28, 1963, to demand Civil Rights African Americans and other peoples of color, and led them in singing “We Shall Over Come” at the Lincoln Memorial, and she supported peace initiatives throughout the course of the Viet Nam War.

Alfred Hayes’ poem “Joe Hill” set to music by Earl Robinson in 1936, and dedicated to the immigrant labor activist who was framed and executed for murder in 1915.

 

Here she performs with Jeffrey Shurtleff on vocals and guitar, and Richard Festinger on lead guitar

Tim Hardin at Woodstock, August 15, 1969

If I Were a Carpenter, by Tim Hardin

Woodstock Day 1, act i – Richie Havens

August 15, 1969, Woodstock Day 1 started with Richie Havens

A lasting legacy of advocacy through music

There is along standing legend that Richie Havens was asked to entertain the crowd for three hours, due to the transportation difficulties of other acts. This was perpetuated by Richie Havens, who was exaggerating when making such a claim. But he did play longer than expected.

Rich Haven Woodstock Setlist:

  1. From the Prison
  2. Get Together
  3. From the Prison (reprise)
  4. I’m a Stranger Here
  5. High Flying Bird
  6. I Can’t Make It Anymore
  7. With a Little Help from My Friends
  8. Handsome Johnny
  9. Strawberry Fields Forever > Hey Jude
  10. Freedom (Motherless Child)

And Richie Haven’s immortal Woodstock encore

<