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

 

Update on D-28 Brazilian and D-45 Brazilian Pricing

List prices on the limited edition Brazilian Rosewood D-28B and D-45B are considerably less than originally reported

$15,999 and $36,000 respectively

When having lunch with the three main instrument designers for C. F. Martin & Co. they could not remember what pricing was ultimately set for these special guitars. There estimate of $20K and $45K turned out to be rather high.

The actual prices will make each guitar more obtainable – except for the fact there are only fifteen 45s being built, and at most fifty 28s.

Please enjoy the following daydream:

Martin D-28 B D-45 B specs 90dpi

Martin 000-42 Conversion from a 1953 000-28 – Review

A 1953 000-28 converted by the Martin factory to 1939 000-42 specs

Old Brazilian rosewood retopped with torrefied Adirondack spruce and solid abalone pearl

*This instrument is currently for sale. Inquire at oneman@onemanz.com*

Specs include: All-solid wood with hide glue construction throughout; Brazilian rosewood back and sides originally constructed as a 1953 000-28; highest grade Adirondack spruce top, torrefied with level M1 of Martin’s proprietary Vintage Tone System; Vintage Style 42 appointments including period correct solid abalone pearl rosette ring, top purfling, and snowflake fret markers; grained ivoroid binding with ebony borders at end pin box; aggressively-scalloped 1/4″ Golden Era style bracing with period correct rear-shifted X brace; genuine Big Leaf mahogany neck with full vintage V profile supported by an internal steel T-bar, 1-11/16” width at nut and 2-1/8” at the 12th fret; ebony fingerboard and Golden Era style bridge; bone nut and glued in saddle with 2-1/8” string spacing; open-back Grover tuning machines; period-correct gold foil headstock logo on Brazilian rosewood face plate grained; ivoroid binding; thin high gloss nitrocellulose finish with faux tortoise shell pickguard under the finish.

“This converted 000-28 has my favorite kind of Brazilian/Adirondack tone, warm and richly colored, with a bass that is plump but not woofy, spawning a rich undertone that at times hugs but never smothers the higher registers, and trebles of fine purity that are precise but solid, yet radiating shimmery harmonic overtones.”

Read the Full Review Here

Martin 000-42 conversion pearl work

Schoenberg Quartet – Our Exclusive Review

The Schoenberg Quartet Stephen Bruton model combines the expanded tonal range of a large guitar with the response and dynamics of a small guitar, thanks to its 12-fret 0000 design.

“A mightily successful combination of traditional and contemporary design and construction, the Schoenberg Quartet wide-top, 12-fret cutaway guitar is light of weight but large in voice. With impressive projection and effortless volume, it has the woody, full-bodied lows of a cello, trebles that sustain like of a well-played violin and some of the most richly complex chords this side of a baby grand piano.”

Guitarist Eric Schoenberg designed the guitar based on the concept originally suggested by his friend, the late Austin session man and touring sideman, Stephen Bruton. The guitar is named the Stephen Bruton model in his honor. It is available exclusively through Schoenberg’s shop in Tiburon, California, north of San Francisco.

California luthier Randall Kramer was engaged to built the entire line of Quartets. This particular example is made with Brazilian rosewood back and sides and an Adirondack spruce top. It also includes several custom-ordered features. It is the result of pre-war guitar traditions, cutting edge luthiery technology, and the scientific method of Chladni plate resonant frequency tuning, which inspired Benjamin Franklin to invent the harmonium, and was used by nineteenth-century violin makers.

The Schoenberg Standard and Schoenberg Soloist now have a big brother for those seeking a bigger, fuller voice with all the comfort of a classic fingerstyle lap-piano.

“This guitar is so finely tuned in terms of dynamics and response that it is basically effortless to play, in any tuning. There is a gorgeous complexity to the harmonics, but an unperturbed clarity to the fundamentals, and an organic sensibility to the sustain and decay of each, which makes it a delight to play.”

Read the Full Review of the Schoenberg Quartet

The Schoenberg Quartet