August 27, 2025

Tag: European spruce

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM

Review: Martin CEO-11

one manby one man0

Thomas Ripsam’s CEO-11 is an exquisite work of art

The Chief Executive of Martin Guitar has surpassed his sublime CEO-10, which is really saying something

Martin CEO-11 specs include: 14-fret Grand Auditorium body size; solid tonewoods include figured white oak sides and three-piece back; FSC-certified European spruce soundboard with unique New Horizons burst finish and custom inlays and half-herringbone “rope” purfling; European flamed maple binding; two-piece flamed maple neck with dark mahogany stain, and GE Modified Low Oval profile and neck heel; ebony fingerboard with custom abalone inlays and High Performance Taper, 1-3/4″ at the bone nut, 2-1/8″ at 12th fret; ebony bridge with bone saddle and bone pins with abalone dots; ebony headstock face plate with abalone Unalome inlay and open nickle tuners; Fishman Aura electronics with custom-voiced microphone image.

“Gorgeous to see, lovely to hear. The versatility of this acoustic-electric lap piano is immediately evident from its bass-to-treble balance and its clear yet colorful tonal pallet.”

Read the Full Review Here

Acoustic Guitars / NAMM / Review

Martin D12-35 50th Anniversary LE Review

one manby one man0

Inspired by the 1965 original 1965, the D12-35 50th is a modern interpretation of grandeur.

A limited edition, 183 instruments will be made, equal to that first year’s production.

Specs include: All solid-wood construction; 12-fret dreadnought shape; Indian rosewood sides and three-piece back; European spruce top with M1 level Vintage Tone System treatment, including maple bridge plate; 5/16” Sitka spruce bracing; grained ivoroid binding; bound mahogany neck with solid headstock, 24.9” scale, 2-13/16” width at nut, modified low oval profile; ebony fingerboard and bridge with 2-5/16” string spacing; nickel open-geared tuners with butterbean knobs.

“This is the Harley hog of guitars, agile but oh so powerful. I love how it handles across intricate fingerstyle passages and wide open straightaways of full out strumming.”

D12-35 50th bridge

Read the full review and see the video HERE