The Guitar from an Iconic Performance
In January 1992, Eric Clapton sat down with a Martin 000 at Bray Film Studios in England and recorded what would become one of the most celebrated acoustic performances in music history. That MTV Unplugged session sold 26 million albums, won six Grammy awards, and sent demand for Martin guitars through the roof overnight. The 000-28EC captures the specifications of that pre-war style instrument — the shorter scale, the modified V neck, the herringbone appointments — so you can hold a piece of that history in your hands.
This isn't a guitar for Clapton fans alone. The 000-28EC has become one of Martin's most popular models because it brings together everything fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and blues guitarists look for: balanced tone across all six strings, a comfortable neck that feels broken-in from the first chord, and projection that fills a room without being overbearing. The 24.9" scale offers just enough give for expressive bends and easier fretting, while the 000 body size keeps things intimate and responsive.
Tonewoods Built for Depth and Clarity
The 000-28EC pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, giving you the classic Martin combination that has defined acoustic guitar tone for generations. The scalloped X-bracing allows the top to resonate freely while maintaining structural stability, contributing to the guitar's rich bass response and clear, articulate highs. The antique toner finish on the spruce top gives it a warm, aged appearance that hints at the golden-era inspiration behind this model.
Rosewood brings resonance and complexity — you'll hear overtones that linger after each note, giving chords a full, dimensional quality. The spruce top adds brightness and clarity, ensuring that individual notes within complex fingerpicking patterns remain distinct. Whether you're playing soft, intricate passages or driving rhythm, the 000-28EC responds with balance and depth.
Clapton's Playing Feel
The modified V neck is made from genuine mahogany and provides comfort and control. If you've only played modern C-shaped necks, the V profile might feel different at first — but many players find it offers exceptional support for thumb-over fretting and first-position work. The nut width is 1 3/4", giving your fingers a bit more breathing room than narrower modern necks, and the 24.9" scale length reduces string tension, making bends easier and fretting less fatiguing over long sessions.
The ebony fingerboard and bridge add tonal clarity and visual elegance, while the compensated bone saddle ensures accurate intonation up and down the neck. The diamond and square fretboard inlays are faithful to pre-war Martin tradition, and Clapton's signature is inlaid at the 20th fret — a subtle nod to the artist without being flashy.
Vintage Appointments and Modern Playability
The visual details here are unmistakably Martin. Fine herringbone purfling and rosette frame the top, while grained ivoroid binding wraps the body. The tortoiseshell pickguard and gloss finish complete the vintage aesthetic. These aren't just cosmetic touches — the herringbone and binding are markers of Martin's Style 28 tradition, a design language that dates back to the 1930s.
Open-gear nickel tuners with butterbean-style buttons keep the vintage vibe going while offering smooth, reliable tuning stability. The dovetail neck joint — a hallmark of traditional Martin construction — contributes to sustain and tonal transfer between neck and body. Every detail, from the HD zig-zag back purfling to the ebony headplate, reflects the level of craftsmanship Martin has maintained since 1833.
Product Features:
- Solid Sitka spruce top with antique toner finish for warmth and clarity
- Solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for rich resonance and complex overtones
- 000 Auditorium body size (000-14 fret) delivers balanced, articulate tone
- Scalloped X-bracing enhances bass response and volume
- 24.9" scale length preferred by Clapton for fingerstyle playing and expressive bends
- Modified V neck shape made from genuine mahogany with standard taper
- 1 3/4" nut width and ebony fingerboard with 16" radius
- Diamond and square fretboard inlays with Eric Clapton signature at 20th fret
- Fine herringbone top inlay and multi-stripe rosette
- Grained ivoroid binding, ebony bridge, compensated bone saddle
Brand: Martin
Model: 000-28EC Eric Clapton
SKU: 10OOO28EC
Condition: New
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