A Real Martin That's Ready to Work
Some guitars spend their lives under glass. The Martin 000-10E Retro is not one of them. This is an all-solid-wood acoustic-electric built to be picked up every day — for a morning writing session, a coffee shop gig, or just noodling through ideas on the couch. It fits into a lot of lives without asking much in return.
The 000 body size hits a sweet spot that bigger guitars can't always reach. It's focused and articulate — comfortable for fingerstyle players, responsive enough for strummers, and balanced in ways that work well in a mix. You get genuine Martin tone without needing a dreadnought strapped to your lap.
The "Retro" part of the name isn't just marketing — it shows up in the details. The satin finish, understated black binding, vintage-style open-gear tuners, and Aging Toner top give this guitar a quietly classic look that doesn't try to impress anyone. It just looks like a guitar that gets played.
All-Solid Tonewoods, Built to Last and Improve
The 000-10E Retro is built with a solid spruce top and solid sapele back and sides — an all-solid wood construction confirmed across Martin's specifications. Solid wood matters here: it vibrates more freely than laminate, responds more dynamically to your playing, and tends to open up and improve in tone as the wood breaks in over years of use.
Sapele shares a lot of character with traditional mahogany — warm midrange presence, a slight woodiness, and a punchy, controlled low end. Paired with a spruce top, the result is a voice that's clear and articulate without being sterile. The thin satin finish helps too, letting the wood resonate without a thick lacquer coat getting in the way.
Scalloped X-bracing supports the top with a traditional Martin construction method that contributes to the guitar's lively, responsive feel. It's a bracing pattern that allows the top to move freely, adding to the dynamic range you get from soft fingerpicking all the way through more aggressive playing.
Built to Play Comfortably, Night After Night
The neck here features Martin's Performing Artist (PA) Profile with a High Performance Taper — a modern shape designed for easy movement across the entire fingerboard. The 24.9" scale length keeps string tension comfortable and forgiving, and the 1 3/4" nut width provides enough room for clean chord fretting without feeling wide or unwieldy.
The ebony fingerboard and ebony bridge add a refined feel and contribute to the guitar's crisp attack and note definition. Plek'd frets mean the setup is dialed in from the factory — accurate, even, and buzz-free from the start. The nickel open-gear tuners look the part and keep the guitar in tune reliably through long sessions.
Stage-Ready Electronics
The Martin E1 electronics system is built in and ready to go. It provides a natural-sounding amplified signal — volume and tone controls plus a built-in tuner — without getting in the way of the guitar's acoustic character when you're playing unplugged. Simple, reliable, and functional for everything from a rehearsal space to a live stage.
Whether you're running it into a DI, an acoustic amp, or a PA, the E1 system keeps things straightforward so you can focus on playing rather than fussing with gear.
Product Features:
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Body size: OOO (000), 14-fret join
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Top: Solid spruce, satin finish, Aging Toner color
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Back & sides: Solid sapele, satin finish
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Bracing: Scalloped X-brace, spruce, 5/16"
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Neck: Select hardwood, Performing Artist (PA) Profile, High Performance Taper, hand-applied satin finish
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Scale length: 24.9"
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Nut width: 1 3/4" (1.75"), White TUSQ
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Fingerboard: Ebony, Style 28 dot inlays, 16" radius
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Bridge: Ebony, Modern Belly style; White TUSQ saddle
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Tuners: Nickel open-gear
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Pickguard: Faux tortoise
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Electronics: Martin E1 with built-in tuner
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Binding: Black
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Handedness: Right-handed
Brand: Martin
Model: 000-10E Retro
SKU: 1100010ERETRO
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
