{"product_id":"de-retro-plus-fg-spr-mah-w-ss","title":"Martin DE Retro Plus Mahogany Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar","description":"\u003ch2\u003eYour Brand-New Old Friend\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalk into a music store looking for a Martin dreadnought, and you'll hear plenty about tradition, heritage, and \"the Martin sound.\" All true—but the DE Retro Plus Mahogany brings something extra to the conversation. This is a dreadnought that sounds like it's been played hard for twenty years, right out of the case. The secret is torrefaction, a heat-treating process that ages the solid spruce top, giving it the resonance and responsiveness you'd normally have to earn over decades of playing. Pair that with solid mahogany back and sides, scalloped X-bracing, and LR Baggs Element electronics, and you've got a stage-ready workhorse that doesn't ask you to choose between vintage vibe and modern reliability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of Martin's Road Series, the DE Retro Plus takes inspiration from the legendary D-18 models that have anchored country, bluegrass, and rock recordings since 1931. The D-14 fret dreadnought body delivers the punch, projection, and low-end presence you expect from a Martin dread, while the Performing Artist neck profile with high-performance taper keeps things comfortable whether you're flatpicking leads or laying down rhythm chords. An ebony fingerboard and bridge, nickel open-gear tuners, and an aging toner finish complete the vintage aesthetic—this guitar looks as lived-in as it sounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a guitar for players who gig, record, and practice hard. It's built in Martin's Sonora, Mexico facility, where they've been making guitars since 1989, and it brings premium features—torrefied tops, solid tonewoods, quality electronics—to a price point that makes sense for working musicians. Whether you're stepping up from a starter guitar or adding a reliable dread to your rotation, the DE Retro Plus Mahogany is ready to become your go-to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTorrefied Spruce and Solid Mahogany\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top is where this guitar makes its first impression. Martin uses torrefied solid spruce, a process normally reserved for their high-end Authentic and Modern Deluxe series. Torrefaction is essentially controlled heat aging—baking the wood to remove moisture and resins, which opens up the grain and gives the top the tonal maturity of a vintage instrument. You'll hear it immediately: more sustain, richer harmonics, and a broken-in voice that doesn't need years of playing to wake up. The top is finished in gloss with Martin's aging toner, giving it that golden, played-in look to match the sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe back and sides are solid mahogany, a tonewood combination Martin has been pairing with spruce since the 1930s. Mahogany emphasizes the fundamental note, giving you strong mids, punchy lows, and a clear, articulate voice that cuts through a mix without sounding harsh. It's a drier, more focused tone than rosewood—less overtone bloom, more directness. Scalloped spruce X-bracing enhances the top's movement, giving you greater volume and dynamic range while maintaining the structural integrity Martin is known for. This is a loud guitar, and it responds to your playing with clarity and presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlayability and Stage-Ready Electronics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neck on the DE Retro Plus is shaped for speed and comfort. Martin's Performing Artist profile is a medium-to-shallow C shape that tapers from 1 3\/4\" at the nut to just over 2 1\/8\" at the 12th fret, with a high-performance taper that narrows as you move up the neck. It's fast without feeling thin, and the satin finish on the select hardwood neck keeps your hand moving smoothly whether you're playing open chords or working up into the higher frets. The ebony fingerboard adds clarity and snap to your note attack, and the 25.4\" scale length gives you the tension and brightness that flatpickers and strummers rely on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it's time to plug in, the LR Baggs Element electronics deliver natural, reliable amplified tone. The Element system uses a flexible film sensor under the saddle to capture the soundboard's movement, which translates to a warmer, more organic sound than traditional piezo pickups. You get volume and tone controls mounted just inside the soundhole, so you can dial in your sound without reaching for the side of the guitar. It's a simple, effective system that sounds great through a PA or acoustic amp, and it's been a favorite among touring players for years. Whether you're playing a coffeehouse open mic or a full band gig, this guitar is ready.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProduct Features:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTorrefied solid spruce top for vintage tone and enhanced resonance right out of the case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolid mahogany back and sides for punchy mids, strong lows, and clear articulation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScalloped spruce X-bracing for greater volume, projection, and dynamic response\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerforming Artist neck profile with high-performance taper for comfortable, fast playability\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEbony fingerboard and bridge for clarity, sustain, and premium feel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLR Baggs Element electronics with volume and tone controls for natural amplified sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eD-14 fret dreadnought body with 25.4\" scale length for classic Martin projection and brightness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs for smooth, stable tuning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAging toner gloss finish for vintage aesthetic and classic Martin look\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePart of Martin's Road Series, made in Sonora, Mexico since 1989\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Martin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e DE Retro Plus Mahogany\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSKU:\u003c\/strong\u003e 11DERETROPLUSMAH\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e New\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince 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 \u003cem\u003ePlay Music for Life.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Martin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47209738338435,"sku":"11DERETROPLUSMAH","price":1899.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/3455\/3475\/files\/acoustic_ad4f0fef-fad4-411a-a53b-09c9c6170f87.png?v=1779976623","url":"https:\/\/cahousemusic.com\/products\/de-retro-plus-fg-spr-mah-w-ss","provider":"C. A. House Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}