A Stage-Ready Martin That Does a Lot of Things Well
There's a certain sweet spot in guitar design where size, shape, and tonewoods all click into place at once. Martin's GPC-13E Modern lands right in it. The Grand Performance cutaway body is roomy enough to produce real depth and projection, but its contoured waist and comfortable reach make it feel genuinely playable all night long — whether you're working through a full set or chasing ideas at home.
The combination of a solid spruce top with koa fine veneer back and sides gives this guitar a clear, balanced voice with shimmering highs and focused midrange. Scalloped X-bracing underneath the top helps maximize volume and responsiveness, so the guitar projects well without feeling forced. Add Martin E1 onboard electronics, and you have one guitar that's equally at home unplugged and plugged into a PA.
This is a strong choice for singer-songwriters, working gigging players, and anyone who needs a versatile acoustic-electric that can handle fingerpicking, strumming, and everything in between — all without breaking the bank on a custom-shop build.
Solid Spruce Top with Koa Fine Veneer Back & Sides
The top here is solid spruce — Martin's official spec page and multiple approved retailers confirm it — which means the vibrating surface at the heart of the guitar's voice is real, resonant tonewoods doing real work. Solid tops respond and open up over time in a way laminates typically don't. The scalloped X-bracing pattern further enhances that responsiveness, giving the guitar lively volume and dynamic range across playing styles.
The back and sides are koa fine veneer, finished with a cherry stain that brings out koa's natural shimmer and warmth. Koa's tonal character leans toward balanced mids and sparkly highs — complementing the spruce top nicely and keeping the overall voice clear rather than boomy. The gloss finish on both top and body gives the guitar a clean, polished look that holds up on stage.
A Neck Built for Speed and Comfort
Martin's Performing Artist neck profile with high-performance taper is one of the defining features of the Road Series Modern lineup. It's slimmer and more tapered than a traditional acoustic neck, which makes a real difference for players who spend a lot of time on single-note runs, leads, or complex chord voicings. The 16-inch fingerboard radius and 1 3/4" nut width keep things comfortable across all positions.
The ebony fingerboard is smooth and stiff — a contact surface that contributes to clarity and sustain at every fret. Diamond-and-square long inlays dot the fingerboard with visual interest, while the mortise and tenon neck joint provides a solid, stable connection between neck and body. The neck carries a hand-applied finish, so it never feels sticky or slow under the fretting hand. Scale length is the standard Martin 25.4".
Martin E1 Electronics — Simple, Effective, Gig-Ready
The E1 pickup system is mounted inside the soundhole, keeping the exterior of the guitar completely clean — no side-mounted preamp boxes or control panels to interfere with the acoustic look or feel. Controls include volume, tone, and a phase-reverse switch, along with a built-in chromatic tuner that lets you tune silently without unplugging. It's a practical, no-fuss setup for live performance.
Whether you're running into an acoustic amplifier, directly into a venue PA, or through an interface for recording, the E1 system captures the guitar's natural tonal balance and passes it along faithfully. The Corian nut and TUSQ saddle help purify string response at the contact points, which contributes to cleaner amplified tone as well as acoustic resonance.
Product Features:
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Top: Solid spruce, gloss finish, scalloped X-bracing
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Back & Sides: Koa fine veneer with cherry stain, gloss finish
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Body Shape: Grand Performance cutaway (GP-14 fret)
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Neck: Select hardwood, Performing Artist profile with high-performance taper, hand-applied finish
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Fingerboard: Ebony, 16" radius, 20 frets, 1 3/4" nut width, Diamond and Square Long inlays
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Scale Length: 25.4"
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Nut / Saddle: Corian nut, TUSQ saddle
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Electronics: Martin E1 with volume, tone, phase-reverse, and built-in chromatic tuner
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Tuners: Ratio® skeletonized nickel open-gear tuners
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Binding: White body binding; faux abalone single-ring rosette
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Neck Joint: Mortise and tenon
Brand: Martin
Model: GPC-13E Modern
SKU: 11GPC13EMOD
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.
