Martin Guitar is celebrating 30 years of collaboration with Eric Clapton with the release of two special anniversary guitars—the 000-42EC 30th Anniversary and the 000-EC 30th Anniversary.
Eric’s legendary 1992 MTV Unplugged performance sparked a resurgence in acoustic music and inspired the creation of Martin’s first Eric Clapton signature model, the 000-42EC, in 1995. Over the past three decades, his partnership with Martin has produced some of the most sought-after signature guitars in the company’s history.
000-42EC 30th Anniversary
Inspired by the 1939 000-42 he played during Unplugged, the 000-42EC 30th Anniversary is limited to just 300 instruments. It features a solid Adirondack spruce top with antique toner and solid Guatemalan rosewood back and sides for rich, vintage-inspired tone. Golden Era-inspired Adirondack spruce X-bracing enhances resonance and projection, while the Authentic 1939 neck shape with a 1 11/16" nut width provides a comfortable, pre-war feel.
Details like Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays, Waverly open-gear tuners, and a vintage gloss finish complete the look. Each guitar includes a paper label hand-signed by Eric, a printed certificate of authenticity, and a premium embroidered Harptone case with a matching shroud exclusive to this model.
Price: $10,999.
000-EC 30th Anniversary
For players seeking a more understated nod to Eric’s sound, the 000-EC 30th Anniversary is available only through March 2026. It features a solid spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for a balanced, resonant tone. The same Authentic 1939 neck shape and 1 11/16" nut width provide a comfortable feel, while the herringbone-trimmed top, antique white binding, and Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays deliver a refined look.
Each 000-EC 30th Anniversary guitar includes a paper label with Eric’s pre-printed signature and a certificate of authenticity. It also comes in a premium embroidered case.
Price: $3,999.
Eric’s relationship with Martin began in 1995 with the introduction of the original 000-42EC, which sold out almost immediately. The 000-28EC, introduced in 1996, remains one of Martin’s best-selling models. Over the years, he and Martin have collaborated on a range of limited editions, most recently a trio of Dreadnoughts released in 2023 to benefit the Crossroads Centre, the addiction recovery center he founded in 1998.
In addition to his signature guitars, Eric also personally endorses Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings—his go-to acoustic strings for both stage and studio. Designed to resist corrosion and deliver the legendary sound he demands, they’re available in light and medium gauges.
“If I could choose what to come back as, it would be a Martin OM-45,” Eric has said, underscoring his deep connection to Martin guitars and their enduring sound.
Learn more about these guitars and other new Martin guitars, strings, accessories, lifestyle products, and parts at martinguitar.com.
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The day before they played the coveted Blue Room at Third Man Records in Nashville, the Washington, D.C.-based garage-punk duo Teen Mortgage released their debut record, Devil Ultrasonic Dream. Not a bad couple of days for a young band.
PG’s Chris Kies caught up with guitarist and vocalist James Guile at the Blue Room to find out how he builds the band’s bombastic guitar attack.
Brought to you by D’Addario.
Devilish Dunable
Guile has been known to use Telecasters and Gretsches in the past, but this time out he’s sticking with this Dunable Cyclops DE, courtesy of Gwarsenio Hall—aka Jordan Olds of metal-themed comedy talk show Two Minutes to Late Night. Guile digs the Dunable’s lightness on his shoulders, and its balance of high and low frequencies.
Storm Warning
What does Guile like about this Squier Cyclone? Simple: its color. This one is also nice and easy on the back, and Guile picked it up from Atomic Music in Beltsville, Maryland.
Crushing It
Guile also scooped this Music Man 410-HD from Atomic, which he got just for this tour for a pretty sweet deal. It runs alongside an Orange Crush Bass 100 to rumble out the low end.
James Guile’s Pedalboard
The Electro-Harmonix Micro POG and Hiwatt Filter Fuzz MkII run to the Orange, while everything else—a DigiTech Whammy, Pro Co Lil’ RAT, and Death by Audio Echo Dream 2—runs to the Music Man. A TC Helicon Mic Mechanic is on board for vocal assistance, and a TC Electronic PolyTune 3, Morley ABY, and Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 3 Plus keep the ship afloat.
