C. F. Martin & Co. has introduced the 00-18 Joe Bonamassa and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa, two new signature acoustic guitars inspired by Bonamassa's treasured 1937 Martin 00-18 shade-top.
The 00-18 Joe Bonamassa and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa recreate the look and character of his prized 1937 Martin 00-18
Marking Martin's second collaboration with the blues-rock superstar, the collection includes a handcrafted Nazareth-built model alongside a more accessible version produced at Martin's Navojoa, Mexico facility. Both feature a custom 1937-style sunburst and carefully replicated top wear based on Bonamassa's original guitar, capturing the appearance of an instrument that has spent decades making music.
"If you told me when I was a kid that I'd be sitting here in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, with not one, but two signature guitars, I'd be like, 'You're out of your mind,'" Bonamassa said.
00-18
Handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the 00-18 Joe Bonamassa pairs a solid spruce top with genuine mahogany back and sides for a warm, clear, and responsive voice. Its compact 00 body offers balanced tone and comfortable playability equally well suited to blues, folk, fingerstyle playing, and songwriting.
Golden Era scalloped X-bracing delivers an open, dynamic response, while faux tortoise binding, the custom 1937-style sunburst, and replicated top wear faithfully reflect the appearance of Bonamassa's original pre-war instrument. A Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck profile with a standard taper provides a comfortable vintage-inspired feel.
Bonamassa brought an early prototype into the studio and compared it directly against his original 1937 Martin. "When we put the mic in front of it, my producer said, 'I like that one better,'" Bonamassa recalled of the Nazareth-built model.
Each 00-18 Joe Bonamassa includes a hardshell case and carries a $3,999.99 street price.
Crafted in Martin's Navojoa facility, the 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa brings the look, feel, and spirit of Bonamassa's pre-war 00 to a wider range of players.
00-10E
It pairs a solid spruce top with solid sapele back and sides for balanced tone, warmth, and focused projection. Its custom 1937-style sunburst and visually replicated top wear mirror the distinctive character of Bonamassa's original guitar. Scalloped spruce X-bracing supports a responsive acoustic voice, while a Performing Artist neck with a high-performance taper offers smooth, approachable playability.
The model also features Martin E1 electronics with volume, tone, and phase controls, along with a built-in chromatic tuner, making it equally at home onstage, in the studio, or around the house. Bonamassa personally tested the onboard electronics in live performance before approving the final production model.
Each 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa includes a softshell case and carries a street price of $1,299.99.
Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost vintage guitar collectors and historians, Bonamassa has built a reputation that extends well beyond the concert stage. His extraordinary collection of historically significant instruments has made him a trusted authority among players and collectors alike, while each of his signature collaborations has become an opportunity to faithfully recreate some of the rarest and most coveted guitars ever built. With these new models, Bonamassa and Martin turn their attention to one of the most personal instruments in his collection, giving players two ways to experience the sound, feel, and visual character of his beloved pre-war 00-18.
The 00-18 Joe Bonamassa and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa are available through authorized Martin dealers and at martinguitar.com.
