The Martin D-11E Rock the Vote acoustic-electric guitar is a special edition instrument crafted to inspire people to participate in our democracy. This collaboration between Martin Guitar, David Crosby’s estate, Rock the Vote, and artist Robert Goetzl tells a powerful story. “David was a patriot,” says Executive Chairman Chris Martin IV. “He believed deeply in this great experiment of ours, and his passion for voting is something we wanted to honor and continue.”
The vision for the original D-16E Rock the Vote guitar launched back in 2020 was born from a conversation between Chris and David Crosby, partnering with Rock the Vote to encourage people to register and participate in federal, state, and local elections. That conversation led to blending Robert’s compelling artwork with Martin's renowned craftsmanship. Robert shares, “David threw out this quote, that ‘democracy works if you work it,’ and that became a guiding theme for the artwork.”
A reissue of that original guitar, the all-new D-11E Rock the Vote model includes new features like an LR Baggs M80 soundhole pickup paired exclusively with Luxe by Martin® Kovar™ strings. Kovar is a unique alloy of two ferromagnetic metals, nickel, and cobalt, not found in conventional phosphor bronze strings. When paired with the adjustable M80 humbucking coil, these strings are guaranteed to deliver an exceptional acoustic-electric experience. It’s the ideal pairing for players seeking warm, authentic, amplified tones in any performance setting.
The D-11E Rock the Vote acoustic-electric is crafted with premium materials, including American sycamore satin back and sides and a spruce gloss top showcasing Robert’s custom artwork. Its Dreadnought size and unique 000 depth offer players a powerful, projective sound with strong bass and a comfortable feel. It also features a satin select hardwood neck, ebony bridge and fingerboard, silver binding, and includes a softshell case made of hemp.
This guitar not only commemorates David Crosby’s legacy, but through this collaboration, Martin Guitar is proud to support Rock the Vote with a $5,000 donation. Rock the Vote is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building the political power of young people, and over the past 30 years it has helped register over 14 million voters. According to the organization, “In 2024, Millennials and Generation Z will comprise 44% of American voters. Young voters are new voters and as new voters they face unique obstacles to voting... Our efforts focus on research-driven programs and innovative solutions to right the system and ensure each youth generation is represented in our democracy.”
"We are thrilled to partner with Martin Guitar to harness the power of music in inspiring young musicians and their fans to engage in our democracy," said Carolyn DeWitt, President and Executive Director of Rock the Vote. "Music has always been a catalyst for change, uplifting critical issues and driving people to action. As we face the defining challenges of 2024, it's essential that young voices are heard and their passion is transformed into meaningful participation at the polls," adds Carolyn DeWitt, President & Executive Director of Rock The Vote.
With only 47 of these guitars made, honoring the election of the 47th U.S. president, each one represents a commitment to encouraging civic participation through the universal language of music. “I believe it’s our responsibility as citizens to participate in our democracy,” says Chris.
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The skeletonized bracing (pictured below) and sonic channels inside the body work together to increase sustain and amplitude, optimize airflow, and reduce the guitar’s mass without losing structural support.
The GPCE Inception Maple is made from a combination of sustainable tonewoods, including an FSC-certified European spruce top, maple sides, and an eye-catching three-piece back of maple and black walnut. These woods provide a clear, projective, and balanced tone, improving upon what has, up until now, been the standard sound of maple.
The guitar also features a new satin amber fade sunburst finish, black walnut binding, maple arrow fingerboard inlays, gold open gear tuners, a cutaway to help players reach the highest frets, a 25.4” scale length, LR Baggs Anthem electronics, and a molded hardshell case.
"The new Martin GPCE Inception Maple marks a new innovative approach to building acoustic guitars utilizing sustainable domestic woods,” says Fred Greene, Vice President of Product Management at Martin. “Our new innovative design will allow guitar players to experience the Martin tone they have always loved in a guitar made from woods sourced in North America. I am super proud of our design team for taking on this challenge and providing a creative and unique solution that guitar players will find both fun and inspiring to play."
Visit the Martin Guitar booth at The 2024 NAMM Show to experience this incredible instrument firsthand and stay tuned to martinguitar.com for the latest updates.
For more information, please visit martinguitar.com.
Drawing inspiration from Fender's history of transforming the electric guitar landscape, the Highway Series is set to redefine the acoustic guitar experience. At its core, the Highway Series is a multi-purpose guitar, carefully crafted to cater to the diverse needs of modern musicians. This innovative instrument streamlines the way artists can utilize it on stage, providing exceptional versatility while also offering a unique advantage for musicians during the songwriting process. While Fender’s Acoustasonic series pushed the boundaries of acoustic-electric design, the Highway Series strikes a harmonious balance between modern innovations and the timeless appearance of traditional guitars. It embraces the best of both worlds, combining cutting-edge acoustic-electric technology with the classic and familiar look of a traditional guitar. The result is an instrument that not only stands out on stage but also inspires musicians to explore their creativity in more intimate, quiet settings.
“The Highway Series represents a bold step forward in the world of acoustic guitars, offering musicians a new avenue for sonic exploration and self-expression,” said Billy Martinez, VP of Product - FMIC Acoustics & Squier. “Among the many standout features, we partnered with Fishman to bring their cutting-edge electronic pickup technology, the Fishman® Fluence Acoustic pickup to the realm of traditional acoustics and meticulously crafted the necks to deliver an amazing playing experience. These guitars are a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of guitar design and manufacturing.”
Highway Series Dreadnought
Crafted with either a solid sitka spruce or genuine mahogany top inlaid into a fully chambered mahogany body, The Highway Series Dreadnought is engineered with a proprietary internal architecture including a tapered floating X bracing pattern and inventive thinline design, producing remarkable resonance and dynamic, organic tone. With fidelity and performance at its core, the Fishman Fluence® acoustic pickup system incorporates an elegantly curved magnetic Fluence CoreTM pickup with innovative all-analog technology to deliver pure and truly musical amplified tone with astonishing sonic realism, clarity, and feedback resistance. The Fender® Highway Series Dreadnought represents not a revision, but a re-imagining of the acoustic experience, inviting players to throw away the map and get lost on the open road of creativity. Available in natural and all-mahogany.
Highway Series Parlor
Crafted with either a solid sitka spruce or genuine mahogany top inlaid into a fully chambered mahogany body, the Highway SeriesParlor is engineered with a proprietary internal architecture, including a tapered floating X bracing pattern and inventive thinline design, producing remarkable resonance and dynamic, organic tone. With fidelity and performance at its core, the Fishman Fluence acoustic pickup system incorporates an elegantly curved magnetic Fluence CoreTM pickup with innovative all-analog technology to deliver pure and truly musical amplified tone with astonishing sonic realism, clarity, and feedback resistance. The Fender® Highway Series Parlor represents a re-imagining of the acoustic experience, inviting players to throw away the map and get lost on the open road of creativity. Available in natural and all-mahogany.
Exploring the Highway Series | Fender
Fender Highway Series Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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