Martin Guitar is marking three decades of collaboration with Eric Clapton by releasing two special anniversary guitars: the 000-42EC 30th Anniversary and the 000-EC 30th Anniversary.
Clapton’s iconic 1992 MTV Unplugged performance reignited interest in acoustic music and led to the creation of Martin’s first signature guitar with him, the 000-42EC, in 1995. Over the years, Clapton’s partnership with Martin has produced some of the company’s most coveted signature models.
000-42EC 30th Anniversary
The 000-42EC 30th Anniversary guitar is inspired by the 1939 000-42 that Clapton played during his Unplugged performance. Limited to just 300 units, it features a solid Adirondack spruce top with antique toner and solid Guatemalan rosewood back and sides, offering a vintage-inspired, rich tone. Adirondack spruce X-bracing, which is modeled after Martin’s Golden Era bracing, enhances resonance and projection. The guitar also has an Authentic 1939 neck shape with a 1 11/16″ nut width for a pre-war feel.
Distinctive Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays, Waverly open-gear tuners, and a vintage gloss finish complete the design. Each instrument comes with a hand-signed paper label from Clapton, a certificate of authenticity, and a premium embroidered Harptone case with a matching shroud exclusive to this model.
000-EC 30th Anniversary
The 000-EC 30th Anniversary offers a more subtle homage to Clapton’s sound and is available until March 2026. It features a solid spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, providing a balanced, resonant tone. The guitar also includes the Authentic 1939 neck shape and a 1 11/16″ nut width for comfort. A refined appearance is created with herringbone-trimmed top, antique white binding, and Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays.
Each 000-EC 30th Anniversary guitar includes a paper label with Clapton’s pre-printed signature and a certificate of authenticity, along with a premium embroidered case.
Eric Clapton’s relationship with Martin began in 1995 with the launch of the original 000-42EC, which sold out almost immediately. The 000-28EC, introduced in 1996, remains one of Martin’s top-selling models. Clapton and Martin have also collaborated on various limited-edition models, including a set of Dreadnought guitars released in 2023 to support Clapton’s Crossroads Centre, the addiction recovery center he founded in 1998.
Alongside his signature guitars, Clapton also endorses Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings—his preferred acoustic strings for both stage and studio. These strings are designed to resist corrosion and deliver the legendary tone he is known for, available in light and medium gauges.
“If I could choose what to come back as, it would be a Martin OM-45,” Clapton has said, reflecting his profound connection to Martin guitars and their enduring sound.
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