We have been the Danish distributor for C.F. Martin & Co. since 1984 and have one of Europe's largest selections of Martin guitars. One of the questions we get most often is: What is the difference between Martin's series? Here is an overview of Martin's lineup as it looks in 2026 – from the rugged travel guitars to the hand-built models from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
In short
| Series | Construction | For you who … |
|---|---|---|
| Little Martin (LX) | Small body, HPL | want a guitar to take everywhere |
| X Series | HPL back and sides, X1 with HPL top, X2 with solid top | want a rugged Martin with a pickup at a good price |
| Junior | Smaller body, short scale, pickup | want a small guitar that sounds big |
| Road Series | Sapele, walnut or koa, pickup in all models | play a lot, also on stage |
| 15 Series | Mahogany all around, Nazareth | want to get into Nazareth guitars |
| 16 Series | Nazareth, LR Baggs pickup, many colors | want a Nazareth guitar ready for the stage |
| Standard Series | The classic models, Nazareth | want the classic Martin models |
| Modern Deluxe | Standard models with modern details | want classic sound and modern playability |
| Authentic | Recreations of pre-war models | want the closest thing to an original from the 1930s |
| Custom Shop | Built to your specifications | want exactly your guitar |
Little Martin
The small LX series is Martin's travel guitar: small body, rugged and easy to take on trips, to the summer house or to school. See, for example, the LX1E.
X Series
The X Series is the first step into Martin's own guitars, and the only series that is not built entirely out of tonewood. The back and sides are made of high-pressure laminate (HPL), a material that withstands changes in temperature and humidity much better than wood. This makes the X guitars some of the most rugged in Martin's catalog.
- X1 has an HPL top, X2 has a solid top.
- The neck is slim and tapered, making it easy to play.
- Most models have the Martin E1 pickup with a built-in tuner.
- Body shapes: including D, 000 and GPC.
Junior Series
The Junior models have a smaller body and a 24.9" scale, making them easy to carry and play without the sound becoming thin. All have a solid top and pickup and come with a soft case. They are played by adults just as much as by young people.
Road Series
The Road Series is Martin's guitars for you who play a lot, also on stage. The series was updated in January 2026. All models have a solid top, scalloped X-bracing and a pickup.
- Two tracks: Retro with the classic D and 000 bodies, and Modern with the cutaway models DC, OMC, GPC and SC.
- Style 10: solid sapele back and sides, satin finish. E.g. D-10E Retro Sapele.
- Style 12: solid sapele with a high-gloss finish.
- Style 13: fine walnut or koa veneer back and sides, high-gloss. E.g. SC-13E Koa.
- Retro Plus: torrefied mahogany or granadillo top, back and sides and LR Baggs pickup.
- 000-13E Eric Clapton: the newest model in the series and the first Clapton signature model in the Road Series.
What is fine veneer? When Martin writes "fine veneer", it is not cheap layered wood with filler in the middle. All layers are tonewood all the way through. Therefore they sound really good: full, warm and with plenty of life, as you would expect from a Martin. On top of that, you get a beautiful surface of, e.g., koa or walnut, a guitar that is stable in the Danish climate, and a price that is affordable.
15 Series
The 15 Series is the first step into Nazareth production. The back, sides and top are made of mahogany, and this gives a warm, dry tone with focus in the midrange. Neck width 1 11/16", satin finish. See, e.g., 000-15M and 00-15M.
16 Series – new in 2026
The 16 Series returned in September 2026 in a completely new version. The models are built in Nazareth with a high-gloss grand top, mahogany or Indian rosewood back and sides with a satin finish and LR Baggs Element pickup. The series is available in the colors Natural, Black Smoke, 1935 Burst, Blue Denim, Cream and Cherry Cola. Models: 00L-16E, DSS-16E, J-16E, GPC-16E and Grand J-16E 12-string.
Standard Series
The Standard Series is the core of Martin's lineup and contains the models that most people associate with Martin: D-18, D-28, HD-28, D-35, D-45, 000-18, 000-28, OM-28, 00-18 and more. All are built in Nazareth with Golden Era bracing, Modified Low Oval neck, ebony fretboard and nut and the classic dovetail joint between the neck and body. Hardcase is included.
- New in 2026: Super D-18 and Super HD-28.
- D-17 and 000-17 in mahogany are also part of the Standard Series.
The Standard Series guitars have followed songwriters through generations, from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Paul Simon and John Mayer.
Inception
Inception is Martin's latest take on modern construction: European grand top, flamed maple back and sides, skeletonized bracing and LR Baggs Anthem pickup. E.g. GPCE Inception Maple.
Modern Deluxe
Modern Deluxe takes classic Standard models and builds them with modern materials and details:
- Top with VTS (Vintage Tone System), which gives the wood the character of a played older guitar, and Golden Era scalloped bracing in Adirondack spruce.
- Asymmetrical Vintage Deluxe neck profile and two-way titanium truss rod.
- Gold binding, Liquidmetal nut, and Waverly tuners with open gears.
- Carbon fiber nut and natural protein glue joint.
See, e.g., D-28 Modern Deluxe, D-18 Modern Deluxe, 000-28 Modern Deluxe and OM-28 Modern Deluxe.
Authentic
The Authentic series recreates Martin's legendary pre-war models from the 1920s and 1930s. The guitars are built with hide glue, hand-shaped bracing and VTS-treated wood, and some models have aged finish and hardware. E.g. D-28 Authentic 1937 and D-18 Authentic Aged. Typically a couple of new Authentic models are released each year.
Signature Models, Special Editions and Custom Shop Editions
Martin groups the special models into three categories:
- Signature Artist Editions: developed together with artists, e.g. Eric Clapton's 000-28EC.
- Special Editions: limited edition models, often for a milestone or anniversary.
- Custom Shop Editions: finished models from Martin's Custom Shop, e.g. Project 91 – 91 guitars, each linked to the serial number of an original pre-war D-45.
Martin Custom Shop at Akustikken
If you want a guitar built to your specifications, we can help. We are a Martin Custom Shop Expert, one of only 36 in the world and the only one in Scandinavia. Read about Martin Custom Shop.
Find your Martin
See all Martin guitars, or read about body sizes D, 000, OM and GP. The best thing is to try them. We have one of Europe's largest selections of Martin in Aarhus and Copenhagen, and we carry Martin's entire lineup. We cannot have all models in stock every day, but whatever we do not have on the shelf, we can get. Write to us if you are looking for a specific model.