The Martin 000-12E Retro Road Series acoustic-electric guitar blends classic Martin style with modern performance in a road-ready instrument designed to grow with you. Its solid spruce top and solid sapele back and sides deliver a clear, balanced voice with warm mids and articulate highs, enhanced by scalloped spruce X-bracing for added resonance and responsiveness. A full-body gloss finish adds visual depth while allowing the guitar to vibrate freely, and the comfortable 000 auditorium body offers even string-to-string balance for strumming, fingerstyle and flatpicking alike. Rounded out by Martin E1 electronics and a built-in tuner, the 000-12E Retro is built to sound great unplugged, perform confidently on stage and hold up wherever your playing takes you.

Solid Spruce and Sapele Construction for Balanced, Versatile Tone

At the heart of the 000-12E Retro is a classic tonewood pairing chosen for clarity, warmth and reliability. The solid spruce top provides excellent articulation, dynamic range and projection, while solid sapele back and sides contribute focused lows and a strong midrange presence. Scalloped X-bracing enhances responsiveness and volume, allowing the guitar to speak easily at light touch while still delivering headroom when you dig in. The 000 body shape offers exceptional balance across all six strings, making this guitar equally comfortable for solo performance, ensemble playing or studio work where definition and control matter.

Performing Artist Neck and Ebony Fingerboard for Effortless Playability

The select hardwood Performing Artist neck with a high-performance taper delivers a smooth, modern feel that supports long sessions and fluid movement up and down the fingerboard. Its slightly slimmer carve promotes comfort without sacrificing stability, making it approachable for newer players and familiar for seasoned hands. An ebony fingerboard adds a refined playing surface with a quick response under the fingers, while old-style dot inlays provide understated visual elegance. With a 24.9" scale length and precise factory setup, the 000-12E Retro acoustic-electric feels immediately playable and inviting from the first chord.

Martin E1 Electronics for Natural Amplified Performance

Designed to translate Martin’s acoustic voice faithfully to amplified settings, the onboard E1 electronics system makes the 000-12E Retro stage- and studio-ready. Discreet controls allow quick adjustment of volume and tone, while the built-in tuner offers convenient reference between songs. Voiced to preserve the guitar’s natural balance and dynamic response, the system delivers clarity and warmth through a PA, amp or recording interface. Whether you’re performing live, tracking demos or practicing plugged in, the Martin E1 electronics ensure your tone remains consistent and musical in any environment.

Style 18-Inspired Appointments With Road-Ready Hardware

Visually, the 000-12E Retro draws inspiration from Martin’s iconic Style 18 models, pairing timeless aesthetics with practical durability. Old-style dot inlays, a multi-stripe rosette and faux tortoiseshell pickguard create a classic look that never feels overstated. Nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs provide smooth, reliable tuning and a vintage touch, while black binding frames the body with subtle contrast. The full gloss finish enhances the wood’s natural character while offering added protection for life on the road or in the studio.

The Martin 000-12E Retro: Classic Feel, Modern Confidence

Built for players who want traditional Martin tone with contemporary versatility, the 000-12E Retro acoustic-electric guitar strikes a thoughtful balance between heritage and performance. Its comfortable body size, dependable electronics and refined appointments make it an ideal companion for songwriting, recording and live use alike. Complete with a soft case for easy transport, this Road Series model delivers professional sound and feel without excess—just a reliable, great-sounding instrument designed to stay with you as your playing continues to evolve.

General

• Product type: Acoustic-electric guitar
• Series: Road Series

Body

• Body style: 000-14 fret
• Top wood: Spruce
• Back and sides wood: Sapele
• Bracing: Scalloped spruce X-brace
• Binding: Black
• Finish: Gloss

Neck

• Neck profile: PA profile
• Neck taper: High-performance taper
• Neck wood: Select hardwood
• Neck finish: Hand-applied
• Scale length: 24.9"
• Fingerboard wood: Ebony
• Number of frets: 20
• Fingerboard inlays: Old Style 18 faux mother-of-pearl

Hardware

• Bridge style: Modern belly
• Bridge wood: Ebony
• Saddle material: White TUSQ
• Nut material: White Corian
• Nut width: 1.75"
• Tuning machines: Nickel open-gear with butterbean knobs

Electronics

• Pickup system: Martin E1
• Controls: Volume, tone, phase
• Built-in tuner: Yes

Other

• Case: Softshell
• Orientation: Right handed
• Number of strings: 6