The Martin SC-13E Special acoustic-electric represents real outside-the-box thinking from one of the oldest guitar makers in America. Every Martin is built on tradition, but the company is also known for innovation. After all, they invented the dreadnought and X-bracing. The SC-13E Special guitar has an asymmetrical body contoured for comfort and a neck built for speed. It's a powerful combination of classic tones with a modern style all its own. Upscale appointments include nickel open-gear keyhole tuners with skeleton key knobs, aperture rosette inlay, and an ebony fingerboard and bridge. 

The SC-13E Special has an offset body that conforms to the contours of your own, making it ridiculously comfortable whether you sit or stand. It's shallower than a dreadnought (4" versus 4.8"), mitigating feedback while still providing acoustic punch. Martin reconfigured the bracing to increase the low-end response, but every string rings with the same volume for a truly balanced sound. The top is Sitka spruce; back and sides are ziricote veneer over a mahogany core. 

The Martin SC-13E is an acoustic that feels like an electric

It's often jarring to switch between electric and acoustic in the same set, because the neck profiles are so dissimilar. That's not a problem with the SC-13E Special—it plays as fast as your favorite electric. The back of the Low Profile Velocity neck is thicker by the bass strings and thinner by the treble strings near the nut. As you move up, it reverses—the treble side gets bigger, the bass side, slimmer. Though it might be difficult to visualize, the ergonomic feel is easy to internalize, making this Martin one of the easiest guitars to play in the company's lineup.

Why the SC-13E is superior for soloing

A cutaway is key for playing single-note lines high on the fretboard, and the one on the SC-13E Special acoustic-electric guitar is unlike anything Martin has ever done before. It's sculpted and smooth; the lack of a neck heel means you can soar up all 20 frets without your hand smacking into a hunk of hardwood. Keep the action low if that's your style, or raise it up if you play more rhythms—Martin's Sure Align system means everything can be adjusted in minutes. An L.R. Baggs Element pickup captures the nuances of every note without the traditional piezo quack. Battery life is an impressive 1,000 hours. The Martin SC-13E Special comes with a softshell case.