Back to navigation


Quality Martin Dreadnought Built from Solid Spruce and Koa





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





This special D-12E dreadnought from Martin gets a tonewood upgrade, with exotic koa serving as its back and sides and solid spruce providing its mature, dynamic response. In addition to quality solid tonewood selection, this guitar features a smooth-as-glass Richlite fingerboard and a hand-rubbed neck finish for clean access to all 20 frets. Like the standard D-12E, the Koa model also sports Fishman MX-T electronics with an auto-mute tuner for convenient stage amplification and plug-in recording convenience. All told, if you've been searching for a solid-wood Martin dreadnought with classic looks and time-honored tone and playing response, the D-12E Koa from Sweetwater delivers plenty of bang for the buck.





Related Videos: D-12E Koa Left-Handed Acoustic-electric Guitar - Natural Spruce


Solid woods deliver premium tone





As a top tonewood, spruce's strength and elasticity provide a broad dynamic range and crisp articulation that are ideal for a wide range of playing styles, from delicate fingerpicking to aggressive flatpicked strumming. Exotic koa, used for the back and sides of the D-12E Koa, compares favorably to walnut and packs a tone that is sweet, clear, and refined. Together, these tonewoods give the D-12E Koa not only a one-of-a-kind Martin look, but a balanced sound that remains even across the audible spectrum.





The Martin dreadnought: a cornerstone of modern music





Martin's early dreadnoughts set into motion the guitar's prominent role in modern music and set the standard for tone quality in acoustic guitars. Martin dreadnoughts became known for resonant warm tones, quality craftsmanship, and tasteful styling. For those reasons, Martin guitars became an important part of the music written and performed by the stars of the 1920s and '30s. Post-WWII, the Martin dreadnought became a cornerstone of the folk and folk rock music of the '50s and '60s. The powerful voice and full sound of these iconic instruments have made them a staple in the bluegrass world, but their bold sonic signature is heard cross-genre.





The CF Martin legacy





What hasn't been said about the CF Martin company? Martin ? a name virtually synonymous with the acoustic guitar ? took root in the United States in 1833 with a little shop in lower Manhattan. Five years later, Christian Frederick Martin moved his business and family to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, where Martin's been located ever since. From the Dreadnought body shape to the 14-fret neck, Martin innovations paralleled (and indeed, drove) the development of the acoustic guitar itself. When you play any Martin guitar, you're holding a piece of music history.





Martin D-12E Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:


Solid spruce top


Exotic solid koa back and sides


X-braced top is robust and dynamic


Style 28 fingerboard inlays


Multi-Stripe MOP rosette


Black binding and pickguard


Select hardwood neck with Performing Artist profile, High Performance Taper, and hand-rubbed finish


Glassy Richlite fingerboard with 16" radius and 20 frets


Richlite bridge, 2.15625" string spacing


Compensated Tusq saddle; plastic bridge pins


Fishman MX-T electronics


25.4" scale length; 1.75" Corian nut


Enclosed gear tuners; single-action truss rod, neck heel access