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 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 Martin dreadnought with classic looks and time-honored tone and playing response, the D-12E Koa from Music Experience delivers plenty of bang for the buck.

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.

Outstanding electronics

The onboard Fishman MX-T electronics in the D12E not only produce outstanding amplified acoustic tone, but they also provide convenience via the soundhole-mounted tuner. This cleverly placed tuner faces upward and features an auto-mute function, so you can tune in silence onstage with a perfect line-of-sight view of your tuning status for each string — a feature guitarists here at Music Experience really appreciate.

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.

What Martin Says...

With a gorgeous glossed spruce top, this solid wood Dreadnought model is a great sounding guitar at an affordable price. This all-new model is set apart from its siblings with a Style 28 multi-stripe rosette and Style 18 purfling on the back. It has an FSC® Certified Richlite® fingerboard and bridge, gloss body, and a hand-rubbed neck finish. Like other Road Series models, it also has Fishman® MX-T electronics with a built-in soundhole tuner that auto mutes the audio output so you can tune up any time without using a pedal.