GEAR REVIEW
C. F. MARTIN UNLEASHES THE 00-14 FRET BODY WITH THE NEW 00-18 JOE BONAMASSA & 00-10E RETRO JOE BONAMASSA MARTIN ACOUSTIC GUITAR | Eric Dahl
This past August C. F. Martin Guitars released not one, but two new Joe Bonamassa signature acoustic guitars. The last model that Bonamassa teamed up with Martin on was a limited run, only 45, of a 000-45 created from Joe’ s original 1941 000-45 back in 2024.
The latest signature models for this iconic Blues / Rock artist are not limited editions, and they are based on another guitar from his collection- a 1937 00-18. Worship Musician borrowed both the 00-18 Joe Bonamassa model and the 00- 10E Retro Joe Bonanassa Martin guitars for this review. Per our conversation with Bonmassa he lent his favorite 1937 Martin vintage guitar to the team in Nazareth, PA and they took meticulous measurements and images of the instrument.
In recent years smaller bodied acoustic guitars like the 00-14 fret Martin body shape have been in increasing demand as artists and musicians are seeking a tighter, more focused sound compared to a dreadnought. The 00-18 Joe Bonamassa Custom Signature Artist acoustic is visually stunning. Martin has replicated the worn, and aged patina of Joe’ s original to match this on the new model with a solid spruce top. The back and sides are real mahogany with an ebony fretboard along with a bridge and bone saddle. The finish is called 1937 Joe Bonamassa Sunburst, and it does look and feel like a broken in( well-loved) instrument when you play it even with the gloss finish. The mahogany neck is a satin finish with nickel open gear tuners and a GE( Golden Era) modified low profile shape. The fingerboard inlays stay true to Martin with the Old Style 18 cosmetics. The neck features 20 frets total, and the top has X bracing with GE scalloped bracing. The 00-18 did not have the optional electronics, but this Bonamassa guitar provides a very refined sound. Thanks to the body shape, bracing and tone woods in play the 00-18 Joe has softened bass response, pronounced mid frequencies and in the pocket treble. Sonically it would lend itself to blues, folk and more roots style music where the guitar doesn’ t always need to be as dominant. The Martin 00-18 acoustic would also pair nicely with a dreadnought guitar as a backup and a high-strung or 12-string on top to cover all the guitar ranges. This model is a more refined musical tool that can be dug
40 September 2026 Subscribe for Free...