Martin Custom Shop 000 Size 18 Style w/ Sinker Mahogany, Swiss Spruce Martin Guitars

A Martin Custom Shop acoustic guitar is shrouded in excellence through individual craftsmanship, tonality, and worth as a lifetime investment.  This guitar, a Custom 000-18, was commissioned by Russo Music.  To the plain eye, we see a standard fare 000-18 – which of course is the classic spruce/mahogany orchestra style acoustic from the company.  However, this 000-18 features two distinct tonewoods: Sinker Mahogany from Belize, and Swiss Spruce.

High Altitude Swiss Spruce is regarded by many as the greatest sounding Spruce tonewood sourced in the world.  Swiss Spruce grows at higher elevations than Sitka, Italian, or Englemann spruce – and it also grows slower than all mentioned.  Slow growth is visually noted in this wood’s tighter grain pattern, and sonically in its greater balance of string-to-string definition.  Swiss Spruce is featured here on this 000-18 as the top wood.  It brings out a focused, balanced attack in this guitar – and features a narrow grain pattern throughout.

The country of Belize has a tropical climate – all twelve months have temperatures of at least 64​​ degrees Fahrenheit/18 degrees Celsius.  Mahogany in this Central American region is highly sought after for having grown in pronounced wet and dry seasons. 

This custom 000-18 has a full low register with a very present attack without having too much chime.  It has a lively, percussive attack with pleasant sustain.  This Martin is shy on the glam – nothing in the sense of an Abalone rosette or figured binding.  It is a guitar that remains subtle and classy, and prefers to let its tone do the talking.