The Martin Custom Shop Special 45 Dreadnought acoustic guitar provides serious musicians with a premium playing experience. Handcrafted from choice tonewoods like Adirondack spruce and Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood hand-picked by our buyers at the NAMM show, this all-solid-wood dreadnought produces a rich, balanced tone with shimmering highs and a robust low end. While its vintage appointments recall Martin's musical heritage, forward-shifted bracing and a modified neck profile give the Special 45 modern playability.

Premium Tonewoods Selected for Song

The Special 45's hand-selected Adirondack spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides are chosen by Martin's expert luthiers for their tonal qualities. The spruce top delivers a clear, punchy tone with complex overtones, while the rosewood provides warmth and focus. Together, these all-solid woods create an acoustic voice with chime-like highs, pronounced mids and a solid low end. Their resonance only improves with age, giving you an instrument that sings richer and sweeter over time.

Vintage Style Meets Playability

With its antique white binding, hexagon fingerboard inlays and Grover vintage-style tuners, the Special 45 nods to Martin's timeless dreadnought design. Yet its forward-shifted X bracing and modified low-oval neck profile provide enhanced performance for today's guitarist. The bracing gives you robust bass and an open, ringing tone. The neck feels comfortable for intricate fingerpicking or aggressive strumming, while the high-performance taper offers a fast, playable feel up and down the ebony fingerboard.

Pure Acoustic Resonance

The all-acoustic Special 45 lets you experience the unadulterated tone of premium tonewoods and thoughtful craftsmanship. Without electronics, its spruce top and rosewood back resonate freely. When you play, you'll hear the pure, resonant voice of wood and air. The guitar's lighter weight also makes it ideal for long playing sessions.

A Premium Acoustic Experience

Whether at home, in the studio or on stage, the Martin Custom Shop Special 45 Dreadnought provides an exceptional acoustic experience. Its hand-selected tonewoods, vintage style and modern playability give you rich, balanced tone and comfort. For discerning musicians seeking an all-solid-wood instrument, the Special 45 delivers.