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Product detailSKU #1500000488133

MartinCustom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Signature Brazilian Rosewood Acoustic Guitar - Natural

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Martin Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Signature Brazilian Rosewood Acoustic Guitar - Natural
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Product overview

About this model

The culmination of three decades of collaboration between one of music's most influential guitarists and a true icon of American acoustic guitar making, the Martin Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Brazilian Rosewood is a striking showcase of rare tonewoods and handcrafted artistry, hand-signed by Slowhand himself and limited to just five instruments worldwide. An Authentic 1939 profile mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard deliver a refined, vintage-inspired playing experience, complemented by Golden Era scalloped bracing and a 1930-style belly bridge with glued-in long saddle. Exquisite Style 42 appointments, a signature Eric Clapton abalone fingerboard inlay and a personally signed soundhole label and certificate of authenticity complete an extraordinary Custom Shop creation that celebrates Martin and Eric’s rich musical partnership. 000 Body: The Heart of Eric Clapton's Acoustic Legacy The smaller-bodied 000 has been a fixture of Eric Clapton's acoustic collection since the 1970s. His vintage 1939 Martin 000-42 played a defining role in his landmark 1992 MTV Unplugged appearance, helping cement the 000 as a lasting part of his acoustic sound onstage, in the studio and as a songwriting instrument. The Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton pays tribute to that legendary guitar, pairing its comfortable proportions and balanced response with an articulate voice equally suited to nuanced fingerstyle work and expressive strumming. Inside, Golden Era scalloped X-bracing crafted from Adirondack spruce allows the top to respond freely, bringing impressive projection, clarity and dynamic sensitivity to the compact 000 format. Rare Brazilian Rosewood Body and Adirondack Spruce Top Exceptionally rare and prized by generations of players and luthiers, Brazilian rosewood gives the 000-42 Eric Clapton a rich tonal foundation, pairing deep, piano-like lows and ringing trebles with long sustain and a complex spectrum of harmonics that bloom around each note. A solid Adirondack spruce top complements that richness with impressive headroom, articulation and dynamic range, responding sensitively to a light touch while retaining power and definition when driven harder. Together, these premium tonewoods give the compact 000 a voice of impressive depth and dimension, balancing the harmonic richness of Brazilian rosewood with the immediacy and dynamic authority of Adirondack spruce. Authentic 1939 Mahogany Neck for a Vintage-Inspired Playing Feel A genuine mahogany neck with Martin's Authentic 1939 profile gives the 000-42 Eric Clapton a substantial, vintage-inspired feel informed by one of the company's most revered eras. Its shorter 24.9" scale provides a slightly more relaxed string feel for comfortable fretting and expressive bends, while a 1.69" bone nut and 2.125" bridge string spacing offer familiar, versatile proportions. A bound ebony fingerboard provides a smooth, durable playing surface across all 20 frets, and each instrument is Plek'd for exceptional fret consistency and precise playability. A traditional dovetail neck joint completes a carefully considered neck design rooted in Martin's historic construction methods. Golden Era Craftsmanship With Signature Appointments Martin's Golden Era aesthetic comes to life through exquisite Style 42 snowflake inlays, abalone top trim, a Style 45 multi-stripe rosette, grained ivoroid binding and ornate Golden Era back purfling. A solid headstock with an Authentic 1939 taper and ebony headplate continues the prewar-inspired design, complemented by gold enclosed-gear tuners with classic butterbean knobs and an ebony 1930-style belly bridge with a glued-in long bone saddle. Eric’s presence is woven into the instrument through a signature abalone inlay, Clapton's Choice phosphor bronze strings and an individually numbered soundhole label signed by the artist himself. A signed certificate of authenticity and premium Harptone case accompany each guitar, adding the final touches to its premium Custom Shop presentation. An Exclusive 000-42 Celebrating Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival Since its launch in 2004, Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival has brought together generations of acclaimed guitarists while raising funds for the Crossroads Centre, the addiction treatment facility the Grammy winner founded in Antigua. Limited to just five instruments worldwide, the Martin Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Brazilian Rosewood is a handcrafted masterpiece that celebrates the Grammy winner's enduring legacy, Martin's time-honored artistry and the power of music to give back.

Martin Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Signature Brazilian Rosewood Acoustic Guitar - Natural alternate view

Reference

Full specifications

The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.

7 detailsPlayability
Factory strings
Martin Clapton's Choice MEC12
Number of Frets
20
Scale Length
24.9"
Orientation
Right handed
Number of strings
6
Number of frets
20
Number of Strings
6
20 detailsBody & build
Body construction
Solid
Bracing material
Adirondack spruce
Neck meets body at
14th fret
Binding material
Grained ivoroid
Neck material
Genuine mahogany
Fingerboard material
Ebony
Nut material
Bone
Side material
Solid Brazilian rosewood
Back material
Solid Brazilian rosewood
Top material
Solid Adirondack spruce
Color
Natural
Top Material
Solid Adirondack spruce
Saddle material
Bone
Neck finish
Gloss
Neck Wood
Genuine mahogany
Fingerboard Material
Ebony
Bridge material
Ebony
Hardware finish
Gold
Body finish
Gloss
Neck joint
Dovetail
2 detailsSize & weight
Nut width
1.69"
Scale length
24.9"
27 detailsOther
Bracing pattern
Golden Era scalloped X-bracing
Side dots
Faux tortoiseshell
Neck profile
Authentic 1939
String gauge
Light
String type
Steel
Product type
Acoustic guitar
Color
Natural
Soundhole label
Hand-signed by Eric Clapton
Artist signature
Eric Clapton
Korena Special
false
Tuning machines
Gold enclosed-gear with butterbean buttons
Orientation
Right handed
Limited edition
5 guitars
Bridge pins
Bone with abalone dots
Rosette
Style 45 multi-stripe
Inlays
Abalone Golden Era 42-style snowflakes with Eric Clapton signature
Case
Hardshell
Tier
platinum
Body size class
000-14 fret
Category Source
detail
Certificate of authenticity
Hand-signed by Eric Clapton
Series
Custom Shop
Product Type
Acoustic guitar
Model
Custom Shop 000-42 Eric Clapton Brazilian
Guitar Center Exclusive
Yes
Source Id
site51500000488133
Headstock overlay
Ebony

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