C.F. Martin & Co Cs Sitka Spruce/Flamed Mahogany

A 000 Custom Shop: The Nazareth Spirit, Between Tradition and Careful Selection

This 000 was born from design work directly in the Martin Guitar Custom Shop workshops in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The idea is simple: start from an iconic format, then push the choices of woods, luthiery, and ornamentation towards something more exclusive, without betraying Martin's DNA.

The 000 format holds a special place in the range: less imposing than a dreadnought but more substantial than a travel size, it emphasizes balance and finesse. Here, the specifications go further with a "Golden Era" carved X-bracing and carefully chosen aesthetic details (rosette, pickguard, square headstock), for an instrument with a traditional look and a modern feel.

Which Guitarists and Styles is this 000 Ideal For?

Thanks to its 000 size and natural balance, this guitar is broadly aimed at intermediate to expert guitarists seeking an expressive, responsive, and nuanced acoustic. It will also suit a demanding beginner looking straight away for an inspiring instrument, provided they appreciate a guitar sensitive to attack and right-hand nuances.

In terms of styles, it excels in fingerstyle (articulation, note separation), folk, and acoustic pop (full but defined chords), and remains very comfortable in blues and vocal accompaniment. The 000 format is also a relevant choice for recording: it fills the sonic space without excessive bass, which facilitates mixing.

A Precise and Warm Sound: Sitka, Flamed Mahogany, and "Golden Era" Bracing

The Sitka Spruce top (grade 4) delivers what is expected from a great acoustic: a clear attack, excellent dynamics, and a good capacity to handle an energetic right hand. Sitka is appreciated for its versatility: it responds quickly to light playing while maintaining integrity when played harder.

The flamed mahogany back and sides steer the guitar towards a warm signature, with present mids and a very clean chord definition. Mahogany often highlights the instrument's "voice": clear fundamentals, a singing midrange, and a sense of intimacy that particularly serves fingerpicking and accompaniment.

The key feature of this model remains the "Golden Era" carved X-bracing. This type of luthiery generally favors a freer top, thus a livelier guitar: more projection at equal attack, greater nuance relief, and a naturally settling sustain without artificially boosting the bass. On a 000 format, the result is often spectacular: a solid foundation is maintained while gaining in precision and expressiveness.

In terms of feel, the whole is reinforced by coherent choices: ebony fingerboard and bridge for definition, compensated bone saddle for precise intonation and efficient vibration transmission, and a glossy finish that highlights both the flamed mahogany and the spruce. The "faux tortoise shell" pickguard and "Bold Herringbone" rosette complete the visual character with a very "vintage" elegance.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To get the best out of this 000, you can consider a Light gauge acoustic folk string set (the size and setup accept this standard), as well as an acoustic guitar humidifier if the instrument is stored in a dry room. A chromatic tuner (clip-on or pedal) and a guitar stand complete a simple, useful, and compatibility-risk-free set.

Technical specifications

Format	000	Scale length	24.98" / 634.5 mm
Glue	Modern	Neck wood	12/4 mahogany
Top	grade 4 spruce	Number of frets	14
Bracing	"Golden Era" carved X-bracing	Truss rod	adjustable
Back and sides	flamed mahogany	Profile	GE Modified Low Oval, High Performance Taper
Binding	black top binding	Fingerboard	ebony
Rosette	3-ring "Bold Herringbone" Boltaron	Fingerboard inlays	45-style snowflakes
Bridge	GE Modern Belly	Neck finish	satin, glossy headstock
Bridge material	ebony, GE Modern Belly	Headstock	square shape in flamed mahogany
Saddle	compensated bone	Headstock inlay	CFM Block in abalone
Pickguard	faux tortoise shell	Tuners	Grover Gold V97-18GA StaTite ratio 18:1 with Vintage butterfly buttons
Back strip	Spanish cedar	Strings	Martin Authentic Lifespan 2.0 Light
Finish	glossy