From the Factory, Players | April 15, 2026
Martin Guitar Quarterly Recap (January-March 2026): New Releases, Artist Collaborations & Highlights
A new quarterly series rounding up Martin’s biggest product launches, artist moments, and standout stories from across the world of music.
Welcome to the first edition of the Martin Guitar Quarterly Recap, a new ongoing series where we’ll look back at the biggest Martin moments from the past three months—all in one place. Each quarter, we’ll round up major product releases, artist collaborations, notable performances, media cameos, and other standout highlights across the Martin universe.
For Q1 2026, that means a lot to cover—from the refreshed Road Series and new models unveiled around The 2026 NAMM Show to Molly Tuttle’s new signature guitars, the latest Martin Artist Showcase class, and a wide range of artist appearances on stages, screens, and streams.
Here’s a look back at some of the biggest Martin Guitar releases, artist collaborations, and highlights from January through March 2026.
Road Series Refresh Launch
Martin kicked off the quarter by unveiling the refreshed Road Series ahead of The 2026 NAMM Show. Reimagined to offer players a clearer path through the Martin lineup, the series now features 20 models, including 18 newly introduced or updated guitars.
Built around two distinct directions—Retro and Modern—the refreshed Road Series helps players more easily find the look, feel, and performance features that fit their musical goals. With updated style levels, expanded body shape options, onboard electronics, and upgraded features across the lineup, it’s one of Martin’s most significant Road Series updates in years.
Four New Models Launched Ahead of NAMM 2026
Just ahead of NAMM, Martin unveiled four all-new models: the Super D-18, Super HD-28, Martin O’ahu® K-42 Hibiscus, and Custom Shop M Paisley Ember Burst.
The Super D-18 and Super HD-28 brought the larger Super D body shape into the Standard Series for the first time, offering more internal air volume, bigger projection, and expanded dynamic range. The Martin O’ahu K-42 Hibiscus blended historic inspiration with striking appointments and a rare body-and-neck configuration, while the Custom Shop M Paisley Ember Burst delivered a bold one-year limited design from Martin President and CEO Thomas Ripsam.
Together, the four models helped set the tone for a year already full of momentum.
Molly Tuttle Signature Models Debut at NAMM
Martin and GRAMMY®-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle introduced two new signature models at NAMM 2026: the D-18 Molly Tuttle and D-X2E Molly Tuttle.
Inspired by Molly’s beloved 1943 D-18, the new guitars reflect the specs, feel, and visual details that matter most to her—from a 1940s-style neck profile and slim nut width to moon phase inlays that symbolize creativity and inspiration. One model offers an all-solid, vintage-inspired build for traditionalists, while the other brings Molly’s preferred feel and style to a more accessible, gig-ready platform.
It marked one of Martin’s most exciting artist collaborations of the quarter—and one of the show’s standout launches.
NAMM 2026 Recap
The 2026 NAMM Show was a major moment for Martin, showcasing one of the brand’s most diverse and forward-looking lineups to date.
From the fully refreshed Road Series to the debut of the Super D-18, Super HD-28, Martin O’ahu K-42 Hibiscus, Custom Shop M Paisley Ember Burst, and Molly’s signature models, the show highlighted a wide range of instruments built for different players, styles, and stages. NAMM also gave Martin the chance to spotlight in-progress stories, artist appearances, history-driven projects, and live performances throughout the week. Read the full recap here.
A Custom Shop Guitar Designed by the Martin Community
One of the most memorable stories of the quarter was a one-of-one Custom Shop Dreadnought designed by Martin’s social media followers and given away at The 2026 NAMM Show.
Built through a series of monthly voting posts, the guitar brought the Martin community directly into the Custom Shop process—letting fans help choose key specs and appointments before the final build came to life. The finished guitar was awarded to Backstage member Josephine A. from Carlsbad, California, turning a social campaign into a meaningful, real-world Martin moment.
Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2026 Announced
In February, Martin officially announced the Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2026, continuing its commitment to supporting breakthrough artists shaping what’s next in music.
This year’s class includes Annahstasia, Maggie Antone, William Beckmann, Rose Betts, Kaitlin Butts, Debbii Dawson, Lily Fitts, Darren Kiely, MJ Lenderman, and Noah Rinker. Spanning country, folk, Americana, indie, rock, and beyond, the group reflects the range of voices and stories Martin is proud to champion.
January 2026 Artist Highlights
January featured a wide range of Martin artist moments across television, streaming, live performance, and social media.
Ronnie Wood helped ring in the new year in the U.K. with a performance of “Ooh La La” on Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, playing a 000-18.
Joe Bonamassa teased a new collaboration with Martin and later played one of those models during an acoustic Soho Sessions set with Slash—who also wielded an HD-28—for his Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation.
Rise Against shared a clip of Tim McIlrath performing “Swing Life Away” in the Martin Museum, on the oldest Martin guitar in existence.
Martin Showcase artists had a busy month. Class of 2025 artist Wyatt Flores appeared on Austin City Limits with his 000-28EC, while fellow 2025 classmate Michigander performed on a 000-10E for Rock Hall Rising.
Class of 2026 Showcase artist Lily Fitts made her national TV debut on CBS Saturday Morning, playing an HD-28E—with a Martin capo, too.
Mary Spender also released a new video from her latest factory visit, featuring a performance on the Grand J-28E DN.
February 2026 Artist Highlights
February brought another strong wave of Martin visibility across awards shows, television, online video, and artist content.
Billy Strings won a GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album, with his beloved pre-war D-28 continuing to be a key part of his sound, while other Martin-connected winners included Shaboozey, Zach Top, Buddy Guy, and Joni Mitchell.
Reba McEntire performed during the GRAMMY Awards in-memoriam segment backed by Lukas Nelson and Brandy Clark, with Brandy playing her OMJM John Mayer.
Bryan Adams’ Rig Rundown featured two vintage D-18s, Jesse Welles returned with more songs on his vintage D-28 and a D-17, and CBS Sunday Morning ran a feature on Jeff Tweedy that included multiple Martin cameos.
Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons played a vintage D-18 on the BBC’s Radio 2 Piano Room.
Yvette Young mentioned a Martin OMC-1E was her first guitar on her episode of Guitar.com’s My Guitars & Me, and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme appeared on Norah Jones’ Playing Along podcast with a 000-28.
Jeff Daniels delivered one of the quarter’s most memorable Martin shoutouts on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, calling “the inside of a Martin guitar” his favorite smell before smelling the inside of a 000-28 on air.
Heart’s Nancy Wilson and Ryan Wariner discussed their custom and signature Martins on the band’s Rig Rundown episode.
Other February highlights included Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus playing a D-28E at Noise Pop, Warren Haynes touring with Jerry Garcia’s 1943 D-28, Coheed & Cambria’s bassist performing with a BM Bass at the GRAMMY Museum, a 000-18E appearing throughout a massively viewed Ms. Rachel episode, and MIRADOR spotlighting their Custom Shop 0012-28s in their own Rig Rundown episode.
March 2026 Artist Highlights
March kept the momentum going with more artist performances, media appearances, and Martin cameos.
The month opened with a Martin-heavy celebration of 25 years of O Brother, Where Art Thou? at the Grand Ole Opry, with players including Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Del McCoury, and Dan Tyminski.
Drew Baldridge played a refreshed OMC-10E Modern Burst for a special anniversary show celebrating the Listening Room at the Ryman, and Mary Spender shared an acoustic cover of The 1975’s “Somebody Else” on her Custom Shop OM.
John Mayer—as well as several Martin guitars and headstocks—appeared in a CBS Sunday Morning feature tied to Mayer and director McG’s purchase of the Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles.
Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025 artist Madi Diaz performed behind NPR’s Tiny Desk with her 000C12-16E Nylon.
Caamp also performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk, with Taylor Meier playing two 000-17 Whiskey Sunset guitars.
Mary Spender returned with another performance on her Custom Shop OM, this time sharing an acoustic cover of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag.”
Jeff Tweedy wielded his vintage 00-18E for a performance of “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter” from his triple album Twilight Override on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Ben McLeod of All Them Witches spotlighted his rare Martin SPD-16K2 in Premier Guitar’s Rig Rundown, using it live and across his solo acoustic album.
And Hunter Hayes has been playing his custom Robert Goetzl-painted “Evergreen” 000 on tour—starting with the moment he was surprised with the guitar.
Looking Back on Q1 2026
From major product launches and artist signature collaborations to standout media moments and a new Martin Artist Showcase class, the first quarter of 2026 captured just how much ground Martin Guitar covered in just three months.
Whether you were following the refreshed Road Series, watching Molly Tuttle debut her signature models, keeping up with NAMM, or spotting Martins in the hands of artists across TV, streaming, and live performance, Q1 made one thing clear: there’s a lot more to come.
Stay tuned for the next quarterly recap—and until next time, happy playing!