From the Factory | July 16, 2026
Four New Martin Guitars Arrive: The 5-28 Terz, OM-35 Inception™, and Custom Shop 0-18 and 0-28
From the return of a historic Size 5 model to an innovative OM built with sustainable domestic tonewoods, four distinctive new acoustic guitars join the Martin lineup.
Some guitars bring the past forward. Others point toward what comes next. These four new Martin guitars do both.
The 5-28 Terz revives one of the most distinctive instruments in Martin history—and, at launch, becomes the smallest guitar in the 2026 Martin lineup.
The OM-35 Inception™ explores the tonal potential of sustainable and domestically abundant woods through innovative, purpose-built construction.
And two new Custom Shop Editions, the Custom Shop 0-18 and Custom Shop 0-28, bring premium materials and hand-shaped Golden Era bracing to the increasingly popular 0 body size.
Each guitar offers a different playing experience, but all four are built around the same idea: giving players new ways to find their sound.
The Martin 5-28 Terz Is Back
There is nothing else in the current Martin lineup quite like the 5-28 Terz.
The Size 5 is the oldest Martin guitar shape and style still made today, with roots stretching back to the earliest chapters of the company’s history. Over the years, Size 5 Martins have found their way into the hands of artists including Marty Robbins, Bobbie Gentry, Dolly Parton, Sting, Billy Corgan, Tony McManus, and John Mayer.
Now, after years of player demand, this historic little guitar has returned to the Standard Series.
The Martin 5-28 Terz is an ultra-compact 12-fret acoustic guitar with a remarkably short 21.38-inch scale. For perspective, Martin’s traditional short scale measures 24.9 inches, while Little Martin guitars use a 23-inch scale. Its compact proportions and comfortable feel invite players to approach familiar songs and arrangements from a completely different angle.
Its size is only part of the story.
A Terz guitar is traditionally tuned a minor third above standard tuning, placing the open strings at G, C, F, A#/Bb, D, and G. That higher register gives the guitar a focused, bell-like sound with plenty of clarity and shimmer. Played on its own, it has a distinctive voice that cuts through without becoming harsh. Layered with a standard-tuned acoustic guitar, it can add dimension, sparkle, and an entirely new sonic texture.
We’ll take a closer look at Terz tuning—and how to get started with it—in a separate upcoming blog.
Players can also tune the 5-28 to standard pitch for a more familiar experience. It comes strung with Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan® 2.0 custom light-gauge strings, though players planning to keep it in standard tuning may prefer medium-gauge strings and a professional setup.
Despite its compact proportions, this is every bit a Style 28 Martin. A gloss spruce top with aging toner pairs with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, antique white binding, a Style 28 rosette, multi-stripe top inlay, and an ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays. A select hardwood neck features a Modified Low Oval profile with High-Performance Taper, while nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs complete its classic appearance.
Non-scalloped ¼-inch spruce X-bracing helps give the guitar focus and definition, while a bone nut and saddle and an ebony Size 5 modern straightline bridge support clear, responsive tone.
Historic, comfortable, and unlike anything else in the lineup, the 5-28 Terz is a small guitar capable of opening up some very big creative possibilities.
The OM-35 Inception Explores a New Side of Sustainable Tone
The OM-35 Inception asks an exciting question: What can an acoustic guitar become when its materials and construction are developed together from the beginning?
This new Orchestra Model builds on the forward-thinking ideas behind the Inception platform, pairing responsibly sourced woods with bracing designed specifically to bring out their tonal potential.
Its three-piece back features solid black walnut wings surrounding a delta-shaped wedge of flamed American white oak. Solid black walnut sides continue the warm, naturally expressive character of the body, while flamed American white oak binding highlights the guitar’s distinctive combination of domestic materials.
The top is made from FSC®-certified European spruce and finished in a rich Dark Toasted Burst. Known for its quick response, strong trebles, warm bass, and projection, European spruce complements the clarity, warmth, and pronounced midrange presence of black walnut.
Inside, skeletonized Golden Era scalloped ¼-inch X-bracing has been purpose-built for this specific combination of tonewoods. By strategically reducing the mass of the braces while maintaining their structural integrity, the design allows the top and body to move more freely. The result is enhanced resonance, sustain, and dynamic response that gives the walnut’s natural tonal character room to develop.
The guitar’s long 25.4-inch scale—standard for a Martin OM—adds punch, projection, and sustain, while the comfortable 000 14-fret body provides the balance and versatility that have made the Orchestra Model a favorite for fingerstyle playing, flatpicking, recording, and songwriting.
Sustainability is carried through the instrument with an FSC-certified ebony fingerboard and Golden Era modern belly bridge. Mother-of-pearl Style 28 hexagon inlays, a Style 28 rosette, and black-and-maple fiber top inlay add refined visual detail without distracting from the natural character of the woods.
The black walnut neck features a Golden Era Modified Low Oval profile with High-Performance Taper, while RATIO® nickel open-gear tuners with skeletonized butterbean buttons offer smooth, precise operation. A bone nut and saddle, 1 ¾-inch nut width, and Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 light-gauge strings complete the package.
The OM-35 Inception is more than a guitar made with sustainable tonewoods. It is an instrument designed around them—proving that responsibly sourced, domestically abundant materials can inspire new ideas, new construction methods, and an exciting new acoustic voice.
Accessible Custom Shop Craftsmanship Comes to the 0 Body Size
The 0 body size has been part of Martin’s story for generations, and its intimate feel and focused voice continue to connect with modern players.
The new Custom Shop 0-18 and Custom Shop 0-28 answer the growing demand for this comfortable Concert-size body with two high-end builds featuring premium tonewoods, vintage-inspired appointments, and hand-shaped Adirondack spruce bracing.
They also offer a more accessible entry point into Martin Custom Shop craftsmanship.
Both models begin with a solid Adirondack spruce top treated with aging toner. Adirondack spruce is valued for its headroom, power, and ability to respond dynamically to different playing styles. Beneath the top, hand-shaped Adirondack Golden Era scalloped ¼-inch X-bracing helps deliver vintage-inspired resonance, sustain, and responsiveness.
Both guitars also feature a short 24.9-inch scale for a relaxed feel, a 1 ¾-inch nut width, and a genuine mahogany neck with a Golden Era Modified Low Oval profile and High-Performance Taper. A vintage gloss finish across the body and neck gives each instrument a refined appearance and smooth, broken-in feel.
From there, the two guitars develop their own personalities.
Custom Shop 0-18: Clear, Focused, and Direct
The Custom Shop 0-18 pairs its Adirondack spruce top with genuine mahogany back and sides. This classic tonewood combination produces clear trebles, punchy midrange, and a focused low end that makes it particularly well suited for fingerstyle playing, songwriting, and recording.
Mahogany’s dry, fundamental-forward character allows individual notes and chord voicings to remain articulate, while the compact 0 body keeps the sound intimate and immediate.
Traditional Style 18 details include faux tortoise binding, multi-stripe top inlay, and an ebony fingerboard with abalone Old Style 18 dot inlays. Nickel open-gear tuners with oval knobs complete its understated vintage look.
Custom Shop 0-28: Rich, Resonant, and Full of Overtones
The Custom Shop 0-28 combines its Adirondack spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for a deeper, more overtone-rich voice.
East Indian rosewood brings warmth, resonant bass, and harmonic complexity, balanced by the clarity and focus of the smaller 0 body. The result is a compact guitar that still delivers impressive depth and dimension.
Grained ivoroid binding, bold herringbone top inlay, and an ebony fingerboard with abalone long diamond-and-square inlays give the 0-28 the timeless character of a Style 28 Martin. Nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs complete the look.
Both Custom Shop Editions feature an ebony Golden Era modern belly bridge, a bone nut and saddle, Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 light-gauge strings, and an included hardshell case.
Whether you prefer the direct, woody response of mahogany or the depth and harmonic richness of rosewood, the Custom Shop 0-18 and 0-28 bring premium materials and Custom Shop craftsmanship to one of Martin’s most comfortable and in-demand body sizes.
Four Guitars, Four New Ways to Play
From the bright, bell-like character of the 5-28 Terz to the sustainable innovation of the OM-35 Inception and the refined, intimate voices of the Custom Shop 0-18 and 0-28, this launch brings together four very different expressions of Martin craftsmanship.
Each model offers its own combination of history, innovation, comfort, and tone. The only question is which one speaks to you.
Explore the four new models, find your next Martin, and unleash your inner artist.
Until next time, happy playing!
