From the Factory, Players | August 13, 2026

Inspired by a Pre-War Martin: Meet the 00-18 and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa 

Martin’s second collaboration with Joe Bonamassa brings his prized 1937 00-18 shade-top to two new signature artist guitars: a Nazareth-made 00-18 and a more accessible Road Series acoustic-electric.

Joe Bonamassa has spent much of his life seeking out vintage guitars with remarkable histories. For his second collaboration with Martin, one of those instruments—a prized pre-war 1937 00-18 shade-top—became the inspiration for not one, but two new signature artist models. 

The Martin 00-18 Joe Bonamassa and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa share the distinctive sunburst and visually replicated top wear of Joe’s original guitar. From there, each takes a different path: one handcrafted in Nazareth with Golden Era-inspired features, and the other built in Navojoa as a more accessible, stage-ready Road Series acoustic-electric. 

For Joe, seeing both guitars come to life at Martin made the collaboration especially meaningful. 

“If you told me when I was a kid that I’d be sitting here in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, with not one, but two signature guitars, I’d be like, ‘You’re out of your mind,’” he says. “I never thought that would be possible. It’s such an honor. As a bona fide guitar nerd, this is the epitome. This is the high watermark for me. It’s a Martin.” 

The Pre-War Martin Behind the Joe Bonamassa Signature Guitars 

Joe’s original 1937 Martin 00-18 was discovered in Ohio by his friend, who purchased it from the family of its original owner. The instrument came with something even vintage-guitar experts rarely encounter: documentation showing where it had been and who had played it. 

“There’s a picture of him with it, with the rope strap and a big old cowboy hat, playing this guitar in the ’40s,” Joe says. “They kept everything—the original catalog from 1937 where they circled the 00-18, and it has the original price tag. This guitar was $45 brand new.” 

Aside from a neck reset, the 00-18 remains largely original. Its genuine mahogany back and sides, pre-war construction, and rare shaded spruce top make it an exceptional example of a Golden Era Martin acoustic guitar. 

The sunburst is particularly important. Shade tops were far less common than natural finishes during the period, and the fade on this guitar is accompanied by decades of honest playing wear. 

“The magic in this, and the rarity as a collectible instrument, is the sunburst,” Joe explains. “Martin didn’t do a lot of shade tops, and this one has a particularly good fade. There are some cool wear marks where our cowboy friend from 90 years ago played it. That’s where all the wear came from.” 

History may have brought the guitar into Joe’s collection, but its sound and feel made it a natural candidate for a second Martin collaboration. The compact 00 body is comfortable and responsive, while its mahogany construction offers the focused voice Joe values when recording. 

“I love these little 18s,” he says. “They’re just so nice. They’re a great size, and mahogany is much different sonically, especially in the studio, than rosewood. It’s a little more focused in the midrange and has a little less bass.” 

Watch the Story Behind the Martin Joe Bonamassa Guitars 

Hear Joe share the history of his original 1937 Martin 00-18 and see how its distinctive appearance inspired the new 00-18 and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa signature guitars. 

One Historic 00-18, Two New Martin Guitars 

Martin’s first collaboration with Joe recreated his exceptionally clean 1941 000-45 in a limited run of 45 instruments. His 1937 00-18 presented a very different opportunity. 

Unlike the nearly pristine 000-45, the 00-18 wears its history across the top. Its sunburst has faded, darkened, and softened in the areas where its original owner played it for decades. 

Rather than physically aging the new guitars, Martin developed a custom 1937 sunburst that creates the appearance of that wear within the finish itself. The result captures the visual personality of Joe’s guitar while giving players a smooth, brand-new instrument. 

“The way they’re able to recreate this so it looks worn, but there are no scratches on it, is amazing,” Joe says. “This was a good opportunity to explore the technique of having a guitar that cosmetically looks like it’s been around for 89 years, but is brand new.” 

Both new models carry that same unmistakable look. Their different tonewoods, construction details, neck profiles, and performance features allow players to choose how they want to experience it. 

Martin 00-18 Joe Bonamassa: Made in Nazareth 

Handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the Martin 00-18 Joe Bonamassa stays close to the tonewood combination and traditional character of the original 1937 acoustic guitar. 

Its solid spruce top features the custom sunburst and visually replicated wear inspired by Joe’s pre-war 00-18. Genuine mahogany back and sides provide a warm, focused voice with punchy midrange, clear trebles, and a controlled low end that works especially well for blues, folk, fingerstyle playing, and studio recording. 

Golden Era scalloped X-bracing enhances resonance, sustain, and dynamic response. The comfortable 00 body provides plenty of presence without the added reach of a larger acoustic, while a GE Modified Low Oval neck with standard taper offers a familiar feel rooted in pre-war Martin tradition. 

Faux tortoise binding completes the vintage-inspired look, and a hardshell case is included. 

Joe tested the Nazareth-made model under particularly demanding conditions, recording it alongside the pre-war guitar that inspired it. The new guitar quickly proved that vintage inspiration does not have to come at the expense of its own voice. 

“I had this guitar in the room, and I had that guitar in the room,” he says. “When we put the mic in front of it, my producer said, ‘I like that one better.’ And I agreed. It doesn’t have to be old and pre-war for it to be great. That guitar literally came out of the factory about 100 feet away from where we’re sitting.” 

Martin 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa: Road Series Accessibility 

Made at Martin’s facility in Navojoa, Mexico, the Martin 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa brings the same pre-war visual inspiration to a more accessible Road Series acoustic-electric guitar. 

Its solid spruce top receives the same custom 1937 sunburst treatment as the Nazareth-made model, recreating the faded and worn appearance of Joe’s original guitar. Solid sapele back and sides deliver warm bass, punchy mids, and clear trebles, while scalloped spruce X-bracing supports resonance and sustain. 

The comfortable 00 body makes the guitar easy to settle into whether playing at home, writing, recording, or performing. A Performing Artist neck profile with high-performance taper provides smooth, modern playability across the fingerboard. 

Martin E1 electronics add volume, tone, and phase controls along with a built-in tuner, making the 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa ready to plug in onstage or in the studio. A softshell case is included. 

Joe first put those electronics to the test when he unexpectedly needed an acoustic guitar with a pickup for a performance in New York with Slash. 

“Martin had just sent over these two, and I was like, ‘Oh, cool, it’s got a pickup,’” he recalls. “I plugged it in, and it sounded great. The first time I tested it, it was trial by fire.” 

The experience convinced him to keep using the system beyond that first performance. 

“Right out of the box, the electronics were great,” he says. “I popped open the case and I was like, ‘Sold. This thing’s great.’” 

00-18 or 00-10E Retro: Which Joe Bonamassa Martin Is Right for You? 

The two Joe Bonamassa signature guitars begin with the same inspiration. Both feature a comfortable 00 body, a solid spruce top, a custom 1937 sunburst, and visual wear modeled after Joe’s original pre-war Martin. 

The Martin 00-18 Joe Bonamassa is handcrafted in Nazareth and pairs genuine mahogany back and sides with Golden Era scalloped X-bracing, vintage-inspired appointments, and a GE Modified Low Oval neck. It offers the closer connection to the materials and traditional character of the original 1937 00-18. 

The Martin 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa is made in Navojoa with solid sapele back and sides, scalloped spruce X-bracing, a Performing Artist neck, and Martin E1 electronics. It delivers an all-solid-wood, performance-ready Road Series option at a more accessible price. 

One leans further into pre-war Martin tradition. The other brings the story, appearance, and compact feel of Joe’s guitar to more players, with modern electronics ready for the stage. 

Bringing Pre-War Martin Inspiration to More Players 

Joe’s vintage guitar collection includes instruments that very few musicians will ever have an opportunity to see, hold, or hear in person. His work with Martin allows the stories and defining characteristics of those guitars to reach beyond the collection. 

“One of the things about this relationship is that we’ve had really good success taking guitars that I own as a collector and making them attainable to the public,” Joe says. “Not many people get an audience with a pre-war Martin.” 

The 00-18 Joe Bonamassa offers a Nazareth-made interpretation with genuine mahogany and Golden Era-inspired construction. The 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa carries the same visual story into an accessible all-solid-wood acoustic-electric designed for everyday playing and live performance. 

Together, they open two doors into the world of one extraordinary 1937 Martin 00-18. 

“I hear with my ears, and I hear with my eyes,” Joe says. “When I look to my left and see C. F. Martin & Co., it gives me the warm and fuzzies.” 

Explore the Martin 00-18 Joe Bonamassa and 00-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa and find the version of this pre-war favorite that speaks to you. 

Until next time, happy playing!