Martin 00042EC30THANNI Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary Acoustic Guitar - Natural

Exclusively available at Sadek Music, the Martin 000-42EC Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary is strictly limited to just 300 models and proudly wears a label personally signed by Eric Clapton. This extraordinary guitar pays tribute to the iconic 30-year partnership between Eric and Martin, sparked by the legendary 1992 Unplugged performance where Eric played a vintage 1939 000-42. Crafted with a premium Adirondack spruce top and scalloped X-bracing, the 000-42EC delivers unmatched projection and authority. Its Guatemalan rosewood back and sides define a genre-defying 000-size profile that sings with exquisite overtones, articulate highs, and a deep, powerful low end. The neck features a genuine mahogany foundation carved into an Authentic 1939 profile, topped with a glassy ebony fingerboard and adorned with GE 42 Snowflake inlays. On top, the guitar reflects its Unplugged inspiration with a stunning inlaid pearl perimeter and pearl rosette. Additional details include Waverly Relic open-gear tuners, a slightly slimmed 1.6875-inch nut width, and a classic 24.9-inch scale length—ideal for executing those iconic “Layla” bends. A true collector’s gem, the Martin 000-42EC Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary stands as a historic milestone in guitar craftsmanship and collaboration. Find this limited edition masterpiece now at Sadek Music.

From Unplugged to ubiquity

From cementing the very foundations of rock guitar with John Mayall and Cream to Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his extensive solo career, Eric Clapton has worn many hats in his incalculably influential musical career. The vast majority of this work was cut on a roaring electric guitar, yet Eric traded in his high-power amp stacks and solidbody 6-strings in 1992 for a vintage 1939 Martin 000-42 to record his intimate Unplugged album at MTV studios. The session was a smash hit, helping revitalize Eric Clapton’s career and eventually becoming the highest-selling live album of all time. The unprecedented success of Unplugged naturally drew the eyes and envy of guitarists everywhere to Eric’s vintage Martin — a model that had been discontinued decades ago. Martin was quick to the punch, teaming up with Eric to release 461 Eric Clapton–signature guitars in 1995 in tribute to Eric’s mid-1970s opus 461 Ocean Boulevard. The model was dubbed the 000-42EC, selling out nearly instantly. Thirty years later, Eric and Martin’s partnership is still going strong, with this 000-42EC Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary model paying tribute to one of the most successful artist collaborations in 6-string history.

A nod to the age of Adirondack

Long before Sitka spruce became the standard, Adirondack spruce reigned supreme as the top wood of choice for steel-string guitars throughout the first half of the 20th century. This legendary tonewood helped elevate prewar Martins to near-mythical status—so much so that pre-1942 Martins often command prices well into six figures! To capture that iconic sound, the limited-edition 000-42EC Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary, available at Sadek Music, features its own stunning slab of Adirondack spruce. This wood delivers a clear, crisp character, exceptional projection, and unmatched headroom that true aficionados will appreciate.

Gorgeous Guatemalan rosewood body

Brazilian rosewood was Martin’s high-end body wood of choice in its prewar era all the way up to the late 1960s when harvesting the timber was made illegal due to its highly endangered status. So, while Eric’s original Unplugged 000-42 would have been crafted with Brazilian rosewood, the modern Martin 000-42EC 30th Anniversary sports a top-of-the-line tonewood that many of Sweetwater’s tonewood connoisseurs believe to be that lauded timber’s equal: Guatemalan rosewood. Coupled with the Adirondack spruce top, this guitar’s Guatemalan rosewood back and sides resound with lush overtones, a chiming high end, and deep, rich bass that belies the modest 000-size form factor.

Well-balanced 000 body shape

Smaller than a dreadnought but by no means a “parlor guitar,” Martin’s iconic 000 body shape is a true 6-string Swiss Army knife—adept at everything from singer/songwriter strumming to intricate fingerstyle playing without missing a beat. Martin fans praise this shape for its exceptional string-to-string balance and comfortable playability, thanks in part to the slightly reduced 24.9-inch scale length. For guitarists seeking full-bodied Martin tone in a more comfortable and balanced package, the 000 is an ideal choice. Explore the versatile Martin 000 models now at Sadek Music and find your perfect fit.

Martin 000-42EC Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary Features:

• Extremely limited-edition model, celebrating 30 years of collaboration between Martin and Eric Clapton
• 300 models available worldwide, with each guitar featuring a label hand-signed by Eric Clapton himself
• Adirondack spruce top with scalloped X-bracing dishes out serious power and projection, with a crisp top-end definition
• Guatemalan rosewood back and sides authentically capture the sound and looks of traditional Brazilian rosewood
• 000-size body provides a balanced tone that’s well suited to take on almost any 6-string application
• Genuine mahogany neck in a 1939 Authentic profile that’s based on Eric’s Unplugged vintage Martin
• Ebony fingerboard laden with eye-catching GE 42 Snowflake inlays
• Slightly slimmed-down 1.6875-in. nut width, as per Eric’s preferences
• An awe-inspiring inlaid pearl perimeter and a pearl rosette
• Classic 000-style 24.9-in. scale length offers a slinkier feel for easy bending
• Waverly Relic open-gear tuners deliver rock-solid stability
• Comes equipped with Clapton’s Choice phosphor bronze strings, with an extra set in the case pocket

Tech Specs

• String Type:Steel
• Number of Strings:6
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Shape:000
• Back & Sides Wood:Guatemalan Rosewood
• Top Wood:Adirondack Spruce
• Top Finish:Gloss
• Color:Natural
• Body Bracing:X-bracing
• Binding:Antique White
• Neck Wood:Mahogany
• Neck Finish:Gloss
• Neck Shape:Authentic 1999
• Radius:16"
• Fingerboard Material:Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlay:GE 42 Snowflake
• Number of Frets:20
• Scale Length:24.9"
• Nut Width:1.6875"
• Nut Material:Bone
• Saddle Material:Bone
• Tuning Machines:Waverly Relic Nickel Open Gear
• Strings:Clapton's Choice- Light Phosphor Bronze
• Case/Gig Bag:Hardshell Case