The Martin D-13E Retro Walnut is a seriously cool addition to Martin's Road Series, combining the unmistakable power of a Dreadnought with a tonewood you don't see nearly as often as spruce-and-mahogany or spruce-and-rosewood. This acoustic-electric features a solid spruce top, solid black walnut back and sides, scalloped X-bracing, a modern Performing Artist neck, and Martin's E1 electronics system. The result is a guitar that looks familiar enough to say “Martin” from across the room, but has a voice all its own. It includes a Martin softshell case and a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
The neck is built from select hardwood and features Martin's Performing Artist profile with a High-Performance Taper. This is a very player-friendly neck, with a comfortable feel that makes the D-13E easy to settle into whether you're playing chords or working your way up the fingerboard. The 1 3/4" nut width gives you plenty of room for fingerstyle playing and more complex chord shapes, while the 25.4" scale length delivers the familiar feel and string tension of a Martin Dreadnought. The ebony fingerboard has 20 frets, Style 28-inspired dot inlays, and the entire fingerboard is Plek'd for a precise, consistent playing surface.
The body is where the D-13E Retro Walnut really gets interesting. You've got a solid spruce top paired with solid black walnut back and sides, finished in gloss with a warm Aging Toner on the top. Walnut is sometimes referred to as “Pennsylvania rosewood,” and it's easy to understand why once you hear it. It has some of the warmth and complexity we associate with rosewood, but with a focused midrange and plenty of clarity. The Dreadnought body and scalloped X-bracing give the D-13E plenty of low-end punch and projection, while the walnut keeps the overall voice balanced and articulate. Add the Style 28-inspired rosette, faux tortoise pickguard, white binding, and rosewood-pattern headplate, and this is a seriously good-looking Martin without being overly fancy.
The electronics are equally well suited to a working musician. Martin's E1 system gives you a straightforward, stage-friendly setup with an onboard tuner, while the acoustic side of the guitar remains completely natural and responsive when you're unplugged. The ebony Modern Belly bridge, White TUSQ saddle, nickel open-gear tuners, and scalloped spruce bracing all contribute to a guitar that responds quickly and has plenty of headroom when you dig in. Whether you're playing it acoustically at home or plugging into an amp or PA on stage, the D-13E is designed to be a working guitar rather than something you have to baby.
If you're looking for a Martin Dreadnought with a little something different going on, the D-13E Retro Walnut deserves a serious look. The combination of all-solid construction, walnut tonewoods, modern playability, and onboard electronics makes this one heck of a versatile Martin—and an awful lot of guitar for the money.
