Martin Road Series Retro 000-12E

Premium Tonewoods for Classic, Balanced Acoustic Tone
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Sitka spruce delivers clear note articulation, lively dynamics and strong projection, giving the 000-12E Retro a voice that’s versatile for fingerstyle, flatpicking or rhythm playing.
Back & Sides: Solid Sapele
Sapele back and sides contribute warm, focused midrange and balanced lows that complement the responsive spruce top, helping create a warm, articulate and harmonically rich acoustic sound.
Together, these woods produce the 000-12E Retro’s signature blend of clarity, warmth and responsiveness, a classic Martin tone well-suited to a wide range of playing styles. 

Elegant Craftsmanship & Detailing
Every detail of the 000-12E Retro reflects thoughtful design inspired by Martin’s heritage:

• Rosette: Old Style 18 multi-stripe rosette around the soundhole, a nod to classic Martin aesthetics. 

• Binding: Black body binding frames the top and back with understated contrast.

• Pickguard: Faux tortoise pickguard adds vintage-inspired practicality.

• Finish: Full gloss finish on top, back and sides enhances visual depth and lets the tonewoods resonate freely.

Neck, Feel & Hardware

• Neck: Select hardwood neck with Martin’s Performing Artist (PA) profile and High-Performance Taper for smooth, modern playability across the fretboard.

• Fingerboard: Ebony provides a smooth playing surface with durability and bright tonal contribution.

• Scale Length: 24.9″ (≈ 632 mm), a classic 000 size that offers a comfortable feel with balanced tension. 

• Nut Width: 1 3/4″ (44.5 mm), traditional Martin spacing that suits chords and single-note passages alike. 

• Bracing: Scalloped X-bracing enhances volume, responsiveness and harmonic clarity.

• Tuners: Nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs provide reliable tuning stability and a vintage touch.

Electronics & Features

• Electronics: Martin E1 pickup/preamp system with controls for volume, tone and phase, plus a built-in tuner, giving practical and musical amplified performance for live or recording contexts.

Protection & Case

• Case: Supplied with a softshell gig bag for lightweight protection and transport.

Specifications

Decades of Musical Expertise

Established in 1936, Matchetts Music has spent nearly a century supporting musicians across the UK and Ireland. We are a team of passionate players and specialists who curate our inventory to ensure every instrument and accessory meets the highest standards for quality and performance.

Reliable Nationwide Shipping

We understand the importance of getting your gear safely and quickly. Every high-value instrument undergoes a professional multi-point inspection and setup by our in-house technicians before it leaves our doors, so it arrives ready to play.

Personalised Support & Aftercare

Whether you need advice on a first guitar or technical support for a complex rig, our expert team is available via phone or email to provide the honest, professional guidance that has made us a trusted name for generations.

Authorised Main Dealer

Shop with total peace of mind. As an authorised dealer for world-leading brands like Fender, Taylor, Martin, and Yamaha, every product we sell is 100% genuine and backed by a full manufacturer’s warranty and our own commitment to customer satisfaction.

We have a no-hassle shipping and return policy. All items are shipped the next day and tracking can be provided.

If you want to make a return please contact us on 02890326695, email us at info@matchettsmusic.com or bring your product back into the shop within 14 Days.

Terms and Conditions apply.