Martin DC Performing Artist Enhanced USA-Made Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Sunburst

With its rich history, you know Martin had to really think outside the box for them to have put the word "special" in the name of an instrument. Whether you’re a fingerstyle player, singer/songwriter, professional or weekend hobbyist, this is one guitar that will enhance your playing experience. So, what makes the DC Special Performing Artist Enhanced Dreadnought acoustic/electric stand out from the crowd? 

Taking ovangkol to the top

For one, The DC Special Performing Artist Enhanced Dreadnought acoustic/electric features all-solid ovangkol construction, a first for any major guitar maker. While it's growing in popularity, ovangkol is an African tonewood rarely used by Martin, reserved for use as a body wood. The DC Special Performing Artist Enhanced Dreadnought finally introduces it as a top wood, letting its rosewood-like tonal characteristics shine in a different light. The 5/16" Forward Shifted Scalloped X bracing, a standard since Martin's "Golden Era" of the 1930s, ensures you'll hear every nuance of ovangkol's balanced low end, full midrange and crisp top end. While ovangkol's natural woodgrain is attractive in its own right, with plenty of different shades and lines, on this DC Special, Martin "enhanced" the top with a classic Sunburst finish, as well as tortoise body binding, a tortoise pickguard and multi-stripe black and white rosette.

The keys to player comfort

Speaking of fatigue, no matter what playing style or genre you prefer, a comfortable neck is a just as important as tonewoods to inspiring hours of continuous play. The 2018 DC Special Performing Artist Enhanced Dreadnought comes with Martin's Performing Artist neck shape, an innovation they introduced in 2010, and makes it even more player-friendly with their High Performance Taper. The slimmer profile, taper and satin finish combine with the single-cutaway design offering easier transitioning up and down the neck. It also gives it a more familiar feel for electric players looking to add an acoustic to their collection.