An All-sapele Entry into Martin’s Cutting-edge SC Series
Martin’s SC10E-02 combines Martin’s newest tradition of innovative SC series acoustic-electric guitars with one of their oldest traditions: professional-grade, hardwood-topped instruments for the working musician. The SC10E-02 starts with the foundation established by its SC series predecessors, including a Sure Align neck system, 13-fret neck joint, and comfortable asymmetrical body shape. However, instead of a standard spruce top, the SC10E-02’s all-sapele body harkens back to Martin’s hardwood-topped instruments from the early 20th century, offering a more mellow and laid-back response. The SC10E-02’s select hardwood neck mirrors the old-meets-new sentiment established by the body, with an ultra-ergonomic low-profile velocity select hardwood neck and smooth richlite fingerboard. Rounded out by MX-T electronics, the SC10E-02 is a performance-minded entryway into the cutting-edge Martin SC series.
Related Videos: SC10E-02 Acoustic-electric Guitar
A nod to Martin’s hardwood-topped 6-string classics
From the top to the back to the sides, the Martin SC10E-02’s body boasts a pure sapele construction. What does it sound like in comparison to its spruce-topped SC series siblings? Sapele sports a sound that comes remarkably close to traditional mahogany, but with just a touch more brightness and projection, as it’s a far stiffer wood. Still, the SC10E-02’s tone very much lies in the time-honored tradition of hardwood-topped Martin guitars — models that are particularly favored by Sweetwater’s fingerpickers and singer/songwriters for their mellow, smoky vibe and tendency to enhance vocals without overwhelming them.
Removes the limitations of the conventional cutaway acoustic
Playing an SC series Martin is a unique yet comfortably familiar experience. Its offset S-shaped body fits you like a glove while providing balanced output and effective feedback rejection. Its sloped bridge stays out of your hand’s way, whether you’re strumming frenetically or delicately fingerpicking. Its low-profile velocity neck shape allows for helical hand rotation to ensure that every hand position feels relaxed and natural. Its 13-fret design blends the tone of a long-scale instrument with the playability of a short-scale, and its heel-less Sure Align neck system gives you unfettered access to the SC10E-02's entire fretboard. And its low action, while maintaining the feel of an acoustic guitar, is sure to make electric players feel right at home. No matter what you’re playing — cowboy chords, jazz shapes, or rapid-fire leads — the SC10E-02 Special makes it effortless.
An acoustic guitar through and through
There have been numerous attempts at creating a comfortable acoustic that would appeal to electric guitar players. Unfortunately, the results are often less than mind-blowing — typically a super-thin acoustic instrument with equally thin tone. The Martin SC series eschews this type of thinking. While its comfortable neck and low action ensure easy playability, the SC10E-02 is an acoustic guitar through and through, meticulously crafted by a company with a 180-year history of building legendary acoustic instruments. Its spruce top yields the direct, punchy sound and broad dynamic range that the tonewood is known for, while its fine-tuned body with X-bracing produces near-cannon-like levels of volume and projection. The SC10E-02 Special’s natural tone is stellar — at Sweetwater, we thought nothing of miking it up in the studio.
Martin SC10E-02 Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:
- Asymmetrical SC series body provides unmatched playing comfort both seated and standing
- All-sapele body provides a mellower and more midrange-focused response than standard spruce-topped Martin guitars
- Tone Tension X-bracing provides a touch of Martin’s iconic bass-forward boom
- Select hardwood neck carved into an ultra-high-performance low-profile velocity profile, giving you electric-like playability
- Exceptionally durable richlite fingerboard
- 1.75-inch nut width offers more than enough room for fingerpickers while still remaining slim enough for flatpickers
- Deep cutaway, 13th-fret neck joint, and Sure Align neck system make playing in the upper register a breeze
- Martin MX-T electronics to take on the stage or record straight in
- Incredibly reliable chrome closed-gear tuners
