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Martin SC-18E Acoustic-electric Guitar - Aged Natural Certified Open Box

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Hardwood Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Aged Natural
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Item ID: SC18Ed2
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Martin SC-18E Acoustic-electric Guitar - Aged Natural

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Price:$2,599 and 00 cents
Savings: $1,100.99

New for $3,699.99

Condition Notes:

This guitar has dents at the lower bout. There is finish cracking around the back of the neck bolt. There is delamination chipping at the lower bass bout edge. There are also fine scratches on various parts of the body that are not photographed. These scratches do not show well in photos, if at all. This guitar comes with a setup adjustment tool(s).

This item was thoroughly inspected by our factory-authorized service team and is backed by Sweetwater's exclusive 2-year warranty. These images are of the exact item advertised, and provide as accurate a representation of its condition as possible. If you need further information, please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.

Special Financing - Ends Jun 30, 2026. $73/month with 36 month financing*

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Martin SC-18E Acoustic-electric Guitar - Aged Natural
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An SC-style Martin with 18 Series Appointments

The Martin SC-18E is an acoustic-electric guitar that combines traditional 18 Series appointments with an ultra-ergonomic S-shaped body. This instrument brandishes all-solid-wood construction for an ear-grabbing modern acoustic sound with all the volume and projection you could want. What's more, the SC-18E's S-shaped body, low-profile neck, heel-less design, and low-action fingerboard give it a level of playability almost on par with an electric guitar. Players hunting for a versatile acoustic will appreciate everything about the SC-18E; it sounds great in the studio and the living room, and thanks to onboard LR Baggs Anthem electronics, it's a world-class performer onstage. Thanks to its attention-grabbing appointments — including Old Style 18 fingerboard inlays, black purfling, a multi-stripe rosette, and a tortoise pattern pickguard — the SC-18E is a serious spotlight stealer as well. Want an SC-style Martin with high-end appointments? Then get your hands on the SC-18E. It gives you modern playability, comfort, and versatility with all the classic Martin eye candy you can handle.

Removes the limitations of the conventional cutaway acoustic

Playing the SC-18E 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 fingerpicking delicately. 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 SC-18E's entire fretboard. 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 SC-18E 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-18E eschews this type of thinking. While its comfortable neck and low action ensure easy playability, the SC-18E 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 tailored X-bracing produces near-cannon-like levels of volume and projection. The SC-18E's natural tone is stellar — at Sweetwater, we thought nothing of miking it up in the studio.

Flawless amplified sound

The feedback-fighting, natural-sounding LR Baggs Anthem pickup with Tru Mic technology is the result of over 30 years of research and advancement. This hybrid pickup system reproduces the natural tone of the SC-18E into an amp or sound system cleanly, clearly, and with full dynamics. Volume, Mix, and Phase controls nestle inside the soundhole for easy fingertip access. Mix control allows you to blend the augmented mic and under-saddle pickup to further dial in your sound.

Martin SC-18E Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • Combines traditional 18 Series appointments with an ultra-ergonomic SC-style body
  • Offset S-shaped body fits you like a glove while providing balanced output and effective feedback rejection
  • Sloped bridge stays out of your hand's way, whether you're strumming or fingerpicking
  • Low-profile velocity neck shape allows for helical hand rotation to ensure relaxed and natural feel
  • 13-fret design blends the tone of a long-scale instrument with the playability of a short-scale
  • Heel-less Sure Align neck system gives you unfettered access to the entire fretboard
  • Low action maintains the feel of an acoustic guitar for effortless playability
  • Spruce top yields the direct, punchy sound and broad dynamic range that the tonewood is known for
  • Fine-tuned body with tailored X-bracing produces near-cannon-like levels of volume and projection
  • Onboard LR Baggs Anthem electronics deliver stellar amplified acoustic tone
  • Eye-grabbing Old Style 18 fingerboard inlays, black purfling, a multi-stripe rosette, and a tortoise pattern pickguard

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

What is Certified Open Box Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call "Certified Open Box" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

Certified Open Box (also known as a demo) means we’ve had it out of the box for our YouTube channel, displayed at events, tested in our studio, or maybe it was in a customer’s hands for a few days and isn’t ‘factory fresh’ as a result. Every Certified Open Box item we sell has Sweetwater’s 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty and has been tested and verified up to ‘new’ specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it’s in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

When you buy a Certified Open Box item at Sweetwater, you get:
  • 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty™!
  • Products inspected and tested by our factory-authorized techs, guaranteed to function like new (or better)!
  • FREE shipping on most items
  • Equipment that will MEET or EXCEED your expectations!

Click HERE to browse our current inventory of Certified Open Box equipment. Purchasing Certified Open Box gear from Sweetwater is a smart and safe way to save!

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: SC-18E
  • Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Spruce
  • Top Finish: Gloss
  • Color: Aging Toner
  • Body Bracing: Tone Tension X-Brace
  • Binding: Multi-Stripe
  • Neck Wood: Select Hardwood
  • Neck Shape: Low Profile Velocity
  • Radius: 16"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Old Style 18
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25.4"
  • Nut Width: 1.75"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Compensated Bone
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Open-gear
  • Electronics: LR Baggs Anthem
  • Strings: Martin MK12 Luxe Kovar, .012-.054
  • Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 10SC18ELRB

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Reviews

100%pure Martin
I had the privilege of touring the Martin Nazareth Pa. facility 2 yrs ago and I was Wowed from the minute I stepped into the building to the minute I walked out. It was truly amazing to witness the process, wood selections,warehousing of various materials, various luthiers hand building the guitars, a true Martin tradition. After experiencing the Martin tour I had no problem buying there newest model, the "SC18E". (Adirondack spruce top, Mahogany back and sides) It is truly all MARTIN, from the headstock to the battery compartment. They claimed the X bracing changed it all, gave it volume, clarity and depth that added fullness as if you were playing a full bodied guitar, IT DID!. The neck is as fast as my Strats and just as smooth, and getting to the upper register is a piece of cake. The LR BAGGS electonics maintains the true acoustic sound of the guitar which is exactly what I wanted. I have a Martin GPCPA4 that I played at church for yrs and got complements every other Sunday on how it sounded compared to the other guitars. This guitar will be used in my recording studio and possibly out live, but still contemplating that. It's a high dollar guitar,looks and performs like one, that is why it will stay here close at my house. So if your thinking about buying that Perfect acoustic guitar, don't do what I did by buying 20-30 different guitars over your life span, save your time and money and buy 1 Martin, YOU will not regret it. Also, "if you buy from Sweetwater", you can get...that MARTIN in your hands quick! Believe me, the sales reps know what they're doing, I've been dealing with my rep "Randy Poteete" for yrs, not only has he helped me with gear, we have become friends. So put your trust in Sweetwater, you won't be disappointed.
Music background: Guitar 60 yrs, drums, some keys, Sound engineer
Very versatile, excellent guitar

I bought this SC-18 for gigging. I was looking for a guitar with great action and tone, a cutaway to get to the notes up the fretboard, a pro-level pickup and easy battery replacement in case the battery dies during a gig. This guitar gets all that done and goes way beyond!

I've had the guitar for a couple of months now and can't put it down. No matter what style I play it responds perfectly. It's very versatile.

As shipped, the action was too high for my tastes. I found it VERY easy to lower the action following instructions on the Martin website.

I do have one nit — the guitar does not come with action adjustment plates. You have to buy a kit with various plates and specific tools. The kit costs, but is worth it in the long run. Still, the guitar is excellent and deserving of 5 stars.


Note: I went with the SC-18 due to its solid wood construction and I don't regret it.

SC-18E
I am very pleased with the SC-18E. The sound is amazing and worth the money spent. I have played a few gigs with it and really like the sound and quality of the instrument. This is the first guitar I purchased without trying it first. Bought it on-line and went on pictures, description, and trust that Joey and Sweetwater would stand behind their product. I was not disappointed.
Music background: Over 30 years performing.
Martin SC-18e
As always, Martin hasn't let me down. I love the quality, feel and sound of my new SC-18e. They high velocity neck provides a great feel all the way up the neck.

Sweetwater also didn't let me down. Once again, the turn around time from order to arrival was excellent.

Mike Schnabel
Music background: Over 50 years of acoustic experience