Martin started making guitars in Navajoa, Mexico in 1992. With many Mexican-made Martin models, the intention is more accessible guitars, and often that requires some compromises. Composite materials—especially on the fingerboard and bridge—satin finishes, and other design elements step away from the traditional Martin lineage. New for 2025, the DE Retro Plus delivers a reasonably-priced Mexican-made Martin that doesn't make those compromises. With a genuine Ebony fingerboard, Torrefied Spruce top, gloss finish, and solid Mahogany back and sides, the DE Retro Plus delivers vintage tone, modern playability, and timeless style—your brand-new old friend.
The DE Retro Plus has a voice that feels seasoned from day one, thanks to In a dreadnought package, the combination of the Torrefied Spruce top with solid Mahogany back and sides produces a warm, balanced tone with clear mids, smooth sustain, and just the right amount of sparkle on top. Thanks to the Torrefied woods, the DE Retro Plus captures a voice that feels seasoned and broken-in from day one. Scalloped X-bracing enhances projection and openness, giving the guitar a lively, broken-in character that usually takes years to develop. Responsive and articulate for fingerstyle, but strong and punchy for a heavy pick.
On the DE Retro Plus, the Performing Artist neck with High-Performance taper makes for a comfortable, modern feel, while the genuine Ebony fingerboard offers the smooth, classic Martin feel under the fingers. On stage or in the studio, Martin’s E1 electronic system captures the guitar’s natural character with clarity, offering onboard volume and tone controls, a phase switch for feedback control, and a built-in chromatic tuner. Altogether, this model a versatile, gig-ready instrument that stays true to Martin tradition without compromise.
- Body Size: 14-Fret Dreadnought
- Top: Torrefied Solid Spruce
- Back & Sides: Solid Mahogany
- Bracing Pattern: Scalloped Spruce X-Bracing
- Body Finish: Gloss
- Neck Material: Select Hardwood
- Neck Profile: Performing Artist (PA) with High-Performance Taper
- Scale Length: 25.4″
- Nut Width: 1 3/4″
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Bridge: Ebony Modern Belly
- Saddle: Compensated White Tusq
- Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/32″
- Number of Frets: 20
- Fingerboard Inlay: Old Style-18 dots, faux abalone
- Headstock: East Indian Rosewood plate; Script Old Style overlay logo
- Tuners: Nickel Open-Gear (“Butterbean” knobs)
- Nut Material: White Corian
- Pickguard: Faux Tortoise
- Electronics: Martin E1 Pick-Up System (Volume, Tone, Phase Switch, Built-in Chromatic Tuner)
- Finish Neck: Satin
- Case Included: Softshell Case / Gig Bag