Martin Road Series SC-10E review: “I’ve played every iteration of the SC platform that Martin has produced and this one is my favourite”
$1,099/£999, martinguitar.com
Martin first debuted the hugely polarising SC acoustic guitar back in 2020 – a radical and bold move for America’s oldest surviving guitar brand that put offset looks and maximum playability at the forefront of things.
READ MORE: A love letter to the acoustic guitar: thank you from my calloused fingers
Many thought it would be a flash in the pan excursion at the time, but in the five years since, Martin has continued to iterate on the concept, gradually making the SC a more and more accessible and affordable acoustic guitar model.
For 2025, Martin has moved the Mexico-made SC-10E into the Road Series – and in doing so has made it the most affordable and accessible SC model yet.
Image: Press
Martin SC-10E – what is it?
You may remember Guitar.com reviewing a Mexico-made SC-10E a few years ago, and given that you’re well within your rights to enquire as to whether we’re just reviewing the same product twice here – because on the surface the Road Series SC-10E seems pretty damn similar to the previous version
So you get the same super-thin satin natural finish over the body and neck, you get a spruce top and a select hardwood neck (the term Martin uses as a catch-all for Honduran mahogany, Spanish cedar, Sapele, Sipo, and African mahogany – it can be any of these depending on the supply situation), and you get the same ultra-playable Low Profile Velocity neck profile.
You also get that all-important Sure Align Linear Dovetail Neck joint. This means there’s a securing bolt in the back of the body and a neck shim inside the body that allows you to set your own neck height preference for maximum player comfort. Inside you’ll also find the SC-specific Tone Tension X-bracing inside, and the same Fishman MX-T electronics system inside.
So what is different? Well quite a big thing actually – the original SC-10E had a koa laminate back and sides, whereas this guitar sports an all-sapele arrangement. Less importantly, the headstock has been overhauled visually – gone are the black matt tuners and dark-stained fascia, replaced with a more classic rosewood-capped Martin peghead and chrome tuners.
Image: Press
Martin SC-10E – feel and sounds
Obviously, from the sheer look of the thing you can tell from the outset that this is not your traditional Martin guitar, and so it is when you pick it up and start playing. The all-over satin finish makes the guitar instantly more comfortable and playable out of the gate – and what’s more, you aren’t muffling the vibration of the wood with a thick gloss coating either.
In practice, this means that the guitar is vibrant and rings clearly with plenty of midrange. Sapele is a similar wood to mahogany, and so you have that inherent warmth that sets this guitar apart tonally somewhat from the brighter and more direct sound of koa. You don’t get the boominess or higher trebles that you might find in a traditional Martin dread, but the tradeoffs are plain to see.
Because ultimately, the real reason someone picks up an SC model is the playability, and here it really does still feel like no other acoustic guitar on the market. The combination that the body shape, neck join and the profile all combine to make this a guitar that plays like an electric without ever not feeling like an acoustic – you can go to places you’d have never considered on a regular flat-top, but it still keeps the inherent tone, vibration and heft that you don’t get in a crossover or hybrid instrument.
Plugged in, the Fishman system does a nice job of replicating the guitar’s inherent tonality – it’s full and warm plugged in, but still midrange forward, which works great backing up vocalists or yourself. The built-in tuner is also very accurate, and is bright and clear enough to easily see on a dimly-lit stage.
Image: Press
Martin SC-10E – should I buy one?
If you’re looking for a traditional Martin look, sound and feel, obviously the SC-10E is not for you, but provided that you’re not put off by the asymmetrical body style, there are more reasons to try one of these guitars out than not.
I’ve played every iteration of the SC platform that Martin has produced and this one is my favourite. I prefer the warmer frequencies that the sapele wood generates compared to the koa version, and I like the more restrained and traditional cosmetics here. Because when you’re sat playing it, this feels and sounds every inch a classic Martin guitar – but with a level of playability that opens up a whole new musical plain for you to explore.
You also can’t really knock the price – at barely over $1,000 this is the most affordable SC guitar yet, which should help put the guitar in the hands of more curious and experimental players who will truly maximise its potential. And that’s a good thing for everyone.
Image: Press
Martin SC-10E – alternatives
A more overtly hybrid electric option that blends electric playability with acoustic tones is the Taylor T5z Classic ($2,499). Another offset hybrid acoustic-electric guitar is the Fender Acoustasonic Player Jazzmaster ($1,299/£1,049), while the Highway Series Dreadnought ($999/£849) offers a classic shape with an ultra-thin body. If your main concern is sounding great plugged in while having a more ergonomic body design, the LR Baggs AEG-1 ($1,599) is a remarkable amplified acoustic.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
