Martin SC-13e Special | Kick it Up a Notch with Ziricote!

Today we're looking at the new updates to the Martin SC-13e, with beautiful and unique ziricote and some incredible tuning machine heads, as well as an upgraded LR Baggs pickup. Take a look and a listen and let us know what you think!
0:00 Intro/Specs
8:02 Demos
11:03 Wrapping Up
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[@patricklundquist9869]

A number of players have commented on how they would like to get this guitar in an all solid wood version (me too). They were probably thinking it wouldn't cost all that much more. It turns out that you actually can get the guitar in all solid wood and it sounds phenomenal. The solid wood Custom Shop-SC costs $8,000.00, so, sure, just a few bucks more... Maybe the price will get more reasonable if they move out of Custom Shop to full manufacturing.

[@1funkybasslady]

The Special sounds nice thru the mic. You can keep the pickup! YUK! I would love to hear it with the LR Baggs Anthem system.

[@scottgibbs5903]

I changed the strings on my SC-13e with a thicker gauge. I like the way the higher strings feel with the thicker gauge. I love the guitar. I can’t wait when Martin offers a U.S. made model.

[@nellatrab]

I'm with you...A all solid SC-15M with a deeper body (for me) no electronics would be awesome, love the look of the guitar!

[@bobkrause0103]

Awesome guitars. Thank you

[@jimmextorf7785]

When I bought my SC-13e in April 2021 I soon changed the strings to heavier gauge (.12s) like several others have mentioned for the reason Chris stated. I found myself pulling the high E string off the side of the fretboard every now and then. I should mention the neck needed to be tweaked ever so slightly with the change in string tension. After playing it for a year or so I find, for me, the best use for this guitar is open G tuning. Not sure why,.

[@charlesbranch4120]

I would look forward to comments on how the SC-13E works with Santa Cruz Guitar Co.'s Parabolic Tension strings. Santa Cruz would appreciate those evaluations, too.

[@johnwashburn3793]

On Cooper's last solo appearance he finally guilded me into subscribing. On this one, I don't see why so many negative comments. Very few people prefer the sound of any acoustic guitar plugged in. No matter which pickup is being used but it's a necessity evil for performing.

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

Spot on, brother!!!

[@crouch0746]

Great review. I bought a Martin SE-13e Special a couple of months ago, and I just love it. It doesn't sound as good as my HD-28, but what does? It has great acoustic presence and the ziricote is awesome. (Too bad the crowd doesn't get to see that usually.) I'm just an amateur church band player, and I'm old, so my ear isn't as finely tuned as the pros, but I actually like the sound plugged in pretty well. I like the Custom Light strings, once I got used to them. They did feel weird at first, since I mostly use Lights, but I don't do much bending, so that's not been an issue. I don't change strings real often and still have the factory ones on, so I'm debating whether to go to Lights when I do change them, and hope the neck doesn't need adjusting.

[@jimdawson5299]

Chris, I want a tab of that beautiful melody.

[@adamarcadegames]

I really wish they would have put an anthem in it. That's what I would be doing if I got one

[@anakingvader3992]

Amazing!

[@patricklundquist9869]

The LR Baggs pickup does sound a bit better than the Fishman. It's good to see Martin is responding to owner input. If I count correctly, that Low E tuner appears to be 40:1 gear ratio. That tuner would require a bunch of cranks to reach a Drop D so not a strong selling point for those who drop tune.

[@rrollinc63]

Very nice. I love the upgrades in the Special. Which store are guy's at in SA? I'll be in town the end of the month and would like to meet you guys? What about monet strings on these?

[@josephl9961]

6:05 Cooper "those tuners are uh, its special" 😆😂

[@jw112mail]

Those tuners look cool

[@jimdawson5299]

My next guitar!

[@jackbandel]

3:40: That is definitely an upgrade….I think”. Lol.

[@deanmcbride8747]

Interesting guitar but didn't like old model with the blue in it. Not keen on the fret markers

[@walterstreet1467]

Is a all mahogany solid wood model coming. And I bought a koa gs mini e but I didn’t get to pick from the three you had in stock or see pictures, but it is a great guitar. How about a all koa sc-13e

[@kk-GUK]

Hi Chris, could you please suggest a pic up system for my Martin D18.

[@MaurysMusic]

Chris gets the special #itsgoodtobeking :D Good demo, guys!

[@texhaines9957]

How does this sound compared to a regular SC-13E?

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

Does the SC10E, with the satin finish, sound better than the SC13E with the gloss finish? Unplugged of course

[@TheTriplelman]

like the blue on the old, but love the tuners on the newer one, hate the newer one left out the 3rd fret marker.....decisions, decisions, decisions, - hell I'll get the older and order new tuners from Martin.

[@My6091]

2k for laminate back and sides? I think I'll pass.

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

90% of your sound is from a solid top....back and sides are more eq than anything

[@stepno]

Do you think the SC 13E adjustable neck would stand up to baritone tuning (BEADF#B) and, if so, with what gauge 6th string? And what pickup?

[@jw112mail]

The blue rosette looks like the BMW logo especially withe the X bracing behind it

[@jackbandel]

Every time you switch to the line input from the pickup, it’s hard to not cringe. It’s sounds pretty horrible. I’m amazed that you are saying it’s “definitely an upgrade” from the Fishman (which is also pretty bad) as a way to justify the extra expense. Yes the Ziricote is nice but who looks at the back? I can’t really justify the $2K price tag for a laminate guitar with a bad pickup system.

[@sc12100]

It’s not even real ziricote and its not even a real Martin. Imo - if you want a Martin, buy one made from Nazareth PA.

[@robdonell9915]

Will a hard case be offered in the foreseeable future ?

[@forrestwagoner591]

You know the guitars are good if they got Jesus on the channel

[@nedludd3641]

Is there a way to tell if you have a tungsten truss rod in your Martin D-28 Deluxe or 000-28 Deluxe? The 2022 models no longer have tungsten truss rods, now steel. I got a 000-28 Deluxe in August 2021 and I would like to know if it has tungsten or not.

[@texhaines9957]

Is it a 000-28e? The 'e's had them for awhile. I was told by the Martin rep the titanium truss rods got delayed in supply issues, so steel was the replacement. You can send that question to Martin when you register it. I like me 000-28e MD! It has steel.

[@nedludd3641]

@@texhaines9957 - Sadly, purchasers living outside N America cannot register their guitars with Martin. You have to rely upon third party agent if there's a problem. I won't say how I feel about that.

[@texhaines9957]

@@nedludd3641 I would still reccomend writing Martin with the Serial Number to see if it has steel. I am guessing that it has steel since mine was finished in November 2020 and it has steel. I write to Martin to find out my guitar's birthday.

[@markashworth983]

Which wood is used for the core inside of the ziricote back and sides of this guitar? Also, which strings come on the guitar?

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

Mahogany

[@MrArchie765]

African Mahogany!

[@bws1billsimpson362]

So, does this mean the back and sides ARE solid wood (African Mahogany) and the ziricote is on both sides of the solid wood African mahogany? If so, that’s good, right?

[@MattHerring]

Is the EQ off with the line input? Sounds way too treble heavy.

[@MrArchie765]

Chris, you have got to find new songs when you demo the new guitars!!!

[@robdonell9915]

Amen 100%

[@Codywhite10]

You say these have a shorter scale length but according to the specs I have seen, these have a standard Martin scale length at 25.4" Can anyone confirm this?

[@joeyg.2953]

I want to love this guitar but they priced it too high and I've read a few reviews about quality control issues, warping, string buzz, etc.

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Did you buy one ? I bought a cheaper Martin And after a year it frets out on the 12 fret, could be an ez fix but I never had a guitar do that before

[@stewarthenson7558]

Where are those sweet tshirts you had on here? Think they were white with pink writing

[@thomasnowicki5844]

Sounds beautiful mic'd but the electronics in both sound terrible. My gigging guitar is a Martin dcpa-4, I don't like the pickup in it either. Martin has really dropped the ball on electronics. I also have a couple of older Mexican Martins with the good old Fishman Classic 4, and that sounds better than any of their new ones, in my opinion.

[@Mike-hr6jz]

Great video is the long-haired guy always sort of bitter he seems a little whiny good guitar player just curious?

[@robdonell9915]

Another KZbin channel declares there’s a mahogany layer sandwiched in between the Ziricote. Any particulars relating to it ?

[@1970sman]

Pickup and the Fret Markers......oh dear.

[@fretted]

Do the new electronics have the built in tuner?

[@jackbandel]

No they don’t

[@fretted]

@@jackbandel Kind of a step back...though I really use my Peterson tuner anyway 🙂

[@deanmcbride8747]

Sounded very weak through that pickup. Unimpressed 😒.

[@markashworth983]

I played one a few days ago through a Fender Acoustic 100 and was amazed at the amped sound. Very nice.

[@1970sman]

The guitar sounds nice. Pickup sounds pretty poor. Is this a Martin thing?

[@jackbandel]

I agree sounds bad. It’s a LR Baggs Element. Just a cheap piezo like the Fishman Sonicore in the regular SC13e

[@3cardmonty602]

Martin’s pickup system leaves something less desirable to me. Martin guitars need a revamp. I am constantly regluing bridges & braces. And they just don’t sound as great as 60 years ago.

[@papawrichard3553]

Pickup is quacky AF! Terrible. Sad because it has a very nice acoustic tone. Definitely not an upgrade.

[@jackbandel]

Agree 100%. Chris lost some credibility saying this pickup was “definitely an upgrade”. He should be able to hear that it’s not great.

[@papawrichard3553]

@@jackbandel maybe he’s forgotten what the original one sounded like. Maybe he should listen to it through some high quality headphones.

[@sc12100]

If you’re a Taylor fan - you’ll love this guitar. If you’re a Martin fan - you’ll hate this guitar.

[@crouch0746]

Not necessarily. I own 9 Martins (including my favorite, an HD-28e), 3 Taylors. The SC-13e Special is my 9th Martin and I love it, especially acoustic. I think it sounds pretty good plugged in, but I'm an amateur church band guy, not a pro, so my ear is so finely tuned.

[@bws1billsimpson362]

@@crouch0746 do you play 11’s or 12’s on it, Michael?

[@crouch0746]

@@bws1billsimpson362 It came with 11's, and I just recently switched to 12's, which I like the sound of better for the first two (high) strings.

[@crouch0746]

I played the SC-13 for a while day plugged in (usually play it acoustic), and then compared it with my American-made Martins (HD-28, OMC-18c Laurence Juber Custom, OMC Cherry, and OMC-16 with ovongkol back & sides), and I see what people are complaining about with the LR Baggs VTC pickup. I didn't notice it as much when played though my Fishman Loudbox solid state amp, as I did through my Fender Princeton Reverb tube amp, and I noticed it more when using a pick, compared to finger picking, I think. I still love it acoustically though.

[@lowellcalavera6045]

That's actually embarrassing.