Martin Road Series 2026 Release: A Complete Guide.

What’s New in the 2026 Martin Road Series Guitars?

Pictured: A handful of the refreshed Martin Road Series 2026 models.

Martin Guitars launches a refreshed 2026 Road Series lineup built for players who want the perfect blend of Martin tradition, modern feel, and stage-ready reliability. This year’s updates focus on tone, comfort, and clarity, with thoughtful refinements that make the Road Series the most accessible entry point into the Martin sound.

Across the series, you'll see scalloped X-bracing, fresh neck profiles, updated aesthetics, and plug-and-play electronics. These updates offer better tone and smoother feel. Our blog breaks down the biggest changes, what they mean for playability, and why these models stand out whether you’re a new guitarist, a working musician, or a longtime Martin fan.

What’s New in the 2026 Martin Road Series Guitars?

1. Updated Tonewoods & Aesthetic Options

Martin expanded its tonewood palette across the 2026 Road Series, giving you more ways to shape your sound and style:

• Sapele, walnut, koa fine veneer, granadillo, and an all-new black satin finish offer distinct tonal personalities.
• New and returning burst top options, including 1935 Sunburst, Dark Mahogany, and Mezcal Burst™ - bring expressive visual character to the lineup.
• Premium Retro Plus models feature thermally aged spruce tops, giving a warm, played-in tone from day one.

2. Improved Playability Across the Line

Every 2026 Road Series model benefits from Martin’s continued push for comfort:

• Performing Artist Profile and Low Profile Velocity necks deliver fast, smooth playability with familiar acoustic feel.
• SC-body models include the patented Sure Align® neck system, giving electric-guitar-style access to the highest frets, which is a defining advantage of the SC series.
• Updated tapers and satin-finished necks keep the experience fluid and consistent across price points.

3. Upgraded Electronics for Every Player

Plugged-in tone was a major focus for 2026:

• Most models feature Martin E1 electronics, now with a more discreet control layout and an onboard tuner.
• Higher-end models, including the Retro Plus and selected SC variants, step up to LR Baggs Element systems for studio-quality clarity and dynamics.

These enhancements give you better tone and stage-ready reliability at every price point - strengthening the Road Series’ role as the most gig, and budget friendly family in the Martin lineup.

“The Road Series has never been more dialed-in. More tone, more comfort, more Martin.”

Pictured: The SC-13e Modern Mezcal Burst™

Martin Road Series 2026: The Highlights According to Haggerty’s

The 2026 Road Series brings a refined mix of modern comfort, classic Martin tone, and upgraded aesthetics. A handful of models rise to the top as the clearest expressions of what this year’s lineup is all about. These guitars represent, in our opinion, the “greatest hits” of the series: the most versatile, best-sounding, and most stage-ready instruments in the family, all of which we have available at Haggerty’s.

At the innovative end of the lineup sits the SC-13E Modern, a guitar that continues to redefine what an acoustic can feel like. Its patented Sure Align® neck system offers effortless upper-fret access and an electric-leaning playing experience without losing Martin depth and resonance. If you're wanting a more traditional silhouette with a modern edge, the OMC-10E Modern delivers crisp articulation, balanced projection, and a comfortable cutaway design - making it an easy favorite for everyday playing and recording.

If power and presence are the priority, the DC-13E Modern stands out with its Grand Performance cutaway shape, koa-inspired aesthetics, and upgraded tuning stability. It’s a stage-friendly workhorse with a contemporary look that appeals across genres. On the vintage-inspired side of the Road Series, the 000-13E Retro blends spruce and walnut for a focused, harmonically rich tone that excels at fingerstyle and light strumming. Classic Martin warmth with a fresh sonic personality.

Rounding out the highlights, the D-13E Retro offers the bold, room-filling sound you expect from a dreadnought but with modern clarity, upgraded electronics, and a refined feel that makes it more versatile than traditional D-series instruments.

Together, these models show exactly why the Road Series remains one of the most rewarding gateways into the Martin experience: authentic tone, thoughtful design, and performance-ready features at accessible price points.

Established in 1963, Haggerty’s Music serves musicians across the globe. Locally owned and operated in Rapid City, South Dakota, we are proud to be a Top 10 Independent Martin Dealer. Questions? Call +1 (605) 348-6737.