Martin Eric Clapton 00042 30th Anniversary 'Unplugged' Guitar!
Published on 02 April 2025
MTV Unplugged was a phenomenon. Back in the early 90s, when MTV was still a channel dedicated to music, its Unplugged specials were game-changing events for those involved. Nirvana and Alice in Chains almost defined parts of their careers on these performances, selling hit records off the back of them.
How many people thought that David Bowie was covering Nirvana when they heard him perform The Man Who Sold the World?
It was more than a few. One of the defining MTV Unplugged sessions was Eric Clapton’s. Ol’ Slowhand was just coming off the back of a very successful 80s, and indeed some personal tragedy.
Eric Clapton Unplugged
Clapton’s Unplugged album was released in 1992, and actually stands as the all time bestselling live album of all time. 26 million copies sold and 3 Grammy awards later, it’s a cornerstone of not only Clapton’s career but also of modern-era acoustic guitar playing. Think about how many people know Tears in Heaven from its first few notes, and about how many people play the acoustic version of Layla at open mic nights!
Throughout his performance, Eric used a couple of particularly lovely Martin acoustic guitars. To be specific, they were 000-42 models from 1939, prime ‘Pre-War’ instruments that are pretty much heirloom museum pieces these days.
Clapton’s Martin 000-42
Indeed, they were museum-pieces back then too, and the subsequent 33 years have only increased their value.
It’s a good thing, then, that Martin unveiled a 000-42EC model in 1995 as a tribute! This was Clapton’s first signature model and has proven to be one of the Nazareth, Pennsylvania company’s most popular instruments from that time onwards. A wonderful guitar, it featured the same v-neck shape and herringbone purfling as Eric’s priceless near-antiques, and gave players the opportunity to get as close to history as a new guitar could.
That was back in 1995. One brief glance over one’s shoulders and those thirty years have just vanished, and so we are now looking at an anniversary. Recently, several companies have been celebrating Clapton: Dunlop released the Eric Clapton Cry Baby wah a few months back (have you SEEN how gold it is???) and just last month, Gibson Custom Shop unleashed a pretty spectacular 1957 Les Paul Custom 3 Pickup guitar.
The man is clearly in season, and since it has been 30 years since the release of his first signature Martin guitar, we now have two pretty lovely models to talk about. Let’s check them out!
Martin 000EC 30th Anniversary
First up, we have a beautiful update of the 000-28EC, which I should add will still be available as usual. This new Martin 000EC 30th Anniversary model is made with solid spruce and East Indian rosewood for that classic, detailed Martin tone. Antique white binding and a beautifully tasteful herringbone trim speak to the authentic heritage of this guitar, and give it a subtle beauty.
The real beauty of a triple-oh is in the fingerpicking. With this EC model, there’s a beautifully rich sound that projects with a depth you sometimes don’t hear with 000 guitars. I’ve spent a few minutes with one and was extremely impressed with the response, the bloom of the notes and the overall quality of the sound.
Looking back to those Pre-war Martins, the 000EC 30th Anniversary features snowflake inlays and has a vintage-correct 1939-era neck profile, which also has an ever-so-slightly thinner nut width.
Put simply, it’s a wonderful guitar to play and hear.
The model is going to be available for one year only - the 30th anniversary year - and so it is limited in terms of time rather than numbers. It’s a special guitar for Clapton fans, and you’ll see his printed signature inside the soundhole.
Martin 000-42EC 30th Anniversary
For those looking to really mark the occasion with greatness, there’s this stunning new Martin 000-42EC 30th Anniversary model. This is directly based on Eric’s ‘Unplugged’ guitar, and is limited to only 300 guitars in total.
This guitar is absolute champagne: we’re talking about solid Adirondack spruce for the top and solid Guatemalan rosewood for the back & sides. Truly top-tier timbers, and the neck shares that authentic 1939 profile as the other new model, again with a slightly thinner nut width.
The detail here is excellent, too. Tasteful binding, coupled with pearl and abalone purfling and inlay work ensures that this guitar is quietly stunning to look at, the perfect blend of tradition with just a touch of showmanship.
Inside the guitar, Martin’s artisans have recreated the correct golden era bracing type with scalloped Adirondack spruce braces. Classic bracing and outstanding timbers, mixed with Martin’s world-changing know-how, gets you a guitar that is simply exceptional.
There will be 300 of these only, and each is HAND-SIGNED by Eric on the soundhole label!
Historical Guitars
An iconic artist. A world-renowned album. A set of incredible guitars, both based on some of the finest Pre-War Martins in history…this is not a situation that often presents itself. This is history in the making. Be part of it today, and order your own ‘Clapton Unplugged’ masterpiece. Remember, both of these are available in limited availability!
Click to View These Stunning Martin Eric Clapton Guitars
