Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has a long-standing partnership with C.F. Martin & Co., originating from his use of a 1930s Martin 0-18 during the Mermaid Avenue sessions in 1998. Recently released are his two signature Martins. The reissued 00DB Jeff Tweedy was first available in 2012 and discontinued in 2019. A premium priced guitar, it was the first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)* Martin Guitar. The brand-new 000 Jr E Jeff Tweedy offers the same character in a more compact, easy-to-play size. Both are crafted with FSC®-certified tonewoods, a signature Tweedy Burst finish, and “details that reflect Jeff’s understated style.”
The Martin 00DB Jeff Tweedy Signature Guitar is manufactured at C. F. Martin & Co.’s factory in Nazareth, PA. The guitar features a deep body design, all-solid wood construction, and high-quality craftsmanship. The Martin 000 Jr E Jeff Tweedy is manufactured in Navojoa, Mexico. It is a smaller-bodied, all-sapele wood electro-acoustic guitar designed to be more affordable and portable.
MC received a 000 Jr E Jeff Tweedy for testing. On first glance and strum, its character is unmistakably Martin. A very clean and concise little guitar, the workmanship is impeccable and free of any defect or flaw. It plays, sounds, and looks like what you expect from Martin.
The tone is articulate, forward, and tight. Highs are smooth and clean. The bottom is smallish and even. If you are familiar with Martin’s popular dreadnought size D-18, think of this as a mini-D-18 in nearly every way. The boom that can make some acoustic guitars difficult to record is subdued. If you are used to a big sounding guitar, this is not that, but it does grow on you and the kind of guitar that will only sound better when it ages.
The top sports a very mild sunburst Martin calls a “Tweedy-Burst,” and is made of solid sapele wood, as is the rest of the body. Sapele is a durable, sustainable African hardwood frequently used as an alternative to mahogany. Known for its distinct, ribbon-like striped figure, reddish-brown color, and cedar-like scent, it is harder and denser than mahogany.
Martin describes the neck as “Performing Artist Profile with High-Performance Taper neck.” The neck is precise, accurate, smooth feeling and on the slim side, with a ‘60s profile. The neck is a full 24.9” scale length joining the body at the 14th fret, so the compact nature of the guitar comes more from the 000 Junior body size than the neck. Fretboard is a consistent ebony, which is a luxury for a guitar priced in the midrange. Foden style fretboard inlays feature small diamonds and crosses named after custom guitars made by C.F. Martin for noted guitar teacher William Foden between 1911 and 1917.
The 000 Jr E comes with an innovative internally mounted tuner and Martin E1 pickup. The supplied gig bag is very high quality and attractive. This guitar is an excellent choice for musicians wanting another color in their tonal toolkit, a compact travel guitar, and a great beginner guitar. $1,149.99
*The world leader in sustainable forestry, The FSC runs the world’s leading forest certification system and works to mitigate the climate and biodiversity crises by advancing sustainable forest management worldwide. Over 160 million hectares and 70,000+ organizations are certified to FSC standards.
