Custom Shop Build Overview

This Martin Custom Shop Black Walnut Dreadnought is part of a special Custom Shop edition available to select Martin dealers and visitors to the Nazareth, Pennsylvania factory.

Inspired by the earlier Cherry Hill Custom series, these Black Walnut builds offer a distinctive tonal and visual alternative within the Martin lineup. This guitar was part of a carefully curated order placed during multiple factory visits, where tonewoods were personally selected to ensure exceptional quality and consistency.

Featuring a spruce top paired with Black Walnut back and sides, this dreadnought delivers a unique tonal profile that blends the warmth of mahogany with the clarity and overtone presence often associated with rosewood.

Tone & Performance

The Black Walnut tonewood combination produces a balanced, versatile voice with strong projection and refined detail.

Warm, focused low-end with clear, articulate highs
Balanced midrange that sits well in a mix or ensemble
Excellent note separation for strumming and flatpicking
Controlled resonance with added tonal complexity

The result is a powerful yet refined dreadnought voice suited for both stage and studio use.

Custom Shop Craftsmanship

Handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, this instrument features Martin’s traditional dovetail neck joint and all-solid tonewood construction for maximum resonance and long-term stability.

The forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing enhances responsiveness, projection, and sustain, allowing the top to move freely and efficiently.

The guitar is visually elevated by European flamed maple binding, adding a striking contrast to the Black Walnut body and reinforcing its Custom Shop identity.