- Martin Guitar and Shawn Mendes launched two new signature acoustics on July 9, 2026: the ultra-limited 000-28 Shawn Mendes (only 88 built) and the more affordable Road Series 000-10E Shawn Mendes.
- Both guitars are modeled after a vintage 1920s Martin 0-42 that Mendes found in a Brooklyn guitar shop.
- It's Mendes' second Martin collaboration, following the 000JR-10E Shawn Mendes released in 2022.
- Proceeds support the Shawn Mendes Foundation, which backs youth changemakers.
Shawn Mendes and Martin Guitar have unveiled two new signature acoustics, deepening a partnership that began in 2022 with the 000JR-10E Shawn Mendes.
The limited-edition 000-28, capped at 88 guitars worldwide, pairs solid East Indian rosewood with a spruce top, herringbone trim, and a custom mother-of-pearl eagle inlay. The more accessible 000-10E, part of Martin’s Road Series, uses FSC-certified sapele and built-in electronics for stage use.
Both trace back to a vintage 1920s Martin 0-42 Mendes discovered in a Brooklyn shop. Its pyramid bridge and slotted headstock became the blueprint for a custom stage guitar Martin later built him, and now these two models.
Sales support the Shawn Mendes Foundation. Both guitars are available now through martinguitar.com.
The launch continues a wave of artist-instrument collaborations reshaping the gear world. Much like Ben Harper deepened his Taylor Guitars partnership with a co-engineered signature model earlier this year, and Ed Sheeran expanded his own gear lineup with a new amplifier series through Orange Amps, Mendes’ deal reflects artists increasingly co-designing their tools rather than just lending a name.
Mendes’ last album, Shawn (2024), was written largely on his vintage Martin and drew acclaim for its acoustic intimacy.
Beyond Martin, Mendes’ brand endorsement history includes names like Beats By Dre, Boosted Boards, and Cocowhite, spanning audio hardware, fitness, and consumer goods.
Martin Guitar, the brand’s signature-artist roster, includes a 20-year collaboration with John Mayer (marked by an anniversary edition of his OM-45), plus partnerships with Ed Sheeran, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Strings, Johnny Marr, and Allie Sherlock, who’s served as a Martin brand ambassador since 2018.
Takeaways
Martin isn’t just dropping one guitar; it’s running a two-tier play: a $$$ collector’s piece for die-hards and an accessible stage guitar for everyday players. That’s a bet that Mendes’ fanbase spans both ends.
The whole story also leans hard on authenticity: instead of a boardroom-designed model, the design chain starts with a guitar Mendes personally hunted down in a used shop.
Going from a junior model in 2022 to two full-size 000s now suggests Martin is building Mendes into a long-term signature artist, not a one-off campaign.
Does the foundation tie-in meaningfully move guitars, or is it mostly brand halo? As pop-adjacent artists like Mendes and Sheeran join heritage instrument brands, does that shift how legacy guitar makers court younger buyers? Could this be setting up Martin-branded gear for Mendes’ next tour?
