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Martin SC-13E Special
Martin SC-13E
VS
Playability
73
Sound
83
Build
76
Value
72
Score
77
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Playability
73
Sound
83
Build
76
Value
72
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
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Martin SC-13E Special vs SC-13E

Reasons to Get
Martin SC-13E Special over SC-13E

Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Avg. Weight
4.375lbs (2kgs) vs 4.4lbs (2kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Martin SC-13E over SC-13E Special

Other Key Differences
Martin SC-13E Special vs SC-13E

Back Material
Ziricote vs Koa
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Ziricote vs Koa
Different Sides Material

Shared Features
Martin SC-13E Special vs SC-13E

Saddle Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Ebony
Same Bridge Material
Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Hardwood
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Corian
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.4'' (645.2mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 77 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Martin SC-13E wins when it comes to. On the other hand, the Martin SC-13E Special has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Martin SC-13E Special
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Martin SC-13E
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Martin SC-13E Special Overview

  • From Martin's 2022 Road series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Ziricote Fine Veneer back
  • Ziricote Fine Veneer sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs Element (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Low Profile Velocity Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ratio Nickel Open Gear tuners
  • Weight between 4.25lbs (1.9kgs) and 4.5lbs (2kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Martin SC-13E Overview

  • From Martin's 2020 Road series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Koa Fine Veneer back
  • Koa Fine Veneer sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman MX-T (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Low Profile Velocity Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Nickel Open Gear tuners
  • Weight between 4.35lbs (2kgs) and 4.45lbs (2kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Hardwood wood pattern used for guitar building
Hardwood
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Hardwood is just a generic wood that can come from many species. This type of wood is used to build guitars because it provides a rich, warm sound. The wood also has good structural properties, making it durable and long-lasting.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Martin SC-13E Special

Ziricote wood pattern used for guitar building
Ziricote

It's a rare and exotic wood native to Central America and the Caribbean with a unique appearance. It's commonly used for instruments as it produces a tone similar to Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Martin SC-13E

Koa wood pattern used for guitar building
Koa

It's a type of wood native to the Hawaiian Islands, where it's pretty common. Its musical properties make it a great wood for making guitars, but it's especially popular for building Ukuleles. Find out more about Koa.

Winner: Tie.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Martin SC-13E Special
Sustain 75
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 83
Martin SC-13E
Sustain 75
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 83

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Martin SC-13E Special compares to the Martin SC-13E.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Corian nuts. It used to be the go-to nut for Gibson, but it's slowly being replaced by Graph Tech (Tusq). It's a synthetic material made to be similar to Bone, but it doesn't have the same self-lubricating properties, and it's less resistant.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Martin SC-13E Special's are Ratio Nickel Open Gear while the Martin SC-13E's are Nickel Open Gear

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin SC-13E Special
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin SC-13E
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Martin SC-13E Special
Quality of materials 64
Features 85
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 76
Martin SC-13E
Quality of materials 64
Features 85
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 76

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Martin SC-13E Special Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 44.5mm (1.75'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Martin SC-13E Special and Martin SC-13E's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.4".

This is considered a long scale, but slightly shorter than what's commonly found in acoustic guitars.

Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, strings will feel stiff and more difficult to bend, but the tone will feel brighter. It will also be less likely to produce fret buzzing and rattling when strumming hard.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Martin SC-13E Special Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Martin SC-13E Special and the Martin SC-13E have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Martin SC-13E Special Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Martin SC-13E Special and the Martin SC-13E have the same fretboard radius of 16". This fretboard radius is really different from Stratocasters, but it's also a lot flatter than Les Paul fingerboards. It'll favor plating single notes over playing chords. This doesn't mean you can't use it for rhythm, but a more curved fretboard offers better playability for chords. Bending and sliding without losing sustain will also be more likely in a flat fretboard like this one.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Martin SC-13E Special:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Martin SC-13E:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Martin SC-13E Special and Martin SC-13E Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Martin SC-13E Special
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Martin SC-13E
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Martin SC-13E Special vs SC-13E
General Martin SC-13E Special SC-13E
Brand: Martin Martin
Year: 2022 2020
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Road Road
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Spruce Solid Spruce
Sides Material: Ziricote Koa
Back Material: Ziricote Koa
Bridge: Ebony Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Ratio Nickel Open Gear Nickel Open Gear
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Select Hardwood Select Hardwood
Decoration: Ziricote Dot with Plastic Ivory Pattern Border SC-13 Special Style Mother of Pearl Pattern and Celestial Blue Dot Celestial Bullseye
Scale Size: 25.4" 25.4"
Shape: Acoustic Low Profile Velocity Acoustic Low Profile Velocity
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 16"
Nut: Corian Corian
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 44.5mm (1.75'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: LR Baggs Element (Preamp / Active) Fishman MX-T (Preamp / Active)