The acoustic guitar is more than just an instrument—it’s a storyteller, a travel companion, and the soul of countless songs. 🎤 From coffeehouse strummers to arena headliners, these legendary musicians are known not just for their music, but for the guitars that brought their sound to life.
Let’s dive into the top 8 musicians who’ve wielded the most iconic and finely crafted acoustic guitars—and what makes their gear so special. 👇
1. Eric Clapton – Martin 000-28EC 🎩🎶
🎸 Guitar: Martin 000-28EC (Signature Model)
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: East Indian Rosewood
Electronics: None (Pure acoustic)
Controls: No onboard volume; stage mics or external pickup used
Eric Clapton’s signature Martin is a blend of elegance and soul. Its mid-sized 000 body gives it a balanced tone—perfect for blues and fingerpicking.
“This guitar whispers when it wants and roars when it must.”
2. Ed Sheeran – Martin LX1E “Little Martin” 🔥📏
🎸 Guitar: Martin LX1E
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: High-pressure laminate mahogany pattern
Electronics: Fishman Sonitone
Controls: Volume & Tone inside soundhole
Ed Sheeran made this ¾-size guitar famous worldwide. It’s small, travel-friendly, and surprisingly powerful—with a crisp top end and warm mids. 🎤
“Proof that big sound can come in a small box.”
3. Taylor Swift – Taylor Grand Auditorium K24ce 🌺🎤
🎸 Guitar: Taylor K24ce
Top: Solid Hawaiian Koa
Back & Sides: Solid Hawaiian Koa
Electronics: Taylor Expression System 2
Controls: Volume, Bass, Treble
This koa beauty is both visually stunning and sonically rich. Swift often uses it during her acoustic sets, delivering warm and detailed tones that shine on stage or in studio. ✨
“As elegant as her songwriting—clean highs, warm lows, and sparkly mids.”
4. John Mayer – Martin OM-28JM & PRS SE Silver Sky Acoustic 🌌🎸
🎸 Guitar: Martin OM-28JM
Top: Solid Engelmann Spruce
Back & Sides: East Indian Rosewood
Electronics: Fishman Gold+ Natural
Controls: Volume and tone via external preamp
Mayer’s acoustic tones are buttery smooth, thanks to his custom Martin OM model—ideal for fingerstyle and jazz-blues ballads. Also spotted using his new PRS acoustic-electric hybrid in recent sets. 🎧
“John doesn’t just play the guitar—he paints with it.”
5. James Taylor – Olson SJ (Small Jumbo) 🎼🌲
🎸 Guitar: Olson SJ
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Electronics: Custom internal mic/piezo blend
Controls: Internal preamp with volume/tone blend (onboard optional)
James Taylor’s Olson SJ has been with him for decades. The hand-built craftsmanship delivers a deep, piano-like resonance, tailored for his fingerpicking finesse.
“A velvet-sounding beast with a crystal-clear voice.”
6. Tommy Emmanuel – Maton EBG808TE ⚡🇦🇺
🎸 Guitar: Maton EBG808TE (Signature Model)
Top: AA Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Queensland Maple
Electronics: AP5 Pro pickup system
Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass, Mic Blend
Tommy Emmanuel’s Maton is an aussie powerhouse. Engineered for aggressive playing, percussive slaps, and lightning-fast melodies, it’s a live performance workhorse.
“Built like a race car. Sounds like a symphony.”
7. Kurt Cobain – Martin D-18E (Unplugged in New York) 🌑🎤
🎸 Guitar: Martin D-18E (1959)
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Mahogany
Electronics: Dual DeArmond pickups (vintage)
Controls: Volume & Tone for each pickup
Cobain’s hauntingly raw Unplugged performance made this rare Martin a legend. Its hybrid electric-acoustic design was ahead of its time and perfectly suited his lo-fi aesthetic. ☁️
“It didn’t need to be perfect—it needed to be real.”
8. Bob Dylan – Gibson SJ-200 🕶️🎸
🎸 Guitar: Gibson SJ-200
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Maple
Electronics: LR Baggs VTC pickup
Controls: Volume & Tone in soundhole
Known as the “King of the Flat-tops,” Dylan’s SJ-200 is a jumbo with a voice as big as his lyrics. Perfect for strumming, it delivers volume and warmth with clarity. 📜
“It sings the verses before Dylan even starts.”
🌟 Final Chord: More Than Wood and Strings
A great acoustic guitar is more than specs and finish—it’s a partner in melody, a canvas for emotion, and a bridge between silence and soul. Whether it’s Sheeran’s travel-sized warrior or Clapton’s vintage Martin, these guitars have shaped the sound of generations.