John Mayer's Martin Signature Comes to the Road Series: OM-13E and OMC-13E at $1,999.99

For more than 20 years, owning a John Mayer signature Martin meant spending serious money. Martin just cut that number by more than half.

C. F. Martin & Co. announced two new Road Series acoustic-electrics on November 10, 2026: the OM-13E John Mayer and the OMC-13E John Mayer. Martin's press release lists both at $1,999.99, available through authorized Martin dealers and at martinguitar.com. The company calls it the first time Mayer's Signature Artist models have joined the Road Series. For comparison, the long-running OMJM John Mayer, which Martin says remains in the line, was listed at $4,199.99 on martinguitar.com when we checked on November 11.

This is a news story and a short buyer's guide. We haven't played either guitar. Everything below comes from Martin's press release and official spec pages, checked on November 11, 2026.

The Short Version

• Two models: the OM-13E John Mayer (non-cutaway) and the OMC-13E John Mayer (cutaway).
• Price: $1,999.99 each, per Martin's press release.
• Tonewoods: a solid Engelmann spruce top with aging toner and solid black walnut back and sides.
• Feel: a 25.4-inch scale, a 1 11/16-inch nut and Martin's Performing Artist neck with a standard taper.
• Plug-in ready: Martin E1 electronics with a built-in tuner.
• Case: a softshell case. Martin's page describes it as waterproof, with backpack straps and internal padding.
• Lefties: Martin's spec pages list left-handed availability.

Why This Matters

Mayer and Martin go back a long way. According to Martin, the partnership began in 2003 with the limited-edition OM-28 John Mayer, his first signature Martin. Since then there have been several signature models, including the OMJM John Mayer that's still in the catalog.

Those guitars have something in common. They've been expensive. That's normal for a premium signature acoustic, but it means a lot of Mayer fans have never owned one. Martin's press release is direct about the goal: these Road Series models bring Mayer's specs and style "to a more accessible price point."

It's also a good time for Martin to do this. Mayer's profile as a guitarist has never been higher, thanks partly to his years with Dead & Company, which he helped form in 2015. If you want to know why so many players take him seriously, read our pieces on why John Mayer is a better guitarist than you think and our John Mayer tone breakdown.

What You Get: The Specs

Both guitars share the same core build. From Martin's spec page for the OM-13E John Mayer:

Top and body - Solid Engelmann spruce top, gloss finish, aging toner - Solid black walnut back and sides, gloss, natural stain - Scalloped X bracing in spruce, with 5/16-inch braces - Mortise-and-tenon neck joint - Antique white binding - Faux abalone rosette with multi-stripe - Faux tortoise pickguard

Neck - Performing Artist neck shape with standard taper - Select hardwood neck in dark mahogany color, satin finish - 25.4-inch scale - 20 frets, joining the body at the 14th fret - Ebony fingerboard, 1 11/16 inches at the nut and 2 1/8 inches at the 12th fret - Custom faux mother-of-pearl inlays with John Mayer's signature

Bridge and hardware - Ebony modern belly bridge with 2 1/8-inch string spacing - White TUSQ saddle with a 16-inch radius - White Corian nut - Nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs - East Indian rosewood headplate with old-style script logo

Other details - Martin E1 electronics with built-in tuner - Paper label with John Mayer's pre-printed signature - Plek-processed, according to Martin's spec page - Factory strung with Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 phosphor bronze lights

The only spec difference between the two is the body and the top trim. The OM-13E has a bold herringbone top trim. The OMC-13E has a cutaway and multi-stripe top trim.

The Tonewoods, Explained

Engelmann spruce is a lighter-colored spruce that many players find a little warmer and quicker to respond than Sitka spruce, the most common top wood on Martin guitars. It's often chosen for fingerstyle players and lighter strummers. Martin's press release calls the solid Engelmann top "an exciting addition to the Road Series," which suggests it isn't a common choice in that line.

The aging toner is a finish tint that makes a new top look more like an older one. It doesn't change the sound much. It's a look, and a very Mayer one.

Black walnut is the more unusual choice. It isn't one of the classic acoustic tonewoods like rosewood or mahogany, but it has a growing following. Martin's release says the walnut back and sides provide "balanced tone, rich midrange character, and a distinctive natural appearance." In general, walnut tends to sit between mahogany and rosewood. It has some of mahogany's focus and some of rosewood's richness.

Scalloped X bracing shaves material from the braces to let the top move more freely. In general that means more bass and more volume than straight bracing. It's a long-standing Martin feature and a good sign on a guitar at this price.

What "OM" Means and Why Mayer Likes It

If you're new to Martin's model names, here's a quick guide. "OM" stands for Orchestra Model. Martin's spec page lists the body size as "000 14-Fret." That's the same body shape as a 000, but with the longer 25.4-inch scale.

That combination is why the OM is so popular with fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters. The body is smaller and more comfortable than a dreadnought, so the sound is balanced and clear instead of boomy. The long scale adds a little more tension and snap, which helps single notes and strummed chords cut through. The narrower 1 11/16-inch nut feels closer to an electric guitar neck than the wider nuts many fingerstyle guitars use. Mayer is as much an electric player as an acoustic one, so that choice makes sense.

Martin's release says these specs are "inspired by Mayer's longstanding preferences." The 25.4-inch scale, narrow nut and Performing Artist neck are what make the guitar feel like a Mayer model, as much as the inlays do.

OM-13E or OMC-13E?

This is the main decision, and it's an easy one once you know how you play.

Choose the OM-13E (non-cutaway) if you mostly play chords and fingerstyle in the first seven or eight frets. A non-cutaway body keeps a little more air inside the guitar. Some players hear a fuller sound from that. It also has the classic look, with the herringbone trim that many Martin fans love.

Choose the OMC-13E (cutaway) if you play lead lines, solos or chord voicings above the 12th fret. Martin says the cutaway gives "easier access to the higher frets" and "additional versatility for lead playing and performance." If you play electric guitar too and like to move up the neck, the cutaway will feel more natural.

The price is the same. The specs are the same. Choose the shape that suits your hands.

How It Compares to the OMJM

The obvious question is how close these guitars get to the OMJM John Mayer. Martin is careful here. It calls the new models Signature Artist Editions and says they bring Mayer's "preferred specifications, distinctive design details, and signature acoustic style" to the Road Series. It doesn't claim they're the same guitar for half the price.

They aren't. The OMJM is a more premium guitar, and at $4,199.99 on martinguitar.com when we checked, it costs more than twice as much. Comparing official spec sheets in full is beyond this news story. But Martin's own language matters. The faux abalone rosette is described as "reminiscent of the OMJM," which tells you Martin sees the new models as cousins of the OMJM, not copies.

For most players, the better question is whether the new models are good guitars for $1,999.99. On paper, a solid Engelmann top, solid walnut back and sides, scalloped bracing, ebony fingerboard and bridge, a Plek setup and onboard electronics is a strong list at that price.

How to Try One in a Store

If you can get to a Martin dealer, a few minutes with the right test will tell you more than any spec sheet.

Play it unplugged first. Strum a few open chords softly, then hard. An OM should stay clear when you dig in, without the low end turning into a boom. Then fingerpick a simple pattern. Listen for whether the bass and treble strings feel balanced, or whether one side jumps out.

Compare it to something you know. If the store has a mahogany or rosewood OM or 000, play them back to back. That's the quickest way to hear what the black walnut is doing. You don't need to prefer it. You just need to know which voice suits your songs.

Check the neck with your fretting hand. The 1 11/16-inch nut is narrower than many fingerstyle guitars. Players coming from electric guitar usually love it. Fingerstyle players with large hands sometimes find the strings a little close together. Play a few barre chords and some cramped open-string voicings to see how it feels.

Plug it in. Ask to try the E1 electronics through an acoustic amp or the store's PA. Check that the tuner is easy to find and read, and that the volume and tone controls do what you expect. On stage, the plugged-in sound often matters more than the acoustic sound.

Look at the setup. Martin lists these guitars as Plek-processed, which means the frets were dressed by machine for a consistent setup. Even so, every guitar that travels to a store can need a small adjustment. If the action feels high, ask the dealer whether a setup is included.

Things to Know Before You Buy

Check stock. Martin's press release says both models are available through authorized dealers and martinguitar.com. But when we checked martinguitar.com on November 11, the product data for both guitars was marked out of stock. Dealer stock may be different. If you want one for the holidays, call your local Martin dealer.

It's a softshell case, not a hardshell. Martin includes a padded softshell case with backpack straps. That's fine for most players. If you fly with your guitar a lot, think about a hardshell.

Select hardwood neck. Martin lists the neck material as "select hardwood" in a dark mahogany color. That's typical for this part of Martin's line. If a specific neck wood matters to you, ask your dealer.

Plug in. The Martin E1 electronics come with a built-in tuner. Martin's site has an electronics guide on the product page.

Not sold in our shop. Plugged Gear Co. doesn't currently list either guitar, so there's no Shop This Gear match for this story. If you're looking at less expensive acoustics too, our best acoustic guitars under $500 list is a good place to start.

Who Should Buy One

Buy one if you've wanted a John Mayer Martin but couldn't justify the price of the OMJM, or you want an all-solid-wood OM with electronics, a narrow nut and a comfortable neck for around $2,000.

Think twice if you need a big, loud strummer for bluegrass or bar gigs without a PA. A dreadnought is the better tool for that job. And if you're buying it only for the signature, remember that the inlays and label are decoration. The specs are what you're really paying for.

Skip it if you need a hardshell case included, or you want the exact OMJM experience. For that, the OMJM is still in the catalog.

The Bottom Line

The OM-13E John Mayer and OMC-13E John Mayer make Mayer's signature Martin specs available to many more players. Each costs $1,999.99, with a solid Engelmann spruce top, solid black walnut back and sides, scalloped bracing, Mayer's preferred neck and nut dimensions, E1 electronics and a softshell case. The only real choice is cutaway or no cutaway.

Martin says the partnership started with the OM-28 John Mayer in 2003. More than 20 years later, this is the most affordable John Mayer Martin we know of from the company's current line. That alone makes it news.

Sources - Martin Guitar press release, "Martin Guitar Brings John Mayer Signature Artist Models to the Road Series for the First Time," November 10, 2026: https://www.martinguitar.com/news-111026-martin-guitar-brings-john-mayer-signature-artist-models-to-the-road-series.html - Martin official product pages, checked November 11, 2026: [OM-13E John Mayer](https://www.martinguitar.com/11OM13EJOHNMAYER.html), [OMC-13E John Mayer](https://www.martinguitar.com/11OMC13EJOHNMAYER.html), [OMJM John Mayer](https://www.martinguitar.com/10OMJMJOHNMAYER.html) - Martin, John Mayer artist page: https://www.martinguitar.com/john-mayer.html