Acoustic guitarists have been asking for its return for some time, and so Martin has revived a classic miniature acoustic guitar with “roots dating back to the earliest days” of the company. Meet the 5-28 Terz, a recreation of the smallest-bodied acoustic guitar ever produced by the company in its near-200-year history.

It boasts a 21.38” scale length and a 12-fret fingerboard. Six more frets exist beyond the guitar’s upper bout, but you’ll have to reach for those…

Its smaller form factor and design means the 5-28 Terz is tuned a minor third above E standard in Terz tuning, offering a distinctive bell-like character rich in upper harmonics.

“Layer it with a standard-tuned guitar, and the difference is immediate – a bright, chiming texture that adds dimension without competing for space,“ Martin says.

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In terms of build, the 5-28 Terz features East Indian rosewood back and sides, along with a spruce top with an Aging Toner finish for a vintage vibe, antique white binding to elevate that classic Martin aesthetic, and a mahogany neck with a High-Performance Taper and ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays.

“The 5-28 Terz isn’t a travel guitar or simply a scaled-down parlor model. It’s a purpose-built instrument with roots reaching back to Martin’s earliest days, built around a short 21.38″ scale and a 12-fret neck that place it in a category all its own,” says Martin.

“Don’t let its dimensions fool you. The 5-28 Terz delivers a surprising sense of depth, presence, and projection for an instrument this compact. It’s a guitar made to stand apart – in your hands, on a recording, or layered into a live arrangement.”

It might be the smallest acoustic guitar on Martin’s books, but it boasts a substantial price tag, clocking in at $3,599.99.

Learn more at Martin.

Sam is the Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Thoroughly immersed in music culture for the majority of his life, Sam has played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production at university, and also written for the likes of Guitar World, Total Guitar, Metal Hammer and MusicRadar.