C.F. Martin & Co. is proud to announce the launch of the "Performing Artist Series." This innovative line of acoustic/electric guitars provides flexibility and professionalism for guitarists, from small coffee houses to large arenas to simply recording with your laptop or in a professional studio.

The OMCPA1 Orchestra Model combines Martin's legendary tone and styling, while adding player comfort and on-stage performance capability. Additionally, it is equipped with Fishman's newly designed onboard sound reinforcement system, the F1 Aura.

"A good percentage of the market wants to plug in their acoustic guitars, either for performance, studio or home recording," said Chris Martin IV, Chairman and CEO Martin Guitar. "As musical trends evolve, we will remain committed to providing the finest acoustic guitars available in both acoustic and acoustic/electric configuration."

Each model in the Performing Artist Series offers its own distinctive acoustic and plugged-in sound for the discerning player. The OMCPA1 is well balanced, offering warm bass response with crisp clear trebles, and the same well-known Martin construction including solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, a solid Sitka spruce soundboard with hybrid scalloped bracing, a genuine ebony headplate, fingerboard and bridge, and a patented mortise and tenon neck joint.

The Performing Artist Series features many firsts for the company, including a more parallel neck profile with a slimmer taper at the 12th fret, giving… read more the guitar comfortable width in the first few frets plus a faster feel for lead-work as you move up the neck. The new smaller bridge design reduces mass and increases the soundboard's tonal response.

Striking new aesthetic features include a pearl Martin block-style logo inlaid into the ebony headplate. New fingerboard inlays use traditional squares in colorful blue paua, flanked by arrow designs adding to the guitar's sleek modern style. A newly-designed two-ring rosette borders the sound-hole with a stunning combination of blue paua and wood fiber inlays. Finely polished gloss lacquer highlights the body's beauty, while a durable satin finish on the guitar's neck adds to the quicker feel and player's comfort.

The new Fishman F1 Aura features the stunning realism of award-winning Aura Acoustic Imaging technology in a distinctive and easy to use onboard preamp system. State-of-the-art features include: digital chromatic tuner, volume and blend controls, independent 3-band EQ for both pickup and image signals, compressor, phase control and an automatic anti-feedback filter with up to 3 notches. The heart of the F1 Aura is its ability to replicate the sound of nine different world-class studio microphones. Fishman engineers have carefully captured images of the sound that these high-quality microphones "hear" and allow you to blend it in with the legendary Gold Plus under saddle pickup. The preamp design utilizes low-noise components, 32-bit internal processing and 24-bit audio conversion for an incredibly clean and quiet output.

A Limited Lifetime Warranty covers all "Performing Artist Series" models purchased from authorized Martin dealers in the U.S. and Canada. To protect your investment, each guitar includes a brown hardshell case. read less