A remarkable collaboration between C. F. Martin & Co., Sting and master luthier Thomas S. Humphrey.
Rare 1999 12-Fret Classical Guitar • Sitka Spruce Top, Certified Machiche Back & Sides • Mint Condition • Rare & Vintage Guitars
The Martin SWC Sting Limited Edition Signature Classical Guitar is one of the most distinctive and intriguing instruments to emerge from Martin's late-1990s Signature Edition programme.
Combining the heritage of America's most celebrated guitar manufacturer with the musical legacy of Sting and the innovative classical-guitar design of Thomas S. Humphrey, the SWC represents a rare convergence of craftsmanship, musical history and environmental philosophy.
Produced in exceptionally limited numbers, this unusual nylon-string guitar is far more than a conventional artist signature model. Its distinctive construction, Humphrey-inspired elevated fingerboard, lattice bracing and certified alternative tonewoods make it a particularly interesting instrument for the discerning guitarist, Martin collector and enthusiast of significant modern lutherie.
At Pure Effect Music, we appreciate instruments that offer something beyond their specifications: an exceptional story, a distinctive design and a meaningful place in guitar history. The Martin SWC Sting embodies all three.
A Collaboration of Three Remarkable Names
The SWC brought together three influential figures from different areas of the musical world.
C. F. Martin & Co. contributed its long-established American guitar-making tradition and manufacturing expertise.
Sting, the internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician, brought his distinctive musical identity and commitment to rainforest conservation. His involvement helped shape the project's approach to responsibly sourced tonewoods.
Thomas S. Humphrey, renowned for his innovative classical-guitar designs, contributed the elevated-fingerboard concept and lattice-bracing approach that distinguish the instrument from more conventional classical guitars.
This combination gives the SWC a compelling identity. It is simultaneously a Martin Signature Edition, a Sting-associated instrument and a guitar connected with one of the most influential developments in contemporary American classical-guitar design.
Thomas Humphrey's Elevated Fingerboard
One of the SWC's most important features is its association with Thomas Humphrey's celebrated elevated-fingerboard design.
Humphrey's innovative approach raises the fingerboard above the soundboard as it approaches the guitar body, improving access to the upper register while retaining the essential character of a classical guitar.
Combined with Humphrey's lattice-bracing concept, the design reflects a considered approach to playability, responsiveness and projection.
For the classical-guitar enthusiast, this connection is particularly significant. The SWC is not simply a standard Martin classical guitar carrying an artist's name; it incorporates design thinking that helped establish Humphrey's reputation as an influential modern luthier.
Distinctive Certified Tonewoods
The SWC's construction reflects the environmental philosophy that helped inspire the project.
Rather than relying exclusively on the traditional combination of spruce and rosewood, Martin employed a distinctive selection of certified alternative woods.
Top: Solid Sitka spruce, providing the instrument's responsive soundboard.
Back and sides: Solid certified Machiche, an uncommon guitar tonewood with a distinctive natural appearance.
Neck: Solid certified domestic cherry.
Fingerboard: Certified Katalox, a dense hardwood with a dark, refined appearance.
Bridge: Katalox.
This unusual combination sets the SWC apart visually and historically. The woods were selected as part of a wider effort to demonstrate that premium musical instruments could be made using responsibly sourced materials.
The resulting aesthetic is warm, understated and purposeful, allowing the natural character of the timber and the guitar's distinctive architecture to take centre stage.
Refined Styling and Sting Signature Details
The SWC possesses a distinctive visual character without resorting to excessive ornamentation.
Its warm, golden-toned spruce soundboard is complemented by a wide-banded tortoise-coloured rosette and matching body appointments. The polished finish enhances the natural warmth of the timber, while the classical body proportions preserve a traditional elegance.
The defining personal detail is Sting's signature, inlaid in pearl on the fingerboard above the final fret. This subtle feature gives the instrument an unmistakable identity while maintaining the restrained appearance appropriate to a serious classical guitar.
The original interior labelling associated with the Martin limited edition provides an additional element of historical interest and should be examined alongside the serial number and any accompanying documentation.
Designed to Be Played
Although the SWC is a compelling collector's instrument, its significance rests equally upon its musical purpose.
The nylon-string configuration, Humphrey-inspired fingerboard geometry and lattice-bracing architecture reflect an instrument designed for practical performance rather than display alone.
The model was also equipped with a Martin/Fishman Gold+Plus active pickup system, providing amplification capability for stage and studio applications.
For the player, the SWC offers an opportunity to explore an unusual Martin classical guitar with a design heritage that differs substantially from conventional steel-string Martin instruments.
For the collector, it represents the added attraction of owning a distinctive limited edition with genuine lutherie and cultural significance.
Exceptionally Limited Production
Rarity is an important part of the SWC's appeal.
A production run of only 46 instruments establishes the SWC as an exceptionally limited Martin model.
Unlike more familiar Martin instruments that appear regularly on the pre-owned market, the SWC is encountered infrequently.
Its unusual combination of artist association, classical-guitar innovation and alternative tonewoods gives it a distinctive position within the Martin catalogue.
Why the Martin SWC Sting Deserves Attention
For the discerning collector, the SWC offers several compelling points of interest:
Martin heritage: Built by C. F. Martin & Co., one of the most historically important American guitar manufacturers.
Sting association: A distinctive instrument connected with an internationally influential musician.
Thomas Humphrey design: Elevated-fingerboard and lattice-bracing concepts that distinguish the guitar from conventional classical models.
Limited production: Surviving examples indicate fewer than fifty production instruments.
Alternative tonewoods: Certified Machiche, cherry and Katalox give the guitar a distinctive construction and environmental story.
Historical relevance: An interesting example of sustainability, artist collaboration and innovative classical-guitar design coming together in a premium instrument.
Musical purpose: A nylon-string guitar designed for playing, with an integrated amplification system.
For the Martin enthusiast, Sting collector, classical guitarist or student of fine lutherie, it offers the opportunity to appreciate a genuinely distinctive collaboration between three influential names.
Martin craftsmanship. Sting's legacy. Thomas Humphrey's innovation.
An exceptional addition to the world of collectible musical instruments, presented by Pure Effect Music.
