C.F. Martin & Co. announces their newest Custom Shop acoustic guitar, the LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature Edition.
Ed infuses his style and design preference into Martin’s LX1E, resulting in a distinct looking acoustic guitar.
The Martin LX1E has been Ed’s main guitar since his early teens. In the span of just two years, he went from a rising star in the UK, to a multi-awarded singer, won two Brit awards, and now has a fan base even in the U.S. The LX1E Martin guitar have accompanied Ed as he performed on prestigious stages worldwide, from the London Summer Olympics opening ceremony in 2012 to the 2013 Grammy Awards, teaming up with Sir Elton John.
Being a popular Martin ambassador, it was not surprising for Martin to honor Ed Sheeran’s talent and loyalty with a signature instrument, based on his favorite compact Martin guitar model. The Grammy nominated and multi-platinum singer-songwriter helped design his signature, as highlighted by Ed’s signature fluorescent orange “+” plus sign on the headstock. The guitar also features an “est. 1991” graphic that represents his year of birth. The “+” plus sign logo, which was also found on Ed’s platinum-selling album, is also laser-etched on the solid sapele top.
Left hand version available at no extra cost!
Part of the deal with Ed is to support his favorite UK-based charity organization, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Martin describes them as an organization that “supports families and cares for young childrend and young people with life-threathening conditions and provides services across severeal UK including Suffolk, where Sheeran was raised.” A portion of the proceeds from the sale of his signature guitars will be donated to the said organization.
Graham Butland, EACH Chief Executive, was quoted saying: “We’re absolutely delighted that EACH will benefit from the sales of this special guitar and we’d like to thank Ed, C.F. Martin & Co, and absolutely everyone involved in the project. Not only will the guitar raise much-needed funds for the charity, but will also greatly raise the profile of EACH and the vital care and support we provide to life-threatened children and their families.”
Amani Duncan, Vice President of Brand Marketing for Martin, said: “We are so proud to have such a prolific and credible artist as Ed Sheeran join the Martin Guitar family. One of our marketing objectives at Martin is to spread our dynamic culture, history and brand to new consumers worldwide and Ed is the perfect Ambassador to help us achieve this. We cannot wait to present our latest collaborative Artist Signature Edition to his fans and ours across the world this summer.”
Ed Sheeran had this to say: “It was a huge privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with Martin Guitar. I have been a fan of Martin since I started playing guitar and songwriting, and I am honored to have a Signature Edition that bears my own personal imprint. All of the royalties from every purchase from my Signature Edition will go to the East Anglia Children’s Hospices. I can’t wait to get on stage and perform with it for my fans – I hope they enjoy my new Martin as much as I do!”
The guitar is set to be unveiled at the 2013 Summer NAMM on July 11, Ed will also be performing with his new signature guitar on the Today show Summer Concert series on Friday, July 12. The Martin LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature guitar will accompany him on the road as he tours with Taylor Swift this year.
The list price for the Martin LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature guitar is $599. For more information, you can visit Martin Guitars.
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