Martin Guitar Celebrates 20 Years of Clapton’s Choice Strings with Limited-Edition Packaging and Contest

April 15, 2025



NAZARETH, PA – For two decades, Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings have delivered the legendary tone Eric Clapton relies on every time he picks up an acoustic guitar. To celebrate this milestone, Martin Guitar is introducing limited-edition 20th anniversary packaging for these fan-favorite strings—available now through March 2026. 

Every limited-edition pack also gives players a chance to win a Martin 000-EC 30th Anniversary guitar—a beautifully crafted instrument with a retail value of $4,999, inspired by the Martin guitars Eric played during his legendary MTV Unplugged performance. The guitar will be awarded to one lucky winner who finds a special ticket inside a pack of strings.

Fans can also enter a second-chance giveaway online for more opportunities to win exclusive prizes, including a Martin guitar strap, poster, collectible lanyard with three custom patches, or even a year’s supply of strings. 

This contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends March 31, 2026. No purchase necessary. 

Enter now and learn more at martinguitar.com/eric-clapton-giveaway. 

The anniversary release also coincides with the upcoming arrival of Unplugged: Enhanced Edition on vinyl and CD, available May 9. The iconic installment of the MTV Unplugged series—and the greatest-selling live album of all time—returns over 30 years later in an all-new extended, remixed, and remastered version. Featuring never-before-heard commentary from Eric recorded just before the original 1992 performance, the release offers fresh insight into the inspiration behind the songs and includes tracks not featured in the original MTV airing. 

Crafted from 92/8 phosphor bronze, Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings are known for their warm, rich tone, smooth feel, and long-lasting performance. They’re the same strings Eric uses in the studio and on stage—including during his current eight-night residency at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo—and he calls them “the sound that I demand.” 

Whether you're chasing Eric's iconic tone or simply looking for strings that deliver great sound and playability, now is the perfect time to pick up a pack—available in a music store near you or online at martinguitar.com—and celebrate two decades of signature sound. 

Contact: Kate Richardson | kate@richlynngroup.com 

ABOUT C. F. MARTIN & CO.® 

C. F. Martin & Co. has been making the finest handcrafted acoustic guitars for nearly two hundred years. For some of the biggest names and the most revered musical legends across every genre and every decade. And we’ve been doing it with pure artistic passion, a deep love for all things music, and an unwavering commitment to our community and the environment. 

But most importantly, we’re still doing it... for you. For current and future generations of pioneers, rebels, and dreamers. For the beginners, the pros, and everyone in between. We believe music is an unstoppable force. It raises us up. Tells our truths. Gets us on our feet. Expresses our deepest heartaches. And our greatest joys. 

So, we’ll continue to make the very best acoustic instruments and strings for as long as there are people like you who love music and love making it. We want to be there to help you tell your story. To help you share your music with the world. To help unleash the artist within. 

We’re ready for the next two hundred years. Want to come with us? Visit martinguitar.com.