Jason Isbell has simply unveiled his new collaboration with Martin, a pair of stylish acoustic signature guitars. And whereas selling the contemporary Jason Isbell 0-17 and the 0-10E Retro acoustics, the Americana star has shared some quite unconventional recommendation on learn how to break an acoustic guitar in.

Isbell insists {that a} new acoustic guitar needs to be launched to good, loud music earlier than it’s performed. His recommendation? Popping your guitar in entrance of some audio system and letting your axe absorb all of the musical magic. “I like to recommend placing it in entrance of a few stereo audio system while you depart the home and switch it up actually loud,” he says [via MusicRadar].

His private choice is treating his guitars to a bit of fine ol’ hip-hop. It’s not the one possibility – however it’s simply the sort of music Isbell enjoys. “I usually use OutKast or one thing, simply so after I come house, OutKast is enjoying on the stereo,” he explains. “It makes me completely satisfied! However all my new acoustic guitars get to take heed to Outkast for about 40 hours the primary week they’re in the home.”

Whereas Isbell doesn’t fairly clarify the science behind his method, we will solely ponder why he stands by it. Maybe the loud vibrations loosen the guitar up a bit? Type of such as you pull on a brand new set of strings earlier than retuning a couple of occasions so the tuning units. Or maybe it actually does simply sink proper into the mahogany, giving it an intensive lesson on what good music ought to sound like.

If you happen to’re on the hunt for a brand new acoustic to trial Isbell’s method out on, one of many guitarist’s new Martin fashions would possibly take your fancy. The pair of mahogany guitars are available in a extra premium Jason Isbell 0-17 mannequin, sitting at $4,999 and restricted to only 50 items, whereas the 0-10E Retro is a barely extra reasonably priced $1,049

The premium Jason Isbell 0-17 additionally serves as a duplicate of the pre-war 0-17 guitar heard throughout everything of his 2025 report, Foxes In The Snow. The guitars additionally each include onboard Martin E1 acoustic guitar pickup methods, which additionally get pleasure from an inbuilt guitar tuner.

“If you happen to’re a newbie participant, a guitar this dimension and the form works for you as a result of it’s straightforward to play, however the extra superior you get as a guitar participant, the guitar nonetheless works as a result of it’s straightforward to manage,” Isbell explains.

“A guitar like this meets the artist standards that the instrument can’t be the problem…” he continues. “What the guitar needs to be is an extension of your individual bodily self, and that doesn’t essentially imply that you simply play it effectively sufficient to the place it feels such as you’re tying your footwear, however it may possibly imply that you simply play it effectively sufficient to the place you don’t discover it after some time.”

The restricted Martin 0-17 Jason Isbell is priced at $4,999, whereas the 0-10E Retro model is available in at $1,049. Each can be found from Martin Guitar in left- or right-handed configurations.