Martin’s Dark New Twist: The OM Signature Guitar for Opeth’s Frontman

A Martin with a Darker Twist

The OM Mikael Åkerfeldt is a showcase of Martin’s luthiery at its finest. The guitar features a torrefied spruce top for seasoned tonal character, paired with a striking three-piece back of Guatemalan rosewood accented by an East Indian rosewood wedge. European flamed maple binding frames the body in subtle elegance.

For the first time on a traditional Martin body, players will find the Low Profile Velocity neck—a design borrowed from the SC Series that prioritizes comfort and speed, making the guitar especially appealing to players who transition between electric and acoustic.

Details with Personality

Personal touches make this guitar unmistakably Åkerfeldt’s. The ebony fingerboard carries black mother-of-pearl Roman numerals, a nod to the gothic and classical influences that permeate his music. Black Liquidmetal® bridge pins enhance sustain and clarity, while inside the body, VTS-treated spruce and Golden Era scalloped X-bracing (from the Modern Deluxe Series) provide both vintage warmth and responsive dynamics.

Åkerfeldt himself is unequivocal about the result: “Is this the best guitar I’ve ever played? Including the ones in your museum? I believe so. It just sings – the resonance, the clarity, the low end. Everything about it feels magnificent.”

Each instrument includes a laser-etched stainless steel interior label and a custom Harptone case, underscoring its collectible nature.

From Record Store to Signature Guitar

Mikael Åkerfeldt’s relationship with Martin guitars began long before Opeth’s international acclaim. In the early ’90s, he worked at a small shop in Stockholm where Martin acoustics often passed through his hands. Decades later, the collaboration has come full circle with a model that unites elegance, darkness, and uncompromising creativity – much like Åkerfeldt’s own career.

About Mikael Åkerfeldt

As the frontman, guitarist, and principal songwriter of Opeth, Åkerfeldt has guided the Swedish band from its death metal origins into a genre-defying blend of progressive rock, folk, classical, and beyond. Along the way, the band has earned two Swedish Grammis Awards and solidified its place as one of Scandinavia’s most influential metal exports.

Outside of Opeth, Åkerfeldt has co-founded Storm Corrosion with Steven Wilson, lent his voice to Bloodbath, and composed the score for the Netflix series Clark. A passionate music historian and vinyl collector, he has long championed craftsmanship and tradition – making his collaboration with Martin both fitting and deeply personal.