The Martin 000-42ECB was released in In February 2000. It was the second Martin Eric Clapton Signature model (Eric was the first guitarist to have 2 Martin limited edition models). Only 200 were made in total. The 000-42ECB was identical to the 1995 Martin 000-42EC Clapton limted edition model, which was limited to 461 instruments.

Martin issued the following press release in 2000 announcing the 000-42ECB model:

"Perhaps no other musician has so profoundly influenced rock and acoustic blues than British guitarist Eric Clapton. From his early work with John Mayall & the Bluesbrakers, the Yardbirds, Cream, and Derek & the Dominos, through his stellar solo career including the current “Clapton Chronicles” and “Eric Clapton: Blues” CDs, Eric has continually redefined the art of the guitar.

His highly influential MTV Unplugged performance and subsequent CD release helped to revitalize acoustic guitar music worldwide. In recognition of this major talent, the Martin Guitar Company is proud to announce an exciting second limited edition collaboration with Eric Clapton. This is the first time that Martin has honored an artist with two signature limited editions. The first limited edition in honor of Eric Clapton was the 000-42EC. Introduced in 1995, the edition of 461 guitars sold out within days.

The new guitar, the 000-42ECB Eric Clapton Limited Edition Signature Model, is crafted with rare Brazilian rosewood back and sides and includes extraordinary design features that set it apart from the previous edition. No more than 200 of these special instruments will be offered.

The new 000-42ECB Eric Clapton Limited Edition guitar is identical to the 000-42EC in body size and shape. Martin’s small bodied 000 size is especially popular among fingerstyle and blues guitarists who prefer a clear and balanced sound together with the string flexibility that the shorter 24.9” scale length allows.

Crafted with solid woods throughout, the sides and back are bookmatched from Martin’s limited  supply of pre-C.I.T.E.S. Certified solid Brazilian rosewood. The soundboard is bookmatched from premium grade Engelmann spruce for optimum tonal response. The circumference of the rosette, the perimeter of the top, and the area surrounding the extension of the fingerboard are inlaid with Style 42 highly colorful “heart” abalone pearl and trimmed with wood fiber inlay. An ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard features the Style 45 abalone snowflake inlay pattern. These extremely delicate inlays are cut from “heart” abalone, then painstakingly “re- inlaid” or “bordered” with mother of pearl, creating exceptional contrast with the African black ebony fingerboard. Eric Clapton’s signature is inlaid in pearl between the 19th and 20th frets.

The Brazilian rosewood headplate is inlaid with Martin’s “alternate” torch inlay pattern. This beautiful design was prototyped in 1902 on one of four very ornate 00-45 instruments, but the pattern was nearly abandoned (in favor of Martin’s simpler torch pattern) until its revival for this special Eric Clapton edition. The back of the vintage styled square tapered headstock bears the “C.F. Martin & Co.” antique stamping.

Each 000-42ECB guitar is tastefully appointed with a tortoise colored, polished and beveled pickguard which closely replicates the color and patterning of 1940s vintage Martin pickguards. The highest quality Waverly gold-plated tuning machines with “butterbean” knobs adorn the headstock in the pre-war Martin style.

A special deluxe hardshell case is included with the purchase of each 000-42ECB instrument. Each 000-42ECB will bear an interior label, numbered in sequence with the edition total (i.e. 1 of 200, 2 of 200 etc.) and personally signed by Eric Clapton and Martin Chairman and CEO, C. F. Martin IV.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each 000- 42ECB guitar will support the Crossroads Centre At Antigua, Eric Clapton’s drug rehabilitation facility. Martin dealers will begin taking orders for the 000-42ECB models immediately, though the guitars will not begin to appear in stores until the summer of 2000. In 1996, Martin introduced a numbered series of 000-28EC Eric Clapton signature model acoustic guitars. The stock model 000-28EC guitars continue to be in demand, with nearly 4000 instruments shipped to date."