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MGR/CC « Martin D-16GT »
Published on 07/01/03 at 15:00I picked up my D-16GT at a Guitar Center store. After a long period of
not playing (ok, I admit it ... I sold my guitar in college for cash), I decided
to take up the guitar again and spent a long time researching acoustics.
Due largely to price, I focused on Martin's X-series (laminate sides/backs),
Martin's D-15s (all mahogany) and comparable Takamines. My visit to the
store started innocently enough ... just play a few guitars and get a better
feel for what I wanted. Played a large number of guitars and most sounded
good ... until I grabbed a mint-condition, used Martin D-16GT in the back corner.
The sound blew the rest of the contenders away. Couldn't pass it up ... I paid
about 700 USD all-in, incl. hardshell case.
This is a clean-looking, beautiful guitar. The solid spruce top and solid
mahogany sides and back deliver an evenly-balanced and deeply resonant sound
(the trademark Martin sound). The sustain is impressive, delivering sound long after
the last note is struck. The tuners hold the tuning well and the gears ensure fine
tuning with ease. The low-oval neck and neck width make fretting even the most
difficult chord comfortable. The gloss top really highlights the spruce and the satin
finish gives the mahogany a subdued, rich look and feel.
Overall playability is very good, but the action on frets 7-14 are a little high for my
taste. I plan on having some basic set-up work done to bring the action down
a little. This is an easily-solved, minor issue and doesn't materially detract from
playability. I played many other, lower-action guitars that didn't sound nearly as
good (you can fix the action, but you can't fix the sound!).
This is Martin's basic, all solid-wood, Dreadnought guitar (with the exception of the
D-15s which sport the mahogany top). It has all the characteristics of a Martin, with
great attention spent on the workmanship. The top is solid Sitka spruce and the
back and sides are solid mahogany. The fretboard and bridge are made of black
micarta, a synthetic wood product that most of us recognize as traditional saddle
material. The Spanish cedar neck and headstock are accented with a rosewood
headplate and heelstock. The workmanship is apparent throughout. There is a
seemless transition betweeen fretboard and neck, nut and headstock, binding and
body. It looks and feels like a meticulously crafted instrument. The tough, hardshell
case has a soft, green plush lining and fits the guitar like a glove.
The D-16GT is a great guitar, delivering the trademark Martin and all solid-wood
sound. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparable guitar in both quality and sound
for less than 1000 USD. This guitar has all the sound and quality of more highly
adorned Martins (D-28s on up) at a fraction of the cost. The price is higher
than other manufacturer's solid woods, but they lack the Martin sound and
workmanship. Bottom line: a great guitar with a great look and sound. Even after
hours of playing, it's a tough guitar to put down.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
not playing (ok, I admit it ... I sold my guitar in college for cash), I decided
to take up the guitar again and spent a long time researching acoustics.
Due largely to price, I focused on Martin's X-series (laminate sides/backs),
Martin's D-15s (all mahogany) and comparable Takamines. My visit to the
store started innocently enough ... just play a few guitars and get a better
feel for what I wanted. Played a large number of guitars and most sounded
good ... until I grabbed a mint-condition, used Martin D-16GT in the back corner.
The sound blew the rest of the contenders away. Couldn't pass it up ... I paid
about 700 USD all-in, incl. hardshell case.
This is a clean-looking, beautiful guitar. The solid spruce top and solid
mahogany sides and back deliver an evenly-balanced and deeply resonant sound
(the trademark Martin sound). The sustain is impressive, delivering sound long after
the last note is struck. The tuners hold the tuning well and the gears ensure fine
tuning with ease. The low-oval neck and neck width make fretting even the most
difficult chord comfortable. The gloss top really highlights the spruce and the satin
finish gives the mahogany a subdued, rich look and feel.
Overall playability is very good, but the action on frets 7-14 are a little high for my
taste. I plan on having some basic set-up work done to bring the action down
a little. This is an easily-solved, minor issue and doesn't materially detract from
playability. I played many other, lower-action guitars that didn't sound nearly as
good (you can fix the action, but you can't fix the sound!).
This is Martin's basic, all solid-wood, Dreadnought guitar (with the exception of the
D-15s which sport the mahogany top). It has all the characteristics of a Martin, with
great attention spent on the workmanship. The top is solid Sitka spruce and the
back and sides are solid mahogany. The fretboard and bridge are made of black
micarta, a synthetic wood product that most of us recognize as traditional saddle
material. The Spanish cedar neck and headstock are accented with a rosewood
headplate and heelstock. The workmanship is apparent throughout. There is a
seemless transition betweeen fretboard and neck, nut and headstock, binding and
body. It looks and feels like a meticulously crafted instrument. The tough, hardshell
case has a soft, green plush lining and fits the guitar like a glove.
The D-16GT is a great guitar, delivering the trademark Martin and all solid-wood
sound. You'd be hard-pressed to find a comparable guitar in both quality and sound
for less than 1000 USD. This guitar has all the sound and quality of more highly
adorned Martins (D-28s on up) at a fraction of the cost. The price is higher
than other manufacturer's solid woods, but they lack the Martin sound and
workmanship. Bottom line: a great guitar with a great look and sound. Even after
hours of playing, it's a tough guitar to put down.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com