All user reviews of 5/5 for the Martin & Co D-16RGT

I bought this guitar off the net from musicians friend. I had searched all the stores around my house and played just about every guitar there. This was the best sounding one in my price range.I paid 1100 american.

I love the look of this guitar. I especially like the pick guard. It's not just black like some of the others. I also prefer the semi-gloss back and sides, because they don't show scratches as much. The binding around the body and neck is nice too. I prefer it over the black binding. But most of all, is the SOUND! I've heard some people say that it's too bassy, but I think it sounds just fine. The tone and equal balance between the bass and treble are right on. This is truly a well crafted instrument. No flaws anywhere. Bottom line, it is a beautiful guitar, with awesome sound for picking and strumming!


The only thing I wish it had was a wooden fingerboard. However, you don't get your sound from the fingerboard, you get it from the body. It might actually last longer with the micarta fingerboard then the rosewood or ebony. We'll have to see. Bottom line, I can't see where the micarta fingerboard affects the sound or playability at all, because they're both fantastic.

Once again, great american craftsmanship at its best. I had a gibson gospel acoustic, that wasn't built nearly as good as this little Martin.

Bottom line, if you're not rich, and you can't afford a D-45 or a D-28, then this guitar is it. I personally think it sounds closer to a D-35, although it is referred to as the "Little Brother" to the D-28. Solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, beautiful gloss finish on top! I love this guitar. Most of all, the SOUND IS GREAT, and I personally think it sounds just as good as a D-28 or any other high end Martins. It just doen't have all of the cosmetics that they have. But that shit isn't important anyway...It's the sound!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I've looked forward to writing this review for a long time. I have allways dreamed about having a Martin (maybe partly because my name is Martin ), but I could not afford it untill two weeks ago.
I paid 8000 danish kroner (1190 USD) for a 2 month old C.F. Martin D-16 RGT with an L.R. Baggs Ibeam Active pickup installed. Price for a new in Denmark are aprox. 2530 USD (yes I know it's expensive, but we have a serious tax problem in Denamrk ). I had a Washburn D10SCE which I was happy with, untill I started recording. The Washburn piezo pickup sounded like paper, and the bass was none existing.

You can really feel that this is good quality guitar.
Even with the dead strings it had on when I bought, it was LOUD. I restrung it, and it sounded like a dream. A high and clear bass and pretty low action.
It even got better when I started to record. The Ibeam simply sounds fantastic. I used a cheap preamp (Art TUBE MP) and connected it directly to a cheap and crappy soundcard (Maya 44, still WAY better than soundblaster). I recorded some singer/song-writer-style fingerpicking licks and flatpicking licks, and they all sounded great, even with this cheap setup. The Ibeam makes a natural sound with a good reverb from the guitar top. I was really surprised. L.R. Baggs did some test with some really expensive Neumann mikes vs. Ibeam active, and the difference was marginal.
The looks are a bit basic, but it suits my taste perfectly.

The brigde and fingerboard are made of some artificial wood unlike rosewood on the standard series. I can't hear the difference but I guess it means thats my Martin D-16 RGT (mmm..... music to my ears: "MY Martin D-16 RGT") won't hold it's price tag as long as a standard serie (ex. D-18).

The sides and back have some kind of satin finish which looks fragile, but I have damaged it yet. It's great quality all round, and has a good hard gigcase.

Sounds great and even get's better when amplified/recorded with the L.R. Baggs Ibeam active pickup.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

J'voquerai few dtails often evokes about this guitar, or some features that make it particulire and not listed in catalog:

-Bad rumor mcaniques: honntement, I do not agree, my MODEL dsaccorde does not, including APRS just change string, I am rather by tonn their quality.

It affects Micarta: it will frmir certain because it is a composite ... matriau a base fabric. It's not plastic, but it's not natural for all ...
My opinion: Apart from questions of principles, the sound is l. The micarta does not chosen by chance, it is extremely dense and well led trs sound. It gets dirty much less, is less sensitive to mold or mark left by perspiration. For me it is a bold choice, which after a year playing me parat justification. They turn a russi "economy" (it's cheaper) in "innovation" with this stuff to me APRS.

-The background: I put a specially mention the quality of wood forming the bottom and wicker covers. First they are beautiful. ... Then turn the guitar. For can you play as the percussion, BYou be stunned to see the sound of percussion Bongos it. We really bongo bongo acute and severe, most super-sharp on the wicker covers. Pal percussionist can not believe it, me neither. I've realized after purchase, and it is one of the best surprises.

-The dam: it is refined. This technology allows for particulire much better sounding harmonics (almost all frtes!) Is one of the big pluss of this guitar so. Harmonics rsonnent "bottom" when we play it's magic.

UTILIZATION

Ergonomics is virile, so difficult. The guitar is in its modern CHARACTERISTICS but quite traditional in its cut, it can be for a.
It is daunting because of its chest, and honntement quite difficult to get it right, I mean it must be a pretty good guitar for the guitar really speaks (I think I be). The guitar has an average weight, the solo play is not the easiest. In short it is far less playable than taylor, not archi comfortable, although the handle is soft and trs trs perfect action on my MODEL.
It is a well made guitar trs, so obviously it's comfort, but for the price you could have the maximum comfort, a guitar "manly" So, which requires agility and strength.

SOUNDS

This guitar should particulirement folk and blues
Personally I use it in Celtic, blues, counntry, nofolk (style Andy McKee), folk, open tunings and the John Butler Trio.

The guitar is a little low to dsquilibre mdiums and bass are much greater. It is therefore of the highlights of this guitar, the bass is really bluffing. The acute ("crystalline" as all the review tell us nothing that) Obviously is good, but too clearly in the background. This is the default for this guitar, but that gives it its personality. Please note that the guitar is still not as an imbalance D15 mahogany, does not make me say what I have not said ... this slight imbalance gives it its personality.

The guitar, for reasons of jouabilit and sound, does not give its best even in the solos note for note going into the treble. Mug has its still a close to clapton unplugged album, the solo application of force, and the virtuosity is expressed in the capacity to play cleanly. Agreements for the game against rsons revle well and the quality of this guitar-cathedral, which rsons incredibly, you can feel it vibrate (not like a lawnmower eh!) Is very s enjoyable. Harmonics ring constantly and always fair, is at the foot of the trunk and rsonnance. The overall sound is warm and powerful.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar for a year, her big + are the wood (especially the magnificent background to the sound of bongo), its rsonnance and bass. The -: the cot "manly" of the grip, and the shy treble.
I consider the report quality excellent price, this guitar is a real Martin.
I would do without this choice problem, I am pleased to have done my age. (22)
The guitar seems he gets better with time.

By the way traditional or modern? Well the two is his strength.
Old blues, nofolk, it goes and never breaks.

I put 9 because I won, but perfection does not exist. if you have more money you can always find more ...

ciaaao
Fred