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MGR/Martin Kristensen « Martin D-16 RGT »
Published on 08/18/03 at 15:00I'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
), 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