Martin 000-16

1993, Nazareth PA, all solid

- Spruce top (either vintage toner, or aging. either way it looks beautiful, looks as dark as cedar.
- Mahogany back and sides, and one-piece neck/headstock.
- Rosewood-fronted headstock.
- Rosewood fretboard with diamond/maltese cross markers.
- Ebony bridge
- Tortoiseshell binding, endpiece inlay, and scratchplate (hopefully no tortoises were harmed in the making of this guitar.
(I've added brass pegs for sustain and treble).

Features? hmmm this is a fairly stock guitar, but all it has on it is perfect. understated, just enough. Retro fitted by previous owner (it was the 'shop guitar' at Neil's place in Dorridge) with a Headway Snake, which is fab... though needs a little eq. Battery in a clamp on neck block, endpin jack.... you wouldn't know it's there.

Finish was satin i gather, but either someone kindly polished the top, or it left the factory like that. There is also some shine on the satin back and sides where constant playing has polished it. This i see as a plus not a minus, as it adds 'character', and also means it's been played a lot, and the wood has opened up nicely. The neck has polished up too, which is ideal.

The sound and feel are the reasons i bought this. never played anything quite like it, even the handful of other Martins i've played, and the one i swapped it for. IT SINGS, and gets sweeter every day. i'd put my guitar and bass under the bed, and begun to slip into thoughts of slippers and cardies, careers, and other such bullsh*t... now i play every day, though other instruments have hardly been touched since i bought the 16... truly inspiring.

String balance is perfect. Intonation is perfect. Response to fingers / pick velocity is startling. Big voice for such a small guitar too. Acoustically the trebles are as clear as a piano, and the bass has that diaphragm-tickling thump that only fine instruments have. I bought it with a Headway Snake p/u fitted, and you wouldn't know it's there. This guitar is also incredibly light, and well balanced.

The first thing i noticed about this guitar is that it weighs almost nothing. not flimsy though. The soundbox has the integrity and solidity (and tone) of a well made drum.

The workmanship is understated but perfect, and the book matching (though the woods aren't boldly figured) is mirror perfect, top sides and back. A couple of dings when i bought it, and a few more added since by me... but it's for playing, not displaying.

The setup (courtesy of Neil at Music Store, Dorridge; who i thoroughly recommend, he really knows his stuff) is perfect all the way up and down. Phenomenal action, like an electric almost, but seemingly with no tradeoff in tone. Some fingerboard / fretwear, but mostly mine. This will be my no.1 i think... looking also at a cedar + walnut/ovangkol, for a tone contrast (maybe a Lowden 023), but not a replacement.

I would take this into any environment. At the end of the day it's built to be played, and a few battle scars are irrelevent as i would sell my kidneys before i sold this guitar. If it has a 'weakspot' it's the unbound rosewood fretboard, which after several months of leaning against things, and constant capo use already looks like it's been bit by a shark. If you bash the body against hard stuff then it will chip, but the tone advantages of the thin lacquer outweight this IMO. I traded a fairly unremarkable 000-28 for this guitar, which was built like a battleship, but the tone wasn't even in the same arena as this lil beauty.

Looking at writing some more music then doing some open mic. nights in the near future, would be happy to take just this and my wallet.

I was curious that the specs didn't match a current Martin model, so emailed customer services. I got an immediate reply, and managed to drill down to what it is really quickly (a stock 1993 000-16). Amazing, since there was no win for them (i.e. i'd already bought it second hand).. refreshing in a margin-driven, cynical world.

playing so long i can't remember, on and off. bored with carting amps down stairs while everyone else is drinking and having fun, so most of my other guitars (an Epiphone Wildkat, a Yamaha BEX4C piezo/electric fretless bass, a Japanese Fender Jazz, + US Tele) will probably be sold eventually.

I 'bought' this via a complicated series of trades, part exes etc which is too complicated to recount, but involved buying the best (IMHO) Martin in Frailers in Runcorn (i played ALL the acoustics, drove them mad); then doing a straight trade on this one when i discovered it in Brum, when i went to Neil to ask him to fit me a Snake to the 28...

This guitar is so good the price was almost irrelevent, but for the record, including the good trades i did up to the final swap, and the (arguably) unbalanced final decision, via a Ricky 12 and lots of petrol, the sum works out at something like GBP 850, including the Snake pickup and a Martin case. which is a bargain for an instrument this good.

if someone nicked this, i would hunt them down and harm them seriously and permanently.

Guitar Made in 1989. Auditorium body with 14 frets. Solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard/bridge. Cross-like markers. Satin finish. Came with a hard case(solid and plush interior).

I flatpick bluegrass and Celtic. I also fingerstyle blues and folk.
This guitar, which I have owned for 11 years, has become louder and
sounding clearer over time. That is an apparent aspect of all Martins. I have a D-41 bought in 2002 and its sound is changing to be
even better as time goes on. The 000-16 was an impulse buy...when I
hit a G chord, it sounded so sweet that I just had to have it. Imagine that it even sounds better...unbelievable.

I change to elixer lights from Martin Meds. As a result there was some minor buzzing. I did a 1/2 turn on the truss rod and all was
right. The action is just right for me. You must remember that
this guitar was built in '89 so the neck might feel somewhat
thick but still, that is not problem. Even after 2 Larrivees,
a Taylor and two newer Martins, I can't fault the neck.

Never had a problem with this guitar. I have carted it around
to various functions with no problem. The finish and hardware
is still lasting after 11 years. This guitar needs no backup.

Never Had to deal with Martin .

Playing 14 years. Own 2 Larrivees (L-9,D-9e), two other Martins (D-41, DC-16rcte), Taylor (515ltd). The 000-16 is thinner and has a smaller bout than the others so it might not be a boomy as they are but it is loud and clear and sweet.

Made in -92, it has a solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides and back, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, satin finish and snowflake markers.

Full warm sound, a tiny bit unbalanced though. I use it for fingerpicking.

A very well-built instrument, no flaws.

I only gig at home, so i haven't really put this guitar to any test.
It stays in the case when I'm not playing it.

Never dealt with the Martin company

I've been playing for 25 years and I own a couple of more guitars but the 000-16 is the most expensive one. I've tried lots of cheaper guitars, but none sounds as good as the 000-16. So i guesss that sweeter sound means higher price.