Martin D-16RGT

Martins supposedly budget range, all solid wood with plastic glued on(micarta). Doesn't take too much away from the overal look of the guitar, its not in any way fancy, just a plain jane although the rosewood finish on the back looks well. Finish is good on the fret ends and inside it looks well put together, although obviously to be expected on a 1200plus guitar! Recently purchased a Gibson songmaker for less than 850, all solid wood with ebony fretboard and saddle so I dont know why Martin couldn't do the same here, but I suppose the most important aspect of any guitar is the sound....

Well this is what its all about then really aint it?! This guitar has a classy sound and feel to it when strummed, a little less so when fingerpicked but still very good. Plenty of deep bellow from the bass and nice meaty bite from the trebles, may not suit those looking for a sweeter sparkling sound, but definitely the guitar for those who want to be heard above everyone else. It has that nice dreadnought 'honk' from the mids, which also may not suit everyone but I suppose anyone who buys a dreadnought, this is the sound they want. I have it almost 6 yrs now and the sound has got better, seems to have mellowed a bit and not so brash, it sounds rich and sweet.

Was a little disappointed with the action on the guitar, it needed some work with the saddle and also adjustment to the neck, and at 1st I was put off by this and felt let down after paying alot of money for it, but since then its been sorted and 5 yrs on this guitar seems to get better every time i pick it up.

Well it seems solid and im sure any guitar this price should be well able for some punishment. I've had it 6 yrs now and its still like new, apart from some fret wear....overall, this is a solid instrument, and you'd have to expect nothing less from a Martin guitar.

Overall I give this guitar 8, the most important aspect is the sound and this guitar will not disappoint, it loses points on set up issues i had at first, compared to my Gibson songmaker which came perfectly set up and i found more comfortable to play. I recently went about trading this guitar on a D-28 and played both together in the store and I have to say the D-16 absolutely hammered the 28 for its rich sound and stand out tone. No way am I selling this guitar now or ever!

I got a used 2000 D16RGT Custom. It has Rosewood back and sides, streaked ebony bridge and fingerboard, bone nut and saddle and nice white binding, pearl rosette and fret markers. This is made in USA obviously. Only 250 of these were made and I got number 35.

The sound is awesome! I sold my Martin DX1 and upgraded to this D16RGT Custom. Quite an upgrade. It is way nicer, easier to play and sounds better. Right away I was able to play a difficult riff of a solo that had eluded me on my DX1.
Even though it is almost 10 years old, the smell of wood still resonates from it heavily when it is being played. I love the variety of tones. I prefer the warmer tones of a Martin to the brighter tones of a Taylor. This has warm tones and lots of base. I have only been playing for two years and this guitar sounds so good and easy to play it keeps me motivated to keep playing. Besides my car, it is definitely my most prized possession.

Satin back and sides. Gloss tip. Fast action. When I got it, it had light strings on it and it was super buttery and bar cords were effortless. I had to switch to mediums though because they sound better to my ear. The bone nut and saddle was an added selling point. The craftsmanship is superb. When looking for a used guitar, I trusted Martin's build. The way I see it, you don't stay in business since 1833 by doing things the wrong way. The guitar has no flaws other than a couple scratches the previous owner gave it.

Like I said, I trust Martin when it comes to Reliability and durability. Martins can handle medium strings without having neck problems like many other guitars. They last forever if you treat them well. just look at all the freakishly old ones that pop up on Ebay

No need.

I got this guitar used on Craigslist at an unbelievable price. If it were lost I would be so heartbroken that I would probably never purchase another guitar and if I did it would be another D16.

Satin finish Rosewood back and sides with gloss spruce top. Micarta fingerboard and bridge. All solid wood. Tuners arent the greatest but can always be upgraded.

This guitar sounds absolutely amazing. I had a Takamine NP18C for ten years, which retails for $2200. It was a great guitar and sounded really great but this one kills it. I upgraded it to a bone saddle, solid ebony pegs, and Grover tuners instead of the ping ones installed. I thought it sounded great to begin with but now it's truly amazing. With DR rare strings this is about as good as it gets. Rivals the sound of most D-28's and many times sounds better. I have a fishman pickup system installed that works really nicely as well. Plugged in or on it's own, this guitar makes playing a joy for sure. If i could, i would buy it again in a heartbeat

I set this up and the action is less than 1/8" at the 12th fret. No fet buzzing and the neck is now perfectly straight. the martin strings are good but DR Rares are really awesome on this. The finish is very nice with the gloss top and satin sides and back. I personally buffed the sides and back to reveal a beautiful gloss shine. I also swapped out the pickguard for a custom wood one. This really dresses it up. I love everything about it.

Very nice and seems durable. lightweight and sturdy.

Best guitar i've ever played. For the sound and playability, you can hardly beat it at any price level. If you want all the pretty bells and whistles with exotic inlays, then you can get a takamine or a very very expensive martin. If you want simply the best sounding guitar in a simple but beautiful package, you can purchase this for a steal. An all solid wood genuine top end Martin guitar for under $1500. Best deal in town!

Solid spruce top, rosewood sides, micata bound neck dreadnought. Gloss finish. No electronics or tuner. Only one pin style strap button supplied. Yida yida.

Traditional Martin sound. Rich and balanced tone. Decent bass, but not overpowering. IMO the sound is not as bright as some other acoustic guitars I've played. However, I am not trying to change the tone of this guitar. While this guitar is suitable to both strumming and fingerpicking, IMO its strength is strumming.

The fit and finish of the guitar is excellent. No noticable flaws in the workmanship. Action on this guitar is very low with no string buzz whatsoever. No rattles. The guitar plays like butter. IMO the neck is very comfortable making this guitar easy to play.

Built very well. The Martin case I got for the guitar is only so-so in contrast to others. However, I expect both will hold up just fine.

Not needed.

I've been playing guitar for a few years now. I've owned and played a Taylor and current own a Breedlove guitar. First impressions are important to me. I was impressed and pleased with this guitar the very first time I looked at it and played it. I was alittle skeptical reading about the micata neck. However, quickly dispelled my apprehension regarding the neck. I like it alot for its looks, durablility and playability. I bought this guitar used and feel got for a really decent price. It's worth even penny I paid for it. I even think its retail price point is decent if one wants to buy new. I would recommend that one gives this guitar consideration if you're after a traditional nicely made dreadnaught acoustic.

Solid Sitka Gloss Top. Satin Rosewood sides/back. Dreadnought body, I don't recall the tuner brand, Martin I think. Neck medium-fat, Micarta (which seems fine to me, though my eyes would sometimes like to see wood, it makes no difference in playing to me, in fact it's smooth but precise so far). Case is very good, totally functional and does its job fine. made in USA in 2008 I believe. No electrics. This is a mortise/tenon joinery vs. dovetail. I'm very, very satisfied with the sustain, which is what that joinery affects mostly I believe (dovetail supposed to be superior, probably is but this is great).

I play classic rock, folk, and pop and also compose. The songs i compose aspire to what is commonly referred to as a 'standard', a song that is so melodic and musical and timelessly poignant that singers will want to sing it for ages to come. I imagine as I improve, I will want to explore more jazz styles. I think this guitar is perfect for classic rock, folk, guitar-based pop, I'm not sure if it will be ideal for jazz styles. It's got great, solid, strong bass without being overpowering, it's got clear highs that don't pierce. I was most nervous about mid range on this model. the one I've got has not disappointed one iota. It doesn't have that kind of concert-style separation you hear in midrange on fine, fine guitars, but it's got full, balanced tonal blend without muddiness which is far and away good enough for me. And part of the dreadnought signature sound, i believe. More down in 'Overall'

Excellent tight grain in the one I got with symetrical bands of wider grain. Looks great overall, unique. Definitely not quarter sawn as there is no light/shadow, a very fine top, finer than I expected honestly. The action when i got it was mixed. Decent, but strange, not refined. It came from the factory with lights when I was expecting mediums since Martin's website recommends mediums. I wasn't thrilled with the set up, but I got it via internet/shipped so I'm definitely granting some allowance there. I swore i would not buy a guitar sight unseen, but I was taking advantage of a credit deal and the vendor was out of stock locally and with the vendor's return policy I gambled. Turned out the neck was slightly back-bowed. After having it set up by a local luthier who works mostly electrics, the neck got adjusted perfectly, no problem, but the action got lowered too much, it lost some sound-power. The luthier's setup on the saddle was perfect however, so after playing it too-low for about a month with the lights, I pulled the saddle out myself (use wide, nipper pliers for this) and shimmed two strips of 1/32 inch card stock and put on some Martin bronze mediums. Wow, this was the sound I had wanted from the start. No flaws from the factory, however, I have one complaint. The binding along the fingerboard, while perfect, reflects so much light, and, the frets are so well crafted and beveled, that in low and stage light, it's tough to see the frets. I'm still a novice, strumming player, so for me this is a bit of an issue. I imagine as i improve and can chord more without looking, I won't care. But sometimes i get a little lost in comparison to other models I considered. The tuners all are great except my B-string loses tension on both sets of strings I've played. Maybe just needs tightening but I haven't tried it yet.

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. I played my first open mic gig this weekend and felt fully confident with it alone. Also, I have four young kids and I wanted a fine instrument that could handle getting explored occasionally by them. I didn't want an instrument that would make me get all nervous and defensive when my kids came close. I feel confident with this instrument and there have been more than one sticky hand prints on it already that cleaned up just fine, and my one year old loves to surprise me by plucking the strings just like Daddy with a frightening yank that this guitar simply takes in stride.

I have not dealt with them. I hear they will send you replacement saddles and nuts for free but I have not tried this. I did call to verify the type of strings it came with and was told extended play lights when the Martin website recommended mediums, surprising.

I played a nylon string twenty years ago and got discouraged, it wasn't what I wanted to be playing, but it was all I could afford. I didn???t stick with it. I wanted steel. Now I've started again and wanted an instrument that would inspire, not discourage, and also not intimidate. I felt if I paid any more than what I paid for this, I would be doing the instrument an injustice. I had sampled an extremely fine HD-28V locally, again and again, and it was gorgeous, the separation and sustain, truly amazing. But I'm a novice. I also loved a D-35 for it's dark thrusting bellow and power. My D-16RGT is perfect for me. It's kind of a mix of those two mentioned, to me. When I first got it, I knew it was great, but it felt stifled. I went through an action journey (see above). Now, after a month of daily play with medium strings, 1+ hours, it really is ???opening up??? and sounding amazing. I was skeptical of the whole ???opening up??? concept, I feared it might be a pitch, a way to sell not-so-ideal guitars using promises that might never actualize. But now I am actually experiencing this baby opening up and she sounds beautiful. Not the precise separation of the HD-28V nor the full wall of sound of the D-35, but a mix of both, an exceptional balance in my opinion. I also preferred the V neck of the HD-28V and disliked the low profile of the D-35. This neck was a great compromise. I love this guitar and the rich, beautiful sound of its opening up is inspiring me to stop jamming on it and do more of the monotonous finger drills and chord routines that in time will make me a much better player and pay (play) homage to this piece of art. Also, as an accomplished professional singer and sometimes songwriter wanting to both self-accompany and compose, the balance of qualities in this guitar both inspire musically in creating music, and provide ample sound support in performing. I know I'm going on and on, but I shopped for over four months and read tons of reviews and opinions before deciding on this guitar, and so I'm being thorough for anyone who might feel similarly to my experience. Great guitar at great value (for a Martin). I???m also thrilled to be supporting an exceptional American product and American workers without paying top, top dollar.

Basic rosewood/maple dreadnought guitar with solid top and sides. Synthetic fingerboard and satin finish, obviously trying to control cost. Mortise & tenon neck joint, rather than the traditional Martin dovetail construction.

I bought this guitar two years ago after A/B-ing it with a whole pile of other Martin dreadnoughts. I get happy every time I pick it up. Please let me feel this good about my wife when I get married.

This guitar was set up at the store before I bought it. Fit and finish are fine.

Satin finish will eventually polish up and look stupid. Micarta fingerboard seems to wear very well. No complaints.

I've been playing off and on for 20 years. I play around-town gigs. None of us are quitting our day jobs. If this guitar were stolen, and the thief hid it on the wall of the guitar shop, I would hours playing every guitar in the store and then spend another thousand dollars on the same darn guitar.

Spruce top, rosewood sides and back. Gloss top, satin sides. Nice looking guitar from front, but the satin finish on the sides and back makes the rosewood look like that laminate crap my parents had on their basement walls in the 1960s. Same with the neck, too. Also, the fingerboard is black micarta - a propriety term for "plastic that looks like ebony wood but isn't." Because of this, the guitar gives off that mass-produced appearance. If you can't tell, I was a bit turned off by this at first, but I've moved beyond it now because I bought this guitar for its sound. Ok, I haven't really completely gotten over it, but I'm working on it. I can understand how some players are purists and want all wood, but please read on, because this guitar sounds fantastic. The black micarta is actually very smooth and easy to play, and is supposed to last longer. Ask your wife if she wants a corian counter instead of a butcher block top, she'll say corian every time. Unless she's a butcher of course. Surprisingly, I gave this rating an 8 because I agree with Martin's philosophy on this... make a better guitar with stronger materials for less money.

Primary music style is "heavy wood" like Don Ross, but also play many other styles such as rock, some jazz, classical. Heavy wood demands some serious low end and can really only be achieved using a baritone - but I wanted a more versatile guitar for other styles and this Martin certainly fits the bill. I played probably around 40 different guitars, and most were twice as expensive (that's why it took so long for me to find this one!). There is really no comparison to this Martin when it comes to sound, especially if you are a rosewood dread kind of player. As far as price goes, I'd rather have a guitar that sounds great than looks like it is supposed to be an art exhibit, and sometimes that's what you get if you're shelling out more than $1500 for a mass-produced guitar. This guitar has fantastic bottom end while still maintaining crisp mids and highs, no other guitar I tried even came close (that is until I reached above the $2000 range). Like many other reviewers, I too use a lot of open & alternate tunings. The absolute best sound test, IMO, for an acoustic guitar is to tune to open G and play "That's the Way" by Zeppelin, especially the end riff. You'll hear it immediately if you've got a great guitar or not. This one sings, even with all that plastic on it!

Set up was fine, but just a bit high though even for medium gauge strings. Guitar still sounded great in the store with some seriously worn strings. The guitar does not contain any flaws that I can detect.

I've heard the tuners need frequent lubing. I just bought it so I don't know. Every thing appears solid on this guitar, but I will be using it for recording, not playing live.

Haven't interacted with Martin yet, but I like their website and the online registration process was easy. The guys I bought it from, Appalachian Bluegass Shoppe in Catonsville, Maryland, were very knowledgable and friendly. Unlike other stores with pushy punk ass arrogant sales-kids who think they know alot about guitars but don't, these guys helped me "find" this guitar and explained to me things I did not know (imagine that!). I will definitely be going back there for future purchases, support and advice.

My features and sound sections basically describe it all. Sound is spectacular.

The bindings are cheap materials but all else is fine.

I am special player as I want a DEEEEP bass like in droped D tuning.

Hence I test all guitars in droped D and open G and DEEEP bass tunings BUT I also like crystalline Martin highs and very few guitars can satisfy my criteria. I play since 1060 and since then only few pre-war Brazillian rosewood Martins can offer that sound - and THIS GUITAR !

This is THE BEST sounding Martin (when it comes to the bass and tone depth) ; otherwise you have to order a custom guitar to beat the bass in this one : I am just back from NYC where I tried zillion guitars and indeed the Santa Cruz OM/PW sounds very nice yet costs almost $3000 and does NOT have quite the deep bass (like overwhealming droped D) and the dreadnaught Santa Cruz model, sounds inferior ! Martin HD28 Vintage ocasionally may sound somewhat deeper overall and more 'class' but you have to be very lucky to find the right one. Luthier made $3000+ Goodal or McPherson or Collings or Cheval ... can ocassionally sound stunning (so that most people give them 10) BUT again (just like in the case of Martin 45 or even a Martin 100) they do NOT give a sufficient bass extension, but only superb balance and lovely crystalline highs.

Summary: It is 9 on the $3000 scale as I could buy one with a sound for 100 for $3000, but for about 1 grand THIS IS IT - hence HC '10'!

No problem.

Fine after 18 months.

No idea.

If you have $3000 then order a guitar from McPherson and he will make you a hand made custom beauty. Or buy it from any other artistic luthier and do NOT buy an industrial guitar (Taylor is the most industrial, but Martin is close second). $300+ Seagulls (made by Godin) are great for the money, while Blueridge are praised BUT sound THIN with no true depth so NO, NO, NO the Chinese luthiers that work for Saga for peanuts cannot beat a decent North-American or EEuropean guitars. Try also Yamaha LL6 !

If you want GREAT sounding DEEEEEEP BASS dreadnaught then this is your choice and you should not waste your time and money. I replaced micarta with a vintage bridge but frankly that did not improve the sound that much as it is there anyway.

I play fingerpicking and recording and this is great for open tunings although I also have Variax acoustic and several other top end guitars.

Great value for all those who love bass.

If you want just strumming guitar then buy some cheaper model.

2005 Made in USA Martin. Spruce top and rosewood sides and back. I think of it as a less expensive version of the HD-28. Even has the herringbone rosette and scalloped bracing. Looks very sharp from the front. The top is gloss, and the fingerboard is bound. Not so impressive from the back, since the rosewood has a satin finish. But you can't have everything. And besides, that's just cosmetics.

Very resonant sound. Rich and full tone. Neck is comfortable and easy to play. I use it with bronze 80/20 strings, and all six strings sing nicely.

I thought the action was good right from the factory (not too high). I might loosen the trussroad, since it is set up for medium strings, and I use light. But that's about it.

This guitar feels solid and well made. The sound is also very balanced. I played a few guitars before I bought this one. It may be relatively inexpensive but it feels like a well made instrument.

I have no idea. I bought used, but in like new condition, so I don't get the warranty

I'm very happy with this guitar. If money were no object, I probably would have bought an HD-28. This isn't as nice, but it is a much better value.

2005 Martin D-16RGT, bought Feb 2006, made in the USA. Solid spruce top with solid rosewood back & sides with white boltron trim and herringbone rosette with a tortise pickguard and Martin SP med. strings.

Soon as i played this guitar i knew i was goin to find it a home...great Martin bottom-end from the rosewood back and sides and has great mid-range projection and top-end zing.
I also own a Seagull S6+ Spruce and this guitars volume just blows it away. I like the micarta fingerboard, very fast action and that spruce top vibarates unlike any other guitar i have owned

I was actually goin to buy the one on the wall until the sales guy brought me another one that had never been out of that great lookin Martin case, (which is made here in Canada by TKL). I tried it out and the action is spot on, even after i humidified the guitar.
The solid spruce to has a sweet grain profile and sounds awesome and the back has a real agressive rosewood grain that looks very sweet as well.

This guitar is as solid as they come, and as far as finish, i like the satin back and sides...the guitar seems to vibrate more freely and the solid spruce gloss top will take the majority of the abuse in stride.

It has a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner and there is a local luthier close by that is registered Martin tech.
I contacted customer service for when my guitar was finished and they replied Dec. 2005.

Great guitar, more than i thought i'd ever own, but now i've got a solid wood Martin and i'm not givin her up.
I checked out other Taylors and Seagull...there up there, but a far second from Martin solid wood guitars.
My fav feature is the aggressive grain rosewood on the back, very striking to the eye and that beautiful and bright solid spruce gloss top....D-16RGT is the 1 for me!!!