Martin 000 16

I bought this instrument in around 1994. I don't think they made this one for too long. It is a 000 or 0M size body, long scale, back and sides are American Mahogany, top is I believe Sitka Spruce, neck is mahogany, fingerboard and bridge are rosewood. High quality Martin tuners, black binding, standard Martin sound hole decoration, like a D-18. I believe that this guitar is equivalent to a long scale 00018 or OM. I paid about $1000 at time of purchase. I believe they stopped making it due to cost of manufacture vs. what they could charge for a guitar made of these components. They have had similar instruments since, but with somewhat cheaper components, such as micarta bridge,etc., not that that is a bad thing.
I had Fishman electronics installed shortly after purchasing it. This was done at Elderly Instruments. It has a battery in it, but no controls. You just plug it in.

I play with fingerpicks and use light gauge strings. My amp is a Trace-Acoustic. This guitar is just wonderful. I can't imagine it sounding any better or playing any easier. Very bright sound but not too lacking in the bass dept. Very well balanced. It really shines when you use open tunings and put the capo on a higher fret. I tried playing some Everly Bros. songs in open G capoed at the 7th fret. I was astonished when it actually sounded a little like the records. And it is VERY easy to play. My cousin's son is a 15 year old Rock prodigy. When ever he comes to my house he wants to play this guitar. He says the action is better than his Les Paul, yet it does not rattle or buzz. If I didn't love it so much I would say it was a freak of nature. Too bad they don't make it any more.

I had to have the action adjusted about three times before I was happy. I think it was the transition from the store to my house. Once it was right it stayed there. No adjustments needed since. All workmanship is excellent, nothing to complain about execept for the matte finish that it originally had. After I played it for a while the areas where I touched it, such as where I rest my little pinky when I am finger picking got shiny. So then you end up with a matte finished guitar with little shiny spots here and there. I finally got out some gunstock finish and rubbed out the whole thing. Now it is all shiny. I like that better anyway. Don't know why they didn't do this at the factory.

All yes.

Never needed repairs other than the action adjustment. Martin warranty is for life to original buyer. Can't get much better than that. They are excellent and so is Elderly Instruments. Wish they were closer to me though. Not their fault. I wrote Chris Martin a letter some time ago telling me how much I liked this guitar and what great respect I had for his company. He called me at my office, thanked me, we talked at some length and he sent me a signed copy of the Martin book. He is a great guy and I believe genuinely loves his company and the family heritage that it represents.

Playing for 50 years. Have lots of guitars, banjos and other instruments. As many as you can get in a double closet. If this guitar were stolen I would get another mahogany small body Martin to replace it.