Below is my overview of the Martin 16 Series acoustic guitars.
There are six different models in the 16 series, and they all have more similarities than differences. But, differences make an important role when choosing between the models. Simply, some might be more suitable for your needs than others.
The Martin’s 16 series guitars are:
- D-16E
- DC-16E
- D-16GT
- D-16RGT
- OMC-16E
- 000-16GT
Prices range between $1,949 and $2,899.
All prices below are in US Dollars and are the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price).
Let’s take a look at each guitar individually.
Martin D-16E – MSRP $2,699
Since I wanted to start with showing all those different types of dreadnought acoustic guitars, let’s start with the D-16E.
Let’s start by looking at the name:
D = Dreadnought
16 = 16 Series
E = Electronics
Easy, right!
The D-16E features:
- Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought (with 000 body depth)
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Solid Sycamore Back and Sides
- Scalloped, Forward Shifted X bracing – Sitka Spruce Bracing
- Modified low oval neck shape with high performance taper
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 25.4″ (645mm) scale length
- 1 3/4″ (44mm) nut width
- Bone Nut
- Ebony Bridge with Compensated White TUSQ saddle
- Black TUSQ bridge pins
- Cutaway: No cutaway
- Electronics: Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2
One of the interesting things about this guitar is that it features a Dreadnought body shape with an 000 body depth. So the depth of the body is 4 1/8″ (105mm) as opposed to the 4 7/8″ (124mm) on Martin’s standard dreadnought shape.
The other interesting factor is the sycamore back and sides. This isn’t a common back and sides material, used as side inlay material and back inlay material.
This model is new for 2017.
Martin DC-16E – MSRP $2,899
D = Dreadnought
C = Cutaway
16 = 16 Series
E = Electronics
This model is also new for 2017 and is essentially the same guitar as the D-16E except that it has a cutaway.
Martin D-16GT – MSRP $1,949
D = Dreadnought
16 = 16 Series
GT = Gloss Top (Satin finish on back and sides)
The D-16GT is a more traditional dreadnought shape (with the normal dreadnought body depth). It has a gloss top finish with a satin finish on the back and sides.
There are quite a few things that differ from the new D-16E model so it’s worth showing its specs here.
- Body Shape/Size: Dreadnought (with 000 body depth)
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Solid Light Red Mahogany Back and Sides
- Scalloped X bracing – Sitka Spruce Bracing
- Modified low oval neck shape with standard taper
- FSC Certified Richlite Fingerboard
- 25.4″ (645mm) scale length
- 1 11/16″ (43mm) nut width
- White Corian Nut
- FSC Certified Richlite Bridge with Compensated White TUSQ saddle
- White Plastic bridge pins
- Cutaway: No cutaway
- Electronics: No electronics
The differences include new gear such as:
- Standard dreadnought shape
- No electronics
- Mahogany back and sides
- The fingerboard neck material is FSC Certified Richlite
- The bridge is FSC Certified Richlite with compensated white tusq
- The nut is White Corian
- The neck is 1 11/16″ (43mm)
- The neck has a standard taper
So you are getting quite a different guitar compared to the D-16E, really.
Martin D-16RGT – MSRP $2,299
D = Dreadnought
16 = 16 Series
R = Rosewood back and sides
GT = Gloss Top (Satin finish on back and sides)
The D-16RGT is the same as the D-16GT in every way except for one major difference. It has East Indian Rosewood back and sides in place of the Mahogany back and sides.
Which one you prefer comes down to the way you play, the genre you play and the sound that you prefer.
Martin 000-16GT – MSRP $1,949
000 = 000 (Auditorium) body shape/size
16 = 16 Series
GT = Gloss Top (Satin finish on back and sides)
The 000-16GT has all of the same specs as the D-16GT (with the Mahogany back and sides), except that it is a smaller body shape – the 000 (Auditorium) body shape/size with square taper headplate material, and sitka spruce brace size is 5/16″.
This is a fairly significant difference though as it brings with it different tonal qualities and a different feel.
We already know that we can categorize Martin’s guitar by the shape, but, in the table below, we outlined sizes of the guitars as well:
| Dreadnought | Grand Performance | 00 | 000 (OM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 | |||
Martin OMC-16E – MSRP $2,899
OM = OM (Orchestra Model/000/Auditorium) body shape/size
C = Cutaway
16 = 16 Series
E = Electronics
The OMC-16E is also a new model for 2017 and is more similar to the other new 2017 models (First 2 on this list) than the GT models above.
It is the OM model of the DC-16E, essentially, but there a couple of differences other than the size/shape. It’s worth listing the specs here again.
- Body Shape/Size: OM (Orchestra Model/000/Auditorium)
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Solid Cherry Back and Sides
- Scalloped, X bracing – European Spruce Bracing
- Modified low oval neck shape with high performance taper
- FSC Certified Ebony Fingerboard
- 25.4″ (645mm) scale length
- 1 3/4″ (44mm) nut width
- Bone Nut
- FSC Certified Ebony Bridge with Compensated White TUSQ saddle
- Black TUSQ bridge pins
- Cutaway: Yes
- Electronics: Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1
So the major difference between this and the dreadnought models is the top detail – this one has cherry back and sides, but full wood, not just top color or top material. There are a couple of other small differences too but otherwise it’s the same as the other new 2017 models but in the OM size/shape.
In short
With the introduction of the new 2017 models, the 16 series guitars are quite different but also similar enough to remain part of the same series.
You have the option of 3 different shapes/sizes:
- Dreadnought with 000 body depth
- Traditional Dreadnought
- 000/OM
And you have the option of having a cutaway or a non-cutaway and the option of electronics, depending on the model.
I hope this post has given you a good overview of Martin’s 16 Series guitars.
If you think you’d prefer a Mahogany top but still want to stick with Martin and this is about your price range for a guitar, check out my overview of the Martin 15 series of acoustic guitars.
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