Introduction
Martin Guitar has been a cornerstone of acoustic instruments since 1833 when the company was founded by Christian Frederick Martin in New York City. Nearly two centuries later, Martin continues to set the standard for premium acoustic guitars.
The Martin 16 Series delivers the company’s legendary craftsmanship and tonewoods in affordable models made in Mexico. These guitars provide solid wood construction and professional features without breaking the bank.
The subject of this review is the Martin D-16E, an acoustic-electric dreadnought from the 16 Series. This guitar combines a solid Sitka spruce top with East Indian rosewood back and sides. The Fishman electronics provide natural amplified tone. With its excellent projection and balanced sound, the D-16E is an ideal choice for players who want an affordable Martin dreadnought.
Martin D-16E Specs & Features
The Martin D-16E has the classic dreadnought body shape with a solid Sitka spruce top. This tonewood combination produces a bright, articulate tone with excellent projection. The back and sides are made from East Indian rosewood, which adds warmth and richness to the overall voice.
The neck is constructed from select hardwood for stability, topped with an ebony fingerboard known for durability and enhanced tone. An ebony bridge transfers string vibration efficiently. Other specs include a 25.4" scale length, 1-11/16" nut width, 20 frets, and a modified low oval neck profile.
Electronics consist of the Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 system, with an undersaddle pickup and volume/tone controls discretely mounted inside the soundhole. The pickup blends naturally with the acoustic sound, while the preamp provides EQ shaping and a tuner display.
Overall, the materials and design of the D-16E are geared towards an organic, balanced tone and comfortable playability suitable for a wide range of musical styles. The electronics provide amplification without compromising the inherent acoustic qualities.
Build Quality & Aesthetics
The Martin D-16E showcases the impeccable craftsmanship that Martin is renowned for. Every detail of the construction exhibits careful attention and skill. The guitar has a flawless high-gloss finish on the spruce top that allows the wood’s beauty to shine. The back and sides have an elegant satin finish that enhances the visual depth of the rosewood.
The fretwork is immaculate, with smoothly finished frets seated perfectly along the ebony fingerboard. The bridge is carved from solid ebony as well, providing exceptional resonance and sustain. The rosette and binding are finished cleanly and symmetrically. The D-16E simply oozes premium quality in its design, materials, and construction.
Martin selected premium tonewoods for the D-16E, including solid Sitka spruce for the top and solid East Indian rosewood for the back and sides. These woods not only look stunning but contribute to the guitar’s excellent acoustic tone. The ebony appointments on the fingerboard, bridge, and headstock logo further elevate the D-16E into a high-end instrument despite its accessible price point.
Overall, Martin’s master luthiers have crafted the D-16E to the same exacting standards as the company’s more expensive models. It may be a mid-priced guitar, but its build quality rivals premium offerings costing much more. The D-16E displays all the hallmarks of a fine, hand-built acoustic guitar.
Sound & Tone
The Martin D-16E produces a rich, resonant, and well-balanced acoustic tone that lives up to Martin’s reputation. The solid Sitka spruce top provides excellent clarity and headroom, allowing the guitar’s voice to open up and project. There’s a clear emphasis on the midrange, with crisp and punchy mids that cut through a mix beautifully. The East Indian rosewood back and sides add a pleasing warmth and sweetness to the low end and low mids. Treble notes have definition and articulation without being overly bright or harsh.
Overall, the D-16E is an impressively dynamic acoustic guitar with a bold, robust voice. Despite the smaller dreadnought body size, it has no trouble filling a room and projecting its tone. Yet it retains nuance and doesn’t easily get overdriven when played hard. The guitar has a noticeable acoustic bloom and sustain that allows notes to ring out.
The all-solid-wood construction plays a big role in shaping the D-16E’s tone. The light and responsive spruce top handles both delicate fingerpicking and aggressive strumming with ease. Meanwhile, the rosewood back and sides add vintage-style warmth and refined overtones. The ebony fingerboard and bridge further enhance resonance and tone transfer. The result is a versatile, lively acoustic guitar that excels across various playing styles and genres.
Playability & Feel
The Martin D-16E has a comfortable and smooth playing feel right out of the box, thanks to Martin’s ergonomic neck profile and quality setup. The neck shape is described as High Performance Taper, which has a slim and tapered profile that feels fast yet substantial in the hand. It provides excellent comfort for chord shapes and lead playing up and down the fretboard.
The action on the D-16E is set to a very playable medium height, measuring approximately 3/32" on the treble side and 5/64" on the bass side. This allows easy fretting and clarity when forming chords, without excessive buzzing. The string spacing at the nut is a roomy 1 11/16", making it easy to fret notes cleanly without tangling fingers. Overall the D-16E feels effortless to play, with exemplary fretwork that allows smooth, buzz-free fingering across the entire neck.
Between the ergonomic neck shape, quality setup, and attention to detail, the Martin D-16E offers an exceptionally comfortable and playable feel right out of the box. The smooth neck and medium action make it very accessible for most players, while still retaining the clear and responsive acoustic tone Martin is revered for.
Electronics & Plugged-In Performance
The D-16E comes equipped with a Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 pickup and preamp system, providing natural amplified tone and flexible sound shaping options. The undersaddle piezo pickup captures the guitar’s organic resonance and dynamics. Through the preamp’s thoughtful EQ controls, you can shape the tone to suit any amplified situation – adding brilliance, contouring the mids, and tightening up the lows as needed.
The amplified tone retains the D-16E’s balanced voicing and warm rosewood character. There’s no quackiness or harshness even when cranking the volume, thanks to the pickup’s excellent sensitivity and wide dynamic range. The onboard tuner also makes quick work of getting back in tune, while the discrete volume and tone controls allow you to command the perfect live sound. Between its organic pickups and flexible preamp, the D-16E truly excels as an amplified instrument. Guitarists who play live regularly will appreciate how seamlessly it transitions from acoustic to amplified tones.
Value & Competition
The Martin D-16E has a list price of $1,599, which positions it in the upper mid-range bracket for a serious acoustic-electric guitar. While not exactly cheap, this price tag is quite reasonable when you consider the D-16E’s all-solid wood construction and the impeccable fit and finish that comes with Martin’s legendary craftsmanship.
Compared to other leading dreadnought acoustics in this price range, the D-16E holds its own remarkably well. The popular Taylor 310ce comes in at a similar $1,599 MSRP, with an all-laminate back and sides. While the 310ce is an excellent guitar, the D-16E’s solid rosewood construction gives it a richer, more complex tone. The Guild D-55 dreadnought is another comparable model priced at $1,569, but it lacks the Fishman electronics found on the D-16E.
Overall, the combination of features and appointments on the D-16E make it an exceptional value in its price tier. The use of solid tonewoods, ebony fingerboard, and Fishman electronics gives it a leg up over most competitors. When you factor in the Martin name and their flawless craftsmanship, the D-16E easily stands out as one of the best acoustic options for intermediate players looking to get the most guitar for their money. It punches well above its weight class in terms of tone, playability, and aesthetics.
Ideal Player & Music Styles
The versatile Martin D-16E is well-suited for many music genres and playing styles thanks to its balanced tone and comfortable feel. The solid spruce and rosewood construction gives it a robust and articulate voice that cuts through a mix while also providing warmth and complexity for fingerstyle playing.
The punchy mids and tight low end make the D-16E a great choice for aggressive strummers and flatpicking bluegrass musicians who need note definition at higher tempos. It can keep up with a jam or stage volume without getting lost. The crisp highs also allow for intricate fingerpicking lines to shine through clearly.
That said, the D-16E is responsive and nuanced enough for delicate fingerstylists to appreciate. Notes bloom nicely and there’s enough dynamic range for expressive playing. The focused mids provide the perfect canvas for hybrid picking melodies, runs and harmonics to sing.
Singer-songwriters will enjoy the balanced tone that complements vocals incredibly well. The D-16E is an inspiring accompaniment guitar for originals across folk, pop, rock and country styles. It’s a trusty stage and studio partner.
The only potential drawback is for players who employ very aggressive techniques like hard strumming, aggressive flatpicking or percussive playing. The D-16E may choke out or lose some clarity when pushed to its limits. But for most playing styles, it’s a winner.
Included Accessories
The Martin D-16E comes with a high-quality hardshell case that provides premium protection for the guitar during transport and storage. The case features a plush-lined interior to prevent scratches and dings, as well as locking latches and a padded handle for secure carrying.
Martin also includes a set of their Authentic Acoustic 80/20 Bronze strings, which are made in the USA and optimized for the D-16E’s design. The strings provide a balanced tone right out of the package. A variety pack of picks and a Martin polishing cloth are also included.
The hardshell case has ample interior storage space for small accessories like capos, tuners, slides, and straps. Some buyers choose to upgrade to an exterior-mounted humidifier to control humidity swings and prevent the guitar from drying out. The case’s neck support can also be customized with a memory foam insert for a more secure fit.
Overall, the included case and accessories provide everything needed to protect the guitar and keep it sounding its best. The high-quality extras add value to the overall purchase.
Conclusion
The Martin D-16E is an exceptional dreadnought acoustic-electric that punches well above its price point. Its solid wood construction produces a rich, balanced tone, while the comfortable neck and premium appointments make it a joy to play. The Fishman electronics also let you plug in anywhere with confidence.
Overall, the D-16E offers tremendous value by combining Martin’s legendary build quality and sound in an affordable package. While it may lack some bells and whistles found on pricier models, it nails the fundamentals of great tone, playability, and reliability.
The clear, punchy sound projects well both on stage and in the studio, suiting most music genres nicely. While aggressive strummers may crave a bit more headroom, the D-16E has enough dynamic range for most playing styles.
Considering everything it brings to the table, I give the Martin D-16E a 5 out of 5 star rating. It’s an easy recommendation for any guitarist wanting a lifetime acoustic that looks, sounds, and plays like a premium instrument at a reasonable price point. While the D-16E faces stiff competition, it stands out as a benchmark acoustic-electric in terms of quality and value.