Martin Guitar D 16 For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

There is truly nothing I can say negative about this guitar. Sounds great, looks great, feels great. I've owned and collected many guitars, some with a price point much more than this, and I am very please and surprised to say that this guitar is on par if not even slightly BETTER than some of the more expensive guitars I own! If you're thinking about getting this guitar, DO IT! You won't be disappointed! ….the only thing I would change about this product is that I wish it came with a hardshell case. I did end up ordering a Martin 345 Dreadnought Hardshell Guitar Case and it fits like a glove. The soft case it comes with is just ok.Vanessa

I bought this guitar a few weeks ago and I am in love. I was actually looking to buy a D-16 or a Gibson J-45 and found this hanging up on the wall in my store. Took this down and loved the sound as soon as I strummed it. It has that beautiful rosewood tone and the deep sound of a full size dreadnought. Since this guitar is exclusive to Guitar Center, and it's family brands it is not featured on the Martin website (i was skeptical about this at first). But I can personally say that it is just as good if not better than any of the standard Martins and the specs don't lie. Also it is manufactured in the U.S.A in Nazareth, PA. I highly recommend you try this guitar if you are able to.Michael

This is my 4th Martin Dreadnought. I have had a Custom D (Mu Friend Martin), a D-28, a D-16 Adirondack, and this one. They have all been great but there was always something missing. For example, the D-28 was a joy to play and sounded great but lacked deep end rumble and punch. (I have since come to appreciate that is part of the appeal to many, and a product mostly of the bracing). The D-16 Adirondack had plenty of low end rumble, and it was stunning to look at, but for some reason it seemed to lack mid-range punchiness, and the high notes were kind of meh. I gave my Custom D to my son to take to college and was without any Martin Dread. I was playing just a Gibson J-45 which is a dream to me, but it also lacks mid-range punchiness and I was convinced it would get lost in a bluegrass jam circle setting. Then I discovered this rosewood Martin, which to me looks like a D-28 but with HD-28 style bracing. I suspected that it would deliver the what was missing from all my other Martins, and it has totally confirmed by suspicions. It's a joy to play, and it is beautiful to look at. The rosewood is so dark and stunning that you don't even really notice that it has a Satin finish. It delivers the low end rumble, in a somewhat more refined way than the Adirondack. The mid-range and high notes are all stunning. There is a bell like quality to anything played on the b and high e strings. The fretwork is flawless. Every guitar I have ever owned has had a least one place on the fretboard that I haven't really liked. I can't find it on this guitar. It just seems like a really well conceived and executed guitar from Martin, and you can't beat the price.Penalty Box

Absolutely amazing guitar. I had been shopping for a while, and tried an OM-21 in my local GC. The overtones, the warm tone, I just had to have it! Definitely a forever guitar and could not be happier. Get your hands on one of these!K

I really love this guitar! I purchased in a sunburst finish. There's nothing to dislike. Martin's come with the action a little high, this is to be expected. I took it to a tech to have the action lowered to my taste. Because it's plek'd from the factory, you can really get the action quite low. It's is now the best of my guitars. The sound is so balanced, it's beautiful to behold and to play. I never want to put it down. I've waited a bunch of years to commit…it is everything I wanted and imagined it could be. Martin standard series are all amazing. They Are the Martin sound defined, the reference point. They are not a cheap investment, but they are worth it. Whether you like a short scale hog (000-18), or a long scale Rosewood dread (D-28), you will not be disappointed. I love the long scale OM with rosewood. I wanted a sunburst with understated dark bindings to blend with the sunburst. This is my guitar…it is stellar in every respect. If you can acquire any model of the standard series of martins, you will be blessed with tone and beauty. It will be a lifetime guitar.GGC

I don’t like buying mid to high end guitars in the blind. Even if it’s a Martin, Collings, Taylor etc… but I was able to play 3 M36’s at a store in Nashville and they all sounded the same. I had to think about it because I have a Martin HD28 and it was very close. The thing about the M36 is that it having a OOOO (Jumbo) size body, I got bolder low ends. Finger style was easy and picking was bright and articulate. Problem solved not needing to bring more then one guitar to the recording studio and didn’t have to worry about gigging with it because of the affordability. American Musical Supply always makes it easy with the nice selection and 12 months interest free to get one. I installed (myself) a K&K pure mini pickup and this guitar sings. Thank AMS!T Galloway

Sounds and plays great for the price point. Highly recommend if you're looking for Martin quality but can't afford the next level up. Considered "better" models from other brands at similar price but happy I went with the Martin. The included gig bag is also great quality, better than what I've used previously that I had to pay separately for.CK

I have one of these but it is the Burst model which has Massacar design on the HPL back and sides , which I find to be very attractive. I had to of course, sand down the saddle and adjust the truss rod using the Martin truss wrench in order to have it to my personal settings. Once that was done, I found that this guitar is a joy to play. I only play at home, so I have never plugged it into a amp but I'm okay with that. The tone from this is 100% Martin and it stays in tune forever. I love it and it is not going anywhere.jeffreyo46

Beautiful guitar at an achievable price. I've been looking for something higher quality but wasn't prepared to drop $1K+. Tried this out at the shop and instantly fell in love with it. Also can't beat Sam Ash when it comes to excellent customer service.Jeff

Overall: I've been playing guitar a long time, both electric and acoustic. This is my first Martin and first American made instrument. Bottom line – it's awesome, and the American quality is very apparent. I had a lower end acoustic which I actually loved, but was on the hunt for an acoustic-electric. After getting frustrated with lower priced overseas instruments, I finally said "that's it! I'm getting a Martin." I still didn't want to spend $2.5-$4k though, but wanted an American made Martin with included electronics. This one fit the bill.My one concern was whether this guitar would still sound good, loud, and have enough bass given the shallower depth. I actually had the opportunity to play the D-16E side-by-side with a "Martin Special 16 Style" (which is exclusive to a competitor store). That instrument is a full depth dreadnought but otherwise very similar. Without much scientific evidence, I would say the D-16E sounded better. It may have been a little quieter, but I felt it had a more balanced sound and less boom. 90% of the time, I play my guitar on recordings in multi-instrument arrangements and have to cut the low end anyway. Even still, played solo, it sounds amazing and I think it has plenty of volume and bass.I'm a perfectionist when it comes to intonation and setup. This thing was absolutely perfect out of the box. I checked intonation, action, string height at the nut, neck relief – I absolutely do not need to take it in for an initial setup. The frets are also nice and smooth at the edges of the fingerboard. I initially thought I didn't like the vintage style open gear tuners, but I actually love the way they operate – they are very smooth and accurate. And I think they look very classy too.As far as appearance I think it is absolutely beautiful. I love the simplicity of it. I like the satin finish on the back and sides and the gloss top. The top wood grain on mine looks great. Just enough pattern to add some character without a lot of bold striping. I chose the mahogany one for a few reasons – 1) it was a little cheaper, 2) I listened to some comparisons and although the mahogany vs. rosewood were very, very similar, I thought the mahogany sounded a little better, and 3) the mahogany I think is even simpler looking than the rosewood, which I like. The mahogany D-16 is more like a D-18, where the rosewood D-16 is more like a D-28. I thought the binding was black, but was pleasantly surprised to see it's actually a beautiful dark tortoise shell.The only thing I would be a little critical on for this guitar is the electronics. The single tone knob adjusts from flat EQ to "scooped" EQ. To me, both of these settings have too much mid and high end. I would like separate bass, mid (preferably sweepable), and treble controls. And the enhance does make it sound a bit more natural, but it really doesn't affect the sound that much. I think they should've gone simpler and just left off the tone knob and enhance knob. They could've preset some enhance from the soundboard pickup and then let the user EQ it to their liking with a DI or amp, since that needs to be done anyway. However, I think a lot of acoustic-electrics plugged in directly suffer from similar issues (except maybe for ones equipped with something like the L.R. Baggs Anthem). I did get a pretty good sound plugged in after adding some EQ in my DAW and a little reverb. Likewise, if I were to plug in for live performance, adding a DI box or an amp with EQ controls would help immensely.On the plus side for the electronics, I do like that the controls are somewhat hidden in the sound hole. I also like that the output jack is separate from the button. I had another acoustic-electric with the output jack in the strap button, and I needed a special adapter to get any of my several straps to hook onto it securely. And it's nice to have the battery accessible from outside the guitar. Systems like the L.R. Baggs Anthem require a battery bag velcroed inside the instrument which requires string removal (or extreme loosening) to change.Jason

I bought this beauty about a month ago at Sam Ash. I visited three or four times and spent several hours playing different acoustic electrics in their acoustic room before I decided on this guitar. Not only is it easy on the eyes, but it sounds so good especially amplified. It has a great tone and really nice low end. At first I had some buyers remorse, but now that I've played it through multiple amps and have used it to record, I'm confident I made the right choice.JW

Finally got a Martin made in Nazareth, PA. The reviews were right on down to the smell of wood the first time you opened the case. Sounds sweet unplugged. The feel of the neck and the action couldn't be better. Not as loud as a full bodied dreadnought as expected. When I plugged it in my Fishman Loud Box Artist, I was blown away. It made me hear what this amp was really made for. But here's the problem. After a few minutes of strumming the guitar and enjoying the sound, the 1E string rolled off the edge of the fret. I ignored it and kept playing because the sound was so good. But then it happened again in less than 20 minutes of playing. Both times happened on the third fret so I looked at it closely. I pressed the string and lightly pushed it down and it easily rolled off the edge. I've been a guitar player for well over 40 years and the last time I had this issue was with a guitar with a badly replaced frets & fretboard. I don't know if this is just a defect on this particular D-16e guitar or the design is just not right for me. Either way I'm not happy with it so I returned it. It used to be when people ask me about Martin guitars, I tell them if it's made in Nazareth, PA you can never go wrong. That's a myth to me now. It may be a one in a million thing, but if you're that guy in a million, it's a world view changing experience. What else do I believe in that's not really true?Roberto

Overall: My first thoughts when I took that first strum, was “Guy Clark.,” except I think that man made his own guitars. But if I can describe the first sound I heard or who, that’s what it was, Guy Clark designed this one. It is beautiful and played in tune out of the box. Now I’m just more of a collector than a player, but I some ESP’s, a Yamaha, Taylor 710e, Ovation, an Ibanez, and now this magical Martin D-15M StreetMaster Acoustic. Good luck putting it down before your fingers bleed. At this price point and much above this is a splendid guitar. I can’t wait to hear what it sounds like after it has hours and hours of use on it. Buy one they’ll take it back if you don’t like it, but somehow I don’t see you making that choice. If all the other Martins haven’t convinced you, this one will. If your budget isn’t as high, do yourself a favor and keep saving or pay as you go option.Richard

I literally walked around Sam Ash plucking low E strings listening for a deep rich sound. Martin seemed to have more than anyone else. I liked the look of the Mahogany top/back/sides/neck. The ripples of the grain add a beautiful touch to the color of the wood. The tone has totally warmed up more and grown deeper over the 10 or 11 months she's been home with me. I have the MFX740 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings (Martin strings, they call them Tommy's Choice) on there and it just gives this rich low rumble on the low E and the D strings that if I have my feet up on my desk I can feel on my desk. The ring out is intense and long on this baby. I have not had anyone pick up my Martin and NOT say how much they love the tone of her. I do love the look of no binding… but, I'm going to have to say I do have some dents on the sides where the bindings would be protecting. That said… I'm not sure I care at the same time I think I care. I think that means I want it to be perfect but I also am okay with her getting age marks just as long as it doesn't do some serious damage. I would buy another. I'd buy it for my Dad. I'd buy it for one of my kids if they'd play. If you pick this guitar up you'll probably end up taking it home. Comes with a beautiful martin case with green insides. Acoustic only, don't forget.BasPilot

I have somewhat passively searched for the holy grail of the acoustic/electric bass guitar for years. Most acoustic bass guitars available are less than $500 and sound horrible. I started researching again and found numerous reviews stating that the Martin is heads and shoulders above the rest. I was still hesitant since I didn't know where I could check one out first. I found one in McKinney, TX. I played it unplugged and plugged. I had found it. Since my local music store had recently become a Martin dealer, I was planning to have them order me one. I knew that Martin had recently discontinued production, but they offered to build one and would take about 3 months. I visited a Sam Ash store in Birmingham and another in the Dallas area. I purchased an $8 item and was mildly annoyed as the guy checking me out was asking for everything with the exception of my passport and birth certificate. Now, I'm glad I cooperated. I receive regular emails from Sam Ash. Late one night, I see that they were offering 48 months with no interest. I thought to myself, I wonder if they have a Martin bass. Low and behold, hallelujah, they had a limited stock and was on sale. Well, I applied for the credit and was approved, however, when I tried to check out, I didn't have my new account number. The next morning, I had an email from them announcing a Paul Ash sale. I called Sam Ash and explained my issue during checkout. I asked if there was an additional discount due the sale. He put me on hold for a while and came back and knocked another $70. Two days later, on a Saturday, Fedex delivered the latest addition to my bass family. Of course I would prefer it to be louder unplugged, but it's fine for sitting around playing. Plugged in, it sounds amazing. Too bad Martin discontinued it. I purchased a Thumby and mounted it on the edge of the sound hole. I love this bass and a big fan of Sam Ash.Jeff

Overall: Original unopened uninspected by zZounds, in the heavy duty box from Martin. Mine was packed well enough, but still a little surprised how little bubble pack it had, or needed. The guitar seems perfect, no blemishes, straight neck, just beautiful. Rings like a bell despite needing a set up. Saddle has tons of room to sand down to most anyone’s preferred height/action. Nut seems like it’s in similar ready to set up condition. But even out of the box it sounds absolutely great and isn’t terrible to play. The little booklet that comes with it lists features, including “non adjustable” truss rod. I hadn’t come across this in my (limited) research into D18s. Martin guitar forums are divided on it, but I think the idea is “the old ones that people worship didn’t have adjustable truss rods, so we’re following the recipe”. Fine, but why not put that in the specs too? It’s not a cheap guitar. Taking a chance on it and seeing how it does. I’ll care for it properly and if it craps out and needs a neck reset or god forbid a new neck, I’ll rant and rave about it. But for now, let’s see how it sets up!Dan

I can't say enough about this guitar. For as long as I have been a guitar player (and a Pennsylvanian, for that matter) I have known Martin guitars. They are always prominently used and sold around this area. I looked up to my idols who played them, even older players like CSN and Neil Young and Clapton. I dreamed of owning one and as a kid, I loved the white binding on dark wood, seemingly drawing me in to a D-28, which is arguably the most popular Martin ever. As a kid, I almost got a Martin DM, but ended up with a cheaper Epiphone. After college, I decided to get my first Martin Custom D Rosewood – essentially a D-28 with a mortise and tenon neck joint and a D-15 A-Frame bracing and styling – sold exclusively here on MF (and GC). It's a great value for a guitar, but had to keep it constantly humidified because of the thin-skin matte finish. It can get really dried out and in fact, was in that condition when I received it (used). Great guitar, but I was always chasing buying a brand new Martin to call my own. I played some in stores of course and always A/B'd them, but it wasn't until a factory tour that I got a real idea of the breadth that the Martin line possesses. There is the 1833 Shop there with an adjacent players room filled with a good spread of Martins of all values and construction style. I was simply playing them to see which ones spoke to me, sonically and soulfully. I played the D-28, the D-35, the D-41, the D-15, 00-15M, the CEO, a 12 string, Eric Clapton model 000-28, etc. They all had their magic I'm sure, but when I landed on the D-18, I was simply blown away. It had a completely organic and natural sound – I could literally hear the wood. It's an absolutely lovely woody tone – this sounded better than the rest to me. I also LOVE the understand design and simplicity. It's a true working man's instrument – plus it features forward shifted X-Bracing which gives a lot more bass. The new improvements are all choice! 100% my fav. acousticIan from PA

I bought this guitar last year at a locally owned music store and was happy to do so as you don't find many of them stocked at large corporately owned brick and mortar stores. When I purchased it, I fell in love with the look and overall sound of the guitar and felt I was indeed buying a piece of history. The overall materials, finish and body construction are excellent and it produces a rich tone even with older strings. However that is where the positive remarks end. The more I want to love this guitar, the more it disappoints for the simple reason that it is incredibly difficult to play. Whether this is due to a poor set up or poor fretboard construction I really can't say, but I have to put this thing down after more than after five or ten minutes of playing – it is that bad. The same is true for the D-15 I spent a pretty penny on too. How a guitar maker that's supposedly been around since 1833 can produce something this hard to play is beyond me. Older D-18s I have played are not much better as they are incredibly hard to fret and buzz incessantly. So before you spring a couple of grand for this "piece of history," reconsider something that actually plays with ease. For this reason alone, I certainly would never invest in another one of these or a D-28, D-35 etc.. that costs even more. I can name several other major brands that put this guitar to shame due to their playability but won't to avoid embarrassing the manufacturer. But I will say that Martin's quality control folks ought to check these things out before shipping them out the door. Believe me, Martin's reputation and its chances of survival depend on it.Tom R

This guitar has beautiful timbre colours and flavors. The VTS treatment makes it sound like it's been playing for 80 years. Beautiful bookmarked Rosewood back, Rosewood sides. Dovetail construction done by CNC machine makes a tighter fit than by hand. Quality wood is same as series 42. Save monies on no pick guard, no white binding, no hardshell case, Dovetail construction on CNC machine ( nodes are more superior), no white on heel bottom,no white strip on bottom where strap pin is at.John

Martin offering an Adirondack VTS top with beautiful rosewood back and sides for under 2k is the deal of a lifetime. You will not regret buying this guitar and I've honestly had trouble putting it down. I have a 00015m, a D18, the SC-13 special burst.. they're all great but this is the first review I've written if that tells you something.Spencer

Overall: I've been playing guitar a long time, both electric and acoustic. This is my first Martin and first American made instrument. Bottom line – it's awesome, and the American quality is very apparent. I had a lower end acoustic which I actually loved, but was on the hunt for an acoustic-electric. After getting frustrated with lower priced overseas instruments, I finally said "that's it! I'm getting a Martin." I still didn't want to spend $2.5-$4k though, but wanted an American made Martin with included electronics. This one fit the bill.My one concern was whether this guitar would still sound good, loud, and have enough bass given the shallower depth. I actually had the opportunity to play the D-16E side-by-side with a "Martin Special 16 Style" (which is exclusive to a competitor store). That instrument is a full depth dreadnought but otherwise very similar. Without much scientific evidence, I would say the D-16E sounded better. It may have been a little quieter, but I felt it had a more balanced sound and less boom. 90% of the time, I play my guitar on recordings in multi-instrument arrangements and have to cut the low end anyway. Even still, played solo, it sounds amazing and I think it has plenty of volume and bass.I'm a perfectionist when it comes to intonation and setup. This thing was absolutely perfect out of the box. I checked intonation, action, string height at the nut, neck relief – I absolutely do not need to take it in for an initial setup. The frets are also nice and smooth at the edges of the fingerboard. I initially thought I didn't like the vintage style open gear tuners, but I actually love the way they operate – they are very smooth and accurate. And I think they look very classy too.As far as appearance I think it is absolutely beautiful. I love the simplicity of it. I like the satin finish on the back and sides and the gloss top. The top wood grain on mine looks great. Just enough pattern to add some character without a lot of bold striping. I chose the mahogany one for a few reasons – 1) it was a little cheaper, 2) I listened to some comparisons and although the mahogany vs. rosewood were very, very similar, I thought the mahogany sounded a little better, and 3) the mahogany I think is even simpler looking than the rosewood, which I like. The mahogany D-16 is more like a D-18, where the rosewood D-16 is more like a D-28. I thought the binding was black, but was pleasantly surprised to see it's actually a beautiful dark tortoise shell.The only thing I would be a little critical on for this guitar is the electronics. The single tone knob adjusts from flat EQ to "scooped" EQ. To me, both of these settings have too much mid and high end. I would like separate bass, mid (preferably sweepable), and treble controls. And the enhance does make it sound a bit more natural, but it really doesn't affect the sound that much. I think they should've gone simpler and just left off the tone knob and enhance knob. They could've preset some enhance from the soundboard pickup and then let the user EQ it to their liking with a DI or amp, since that needs to be done anyway. However, I think a lot of acoustic-electrics plugged in directly suffer from similar issues (except maybe for ones equipped with something like the L.R. Baggs Anthem). I did get a pretty good sound plugged in after adding some EQ in my DAW and a little reverb. Likewise, if I were to plug in for live performance, adding a DI box or an amp with EQ controls would help immensely.On the plus side for the electronics, I do like that the controls are somewhat hidden in the sound hole. I also like that the output jack is separate from the button. I had another acoustic-electric with the output jack in the strap button, and I needed a special adapter to get any of my several straps to hook onto it securely. And it's nice to have the battery accessible from outside the guitar. Systems like the L.R. Baggs Anthem require a battery bag velcroed inside the instrument which requires string removal (or extreme loosening) to change.Jason

I bought this beauty about a month ago at Sam Ash. I visited three or four times and spent several hours playing different acoustic electrics in their acoustic room before I decided on this guitar. Not only is it easy on the eyes, but it sounds so good especially amplified. It has a great tone and really nice low end. At first I had some buyers remorse, but now that I've played it through multiple amps and have used it to record, I'm confident I made the right choice.JW

Finally got a Martin made in Nazareth, PA. The reviews were right on down to the smell of wood the first time you opened the case. Sounds sweet unplugged. The feel of the neck and the action couldn't be better. Not as loud as a full bodied dreadnought as expected. When I plugged it in my Fishman Loud Box Artist, I was blown away. It made me hear what this amp was really made for. But here's the problem. After a few minutes of strumming the guitar and enjoying the sound, the 1E string rolled off the edge of the fret. I ignored it and kept playing because the sound was so good. But then it happened again in less than 20 minutes of playing. Both times happened on the third fret so I looked at it closely. I pressed the string and lightly pushed it down and it easily rolled off the edge. I've been a guitar player for well over 40 years and the last time I had this issue was with a guitar with a badly replaced frets & fretboard. I don't know if this is just a defect on this particular D-16e guitar or the design is just not right for me. Either way I'm not happy with it so I returned it. It used to be when people ask me about Martin guitars, I tell them if it's made in Nazareth, PA you can never go wrong. That's a myth to me now. It may be a one in a million thing, but if you're that guy in a million, it's a world view changing experience. What else do I believe in that's not really true?Roberto

I am a singer, songwriter, quartet member and also perform some solo gigs around town. I own 2 other Martin guitars and have grown to prefer them over most other acoustic guitars. I bought this guitar as a Daily Pick from GC on line because the price caught my eye. For a U.S. Made Martin, you can't beat this guitar at this price. It arrived quickly and in good but not great condition. It was dirty and needed a new set of strings. I expected a brand new, in the original box, with all the case candy, etc. That was not what I got. I almost put it back in the box and called GC for a return. It was late in the evening so I tuned it up and started noodling around. Wow! This dirty repack demo of a guitar sounded great. I was really surprised. There was just a little too much relief in the action for my preference but very nice action and easy to play. Played like my other Martins, which I love but with a sound all it's own. It was begging me to sing along. That's what this thing is made for, in my opinion. Solo acoustic performance machine. I thought I'd try it plugged in just to see how cheesy the electronics were. Wow! The Fishman system in this guitar is better than any other guitar I currently have. It is so true to the actual sound from the guitar that I couldn't believe it. I must have played a couple of hours that night. Next morning I called GC and described the condition of the guitar and expressed my disappointment. The associate that I spoke with was very apologetic and set out to make me happy. I ended up keeping the guitar after an agreed upon credit to my GC Credit Card and some free strings. After a top to bottom cleaning, a new set of strings, and slight truss rod adjustment, I am a happy camper. I would definitely recommend this guitar to anyone.TMAX

I wanted to talk about some questions I had when I ordered this guitar. So, here goes! 1. It is an American Martin. Made in Nazareth, PA. 2.The gig bag that comes with this guitar is VERY nice for a gig bag. At the price point I got? I can buy a hard case later if I feel like I want to travel or ship the guitar. 3. The Fishman electronics are simple and discreet. 4. Based on what I am seeing? My particular guitar was built somewhere around 2018. So whilst it is new? This model came out a bit ago. 5. When the guitar arrived? I tuned it twice, and from then? It seems rock solid. 6. I don't know a ton about guitars, nor am I great musician, but I love the way this guitar sounds. Either plugged in or not? It has a bright rich tone. 7. It appears, at least to me, not to need any adjustment. I will keep an eye on this as the guitar ages. 8. I have friends with far more experience and talent than I. Both folks that played this guitar smiled and asked to take it home with them. I think that is a good sign. 9. There isn't anything "fancy" about this guitar. It has that classic simplicity to it. Zero flash or BS. I don't have any regrets about this purchase. It was birthday present to myself. I happened to get an email from GC, and it featured this guitar as a daily pick, with a substantial discount from the normal cost. I took a chance, and I am happy that I did! During the pandemic of 2020? GC and Martin gave me a lovely distraction from the drama and weirdness of daily life. Thanks!GOSTAZ

I have been looking around for a life long acoustic. From just having it and playing for a week I am certain this guitar will outlast me. It's absolutely perfect. The ovangkol is actually really beautiful but I understand some folks think it looks like "fake" wood, but it's not, it's absolutely real. The sound is full and deep. The highs are crystal bright, no muddiness whatsoever. This is a really great guitar. It's so simple. Just the basics, no bells no whistles, just a great guitar.Arnas, G

Just fantastic Well, how do I make this clear. First of all, an acoustic guitar is really just a mirror made out of wood;l in other words, whatever you can do, IT will do. I've been playing almost 30 years and can tell you that learning to play steel-string is an EVOLUTION. An evolution of your taste, your ability, but also it's a continued undestanding of what makes a guitar sing: Voicings and strings. Without all these things you cannot evolve. What a martin brings to the table (ESP the D-45) is the vehicle to make these expressions in my opoinion. For example, I play the same thing on 2 guitars and one of them is a D-45 — THAT is where we should begin the review, a comparison to a baseline variable. I've owned both old klunkers and nice steel string guitars. But it wasn't until late '07 that I had the dough to lay down on a Marty. I went with a D-42 for econ reasons (about 3400.00 at that time). She was a beut' … However, a few years later I went into the shop and test drove a new D-4 and let me tell you there was just NO comparison there…. NONE. The D-45, when put together correctly and set to go is about as close to driving a Ferarri Enzo as a working-class guitarist can ever get. She was so fast, and so bright, big, and loud it was jaw-dropping — not only for me, but for several others in the sound room, no kindding. I decided right then and there I would lay down the money to get her. And only this particular one, too. Each one is different. YOU MUST SHOP and COMPARE. This is the nicest guitar I've ever played in my life….. Endless enjoyment is hard to put a price on.Jon Mould

I also own a Gibson J-200, and the feel of this guitar is just so different and special. It plays so much easily and without effort. Having said that, I'm still playing with strings and determining which works best for me, but regardless of what I've used so far, I have not been disappointed. On top of the amazing sound, it is probably the most beautiful piece of art that I have ever seen. Not only does it sound better than probably any other acoustic you will get your hands on, but it will also leave you with a sense of pride that you own a work of art that will stand the test of time as you pass it down generation to generation.P-Dogg

I took basic Mel Bay guitar lessons when I was 10 years old with a backyard guitar that cost my mother I think $50 back in the day. As usual for an undisciplined kid, I found the process of practicing difficult and got bored easily. I excelled in singing instead so I laid the guitar down only to wonder for the rest of my life, could I have actually been a good guitar player had I just stuck with it? Now in my 50s I decided I would buy this Martin Special D Road Series Dreadnought solid spruce topped guitar and am completely satisfied. The tone is full and rich with distinctive highs and lows that's described for this guitar. I'm making sure that I'm keeping it in a humidified room between 40 to 50% stored in its case. After the initial break in tune period of the first couple of days, it's holding in tune very nicely. The high strings need to be adjusted as they rattle a bit. The Guitar Center technician explained this may happen and to bring it in for adjustments as this is a known Martin trait. So I plan to take care of that soon and begin my lessons with a local instructor. Wish me well in my journey and I wish you well in your journey as well. Happy playing. You'll love this guitar.David

I bought this guitar so I could store my D-18 for safe keeping. The Special D has similar specs so I thought it would be a perfect replacement for haif the money. After the Special D arrived I played it for a few weeks and realized that Special D played nicer and sounded better than the D-18. Now I'm not sure what guitar to store for safe keeping. These Special D dreadnoughts are very good guitars with Martins very high level of craftsmanship. Limited quantities left.Bill

After a bazillion years of playing, I got my first all solid acoustic and my first Martin. Couldn't be happier. The only downside is I have three acoustics that sound like toys in comparison. If you're wary about sapele, I'd say don't be. It's not as loud and bassy as rosewood but it's comparable to mahogany and has a great, even tone. Setup was on point right out of the box. Great deal at this price point.Troy

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

Overall: Played one 10 or so years ago but didn’t get because of other obligations. Never forgot how it played and sounded! Finally got one and it is a truly excellent guitar. I have a Gibson CJ165EC, which I love, and the 000-15M is a totally different sound, which I wanted. Needed some Martin jangle! Out of the box fantastic. The mahogany tone is unmistakable and rich! Neck is a thin Martin neck, which I’m fine with. I’ve been playing for 53+ years so I kinda know what I’m talking about. Putting in a Fishman rate earth soundhole pickup and this will be my busking guitar! Really happy with the guitar and with zZounds. Delivery was fast and purchase was flawless. Highly recommend both the Martin 000-15M and zZounds!!Reverend

I ordered this online after discussing the purchase with Sam Ash Staff, it was in short supply, they scouted all Sam Ash Stores, they found one and it arrived two weeks early just after christmas. My wife loves it! It's her 2nd Martin Guitar and this one is her prize instrument. The staff at our local store were really helpful both with the Order process and preparing the the guitar upon arrival at the store. I asked about the 1st year instrument maintenance option and they were able to update our purchase to include that. The guitar sounds great, my wife loves playing it even though she is a novice. Totally satisfied with the instrument and the staff that helped obtain it. Thanks guys.Britinusa

I have wanted a triple-aught mahogany guitar. I preferred the Guild D20 dread to the Martin D15, but was open-minded about which 000 brand. Didn't like videos on Taylor and Alvarez all hog orchestra models and was very impressed with the Martin videos. So ordered this. Was also a big fan of Kenneth Pattengale and I'm With Her who use the 00-15 model. Let the box sit half a day. Upon opening it I was greeted by this amazing scent. The guitar came set up with low action, slightly detuned. The bridge and fretboard appeared to be stained morado (a very hard and valid wood, harder than rosewood but not quite as much as ebony). Tuners are Grover Statites. They are firm and perhaps a little too sensitive to sometimes dial in. The body was a gorgeous chocolate with amber-orange highlights. The guitar was immaculate. Martin Lifespan 2.0 PB 12-54 strings. It sounded really nice with the ebony pins which were fit absolutely perfectly. However, I had already purchased Blisstime unbleached bone pins which fit perfectly too. I got even more sustain and a more melodic tone, along with greater volume. This improved the strumming tone immensely. May switch to nickel-bronze 12-56 strings, but I will wait for now. The guitar is super-light and weird to hold after dreads. The tone is dark (as expected) but ringing. There is the hog compression, but I was amazed how great this sounded brand new. I did humidity it overnight. Intonation was spot on. The frets were dressed wonderfully with no protruding ends. No truss rod wrench, nor polishing cloth like with my DSS-17. The case had a small ding in the tolex which I was able to bond into place cleanly and disguise. The case is very nice, but without built-in humidification like my Guild. The tone is beautifully even and not bass-heavy like the D15. The treble keeps up with the expected mids. The end pin was not pushed in all the way by me as it was very tight. May opt to have that professionally assessed. I don't gig, so a pickup is not for me. I did get a tortoise pickguard. This is definitely a keeper which I will pamper.Tom

Overall: I am barely into my third year playing guitar. I progressed from a Yamaha FG800 to an Epiphone Masterbilt DR500 MCE. I always wanted a Martin but I can't drop the coin for the D-18 or the D-28 that I really want, so I bought this without seeing or hearing it. I was honestly worried that a guitar with HPL back and sides could hang with an all solid wood guitar. Bad weather and the Pandemic slowed delivery down to four days via Fedex, but it is what it is. The first half hour of playing I was really wondering if I was going to like it. It took a little time to get used to that booming bottom end. But once I did, I learned to modulate it where necessary. And it plays so much smoother than my Epiphone. I am looking forward to playing with a friend who has a D-28 this summer to just compare them. Listen, I know this a made in Mexico Martin. And purists might turn their nose up. But play one and see, if like me, you think this is an amazing guitar at this price point. Heck. Now I don't know why I should keep the Epiphone. Call me a believer. The only thing i would ask Martin to do is add a nice white or black binding on this to protect the top and add a liitle flair. Heading to the Martin Website to get me a sticker for the mancave and a nice Martin ballcap. Love it.Blair

I had played this Martin D-41 some 25 years ago and was just amazed at the tonal quality and punch this artful guitar produced. Not to mention it was the most beautiful acoustic I'd ever seen. I have played several different brands and models since and nothing quite reached the level of that D-41. I longed for that guitar all those 25 years until last year. Went to my local Guitar Center and they were out of them. I ordered one and a week later it arrived. Took it out of the box and and a crowd of guitar techs gathered over her. Breathtaking look about this guitar. I was sent into a private room and played for 45 minutes just amazed at what she sounded like. The setup was very close to what I'd preferred and will never regret the expenditure for a long time dream guitar. Named her Deena!Tim

I just got my martin d16 gt from guitar center. It's used. I looked up the serial number and it was built in 2000. I was surprised that it was a 22 year old guitar. It's in remarkably good shape for something that close to being an antique.

To be fair, it looks used. There are pick scratches all over the front. A few dings…but that's because the previous owner played it…because it's an out standing instrument. The sound is phenomenal and it plays great. It still looks great even with the cosmetic imperfections.

There is very little fret wear. That was surprising considering it's age. Maybe it's been crowned? Hard to say.

It was a little boxy sounding when I took it out of the box, but it loosened up fast. I could literally hear it opening up as I played it on the first day (I played it a LOT that day).

Phenomenal guitar. Worth every penny, maybe more. Highly suggestRobert Kuhn

Overall: I am barely into my third year playing guitar. I progressed from a Yamaha FG800 to an Epiphone Masterbilt DR500 MCE. I always wanted a Martin but I can't drop the coin for the D-18 or the D-28 that I really want, so I bought this without seeing or hearing it. I was honestly worried that a guitar with HPL back and sides could hang with an all solid wood guitar. Bad weather and the Pandemic slowed delivery down to four days via Fedex, but it is what it is. The first half hour of playing I was really wondering if I was going to like it. It took a little time to get used to that booming bottom end. But once I did, I learned to modulate it where necessary. And it plays so much smoother than my Epiphone. I am looking forward to playing with a friend who has a D-28 this summer to just compare them. Listen, I know this a made in Mexico Martin. And purists might turn their nose up. But play one and see, if like me, you think this is an amazing guitar at this price point. Heck. Now I don't know why I should keep the Epiphone. Call me a believer. The only thing i would ask Martin to do is add a nice white or black binding on this to protect the top and add a liitle flair. Heading to the Martin Website to get me a sticker for the mancave and a nice Martin ballcap. Love it.Blair

I had played this Martin D-41 some 25 years ago and was just amazed at the tonal quality and punch this artful guitar produced. Not to mention it was the most beautiful acoustic I'd ever seen. I have played several different brands and models since and nothing quite reached the level of that D-41. I longed for that guitar all those 25 years until last year. Went to my local Guitar Center and they were out of them. I ordered one and a week later it arrived. Took it out of the box and and a crowd of guitar techs gathered over her. Breathtaking look about this guitar. I was sent into a private room and played for 45 minutes just amazed at what she sounded like. The setup was very close to what I'd preferred and will never regret the expenditure for a long time dream guitar. Named her Deena!Tim

I just got my martin d16 gt from guitar center. It's used. I looked up the serial number and it was built in 2000. I was surprised that it was a 22 year old guitar. It's in remarkably good shape for something that close to being an antique.

To be fair, it looks used. There are pick scratches all over the front. A few dings…but that's because the previous owner played it…because it's an out standing instrument. The sound is phenomenal and it plays great. It still looks great even with the cosmetic imperfections.

There is very little fret wear. That was surprising considering it's age. Maybe it's been crowned? Hard to say.

It was a little boxy sounding when I took it out of the box, but it loosened up fast. I could literally hear it opening up as I played it on the first day (I played it a LOT that day).

Phenomenal guitar. Worth every penny, maybe more. Highly suggestRobert Kuhn

If you want the ARCHETYPE, the inspiration, the BEST, Go for a Martin. I have a Gibson Original Jumbo 1934 reissue, that sound like heaven, the Martin is another animal, a perfect pair for my Gibson, I'm not a professional, I love blues and fingerpicking in my home with a cigar and a whiskey and my two acoustics and my OMI Dobro Lilly Of The Valley are a treasure for me! The martin have a striped ebony fingerboard and bridge (I like it but some maybe preffer a black one, well are not black), the sound is clear and a joy! The craftmanship is perfect, the case is very nice, the martin strings sound very good (I bought 3 sets of the same), the rosewood is very nice paired, and the top have a beautiful aged tone. This guitar will be with me all my life. About Guitar Center of Miami Mr Mario and Ignacio are nice people!Alejandro

I'm a new guitarist and consider myself very fortunate to be able to afford an instrument like this. I am nowhere near good enough (yet) to get the most out of this guitar, but I will say that even as a beginner (and long-time music lover) I can really hear the difference between this and lesser guitars, and playing on an instrument like this makes learning more rewarding, and dare I say easier. Anything I hear wrong is clearly my technique, which this guitar rewards when you get it right, and makes obvious when you miss. From simple cowboy chords to picked or fingered individual notes this guitar just has tone to die for. Hit an E minor, hard or soft, and each string resonates with depth, clarity and sustain. Playing this guitar is really a dream come true. Oh, I said I'm a beginner and that means that as I write this I've been playing guitar for all of five months. I'm 52-years-old and take weekly 30 minute lessons, have dabbled in online lessons and practice about 15 to 30 minutes on weekdays and about an hour or two on Saturdays and Sundays. I recently sang and played "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues for my family. Just me, my D-28 and beautiful, room-filling tone. There's nothing better.Andrew

I had initially decided that I had made a mistake and purchased another guitar that I don't really need and was going to return the item. I contacted AMS and they made the process easy and I was ready to go. When the guitar arrived I of course could not resist opening and playing it just to check it out. This is an amazing guitar that is beautiful and has sustain for days. A high-end Martin at an affordable price? Obviously I'll be keeping it. Well played AMS.Chris

Wonderful sound and easy to play. Very much what you expect from a Martin guitar. I did find it $500 less after I purchased it, though.pauaver5

Just perfect! I had played several classical guitars and they all sounded pretty much the same – kind of hollow. Then I played the Martin. I could tell a tonal difference immediately. The combination of the Martin soundbox and the Magnifico strings is perfection. I was able to find a used one but even if you need to save your pennies – buy one!!Nathan T.

I've looked at a number of 12-string guitars over the years, this is the one that captured my interest. A very playable and great sounding 12-string, sounds even better when played through an amp using the internal pickups.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo

Great sounding Highs, Mids and Lows. Playability is great no buzzings and strings are nice low height. Really rings out.KB

dream come true!! this guitar is amazing, set up out of the box perfect, only thing is sharp fret edges on the bottom of the neck.Sounds amazing and you know its a Martin when you hear it.very impressed with this guitarEric

I would of preferred to buy a solid top Martin for my son but he has an attic bedroom which fluctuates with the heat and we were worried about keeping it stored safely so at his request I brought him this one instead. I had previously seen and held the solid mahogany version and so when this arrived it did look different (not quite as nice) and there was a slight difference it tone and resonance however it still looked and sounded great compared with other guitars around and under the same price range (£500) we had tried. My son is 16 and an intermediate level guitar player and found it comfortable and fun to play and it is a really good sounding guitar (particular at the lower end) especially when amplified. He particularly likes the neck profile of this Martin which is tapered and neither too far or too thin. A good value Martin that should last him years without the worry of the extra care you need to take with solid wood Martins so a good middle ground for us. Would recommend.Mr F. c.