1990 Martin 000-16 Flattop Guitar

While this Martin 000-16 looks a lot like the later 000-1-style Martins of the late '90s any has no relation to the 000-16GT or 000-16 Streetmasters of the current generations, it's actually more like a satin-finished OM instead as it's got a long scale length and "forward-shifted," scalloped x-bracing. That's geek wording for "retro-style" bracing in the fashion of '30s guitars.

Anyhow, it punches above its weight, has a modern-feeling neck profile, and these sit in the used marketplace as rather a good bit of value for purchase price, methinks. This one has been played-in enough that it has a warmer, fuller sound than I expect out of the average OM-style guitar with mahogany back and sides, too.

For folks with hard attacks, the longer scale length on these is nice to have over a normal, shorter-scale Martin 000 as they can take a bit more whumping from the player.











Comments

Michael Mulkern said…
I own one of these 000-16s and it's one of my favorite guitars. I think the scalloped bracing and longer scale really make a difference in the tone. Very hard to find, but grab one if you ever get the opportunity.