Martin D-16 GT

C.F. Martin Model "D-16GT"

This is how it is built: Top: Solid Sitka Spruce Back & Sides solid mahogany. Neck: Mahogany 1 piece Fretboard, Bridge Micarta Bindings: black Plastic Soundhole sorrounded by ring-herringbone-ring inlay Headstock logo: Golden Letters. Neck width at Nut: 43,5 mm (a bit more than 1-11/16). String spacing at nut: 38 mm (almost 1-1/2") Scale Length: 25,4" (645,15 mm)
C. F. Martin in Nazareth, Pennsyvania claims to be the oldest comapny building guitars (or at least steel string guitars) today. The company was established in the year 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin, a German immigrant to the USA, born in Markneukirchen Germany. The company is still owned and held by a family member. Today chairman is Christian Frederick Martin IV, the 6th boss in the company's history. Martin is said to be the inventor of the dreadnought guitar. Among steel string guitars about 80-90 % have the form and size of a dreadnought. The Martin D-16 GT offers a lot of "bang for the buck" It is a guitar made of solid tonewoods only (exepf fo the micarta fretboard and bridge) and it's bracing resembles to the HD-models. The bracing is called "hybrid bracing" because it is something inbetween the scalloped bracing of a HD-gutar of the standard series and the A-frame-bracing used for the DM and DX-1. The purflings and finish are kept simple in order to offer a quality instrument for an affordable price. The Martin D-16GT has a lot of bass punch, soft treble and an overall mellow yet strong sound. The treble rings out with nice overtones. It is a nice fingerpicking guitar because it features a good attack due to the scalloped main braces and tone bar.

The neck joint is at the 14th fret. The neck has a medium height "D"-shape. The setup was great right out of the box, the action not too stiff but not too flat on the other hand either. One thing Martin is known for: The bridge pins stuck out of the bridge almost one centimeter. I put in a set of pins I hand around and they fit better.


This is the guitar I tweaked more than any other: I installed a K&K pure western pickup system, buffed sides and back to high gloss and replaced the original saddle with a new one I made from bone. The action seemed to be a bit too low because the treble strings rattled and buzzed slightly when the guitar was played loud. Since I had intended to make a bone saddle anyway this was annother reason. So I filed the new saddle to an extent that adjusted the treble strings about 0,5 mm higher at the 12th fret. On the other hand the action at the nut was way too high on the b and e strings. When I installed the new saddle I filed the slots of these two strings down a bit. Now the action is great and every note rings out clearly. Buffing out the satin sides and back to high gloss was an interesting experience. Detailed pictured report here.....

Above: Buffed back and sides.

Above: Saddle made of cow bone and new tusq bridge pins with abalone dots.
Spezifikationen der D-16 GT: Decke: Sitkafichte massiv boden & Zargen Mahagoni massiv Hals: Mahagoni Griffbrett, Brücke "black Micarta" Korpuseinfassungen: Kunststoff schwarz Schallocheinfassung: "Herringbone"-Einlagemit konzentrischen Ringen umgeben. Logo auf Kopfplatte: Goldene Buchstaben leicht erhaben. Halsbreite am Sattel: 43,5 mm Saitenabstand am Sattel: 38 mm Mensur: 645,15 mm (25,4")