SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
Like I said over in the Muse thread, I was killing time in Southern New Hampshire on Thursday, and decided to venture over to Retro Music in Keene. I've been going there since Jeff opened up, and I was commuting between Mass and southern Vermont. My ex was finishing her graduate studies in Keene at the time. I've bought quite a bit of cool stuff there over the years. Jeff only sells used gear, and has quite the cool vintage shop. His long time guitar tech now works for Joe Bonamassa. When Mike isn't on the road, he's back at Retro.
So when I got there, Jeff was working from home and Doogle was in the store. We were shooting the breeze talking about different stuff in the store. They have one of Roy Buchanon's Telecasters for sale, at $15,000.00. Obviously out of my pay scale. I got the idea to ask about an lap steels, as Jeff usually has interesting stuff go through the shop. They had three, and since lap steels are hot right now, they were a bit more than I wanted to pay. So, I asked if they had any real good "sleeper" Acoustics. Something that played and sounded amazing, yet was easy on the wallet. There were a couple dozen there, so I thought the odds might be good.
Doogle handed me a Martin, and said "You have to play this thing. You won't believe it." I honestly couldn't put it down. I've never owned a good acoustic. The two I have are garbage, and not fun to play. I try to play them every now and then, then go back to an electric. This model is a D-16T which means "Technology", and has a hybrid scalloped X-bracing. I didn't know anything about the model, but the playability and beautiful sound had me sold. Doogle called Jeff, and asked if there was a "long term customer"price on the guitar, and Jeff told him a different number than was listed, so I grabbed it. I wasn't really looking for a new acoustic yet, as I really would have like to have found an ES-335 or ES-345 first. But, this seemed to be a good fit for me. I'm really enjoying playing it. The twenty five year old wood has really opened up, and I can see why there is nothing negative to be found anywhere regarding this guitar. The only complaints I could find is that Martin discontinued the model because it was making the D-18 irrelevant.
It also has some sort of built in pickup, but not sure what. Looks like the bridge was removed to install it. There are no controls, so my guess is that it would be probably plugged into a DI box or board.
Some info regarding the guitar:
THE MARTIN GUITAR COMPANY
SPECIFICATION SHEET
D-16T HIGH TECHNOLOGY
MODEL
MODEL #: D-16T (Technology) Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
TOP: Solid Spruce with Herringbone Rosette (Fine Pattern)
BRACING: Scalloped with Hybrid A-frame Bracing
SPECIAL FEATURES: New Patented Technology Applied To Body Interior & Neck To Body Joint
BACK: Two Piece Genuine Mahogany
BACK INLAY STRIP: Herringbone Back Strip
SIDES: Genuine Mahogany
NECK: Solid Genuine Mahogany with Rosewood Heel Cap
NECK SHAPE: Extra Low Profile with Adjustable Rod
HEADPLATE: East Indian Rosewood with Raised Gold Logo
FINGERBOARD: East Indian Rosewood Inlaid with Abalone Diamonds & Squares
BRIDGE: East Indian Rosewood, Wings Inlaid with Abalone Diamonds
FINISH: Satin Finish on Neck & Body, Aging Toner on Top*
BINDING: Tortoise Color with Matching End Piece
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black with White Dots
SADDLE & NUT: Corian Nut, Micarta Saddle
PICKGUARD: Tortoise Color
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
TOTAL LENGTH: 40 1/2"
BODY LENGTH: 20"
BODY WIDTH: 15 5/8"
BODY DEPTH: 4 7/8"
NECK WIDTH AT NUT: 1 11/16" (2 1/8" Bridge Spacing)
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4" Long Scale
TUNING MACHINES: Chrome Enclosed with Large Chrome Buttons
STRINGS: M-2200 Martin Marquis Medium Gauge Phosphor Bronze Wound
OTHER OPTIONS: Left-handed At No Additional Charge
*Polished Gloss Finish Option, Add $250.00
CASE: #640 Hardshell Case
AVAILABILITY: Stock Model As Of 1995 Version
So when I got there, Jeff was working from home and Doogle was in the store. We were shooting the breeze talking about different stuff in the store. They have one of Roy Buchanon's Telecasters for sale, at $15,000.00. Obviously out of my pay scale. I got the idea to ask about an lap steels, as Jeff usually has interesting stuff go through the shop. They had three, and since lap steels are hot right now, they were a bit more than I wanted to pay. So, I asked if they had any real good "sleeper" Acoustics. Something that played and sounded amazing, yet was easy on the wallet. There were a couple dozen there, so I thought the odds might be good.
Doogle handed me a Martin, and said "You have to play this thing. You won't believe it." I honestly couldn't put it down. I've never owned a good acoustic. The two I have are garbage, and not fun to play. I try to play them every now and then, then go back to an electric. This model is a D-16T which means "Technology", and has a hybrid scalloped X-bracing. I didn't know anything about the model, but the playability and beautiful sound had me sold. Doogle called Jeff, and asked if there was a "long term customer"price on the guitar, and Jeff told him a different number than was listed, so I grabbed it. I wasn't really looking for a new acoustic yet, as I really would have like to have found an ES-335 or ES-345 first. But, this seemed to be a good fit for me. I'm really enjoying playing it. The twenty five year old wood has really opened up, and I can see why there is nothing negative to be found anywhere regarding this guitar. The only complaints I could find is that Martin discontinued the model because it was making the D-18 irrelevant.
It also has some sort of built in pickup, but not sure what. Looks like the bridge was removed to install it. There are no controls, so my guess is that it would be probably plugged into a DI box or board.
Some info regarding the guitar:
THE MARTIN GUITAR COMPANY
SPECIFICATION SHEET
D-16T HIGH TECHNOLOGY
MODEL
MODEL #: D-16T (Technology) Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
TOP: Solid Spruce with Herringbone Rosette (Fine Pattern)
BRACING: Scalloped with Hybrid A-frame Bracing
SPECIAL FEATURES: New Patented Technology Applied To Body Interior & Neck To Body Joint
BACK: Two Piece Genuine Mahogany
BACK INLAY STRIP: Herringbone Back Strip
SIDES: Genuine Mahogany
NECK: Solid Genuine Mahogany with Rosewood Heel Cap
NECK SHAPE: Extra Low Profile with Adjustable Rod
HEADPLATE: East Indian Rosewood with Raised Gold Logo
FINGERBOARD: East Indian Rosewood Inlaid with Abalone Diamonds & Squares
BRIDGE: East Indian Rosewood, Wings Inlaid with Abalone Diamonds
FINISH: Satin Finish on Neck & Body, Aging Toner on Top*
BINDING: Tortoise Color with Matching End Piece
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black with White Dots
SADDLE & NUT: Corian Nut, Micarta Saddle
PICKGUARD: Tortoise Color
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
TOTAL LENGTH: 40 1/2"
BODY LENGTH: 20"
BODY WIDTH: 15 5/8"
BODY DEPTH: 4 7/8"
NECK WIDTH AT NUT: 1 11/16" (2 1/8" Bridge Spacing)
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4" Long Scale
TUNING MACHINES: Chrome Enclosed with Large Chrome Buttons
STRINGS: M-2200 Martin Marquis Medium Gauge Phosphor Bronze Wound
OTHER OPTIONS: Left-handed At No Additional Charge
*Polished Gloss Finish Option, Add $250.00
CASE: #640 Hardshell Case
AVAILABILITY: Stock Model As Of 1995 Version
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Congrats on your new guitar John, she's a beauty!
