The colours and the shapes: take a tour of Martin’s new 16 Series
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Martin’s 16 series has been loved by gigging players since the 1980s, delivering instruments that sound great, feel very comfortable, and if they look amazing, too, well, that doesn’t hurt. The newly revamped 16 series guitars are quite a departure, however.
Now, when you picture a Martin in your head, you’re probably thinking of an iconic dreadnought or orchestra model. But the shapes of this revamped 16 series are rather different to the norm. So instead of a classic square shouldered silhouette, we have the DSS-16E slope shoulder dreadnought, the slope shoulder small body 00L-16E and the J-16E model Jumbo.
And then of course we have the colors. Now, while Martin’s shade tops do have a cult following, and the likes of Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton have had signature models with painted tops, the company is primarily known for its elegant natural finishes.
The 16 series stands out from the crowd by offering a trio of eye-popping semi-transparent gloss tops paired with matte back and sides to ensure that these head turning colours stand out even more. Let’s take a closer look at these bold new offerings.
The 16 series has always had a reputation for comfort, and this is just as true with this new release. We have a modified low oval carve on the select hardwood necks – a super comfortable neck shape that feels fast and immediate. The neck joins the body at the 14th fret on all these guitars, giving you plenty of room for capo use.
Furthermore, all three models have a 1.75-inch nut width, making clean fretting a breeze. The guitars all come stage ready with an LR Baggs Element active pickup system, and a soft shell case to ensure that you can take it to your gig or open mic in comfort and security.
Meet the DSS-16E
Slope shoulder dreadnought guitars are popular for their versatility across a variety of styles. They typically give you a warm, rich sound that works beautifully for both finger style and flat picking. This is particularly true when the design combines mahogany back and sides with a 24.9 in scale length. And this is the first time that Martin has paired a shorter scale with a slope shoulder dread.
The DSS-16E is available in three striking colourways. The classic 1935 Burst, the brooding Black Smoke, and the unquestionably eye-catching Cherry Cola finish Whichever colour you choose, you will enjoy the response and musicality of forward shifted X bracing and scalloped braces. This is a classic combo in terms of sound and a stage commanding look.
Command the stage with the J-16E
The J model is Martin’s big body powerhouse. Famous for filling a room with huge chordal strumming. The J is a flatpicker’s dream, especially with scalloped bracing like we have here. The combination of a full 25.4-inch scale and rosewood back and sides do make the J a fantastic choice for altered tunings and finger style as well.
The J16E is available in a more restrained 1935 Burst and Black Smoke options, but this Cream top really shines against the rosewood back and sides, and it’s picked out with double binding.
Get close with the 00L-16E
If you’re looking for a versatile small body guitar, then the 00L-16E has you covered. The mahogany back and sides and 24.9 in shorter scale make this a gentle, intimate strummer and a snarling little blues machine with a lot to explore in between.
We’ve got scalloped bracing and a 14 fret neck, giving you plenty of room to use your cappo. And despite its smaller body size, it does offer a surprising amount of projection when you give it some. Like the other newbies in the range, you get a choice of 1935 Burst and Black smoke, plus the addition of Blue Denim. The great thing about all these finishes is that being semi-transparent, you still get to appreciate the grain of the beautiful spruce underneath.
With a GPC cutaway and a Jumbo-size 12 string rounding out the range, the new 16 series is a fascinating and exciting addition to the Martin pantheon. The 16 series has always been a great choice for gigging players looking for a dependable instrument that will deliver on stage and in the studio, but with these new shapes, they also offer a subtly different sonic experience.
While still being quintessentially Martins, in an era where acoustic artists are always looking for ways to stamp their individuality on stage, these striking new colours and shapes offer something quite different from any other Martin guitar. And that’s quite exciting, too. The only question left is which one is for you?
Find out more about the 16 Series at martinguitar.com
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
