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Martin 000C12-16E Acoustic-electric Nylon-string Guitar - Natural

6-string Acoustic-electric Nylon-string Guitar with Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Select Hardwood Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
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Item ID: 000C1216ENat
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Martin 000C12-16E Acoustic-electric Nylon-string Guitar - Natural
Price:$2,299 and 99 cents
Special Financing - Ends Jun 30, 2026. $64/month with 36 month financing*

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Martin 000C12-16E Acoustic-electric Nylon-string Guitar - Natural
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Price:$2,299 and 99 cents
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A Nylon-string Guitar Steel-string Players Can Appreciate

Add the sweet sound of nylon strings to your guitar collection with the Martin 000C12-16E cutaway acoustic-electric guitar. This guitar's solid spruce top offers ringing projection and lush tonality to make your playing really shine. Plus, the solid mahogany back and sides round over your tone with a warm, mellow voice that’s particularly suited toward nylon-string fingerstyle applications. When it comes to playability, the 000C12-16E’s 1-7/8-inch nut is slightly wider than your typical acoustic, making it the perfect crossover instrument for steel-string players. You also get Martin E1 electronics that faithfully capture this guitar’s complex unplugged tone onstage. Lastly, a deep cutaway gives you effortless access to the upper reaches of the 18-inch-radius ebony fingerboard. Envisaged for crossover guitarists, the Martin 000C12-16E is the perfect nylon-string guitar to round out your steel-string stable.

The perfect nylon-string guitar for steel-string players

Many acoustic players shy away from nylon-string guitars due to the extra-wide nut width. Thankfully, Martin's 000C12-16E Nylon features a 1-7/8-inch nut width that's closer to the feel of a typical steel-string acoustic, making it more comfortable for a wider range of players. You'll find there is still plenty of string spacing to accommodate fingerpicking, while strummers will still feel right at home. Moreover, this crossover 6-string features an 18-inch radius ebony fingerboard — a far more familiar curve to steel-string guitarists than the traditional non-radiused fingerboard found on classical guitars.

Choice tonewoods — spruce, mahogany, and ebony

The Martin 000C12-16E Nylon is a prime example of the high-quality tonewoods Martin selects for their instruments. Its solid spruce top gives you detailed projection with the perfect amount of sparkle. The 000C12-16E Nylon's mahogany back and sides give you a warm and mellow quality, providing it with an all-around balanced tone. And the premium ebony fretboard sets a fantastic foundation for your fretwork while accentuating your tone's attack and presence.

Plug in courtesy of E1 electronics

Onboard Martin E1 electronics let you quickly connect to your favorite acoustic amp, recording interface, or even house PA systems at venues. Musicians at Sweetwater are impressed with the E1 system’s tone, volume, and phase-reverse controls, which let you faithfully amplify your 000C12-16E's richness and warmth while shaping sound quality to taste. The E1’s phase-reverse button is especially convenient for eliminating prickly feedback in tight spaces when standing near your amp is unavoidable. What’s more, the E1 system features a built-in tuner. You can tune up without any cable connections, so tuning breaks onstage and on the couch are equally painless. With onboard electronics this good, you’ll feel confident the 000C12-16E is equipped for anything.

Martin 000C12-16E Features:

  • Martin-designed nylon-string guitar with cutaway and electronics
  • A-frame X-bracing enhances projection and tonal balance
  • Mahogany back and sides with spruce top give this nylon-string guitar warm, detailed tone
  • Wider nut is perfect for fingerstyle players
  • Deep cutaway provides easy access to the upper frets
  • 18-inch-radius ebony fingerboard provides a more familiar fretboard foundation for steel-string crossover guitarists
  • Stage-ready Martin E1 electronics with built-in tuner

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Nylon
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: 000-12 Fret Cutaway
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Solid Spruce
  • Color: Natural
  • Finish: Satin
  • Body Bracing: Unique (A-Frame) X Brace System
  • Binding: Black
  • Neck Wood: Select Hardwood
  • Neck Shape: Low Profile
  • Radius: 18"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 26.44"
  • Nut Width: 1.875"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/White Tusq
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Side-mount
  • Electronics: Martin E1
  • Strings: Martin Classical Magnifico Premium, Hard Tension
  • Case/Gig Bag: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 10Y24000C1216ENYLON-01

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Reviews

Martin triple 0 C12-16 Acoustic Nylon
This is a very nice guitar, beautiful sound and looks, comfortable to play, a little bigger than what I'm used to which is double 0. The 12 fret is great for ease of fit. The neck is really nice, not typical classical but just right for finger picking. If I was a performing artist, I'd probably like the electronics. I do like how discretely the tuner and volume is positioned inside the guitar. However, I really prefer if there was option for no electronics. I almost gave 4 and half stars because of that non-option but this guitar is just so incredibly perfect on its own. I may leave the 'tronics in because I may just use them, plus I like the low key nature of them. If anyone could get me to 'electrify' it would be Martin, though I still wish for option of no electronics. Nylon strings are easier on the fingers and after decades of steel playing, I appreciate the difference. I love the bag, smart light navy exterior, it's easier to carry than hard shell and it has a really pretty blue lining. This guitar has a softness of sound that is really sweet. Some of us like quieter.
Music background: guitar player
Sounds great!
Since Martin is my favorite company, then I was looking for classical guitar within that brand. Yes, I do love this instrument and it is excellent for any parameter except one - string spacing, 4.85 is not optimal for classical guitar, it should be at least 50 mm. Movements of right and left hands must be very presice otherwise it is easy to touch adjacent string. So, it means I should spend more time working on technique and I hope it will become easier for advanced levels. But sound, design and feel are amazing, love it.
Absolutely Great Guitar
I've owned this guitar through Sweetwater for 3 months- I absolutely love it and Sweetwater made it all possible- a great guitar from a great music company - ask for Juan Pesina - he's the best technician for sales.
Music background: Have played guitar for 50 years
Nylon sounds, steel string familiarity and it's a Martin!
If you're aspiring to nylon sounds and don't want to change to a standard classical instrument this 'crossover' guitar as they call it could and should be your choice. Pick or fingers the projection is amazing; Not like my D28 but still for nylon the ring-out is bold but delicate. 26 1/2 scale! This is good - you need the tension on nylon and many crossovers miss this. The feel isn't the too clunky neck and there's side dots for this player that needs the visual marks. The electronics faithfully send balanced tones to an amp and the very light weight and smaller size is good for the sexagenarian player as myself who's having a tough time with a bigger heavier instrument over a long show. And finally - it's a Martin they do have a way with acoustics. This is the only nylon model I know of Martin is producing and I recommend it and recommend you obtain one before you can not.
Music background: I've played and performed for a long, long time
Martin 000C12-16e
Just received mine after preordering. Truly excellent playing and sounding crossover nylon. The scale length, nut width, and radiused fretboard all contribute to a very comfortable feel. Super light weight. The electronics accurately reproduce the acoustic sound, in my opinion. I'm very pleased!