The Sound of a Sloped-shoulder 00 with a Sweeter Feel
Martin’s newly revamped 16 series blends the company’s renowned acoustic appeal with stylish looks and even more player-friendly features than before. The 00L-16E takes shape with a compact, sloped-shoulder 00 body and comes voiced with all-solid spruce and mahogany tonewoods. This traditional, idyllic acoustic tonal formula comes to life with a focused, intimate sound that small bodies are coveted for. It feels like a dream in hand, too, thanks to a shortened, effortlessly manageable 24.9-inch scale length, backed by Martin's Modified Low Oval neck profile and a smooth ebony fingerboard. For professional players, onboard Baggs Element electronics capture your acoustic tone with remarkable attention to detail when plugged in, ready for any venue or recording setup. The 00L-16E is also adorned with vintage-style hardware and appointments throughout, including open-gear nickel tuners, a bone nut, and 1955 Style 18 dot inlays, along with a handsome gloss finish over its natural satin body. Martin has revived its 16 series, offering the perfect blend of playability and timeless Martin tone to all players.
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Focused sound and a compact feel
The 00L-16E showcases Martin’s charming sloped-shoulder 00 body style with a shortened 24.9-inch scale length. This effortlessly wieldable, space-conscious form factor produces a warm, intimate sound that punches through the midrange while maintaining flawless control and note focus across the treble and bass ranges. Not to mention, scalloped X-bracing preserves sustain and resonance with a healthy dose of projection for its size. Joining the sloped-shoulder 00 body is a satin-finished hardwood neck, carved to Martin’s revered Modified Low Oval profile and topped with a sustain-laden ebony fingerboard, providing comfortable, flawless playability for all.
Spruce and mahogany set the scene
It’s no coincidence that few tonewood combinations have stood the test of time as unwaveringly as spruce and mahogany. The 00L-16E’s solid spruce top delivers acoustic tonal balance and vivid articulation, translating chords, lead lines, and fingerpicked passages with fluency. To complement this, the solid mahogany back and sides add traditional warmth and enduring sustain, powering through the midrange and filling out the low end of the mix with a strong, focused voice. In concert with its 00 size, guitarists will find that the 00L-16E suits a number of musical avenues, from old-school boxy blues and folk tones to expressive fingerstyle and singer/songwriter-style playing.
Amazing sound onstage
The 00L-16E comes with Baggs's popular Element acoustic pickup system, a favorite among gigging acoustic guitarists at Sweetwater. This system features a low-profile under-saddle transducer that improves the coupling between the pickup and the guitar, offering a robust, lively, and natural acoustic sound with excellent dynamics and a delicate high end. Combined with an onboard preamplifier and an unobtrusive Volume control mounted just inside the soundhole, the Element gives your 00L-16E the amplification you need without compromising tone or convenience.
The CF Martin legacy
What hasn’t been said about the CF Martin company? Martin — a name virtually synonymous with the acoustic guitar — took root in the United States in 1833 with a small shop in lower Manhattan. Five years later, Christian Frederick Martin moved his business and family to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, where Martin has been located ever since. From the Dreadnought body shape to the 14-fret neck, Martin innovations paralleled (and indeed, drove) the development of the acoustic guitar itself. When you play any Martin guitar, you’re holding a piece of music history.
Martin 00L-16E Features:
- Martin's 16 series returns with stylish good looks, performance upgrades, and legendary Martin tone
- Sloped-shoulder 00 shape with scalloped X-bracing creates a warm, focused, and intimate yet projective sound with a compact feel
- Solid spruce top establishes tonal balance and note clarity
- Solid mahogany back and sides add tonal warmth, midrange punch, and low-end control with enviable sustain
- Modified Low Oval satin neck feels exceptional in hand and comes topped with a smooth-playing ebony fingerboard
- Baggs Element electronics system sends the guitar’s natural tone through amps and interfaces with stunningly authentic reproduction
- Open-gear nickel tuners, a bone nut, and 1955 Style 18 inlays supply dependability and traditional appeal throughout
- Crafted with meticulous precision by Martin in Nazareth, PA
