Martin GPC-16E Rosewood Acoustic-electric Guitar - Natural Reviews

As the owner of a Martin D-35 and a Gibson J185, I was looking for something smaller with modern electronics . The GPC16e fits the bill
The electronics are easily accessible thru the soundhole and the body is a bit thinner and more comfortable
Solid spruce top and solid rosewood sides and back produce that classic vintage tone
The pleked neck is a pleasure to play on
It is a good combination of quality and price.
My only complaint is that it should come with a hardshell case although the soft case is well made

Sweet sound from this instrument.
Mike Soper helped every step of the way.
Couldn't be happier.

This is my first Martin and I made a great choice. Plays like a dream, the combination of gloss and satin finish looks spectacular. The setup I requested was spot on and it sounds full and rich both unplugged and through my Fishman amp. Since I am mostly playing at home, the soft case is fine for me, it's padded well.Special thanks to my sales rep Creston Heltzel for the great pricing. Buy one now , you won't regret it.

I love this guitar. It sounds great is so comfortable to play. It has three little knobs in the hole but very accessible that can change the volume, tone plus control the presence. It is my favorite guitar.

Everything about it is great. The price is unbeatable too.

I bought mine locally because they made made me a deal I couldn't refuse. I tried every guitar they had. About 10 different models. Most were ones that were finalists from my on line searches. The Martin just had that special sound that spoke to me and was much more sensitive to my playing. It had the traits of my classical guitar but louder and more vibrant. The others were good for the money but I was buying with my ears. I usually go for a little flashier look but The GPC16 sound and playability is a full recommend from me.

I bought mine locally because they made made me a deal I couldn't refuse. I tried every guitar they had. About 10 differt models. Most were ones that were finalists from my on line searches. The Martin just had that special sound that spoke to me and was much more sensitive to my playing. The others were good for the money but I was buying with my ears. The GPC16 is a full recommend from me.

I have been enamored by Martin guitars for over 50 years. I dabbled in guitars seriously in my 40's and quit when my young son said I loved my guitar better than him. Now that he is a grown man with his own family, I decided to get back into playing. I've always wanted a Martin and I've wanted to learn to play jazz. The debate was whether or not a flattop would make a good jazz guitar. After searching the Webb and listening to various u-tube providers I was finally convinced that a flattop makes a great jazz instrument. I then proceeded to acquire the GPC-16E as it was made in Nazareth and fit my budget for a beautiful full featured guitar. I found a great instructor and unfortunately for me developed a severe back problem which terminated my taking lessons for a while. I love this instrument from its quality craftsmanship to its beautiful sound and feel. I know it will give me a lifetime of enjoyment as I am 72 years old. Please purchase this guitar without reservation. I know you will be happy with it.

First, I want to talk about the professionalism, patience, and expertise the Sweetwater sales engineer (Jonathan Appleton) brought to the table as I was on my quest for a new acoustic-electric guitar. He has been my Sweetwater representative for several years now and has consistently provided accurate and useful information about my product searches and questions. Jonathan's diligence and product knowledge are a real credit to himself and the Sweetwater team.

I have had this guitar for about a month now. I wanted to play it in a variety of venues and circumstances and take it through its paces before writing a review. The GPC-16E is amazing. It has a great, fast, clean neck, the tuning keys are accurate and keep the guitar in tune, and the body produces great tones. I use it to play bluegrass, country, jazz, gospel, rock, folk-rock, and beach ("Buffettesque") music. The setup Sweetwater performed is perfect for me. I have played the GPC-16E in several small to medium (250 person) size venues with a range of room acoustics. I usually play it mic'd or through a Fender Acoustasonic 20 amp with a Fishman Aura imaging pedal. It has performed extremely well and I am truly pleased with this purchase. I have let other experienced guitar players play the GPC-16E and they are very impressed with it.

If I were really, really pressed to have to search and dig to come up with one area of improvement, it might be the pickup Martin chose for these guitars. Nothing peculiarly or particularly wrong with it, it's just the age old debate about piezo electronics. Also, Fishman makes better piezo pickup systems than the system that is installed on the guitar. It might be helpful if Martin gave us a choice of pickups to install on the GPC-16E. If given the option, I would gladly pay more to have Fishman's upline electronics on this guitar. Even though I suspected that an upline Fishman pickup might be a better option, that did not create any substantive purchase concerns. I bought it. After playing the guitar for a month and knowing what I know now, the pickup system would not impact my purchase decision at all. It's a minor issue given the overall GPC-16E package and I believe I have solved most of my piezo pickup concerns with the Fishman Aura imaging pedal. Playing through the Fender Acoustasonic amp and the Fishman Aura imaging pedal, the Fishman pickup produces tones that are about as natural and authentic as I might achieve with other pickup options.

I am extremely pleased with the GPC-16E and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fine acoustic-electric guitar at that price point. Thank you Martin and thank you Sweetwater!

I am so glad I finally got this guitar. The playability is like a dream. I adjusted the action on the neck and it exceeded all my expectations. It smells and feels so nice, it is a real joy to play. I recommend this guitar highly, the sound is perfect and balanced. Best acoustic I have ever owned, thanks Kevin Samuels & everyone at Sweetwater for all your help!

It is the best guitar I have bought at the price. I love the shape and it Sounds beautifully. Great guitar.

I have hacked on my other guitar for years and have been told by many.. "Get a better sounding guitar and you will get better mainly because you will play more !"
So finally I did upon retiring. I purchase a Martin GPC-16E. Was a bit concerned about it not coming with a hard case. However, when I got it, all concerns vanished. The guitar was in tune right out of the box.
The Sound is amazing ! And of course they were all correct because I play it EVERYDAY ! The smaller then a typ. Dreadknot makes it even easier for me to play.
Seath, my sales expert, You hit it out of the park on this one !!! Great stuff !!

Sounds great. Great price thanks sweetwater.

This is an excellent guitar regardless of price. The fact that it was very reasonably priced is a bonus. Setup is great, the guitar actually arrived perfectly in tune. I'm very impressed by the sound. Very full and defined with great projection but still warm and well rounded. Noah handled the transaction perfectly and kept me well informed of the process.

I have been wanting a guitar to do open mic's with. I purchased a Roads Series 000-12e and found it to be great but lacked a cutaway I wanted for upper register access. I was very interested in the SC-13e but when the GPC-16e became available I couldn't resist a USA Martin!
I am so happy I did! Both guitars are great, but side by side there was no comparison for me! The playability, sound, and feel just clicked for me and I never looked back!
Unplugged is a joy! And amplified sounds are crisp and defined. It sounds great at events and I have had no feedback issues at all!
This is my most played guitar by far!

Thanks Ken for your excellent customer service!

I wanted a guitar that would produce more bottom than my concert body Guild. Wow, what great sound this Martin produces! It arrived nicely setup right out of the box and is a joy to play. The soft case is nicer than I thought although you might want a hard shell if you travel. I'm 5' 9" and the Grand Performance body is very comfortable for me to play. I haven't tried out the electrics on this guitar but I must say I'm very pleased with my purchase.

I always wanted a Martin for the tone, shocked by the playability, too. This is my first Martin, I am a home player/recorder, and usually play sitting down, so I love the shape of this guitar. I bought it about a month ago and am having trouble putting it down. I really, really am pleased with this guitar. I was looking to upgrade my acoustic (I was mostly an electric player) and am completely satisfied. Great setup straight out of the box (thanks Martin and Sweetwater!). Sounds great both acoustic and plugged in, great action and frets, and the tone is to die for. Very pleased.

Purchased it a couple of months ago. Not having acoustic experience except other peoples Ovation guitars at open mike nights. I bought it to finger-pick and could not have expected more. I reviewed this guitar the day I got it. Was not published I guess too tongue in cheek. Put Retro lights on it great strings for mellow. Very playable for anyone easy to fret even for an electric player in his 70s.

I purchased this as a display, 3 weeks ago, had nanoweb 11-52, phosphor bronze strings installed and custom setup. Initially thought the strings were a mistake, but after approx 60 hrs of use, the excessive brightness mellowed to more balanced tones with a bass improvement. The clarity of individual notes is amazing, and chords are effortless and balanced! The smaller size than a dreadnought is supremely comfortable, hours seem like minutes. It lacks the "boom/volume of my epiphone dr500, being a smaller body. I haven't tried the electronics yet, initially had tuning issues with the unwound strings, but stretching and playing helped that. Will probably go to standard lights and use the Martin "knot" on the unwounds when I change strings, I sometimes use extreme bends/pulls. The soft case was padded OK, but too floppy for me, traveling. Ordered a Martin case, gpcpa5k, excellent fit and protection. The pleked frets,.neck shape,size, and nut width are perfect for me. Almost as effortless as the fender American professional necks! The only improvement I could suggest would be an aging toner finish. I just prefer the orange/gold patina of a well aged spruce top!! If you prefer a smaller sized guitar for marathon sessions, imo this is the ONE!

I own three other Martins and this is the cheapest so I can see where they saved us money. The back and sides are matte finish and there's one spot right where the neck turns into the headstock that has a slight bump. Not that big a deal. The tone is nice! It's a modern tone (nearer the Taylor family). A bit too bright and jangly for me with new strings so I won't be changing strings often. The bass response is very good. You can hear the lows because the low-mids are light. Nice EQ curve. The action was too high to make use of the cutaway notes so I had to lower the bridge saddle and give a quarter turn to the truss rod. Like I said, this is not a $4000 Martin but will make a good gigging guitar - especially if you get up to some high notes. The gig bag is a total bummer. Quite cheap and unappealing. Will have to buy a proper case later.

This is a nice guitar in Martin's attempt to offer a line of American made, all wood, less-expensive guitars. I own other standard series Martins and feel that while this guitar is does not quite meet the quality of those, it is an excellent value for the price asked. My only real complaint is the cheap gig bag. Taylor offers much nicer gig bags with their lower priced guitars. If you want a hard shell case for this guitar, it is going to cost you $, and it will have to be ordered from a Martin dealer. The cases that Sweetwater recommends do not fit quite right. You will want Martin item # 12C0105. I guess not offering a hard shell case with the guitar helps to keep the price down, but they could do a far better job on the gig bag. BTW - the electronics are terrific. You get that great Martin sound un-corrupted by amplification.

I purchased this in august/2019, and liked It So much, I bought a HD 35! This is a little more comfortable to play,of course the 35 is louder and has more bottom, but everything else is fine and steadily settling in and aging well! I am currently considering this in the mahogany model,which is a testimonial to how satisfied I am with this guitar in particular, and Martins, Sweetwater, and Mason Bouvier in general! My only suggestion is to have an aging toner finish, but that is just a personal preference for the patina and color of aged acoustics. I highly recommend this guitar to everyone, especially if financial circumstances are a concern, and the '18, '28,'35, etc, are a little out of range. Another benefit is I'm less paranoid with who,where, this guitar goes,compared to my HD 35!? Though the soft case is fine for at home, I bought a Martin hard shell case for more peace of mind! I have been picking along here and there for fifty five years, so I've had the pleasure of spending time with a LOT of guitars and rate this one highly, thus the 4 rating, I don't think I've ever met a 5!
Enjoy your music!!

I did what I convinced myself one should never, ever do and that is order a guitar on-line sight unseen - "Hey kid, ya feeling lucky"? So... I wasn't expecting a vintage Martin dreadnought canon but, I know this guitar certainly wasn't meant to be that. I've had the opportunity to play and record some very fine specimens of acoustic guitars, many being Martins, so, I have a picture in my head of the elements that come together to make for a great guitar. Although there are certainly a handful of positive things I can say about this guitar (All wood, nicely built, beautiful visually, light and comfortable, some of that classic Martin tonality), there are a couple of points that I found to be a remarkable issue - the high E and B string noticeably have less energy and high frequency content that the wound strings. Also, there is a notable lessening of volume from about the 3rd fret to the 16th fret on the high E and B. The reason I didn't return the guitar was that I made the wrong assumption that this effect was due to the undersaddle pickup. By the time I got the guitar back from the luthier it was past the return period. I had him remove the undersaddle pickup and make a new bone saddle. This did improve the sound just a bit for me but, the lack of energy/highs of the plain strings lingers. I increase the gauge of the top two strings in attempt to regain some of the missing tone and dynamic and that did give the E and B just a bit more girth and dynamic but, I know now that this is something inherent in the guitar itself. It does disappoint me some because I've played acoustic guitars costing less that didn't exhibit this lack of tone and energy that is apparent in this GPC16e rosewood. I end up having to make concsious compensations in my technique executions that require extra energy. That is an aggravation quite often. Ahhh, but never-the-less, I have made some good home recordings that others have given big compliments to and the bands I play with think the guitar sounds great. And I'm sure it does. Its just hard to ignore this element of the guitar. So, although this Martin definately "IS not the one", it will stand as a reliable gigging and practicing guitar until I find and can afford "The one". And of course, this doesn't mean that you will recieve one with this issue. I know that all guitars, even of the same make and model cannot and will not be the same - some will be exeptional, and a few duds somehow will get through. I went against my better judgment and ordered online - and got what was coming to me. Its not a bad guitar, just shouldn't be exibiting and issue like that from the maker of the greatest acoustic guitars on the planet.