Martin SP000-16T Reviews 5

Purchased used for $625 w/case over internet from Spruce Tree Music. This is a 1996 model that sold new for $1800.

Great action, set up is perfect. This guitar was a daily player by a pro who beat it up badly. There is a lot of lacquer missing on back and sides. But what do you pay to get a player to "AGE" a guitar for seven years for you? Beautiful abalone around the soundhole, and snowflake inlays on fretboard. Fiddle back mahogany back and sides (quite rare). Extremely tight grained spruce top. I have two other older Martins, one Santa Cruz and an assortment of other axes. This sounds more balanced than all of them.

Tuning gears appear to be PING or Schallers. Gold is coming off, they work fine but not a match for Waverlys or some of the other top end products.

Top: Engelmann Spruce, tight growth lines and lots of "Silk". Back and Side: Fiddleback mahogany. Very rare especially in newer instruments. Looks like curly KOA with a stain. Abalone soundhole and abalone snowflakes in the fretboard. Assembly is flawless and this guitar has stood the test of time.

This is my favorite guitar out of a couple of dozen exceptional guitars. The tone balance is sweet. Greta low, mids and highs. Pound it with a pick and it does not lose the balance. Finger picked, it shines.

clayman rated this unit 5 on 2003-08-11.

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