Your Next Workhorse Acoustic—Built for Players Who Actually Play
Here's the thing about the Martin D-16E Mahogany: it's not trying to be anything it's not. This is a working musician's guitar—one that shows up to church gigs, open mics, recording sessions, and late-night living room jams without complaint. You get a solid Sitka spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides for a balanced voice that's big on midrange punch and articulation. Add Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 electronics that blend undersaddle and bridge plate transducers, and you've got a guitar that sounds like itself whether it's plugged in or not.
Martin built the D-16E with the dreadnought's wide upper bout for projection, but borrowed the slimmer 4-1/8" body depth from their 000 models. Translation: you get the volume and bass response you expect from a dread, but it sits more comfortably against your body and doesn't fight you when you're playing for hours. If you've ever loved the sound of a dreadnought but found the standard body depth a little much, this solves that problem.
This guitar is part of Martin's 16 Series, handcrafted in their Nazareth, Pennsylvania factory. It's designed for players who want American-made Martin quality without the four-figure price tag of the higher-end models. Whether you're a singer-songwriter who needs a reliable stage companion or a fingerstyle player looking for clarity and balance, the D-16E Mahogany delivers.
Solid Tonewoods and Smart Construction
The D-16E's solid Sitka spruce top delivers the crisp articulation and bell-like highs Martin is known for, while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth without muddying the mix. This tonewood pairing is a Martin staple for good reason—it produces a balanced sound with clear fundamentals that work whether you're fingerpicking or strumming full chords. The mahogany's midrange focus helps single notes and melodies cut through, which is exactly what you want when you're playing with other musicians.
Under the hood, Martin uses forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing to draw out the guitar's natural resonance. The bracing pattern provides balanced, clear projection without choking the top's movement. The gloss-finished spruce top contrasts nicely with the satin-finished mahogany back, sides, and neck—a detail that looks good and feels broken-in right out of the case.
A Neck That Doesn't Get in Your Way
Martin designed the D-16E with a modified low oval neck profile and a high-performance taper, which translates to easy movement up and down the 25.4" scale length. The select hardwood neck is topped with an ebony fingerboard that's smooth under your fingers and built to last. At 1-3/4" wide at the nut, it's comfortable for most playing styles without feeling cramped or overly wide.
The dovetail neck joint—a traditional Martin construction method—ensures solid connection between the neck and body for maximum energy transfer. You'll find 20 frets with mother-of-pearl Style 28 inlays, a compensated white Tusq saddle for accurate intonation, and a bone nut. The ebony bridge features a belly style with drop-in saddle, and the guitar ships strung with Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 light gauge strings.
Electronics You Can Trust on Stage
The Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 system is one of the better factory-installed pickups you'll find on an acoustic in this price range. Unlike single-source pickups, the Matrix VT Enhance blends two transducers—one undersaddle piezo and one bridge plate sensor—to capture both the fundamental tone and the dynamic, percussive elements of your playing. The result is amplified sound that actually sounds like your guitar, not a generic piezo quack.
All controls are mounted at the soundhole for easy access while you're playing: volume, tone, and an Enhance blend control that lets you dial in how much of the bridge plate transducer you want in the mix. The 1/4" output jack and battery compartment are located at the endpin, keeping things simple and unobtrusive. No control holes cut into the side of the guitar means cleaner looks and no structural compromises.
Product Features:
- Solid Sitka spruce top with gloss finish for balanced tone and projection
- Mahogany back and sides with satin finish for warmth and midrange punch
- D-14 Fret body size: dreadnought width with comfortable 000 depth (4-1/8")
- Forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing for clarity and volume
- Modified low oval neck with high-performance taper and 25.4" scale length
- Ebony fingerboard with 1-3/4" nut width and mother-of-pearl Style 28 inlays
- Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT2 electronics with soundhole-mounted controls
- Bone nut, compensated white Tusq saddle, and ebony bridge
- Bold herringbone rosette with multi-stripe detail
- Handcrafted in Martin's Nazareth, Pennsylvania factory
Brand: Martin
Model: D-16E Mahogany
SKU: 10Y24D16E-02
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
