Martin DC-16RE. (Bench Tests).(guitar)(Product/Service Evaluation)

You've got to hand it to Martin. For a company that was founded when people were still shooting flintlocks, it has managed to bring Old-World guitar-making ethics solidly into the 21st century. Take the DC-16RE ($2,399 retail/street price N/A), for example. It's one of a bazillion guitars that Martin makes each year, and it even incorporates some synthetic materials. Yet it's still an astonishingly elegant and soulful instrument that delivers classic Martin vibe--right down to the way it smells.

One of the first new Martins to feature the Schertler Bluestick pickup system, the DC-16RE is based on the popular style-16 pattern, but with a full gloss-finished body (16s typically feature gloss tops only). The neck has 14 frets clear of the body and it sports a rosewood peghead facing, gold tuners, and a carefully carved synthetic nut. The vintage-style frets are well shaped and seated, and they're exactingly trimmed to the edge of the fretboard for a smooth feel. The black micarta fretboard looks like a perfect piece of black ebony--it just costs less and doesn't involve chopping down a tree.

Body Language

The DC-16RE's solid top is braced in what Martin calls a hybrid scalloped style. The top and back braces are cleanly installed, but they could have been sanded more thoroughly to remove hairs and machining grooves. On the plus side, the gluing is extremely neat, and the kerfing strip carefully installed. Most of the DC-16RE's workmanship shows exceptional attention to detail. In fact, the only finishing flaw I could find was a bit of jaggedness in the wedge-shaped piece of binding at the end of the guitar. More disconcerting were some slight gaps in the glue joints between the heel and the body. This is mainly a cosmetic issue, however, as the DC-16RE uses a mortise-and-tenon system of attaching the neck--a fiendishly strong method of joining two pieces of wood.

Touch Tones

The DC-16RE's modified-oval neck shape (which has a slight hint of a "V") fills your hand while providing a fast feel. In addition, the relatively low action and Martin St) Plus light-gauge bronze strings make playing this guitar seem like the most natural thing in the world. The cutaway is a boon for lead players, and it was possible to romp in all regions of the fretboard without encountering any buzzing. The DC-16RE also intonates exceedingly well.

The DC-16RE is an exceptionally balanced-sounding guitar that delivers deep bottom, focused raids, and crisp highs. It's not super loud, but its smooth, even voice has amazing ...