Intro and my D-16A (lots of pics)

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rickf	Intro and my D-16A (lots of pics)	Lead	[-]
(06/18/09 2:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hi all, I'm new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself and my guitar. After a recent visit to the Martin factory while on a business trip, I was inspired to pick up my guitar again after a hiatus of many years. I'm an electrical engineer living in Massachusetts, married w/2 kids who keep me extremely busy. I have a 1988 D-16A. I also accumulated a few other guitars along the way including a Seagull 12-string, an inexpensive classical, Fender American Std Strat and Martin Backpacker but all I have left now are the D-16A and the Backpacker. I've seen a few comments here about the the various incarnations of the D-16. As for the Ash version I can confirm what others have said that it is amazingly loud and relatively "bright". Not as bright as say maple but it is a rather unique sound. I had a conversation with one of the Martin folks who coincidentally built some of the D-16A models back then. He went on and on about what an incredible value those guitars were because, in his words, they are essentially a D18 in terms of construction details and features. BTW, list price at that time for the D16 was $950. Whether you like the looks and sound of the ash comes down to individual taste. Personally I fell in love with it on the first strum and still love it. Looking forward to some good conversation here and ogling at all the other really nice Martins. Here are some pics of my guitar: Thanks for looking, Rick
PICKITLUTHER		#1	[-]
(06/18/09 2:53 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Nothing like a nice piece of ash !
Michael Segui		#2	[-]
(06/18/09 2:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have always liked those ash D-16s... dovetail neck joint... old style 18 logo... grover rotomatics..... nice. Michael Segui Est. 1974 "I too was once penniless."
FoolForWood		#3	[-]
(06/18/09 3:01 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome, Rick! Those are very nice. Back then 16's still had the dovetail neck joint and traditional bracing. And, from the back of my head, the braces are scalloped and in forward position. That wasn't a common thing for Martin dreads in 1988. So it's more like the later introduced D-18V than a standard D-18. But with ash rather than mahogany, a rosewood bridge and fretboard and some other, more cosmetic differences. Henk Last Edited By: FoolForWood 06/18/09 3:06 PM. Edited 1 times.
ASC67		#4	[-]
(06/18/09 3:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome and what a beauty of a guitar ! Steve _______________________________________________________________ 2003 D-18 * 2006 Masterbilt DR500M * 2008 CV Strat
rickf		#5	[-]
(06/18/09 3:25 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You're right Henk. It has the dovetail neck joint and scalloped X bracing. I can't knowledgeably comment on the "forward position" because I wasn't aware of this detail at the time I got it. From other comments I've read recently I believe that is true though. It was nicely discounted when I bought it in '89 because it had been hanging around the shop a long time and had a slight haze in the finish where it made contact with the rubber coating of the guitar stand and reacted. That polished out pretty easily. Not sure of the exact production numbers but I think there were only around 800 of these made. It was during a period when Martin experimented with tonewood alternatives to rosewood and mahogany. I asked the shop owner at the time why it had been hanging around so long and he said people just preferred the more traditional look of rosewood or mahogany, the ash turned them off. I've always been an ash-man. I think over time the fundamental qualities of this model have become more apparent especially when you consider how much you would have to pay today to get the equivalent features. At the time I didn't know that though so I can't take credit for being a savvy judge of guitars. I just knew what I liked when I heard it and nothing compared with it in my budget. Rick
FoolForWood		#6	[-]
(06/18/09 5:10 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	he said people just preferred the more traditional look of rosewood or mahogany Good job you trusted your own eyes and ears. Henk
Fstpicker		#7	[-]
(06/18/09 6:29 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You're also an excellent photographer! Love your "story" and your pictures! Jeff
kmacguitar	Terrific pictures, great story and good to have you on the forum, just...	#8	[-]
(06/19/09 9:16 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	one thing maybe to highlite that beautiful ash, a nice Louisville Slugger brand, say on the side upper bout. Kidding of course but you are absolutely right about them being a great value, and you've kept it in excellect condition, have fun here, Kerry
Hamjack		#9	[-]
(06/19/09 5:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome. That's a great looking guitar! Where abouts in Mass are you? I'm out in "The Little Town of Mendon". Jack
DVM469		#10	[-]
(06/20/09 10:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	That is a BEAUTIFUL guitar!! Bill 2005 DVM #469 of 597 2009 HD-28 (On Layaway)
Davids Harp		#11	[-]
(06/20/09 1:19 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome Rick. Beautiful guitar! David They said, "You have a blue guitar, you do not play things as they are." The man replied, "Things as they are, are changed upon the blue guitar." -Wallace Stevens
Jason Verlinde		#12	[-]
(06/20/09 9:14 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome to the forum and great guitar, Rick! We also have an '88 D16-A. It belonged to my wife's father and from what I hear (he passed away before I came into the picture), he saved up forever to get a new Martin and really cherished it. I suppose we have more valuable guitars but it's truly the one I'd grab if the place was on fire. Glad to see these guitars discussed as they don't get too talked about the way other models do. Jason Verlinde The Fretboard Journal
FoolForWood		#13	[-]
(06/21/09 8:12 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Rick, we have a wood section here, called The Log Cabin. There has been some talk there about ash in general and the D-16A in particular. I'll list a couple of links. It's not all and unfortunately most pictures are no longer linked to the "host". But you might like to read them anyway. In chronological order: http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/3254 http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/3236 http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/3148 http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/reply/43838 Henk Last Edited By: FoolForWood 06/21/09 8:19 AM. Edited 1 times.
Todd Stuart Phillips		#14	[-]
(06/21/09 9:53 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	One of the coolest Martins ever. Nice introduction, Rick. Welcome! Wayne Henderson House Concert Spoon's Martinfest 08 Journal Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. - Dr. Seuss
rickf		#15	[-]
(06/22/09 10:53 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for the nice comments and friendly welcome folks. Jack, I'm in Bedford and it just so happens I was in Mendon Friday night for a movie at the drive-in. Henk, thanks for all the links on the ash discussion. After my original posting I did some more searching and found a few of those myself. And Jason, that's a nice story about your father-in-law. While I don't expect to find time to post frequently I'll check now and then and hope to be able to make some contributions to the discussions. Rick
Cardinal2B		#16	[-]
(06/22/09 12:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Nice 16. Definitely a keeper. Welcome! Jeff 1949 O-15 1976 D-28 1988 D12-18
dr461		#17	[-]
(06/22/09 2:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Very nice---the 16's are one of the best values in the Martin line.
Heimo		#18	[-]
(06/22/09 4:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Very nice guitar! Is the black pickguard original? I always thought the old D16s had tortiose guards (at least my D-16K has). Bye, Heimo.
rickf		#19	[-]
(06/22/09 4:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The black pickguard is original. I remember at the time noticing that some D16s had the tortoise instead of the black. It struck me as a little odd since the binding on mine is tortoise and I thought the pickguard should match. Rick
Sacdubro		#20	[-]
(06/22/09 10:40 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome, great story and great looking Martin!

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