Martin’s refreshed 16 Series gives us plenty to talk about. There are compact slope-shoulder guitars built for a more intimate sound, bigger bodies with plenty of projection, and a Grand Jumbo 12-string that brings the shimmer. And with finishes like Blue Denim and Cherry Cola in the mix, there’s a little more color to go around, too.
The finishes might catch your eye first, but the differences in body shape, tonewoods, and scale length make these guitars worth a closer look. Here’s how the refreshed lineup shakes out.
New to the refreshed 16 Series: Blue Denim, Cream, and Cherry Cola.
00L-16E: A Smaller Body with Plenty to Say
For fingerstyle players, songwriters, and anyone who gravitates toward a smaller acoustic, the 00L-16E is a good place to start. Its slope-shoulder 00 body pairs a gloss spruce top with satin-finished solid mahogany back and sides for a warm, woody sound with punchy mids, clear treble, and a controlled low end.
The emphasis here is on touch and response, with surprising projection from a compact body. A short 24.9-inch scale length and scalloped X-bracing round out a guitar designed for everything from delicate fingerpicking to expressive rhythm playing.
The finish options give this small-bodied Martin some personality of its own. Black Smoke and Blue Denim get contrasting grained ivoroid pickguards, while 1935 Burst keeps things classic with faux tortoise.
Finishes: 1935 Burst, Black Smoke, and Blue Denim | $2,499.99
DSS-16E: Slope-Shoulder Warmth, Short-Scale Feel
One of the more interesting changes in this refresh is the DSS-16E’s combination of a slope-shoulder Dreadnought body and a short 24.9-inch scale length. It brings a relaxed playing feel to a guitar built around warm, vintage-inspired tone.
Like the 00L-16E, it uses a spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides for a woody voice with a focused low end. Here, forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing enhances resonance and bass response. For players drawn to a slope-shoulder acoustic, that combination of body shape, warmth, and feel deserves some attention.
Black Smoke and Cherry Cola feature grained ivoroid pickguards, while 1935 Burst pairs its sunburst top with faux tortoise. That Cherry Cola finish is going to turn a few heads.
Finishes: 1935 Burst, Black Smoke, and Cherry Cola | $2,499.99
J-16E: For Players Who Like a Big Acoustic Sound
The J-16E takes things in a bigger, more expansive direction. Its Jumbo body combines a spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for deep bass, rich overtones, and a sparkling high end.
This is the one to look at when strumming and rhythm playing are front and center. The larger body delivers strong volume and projection, while scalloped X-bracing supports sustain and resonance. A 25.4-inch scale length completes the package.
There’s plenty of visual range here, too. The J-16E comes in 1935 Burst, Black Smoke with a grained ivoroid pickguard, or Cream with a faux tortoise pickguard and multi-stripe top binding.
Finishes: 1935 Burst, Black Smoke, and Cream | $2,599.99
GPC-16E: Rosewood Richness with Room to Move
The GPC-16E, left, alongside the Grand J-16E 12-String. Both come in Vintage Tint.
The refreshed GPC-16E brings together a Grand Performance body, comfortable 000 depth, and a cutaway for easier access to the higher frets. For players moving between chord work, fingerpicking, and leads, that’s a useful combination.
A vintage-tinted gloss spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides deliver deep bass, rich overtones, and articulate highs. The 25.4-inch scale adds clarity and punch, while scalloped X-bracing supports a resonant, sustaining voice. It’s a balanced approach to an acoustic that needs to cover a lot of musical ground.
Finish: Vintage Tint | $2,599.99
Grand J-16E 12-String: Bring on the Jangle
There’s something about a ringing 12-string chord that a six-string just doesn’t do. The Grand J-16E 12-String leans into that sound with a spruce top, solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, and a 17-inch Grand Jumbo body built for depth and projection.
Importantly, it uses 000 body depth to make that larger shape more comfortable to hold. Unlike the six-string models above, its X-bracing is non-scalloped, supporting clarity and balance across all twelve strings. A 25.4-inch scale, dedicated 12-string neck shape, and 1 13/16-inch nut width complete the design.
For broad strummed chords, layered accompaniment, or adding that chorus-like texture to a live set, this one brings a different sound to the lineup.
Finish: Vintage Tint | $2,599.99
1935 Burst and Black Smoke run across the 00L, DSS, and J bodies.
Ready to Plug In
Every model covered here comes equipped with L.R. Baggs Element electronics, along with an ebony fingerboard and bridge, a satin-finished neck, and an included softshell case. The six-string models share Martin’s Modified Low Oval neck shape and a 1 3/4-inch nut width; the Grand J-16E 12-String uses its own wider, dedicated neck design.
Find Your Martin at Chuck Levin’s
Have your eye on that Cherry Cola DSS, or still deciding which body shape makes sense for your playing? Get in touch with the Chuck Levin’s Guitar Department for help comparing the refreshed 16 Series models and checking availability.