Martin 000C-16RGTE AURA Cutaway Acoustic User Reviews at zZounds

"Great sound, playability, comfort and looks at a most attractive price." submitted June 5, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: 40 years as a performing musician

Music Style: Rock, jazz, acoustic, surf

Back to Product Information

SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: I'll begin by noting that I've owned this guitar for about five years, so we've spent some time together. I'm a finger-style player who performs in a local restaurant weekly and this has been my main guitar. When shopping, I tried about 30 other Martins and Taylors without too much concern for price, but this one sounded best for me. I think it has a great sound acoustically, and I've found that I can even get a really Beatle-y sound if need be. Otherwise it's fairly loud for its size, even while finger-picking. It does not have an "Aura" pickup system - I guess Gibson changed to Aura in the past few years. Anyway, can't address the amplified sound with the current system. After trying many brands of strings, I use Elixir lights on it which complement the acoustics of the instrument nicely. Feature: I think the materials used a great. Nothing has broken or gotten any the worse for wear since I bought it. That's saying a lot, 'cause I'm not all that gentle and slap the body occasionally for expression during some songs. Ease of Use: This is a very easy guitar to play. The action is great, right from the factory. The electronics are simple and intuitive. Frets are fine, fingerboard is good, it stays in tune all the way up the neck. Quality: Excellent quality. Fit and finish are superb and it's pretty resistant to wear. Nothing has come loose, worn out or broken over the past five years. Value: I could have spent a lot more money but found there really was no need. I think you get a lot for the price with this one. Manufacturer Support: Haven't needed any. The Wow Factor: I think it's aesthetically pleasing. I think it's great that the controls for the electronics are where they are rather than on the face of the guitar. The cutaway comes in handy. Overall: Well, I've had it five years and, while I'm always buying and replacing electrics, I haven't found anything to replace the GTE. As far as a steel-stringed acoustic that can be amplified, this one is perfect. If it got stolen, I'd buy another.

9 of 9 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"Hey, it's a Martin!" submitted September 3, 2007

By a customer from windstream.net

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Country and Old rock

Back to Product Information

Sound: I've playes dozens of guitars, never played anything better. Feature: The tuner is right on. Ease of Use: Mine was professionally set up and they did a great job. I just need to buy a better amp to do it justice. Quality: It's a Martin right? I'm on the road about 2 months out of the year. I don't think I'd take it on a plance. I do have a Fender acoustic that I've taken a few times. Value: Before buying this I did try Gibson, Epiphone, Fender and others. Kept going back to the Martin. Manufacturer Support: Have not needed to contact them. The Wow Factor: Just like everyone else, the Martin is what you strive to obtain. Overall: I'm 56, I think this and the Fender will outlast me.

6 of 6 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"UNBEATABLE GUITAR----GET ONE YOU WON"T BE SORRY!!!!!" submitted January 12, 2008

By a customer from bellsouth.net

Overall

Sound

Features

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Folk, pop, 70s,country

Back to Product Information

SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Had just purchased a Blueridge 3 weeks earlier, thought it was great until I picked this up at a music store and gave it a try----WOW!! The sound is simply amazing unplugged, very very warm, mellow and extremely well balanced. I just couldn't put it down. Then plugged in you have even more sounds selections and best electronics I've seen on an acoustic/electric. Feature: I like the slimmer body style for my size, I'm a petite female and the regular width dreads gave me back fatigue, I feel this guitar is more comfortable. The Aura electronics is simply unbeatable in sound and ability to dial in specific tones. Ease of Use: This thing played like butter the second I picked it up. Barre chords were a breeze even being lazy about it, IMO a guitar is set-up well when barre chords take little effort to make each string ring clearly. Quality: I think the overall quality of this guitar is unbeatable, I'm very well satisfied with the quality. It has a sustain on it that makes hammer-ons and pull-offs much more audible than other guitars I've tried. I've tried everything, from $4000 Gibsons, Epiphones, Taylors, Blueridge, and the Martins are a completely different league and sound. Value: In lieu of all the guitars I've tried, I think this Martin is the best value for the money. I think its priced right. I can't see that I would ever have a need for more. Manufacturer Support: haven't had to use it The Wow Factor: My opinion is that this guitar is one of the better looking models out there. I personally like this body-shape as opposed to the regular dreadnoughts. I also love the satin back with gloss top. I think it is very tastefully done and I strongly disagree with the reviewer that stated, "it wasn't very good-looking". I think its very classy looking. Overall: I love everything about this guitar, its sound, its playability, its size. I thought I would never find the perfect guitar but when I found this one I realized there is a perfect guitar!

12 of 13 people (92.31%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"nice martin" submitted March 4, 2009

By a customer from yahoo.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: active musician of over 25 years

Music Style: rock acoustic

Back to Product Information

Sound: First of all I have been playing guitar for over 25 years and have always wanted a high quality acoustic. So when I went looking for the right guitar I was very picky. I spent over three months playing a number of different acoustics.taylor,gibson etc, I narrowed down the search between a gibson hummingbird and the Martin aura. The Gibson is a very nice instrument and has a slightly deeper tone however the Martin had the aura system and played much easier and was a couple hundred dollars cheaper. As with any acoustic instrument. sound is a subjective thing but playability and quality construction are a fact and this martin possess quality materials and craftmanship of the highest caliber. I have recorded and played live with the guitar and have found the aura system to be outstanding for both however when I play in band it cuts better when placed on the peizo vs the aura. Feature: The fishman aura really is a nice piece. I find to be versatile and quite easy to use. The presets are user friendly and best of all the effect was specically designed for this intrument which I believe has helped the overall tonal aspects of the guitar. Ease of Use: Very easy to play straight out of box. The action is nice and fast. The cutaway is nice for reaaching the higher frets. One complaint however is the fact that you can't use the onboard tuner without plugging in cord, Quality: The fit and finish is what you would expect from a higher end Martin. The action from the factory is good with no intonation issues. Value: If you are looking at purchasing a martin you have to be ready to pay some decent cash. Martin has been makingn guitars that are world renowned for their sound and quality for over 100 years so this specific model guitar in my opinon is good value in compasion to others in thier price range. Manufacturer Support: I contacted the tech support and found them to be knoweldgeable and helpfull The Wow Factor: This Guitar is not martin's most appealing to look at. No fancy mother of pearl inlays but the feel of the instrument in my hands feels quite comfrtable and inspiring and thats what you really should be looking for in a any guitar regardless of price. Overall: I plan on holding on to my Martin for a LONG time. I have 4 other acoustic guitars and this one by far is the easiest to play. The only complaint which is minor is that I changed out the light strings to the heavier strings because I want deeper tone. I like the playablity and pickup system on board tuner and the quality of the instrument

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"Plug in an play this and you won't settle for anything else." submitted October 5, 2007

By a customer from yahoo.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active church musician

Music Style: Rock, alternative, country, jazz, contemporary Christian

Back to Product Information

Sound: I love the Fishman electronics on this thing. There are so many things to play around with besides bass/mid/treble. You can slide between pickup and aura - the aura is a more full (ambient?) sound while the pickup gives you more of the flat strum. Besides that you also have 6 different settings to choose from to change how the guitar sounds as far as tone and brightess and so forth. Like one setting might be better for a soft ballad and another gives you a nice bright sound for a raucous rock song. It's very fun to play with this when plugged into an amp to determine which setting works best for which song in your set. Feature: The Fishman electronics are awesome. I tried a Taylor and some other guitars and kept going back to this one. You have a tuner (I've only tried it in a quiet room) and lots of "sound effect" options. The battery is pretty easy to access too. I would have preferred if it ran on a AA battery, but at least I don't have to take off the strings to get at the battery. Ease of Use: It's very easy to use. There are even 3 more buttons on the Fishman electronics that I haven't used yet, I will have to read the manual to see what they do. I just got the guitar yesterday so I haven't had more than a couple of hours to play with it so far. Quality: It looks perfect to me. I would only worry that the electronics might break, but they should be fine as long as I am not careless. If I brought this guitar on an airplane I would definately want to carry it on. Value: This was by far better than any of the guitars I tried at a comparable price. Manufacturer Support: Have not needed support so far. The Wow Factor: It's not the prettiest guitar I've seen, but the white and black details make it basic enough and nice enough that it would go with any outfit or setting, looking good, but also blending in when you don't want to be too flashy. The Fishman electronics are what make this guitar stand out above other accoustic-electric guitars. Overall: I wouldn't have paid this much for a guitar if I though I would need to upgrade any time soon. As long as I keep this guitar in good shape, I don't think I will ever need a new one... unless I want to get a cheaper "road trip" guitar.

8 of 9 people (88.89%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"Sold on Martin!" submitted June 18, 2008

By a customer from comcast.net

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active musician (church)

Music Style: Christian, Alternative, Country, and soft Rock.

Back to Product Information

Sound: With so many great guitars on the market, I don't think there is a perfect 10. But this one comes close. I have also tried Taylor, Fender, epiphone, too name a few. But could not put this one down. This was my first Martin purchase. Since, I have purchased a Martin DSM. I also own a Fender CD2200SCE, and a 72 Clasic Tele. I use all of them. My 16RGTEAURA is my Tux. I save her for the best. I play her out of a Fender Stage 1600. Add some spring and chorus and blend it with the desired Aura setting for a great sound. I would also like to mention the smell. I sure wish it could be bottled. You get what you pay for, and this one is worth it! Feature: One great feature is the built in tuner. The only bad thing about it is you have to be pluged in in order to use it. However, with this guitar you really do not have to use it that often. The Martin case fits nice and snug. Value: You get what you pay for, and this one is worth the money. Manufacturer Support: Have not had any problems. The Wow Factor: I expect to keep this guitar until death do us part. If I had a need, yes, I would buy this guitar again. Overall: I would replace it if I had to. Don't expect that to happen. This guitar meets my music goals and more. And its kept under lock and key.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

Martin 000C-16RGTE AURA Customer Review submitted November 18, 2006

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Blues/Folk/Country

Back to Product Information

VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Just can't beat that Martin sound. Sounds great plugged in or not. The Aura system lets me achieve a full body sound in any environment. Feature: Aura is easily mastered and will deliver a variety of tones. The built-in tuner can be a little iffy in a noisy room. Ease of Use: Again, the tuner is sensitive to noisy environments, but still very usable, even in a live performance. Quality: No problems whatsoever. Best quality. Value: Seems a bit expensive, but if you play several you will appreciate the difference. I admit being partial to the Martin brand, but there are several other makers that I appreciate. This one was $200-1000 less than any equivalent other brand. Manufacturer Support: Haven't used it, but online registration was a breeze Overall: If I had to replace it, I wouldn't consider anything else.

6 of 7 people (85.71%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"Great Value" submitted September 22, 2008

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Back to Product Information

Sound: The one I have is a real sweetheart. Classic Martin tone with amazing playability. The Aura system is incredible on its own. Feature: Aura is world class Ease of Use: As I said playability is like a great electric. Quality: Top Quality. I wish they had vintage style tuners but you can always put them in later Value: Great balance and tone. Worth every penny. Pbly the best value in the Martin lineup. Manufacturer Support: Good so far. Great factory tour. The Wow Factor: excellent Overall: This one is a keeper forever. The Micarta fingerboard has great playability got used to it.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

"Ecstatic" submitted December 20, 2007

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Acoustic Alternative Rock (coffee shops, college gigs, that sort of thing)

Back to Product Information

Sound: The ultimate acoustic sound plugged in and acoustic. I was dead set on buying a taylor x14 series, going back and forth amongst taylors, until as i was having the salesman restring the taylor, i picked up this Martin and was blown away... Feature: The Aura system is incredible. There is non other like it on the market. (to my knowledge at least). Highs, lows and mids are all represented beautifully, each note articulated perfectly. Ease of Use: The Aura system and its on board tuner is incredibly user friendly, the guitar has a very playable neck, and you get a crisp sound up and down the neck. Quality: C.F. Martin Co. (need I say more?) Value: I was shopping/saving for a while to buy *THAT* acoustic, you know the one that will stay with me till the end (I'm only 19) I'm confident that this was the best purchase I could have made, and lucky for me, guitar center was out of the normal cases so I recieved the highest end case Martin produced (or atleast that they had in stock). Manufacturer Support: havent had to deal w/ them. The Wow Factor: There are prettier guitars out there, but if you are shopping for looks rather than sound, you shouldnt be looking in this price range. The white binding and satin finishes combine for a classy, warm looking intstrument. Overall: Couldnt be happier.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

close [x]

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

Martin 000C16RGTE AURA Auditorium Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

User Ratings

"Great sound, playability, comfort and looks at a most attractive price." submitted June 5, 2008

"Hey, it's a Martin!" submitted September 3, 2007

"UNBEATABLE GUITAR----GET ONE YOU WON"T BE SORRY!!!!!" submitted January 12, 2008

"nice martin" submitted March 4, 2009

"Plug in an play this and you won't settle for anything else." submitted October 5, 2007

"Sold on Martin!" submitted June 18, 2008

Martin 000C-16RGTE AURA Customer Review submitted November 18, 2006

"Great Value" submitted September 22, 2008

"Ecstatic" submitted December 20, 2007