Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
The Martin O-16 NY appeared with the American Folk Boom, and references very early Martin guitars made before 1898 in New York, before the move to Nazareth, PA. The O body size is 13.5 inches wide, and the 12-fret neck has a slotted peg head. As a ’16’, binding only appears on the top.
As the 1960’s opened, American folk music was very popular and many singers preferred the softer sound of the old small bodied Martins rather than the brash volume of D-style sonic artillery. In 1961 Martin responded with the O-16 NY, which stayed in production until 1977. It was re-issued from 1979 to 1992, and then in 1994. The first six models built during 1961 were simply known as the O-16.
The Martin O-16 NY uses a 13.5 inch wide body with Sitka Spruce for the top and bracing, Mahogany for the back, sides and neck. The fingerboard, headplate and bride are rosewood. Reflective of the early Martins, a slotted peghead was used on a 12-fret neck. The fingerboard is much wider than other production models, at almost 1.9 inches or 42.5mm. The scale length is 24.9 inches. Decoration is sparse, consisting of binding around the top, and the C. F. Martin decal on the headstock. The fingerboard is unadorned, only carrying side dots.
This example dates to 1976, the second last year of the Martin O-16 NY’s original production run. It is in very nice condition, and has just come out of The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop where it received a neck reset, fret dress and setup. It plays very well now, and is ready for many more years of playing.
The original blue molded hard shell case is included.
- Model: O-16 NY
- Year: 1976
- Finish Natural
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 373175
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 30/05/2018
- This instrument has been sold
- Not Consignment
- Required CITES documentation
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 3.3lbs 1.5kg
- Scale Length: 24.9in 632.5mm
- Nut Width: 1.9in 48.5mm
