A fairly rare bird in Martin history, albeit fairly recent history. The favorable 000 body size seen here with special limited style 16 appointments. While these models were intended to be budget friendly, they share a lot of attributes to higher grade flat tops, not dissimilar to the 21 or 28 style having a solid rosewood back & sides. In laymen's terms, 000-16RGT stands for Auditorium sized "R" Rosewood "GT" Gloss top - and in even more laymen's terms stands for "Really Great Tone". Any fan of the 000 size will appreciate what this guitar has to offer. A mix of classic and modern, the tonal palette is what we would want and expect out of a 000, with defined presence and clear balanced bass. Uniquely, these early 2000's instruments experimented with the new hybrid X bracing internally, as well as a mortise tenon neck joint. It gives these guitars a bit different character that's maybe most pronounced in the mid range - and really only subtly so. A bit larger maple bridge plate, it also has a thicker brace that essentially mirrors the fingerboard extension, internally for support. The top and back are both bound which is a nice elegant touch and adds to the matte finish - again the top full gloss and seen here in very good condition. Herringbone rosette and an ebony belly bridge, equipped with an under saddle pickup - which appears to function as it should albeit with no further controls. The neck is built with a 25.5" scale length, the neck as mentioned with a mortise tenon joint unique to these models. The neck is constructed out of Spanish cedar with a fully bound ebony fingerboard. The neck is straight with clean fingerboard and frets that are a 9/10 - just the slightest wear in the first position. It has a 1 11/16" nut width. The action is very playable measuring 6/64" in height at the twelfth fret, with plenty of saddle (which appears to be untouched). Original Martin closed back tuners present. Includes original hardshell case.