Martin DSS-16E - black smoke

Discover the MARTIN GUITAR 16 Series DSS-16E Black Smoke, an electro-acoustic steel-string acoustic guitar that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology for an exceptional musical experience.

Overview

Manufactured in the United States, the MARTIN GUITAR 16 Series DSS-16E Black Smoke is inspired by a legendary 1940s model from a competing brand. This Dreadnought Round Shoulder model with a short 24.9" scale length is equipped with a Baggs Element VTC system, offering musicians a versatile instrument suited to a variety of musical styles.

All-solid-wood construction for rich, powerful tones

The Martin DSS-16E stands out for its high-quality construction, featuring a Sitka spruce top, a mahogany body and neck, and an ebony fingerboard. This combination of materials produces full, powerful tones, offering:

• Generous bass
• Prominent mids
• Full, clear highs

The ebony fingerboard, which naturally compresses the sound, also adds appreciable clarity in many musical contexts.

A high-performance amplification system for a natural sound

The Baggs Element VTC (Volume Tone Control) system consists of a piezo pickup positioned under the nut, a Class A active preamp integrated into the jack, and two knobs for adjusting volume and tone. This system delivers balanced and dynamic tones, whether strumming or picking, allowing for a natural reproduction of the vibrations from the soundboard and bridge. It offers superior dynamic response that is less rigid or artificial than that of many competing models.

Power is supplied by a 9V LR61 battery, with an impressive claimed battery life of approximately 1,000 hours.