Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
The new models of theMartin Road Series 2026 are photographed in a living space.
Guitars Has Martin redefined the workhorse acoustic? Legendary brand announces blockbuster refresh of its Road Series
Taylor Next Generation Grand Auditorium: the two refreshed cutaway electro-acoustic guitars are photographed in front of a green sofa and a vintage hi-fi unit.
Guitars Taylor refreshes flagship acoustic with a trio of game-changing features – meet the Next Generation Grand Auditorium
Faith Guitars Nexus Neptune and Venus 2026
Acoustic Guitars “For those seeking acoustic power, projection and an enormous amount of volume": Faith unleashes a slew of updates and new models at NAMM
A glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Guitars Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Gibson Original Collection (L-R) featuring the SJ-200 60s, J-160E, and the LG-2 50s.
Guitars The Beatles-approved J-160E makes its return as Gibson unveils a trio of Original Collection flat-tops celebrating the golden era of acoustic guitar making
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Acoustics 2026: the new all-solid core range takes its design cues from classic high-end Gibson USA builds.
Guitars Epiphone raises the bar for its acoustic guitar range with all-solid builds, rosewood fingerboards and affordable takes on Gibson classics
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
Guitars “The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
Taylor Academy 10E
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist Series in cutaway and non-cutaway versions, and in Rosewood Burst or Antique Natural finishes.
Guitars A future player favourite? Gibson unveils the Songwriter Recording Artist acoustics
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: Find your favourite acoustic strings
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
Guitars The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
A lifestyle press image of the Sterling By Music Man StingRay Baritone SR50 in Toluca Lake Blue leaning against a Marshall amp in an empty room with concrete walls
Guitars “A deeper low-end presence within the StingRay lineup”: Sterling by Music Man launches its first ever baritone electric guitar
Squier Sonic Series: featuring mini-Stratocasters, single-humbucker Esquires and cult offsets too, the Fender-owned budget brand has made a big play for the beginner market in 2026
Guitars Squier unveils huge Sonic Series refresh – super-affordable, beginner and child-friendly versions of classic Fender models
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

NAMM 2016: Martin introduces new 17 and 15 Series acoustic guitars and expands Premier Standard Series

News
By Michael Astley-Brown published 11 January 2016

New Fishman Aura and Matrix systems onboard electro-acoustic models

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

NAMM 2016: After dazzling us with its John Lennon D-28 and D-222 anniversary dreadnoughts, Martin has finally lifted the lid on its new core line models for 2016, including new 17 and 15 series acoustic guitars, plus an expansion of the Premier Standard Series.

Three guitars make up the all-acoustic 17 Series – which feature Black Smoke and Whiskey Sunset burst finishes – while the 15 Series adds two new electro-acoustic cutaway models, featuring Fishman's Matrix VT Enhance system.

New cutaway models have also been added to the 18, 28 and 35 Standard Series, which now equip the new Aura VT Enhance system from Fishman, offering Aura imaging specifically made for each guitar model – click through the gallery for a closer look at each of the new models.

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Martin 00L-17 Black Smoke

Martin 00L-17 Black Smoke

  • Sloped shoulder Grand Concert
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Black Smoke finish with grained ivoroid binding and pickguard
  • Straightline Guatemalan rosewood bridge
  • Modified low oval neck with Performing Artist taper
  • Also available in Whiskey Sunset burst
Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Martin 000-17 Whiskey Sunset

Martin 000-17 Whiskey Sunset

  • Auditorium model
  • Whiskey Sunset burst finish
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Guatemalan rosewood fingerboard and bridge
  • Modified low oval neck with Performing Artist taper
  • Also available in Black Smoke
Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Martin 00-17S Black Smoke

Martin 00-17S Black Smoke

  • Grand Concert model
  • Satin Black Smoke finish with grained ivoroid binding
  • Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Guatemalan rosewood fingerboard and bridge
  • Also available in Whiskey Sunset burst
Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Martin DC-15ME

Martin DC-15ME

  • Dreadnought acoustic-electric cutaway
  • All-mahogany body
  • East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge
  • Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics
Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Martin OMC-15ME

Martin OMC-15ME

  • Orchestra acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Mahogany top, back and sides
  • East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge
  • Modified low oval neck with Performing Artist taper
  • Fishman Matrix VR Enhance electronics
Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Martin DC-18E

Martin DC-18E

  • Dreadnought acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with tortoise colour binding and matching pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls
Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Martin OMC-18E

Martin OMC-18E

  • Acoustic-electric cutaway model
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with tortoise colour binding and matching pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Martin GPC-18E

Martin GPC-18E

  • Grand Performance acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with tortoise colour binding and matching pickguard
  • Modified low oval neck with Performing Artist taper
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Martin DC-28E

Martin DC-28E

  • Dreadnought acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Martin OMC-28E

Martin OMC-28E

  • Orchestra acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Martin GPC-28E

Martin GPC-28E

  • Grand Performance acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Martin DC-35E

Martin DC-35E

  • Acoustic-electric dreadnought cutaway
  • Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood sides, three-piece back
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Martin SP Lifespan Phosphor Bronze strings
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance system
Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
Martin OMC-35E

Martin OMC-35E

  • Orchestra acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood sides and three-piece back
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics with soundhole tone and volume controls
  • Battery box integrated into endpin jack
Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Martin GPC-35E

Martin GPC-35E

  • Grand Performance acoustic-electric cutaway
  • Solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood sides and three-piece back
  • Black ebony fingerboard and bridge with matching black pickguard
  • Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.

Read more
The new models of theMartin Road Series 2026 are photographed in a living space.
Guitars Has Martin redefined the workhorse acoustic? Legendary brand announces blockbuster refresh of its Road Series
 
 
Taylor Next Generation Grand Auditorium: the two refreshed cutaway electro-acoustic guitars are photographed in front of a green sofa and a vintage hi-fi unit.
Guitars Taylor refreshes flagship acoustic with a trio of game-changing features – meet the Next Generation Grand Auditorium
 
 
Faith Guitars Nexus Neptune and Venus 2026
Acoustic Guitars “For those seeking acoustic power, projection and an enormous amount of volume": Faith unleashes a slew of updates and new models at NAMM
 
 
A glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Guitars Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Gibson Original Collection (L-R) featuring the SJ-200 60s, J-160E, and the LG-2 50s.
Guitars The Beatles-approved J-160E makes its return as Gibson unveils a trio of Original Collection flat-tops celebrating the golden era of acoustic guitar making
 
 
Latest in Acoustic Guitars
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist Series in cutaway and non-cutaway versions, and in Rosewood Burst or Antique Natural finishes.
Guitars A future player favourite? Gibson unveils the Songwriter Recording Artist acoustics
 
 
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Acoustics 2026: the new all-solid core range takes its design cues from classic high-end Gibson USA builds.
Guitars Epiphone raises the bar for its acoustic guitar range with all-solid builds, rosewood fingerboards and affordable takes on Gibson classics
 
 
Custom Line King-12 CE NT
Acoustic Guitars "For a guitar that comes in at this price, the overall build is impressive, with a level of attention to detail that’s more than respectable": Harley Benton Custom Line King-12 CE NT review
 
 
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Guitars Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
 
 
Gibson Original Collection (L-R) featuring the SJ-200 60s, J-160E, and the LG-2 50s.
Guitars The Beatles-approved J-160E makes its return as Gibson unveils a trio of Original Collection flat-tops celebrating the golden era of acoustic guitar making
 
 
Lag HyVibe HV10ACE
Acoustic Guitars “Powerful, extremely versatile and creatively refreshing, it offers a ton of inspiration if you click with it”: LAG HyVibe 10 HV10ACE
review
 
 
Latest in News
YouTuber Jamie Slays puts the Charvel Standard Series SD2 through its paces
Guitars Charvel’s hotrodded shred performance just got more affordable with the launch of the $569 Standard SD Series
 
 
Elton John and Dua Lipa were prominent campaigners against plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted works without permission
Music Industry “We support the Government’s decision”: Plans to let AI firms pilfer copyrighted material are dropped
 
 
February 28, 2025
Producers & Engineers “Is NOT going to happen”: William Orbit has written Ray Of Light sequel but Madonna hasn’t responded
 
 
Shaun Ryder attends The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026
Bands “Me and Bez would just walk in, skin up and have a laugh”: Shaun Ryder on life in the Happy Mondays
 
 
Apple MacBook Neo
Computers The first reviews of the MacBook Neo are in, and it looks like good news for budget-conscious music producers
 
 
The Gibson Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector's Edition is a forensic replica of the guitar made famous by the former UFO and Scorpions guitarist – a guitar that is now owned by Metallica's Kirk Hammett.
Artists How a broken string, a loan from his brother and a fresh paint job helped Michael Schenker turn this Flying V into an icon of rock
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...