Rotational transitions in the X(2)Pi ground state of C(6)H and C(6)D have been measured by Fourier transform microwave and millimeter-wave absorption spectroscopy. More than 150 rotational lines in the ground (2)Pi(3/2) and (2)Pi(1/2) ladders have been observed, allowing an accurate determination of the rotational, fine structure, lambda-doubling, and hyperfine coupling constants using a standard effective Hamiltonian for a molecule in an isolated (2)Pi electronic state. The molecular ground state constants are used to characterize the rotationally resolved origin band of the (2)Pi <-- X(2)Pi electronic transition observed by cavity ring-down laser absorption spectroscopy in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet discharge source. From these data, spectroscopic constants for the excited electronic state are determined. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.