Martin 00-15

OOO "Auditorium Model" patented body style which C.F. Martin developed in the 1930'S and has sense been the choice of artist from Roy Rodgers to Eric Clapton to John Mayer. Smaller than the Dreadnought body style, but larger than the OO, many players think OOO finds the perfect balance, deep enough to strum, but bright and small enough to fingerstyle. Of this OOO models, the OOO-15 is the entry level. Mine was built in 2008, Made in the USA. Tuners are Martin brand Scale length is 25.4". 20-fret, 14-accessible.

Body is 100% solid wood (Sapele or Mahogany) top, back and sides. No electronics. Came packaged from the C.F. Martin factory in it's included hardshell case (Martin 330) which is a three-ply case manufactured by SKB exclusively for C.F. Martin.

Take a look at this category carefully, note the exceptional high rating the OOO-15 receives (at the time of my review a perfect 10 from 5 reviews). For about $200 More you could have a Martin OOO-16GT with a solid spruce top, so why even bother with dark OOO-15? The answer is tone! Amazing tone and build quality.

The word dark has been assoicated with Mahogany solid tops, with the OOO sized guitar dark is not the proper word. The tone is soft but also pleasantly ringy, but not dark. in a way it's bell-like, but it's a beautiful unique tone that makes the OOO-15 an exceptional quality guitar that's not trying to compete with anything else. This is the reason many people (including C.F. Martin's current owner) feel the OOO-15 is the best value of all their guitars.

Action, setup and finish were amazing as they have been on the other Martin's I have purchased (D-28 and DXK2). Martin claims from their least expensive guitar up their their best models the quality is consistent and that's true to a large degree.

However the back of the neck on my $400 DXK2 doesn't really match this guitar or my D-28.

Slammed it into a wall first night by accident and a little of the sheet rock dust was on the top (I was scared the guitar had been damaged) I blew off the dust and not so much as a scratch was on my Martin (this is one reason why solid wood is important)

They answered all my question over the phone quickly. A++ customer support compared to other high end guitar vendors.

Love this guitar for what it is... It's got a haunting beautiful tone that can only be had here or on a vintage Guild M20 (not worth the $3000+ they command).

Regarding the 15 series, in the early 1960's Martin discontinued the O-15 which was an all Mahogany solid wood guitar in the O size played by Woody Guthrie and others, Nick Drake made the M20'S sound popular, but the OOO-15 has it's own character.

I'll keep it brief. Martin's website provides very detailed info.

Purchased new in spring of 2005. I've owned it for 6 months now.

Lightweight(but durable), simple design.

I like the low-geared Martin tuners. 18-to-1 ratio on mine.

I removed the pickguard the first day I had it. Got it when it was 'young' and it pealed right off. Replaced with a thin .005" clear version I made. Material avalable from Stewart MacDonald. Used the old guard for the pattern.

I kinda wish the side-marker dots were a little larger. Though bright, they are VERY small diameter.

This is the main reason for the purchase...it's sound.

My Dodge Stratus was hit by a Peterbilt semi on the way to work. Car was totalled but I had others. The $5,600 insurance check arrived a couple weeks later and I decided I'd purchase my 'dream' accoustic guitar. The Fender Custom Shop had already built my dream electic(a Tele!).:)

For around 3 weeks I toured stores throughout most of Minnesota and parts of South Dakota & western Wisconsin. I played several dozen and thought about having one custom built instead. One day I was at a Martin dealer with a woman that'd studied music somewhere on the East Coast(Deleware?). She said, "Those dark-brown guitars look so ugly." I said, "Yeah, it sorta matches feces.", and laughed. It was this 00-15. .

I took it down off the hanger and began picking "Whiskey Lullaby". It was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard. My friend thought the same thing. The sound is so perfectly balanced. I tried some more Martins, including a 000-15 & D15, as well as a few other brands, but nothing sounded as EQ'ed and rounded as this Mohogony.

I currently string mine with Martin SP Custom Lights(.11-.52). They are 80/20 bronze.

I mostly enjoy '80s Rock ballads, general Classic Rock, and all styles of COUNTRY.

Overall fit and finish was perfect. The action was probably "medium" when I got it. I had it lowered after a couple months. Zero buzz.

Fretwork is superb.

I did a lot of live playing in the mid-90's while in the military with cheap crap. Never had a problem with that stuff and am sure the Martin would have no problem touring. I still play in small bars when I have a few Colorado Bulldogs in my alcohol stream.:)

I have no doubts it will last for the rest of my life. I keep it cased when not in use and watch the humidity.

Never dealt with Martin. The History Channel had a 1-hour special about the company that was very interesting. Will probably order a copy of the program one day.

Been playing for 14 years now. The only other guitars I claim are my CS Fender Telecaster and an inexpensive classical that I doodle with from time to time. I sold off the ones I used little on Ebay and other guitar-related sites.

I'd definitely purchase again, in fact I'd like to pick up one of the miniature 5-15 versions also.

Alot of people comment on the case. Martin's website says its a "350 hardshell". They day I purchased mine I decided on the 620(14-fret OO body size) thermoplastic model for a little more protection while in my work truck. I've had a few of the plywood cases in the past that look fairly beat up...some with holes in them.

Purchased in 2004;$670 14 fret 00, very plain, no electronics, added ebony pins to the bridge, otherwise stock. It's main overall feature is it's basic down to earth style.

I play bluegrass, popular, folk, even a little classical. It all works on this guitar. I like it for Travis, fingerstyle or flatpick.I especially like it's feel with .011-.052 strings. Very fast and fender-like.

I can find no defects on this guitar. It is what it is. Every thing fits with no glue residue or unfinished edges. The set-up suits me for a multitude of styles. It might seem a little high for a some people.

I can't see why this guitar can not last for a very long time. The only wear I have seen is to the decal rosette where my right hand little finger rests(ex-banjo player) and a rubbed out smoothness where my right arm touches the upper bout.

This guitar has a lifetime warranty. I have had some difficulty in the past obtaining Martin support for problems with rosette deterioration on a D-15S and with buzzing strings on an OM-21.

I've been playing since 1947. I own an HD-28, a 000-16SGT and a circa 1932 Gibson banjo.I would absolutely buy another 00-15. It is the instrument I would grab if the house were on fire! I think it's the best all around gutiar for me for it's simplicity and versatility. I wish it had no decal rosette ring or an inlaid one. I would not sell this one for what I paid.

All solid mahogany ,satin finish, made in USA, case included.No real features but thats not what this guitar is about,this guitar is for people who just want an old stripped down look like a 1930s guitar rather than the shiny cutaway electro type. So I give it a 9 because the features are just right for the vibe.

I play in a duo playing folk,blues,bluegrass and dark country songs we have a cd out and a website if anyone is interested this guitar can be heard on that ,we are called Steinbecks old brown boots.I have been playing this guitar for about five years now and I have found that this guitar sounds ten times better if you tune down a step.At concert pitch I found it to be on the tight side and slightly unresonant resulting in a slightly hard top mid sound when strummed hard but sounded good when fingerpicked (think steve earle,townes van zandt).However if you tune it down a step it gets louder ,warmer and the bass end starts to bloom instead of thud, now it can be strummed harder and it all vibrates nicely, I can dig in harder with the pick and its much more responsive but it still sounds sweet when fingerpicking.Originally I played slide with this guitar and again got better results with open G and D than A and E.

The guitar looks great it was set up perfectly for me as I originally bought it for slide not that the action was that high ,but high enough for me to play both styles till I figured out what I wanted to use it for .After a year of playing it the truss rod started to buzz I took it to the shop who sorted it out while I waited for free, this was probably caused by my experimenting with different guages of strings over the year.

This guitar has been knocked over ,dropped and sent flying through the air when I picked up the case quickly and then realised I had not locked it.Its a tough guitar ,it doesnt look it perhaps but it has come through all the abuse of travelling to gigs etc.Through playing the finish shines up in places like it has been polished,but I prefer this satin finish to the thick hard laquer finish.

N/A

I have been playing for twenty years.If it were stolen or lost I would shop around purely because since I bought this guitar my needs have changed .But I would try the dreadnought version and the jumbo version as I love the look of it and the quality.Martin quality,all solid wood and a good price with a hard case.Anything more expensive than this I would be too scared to take out and play.Sometimes I wish it had on board electrics as miking up can be problematic,but I think its all just swings and roundabouts really.

2001 Martin 00-15
Nazareth PA (USA)
most of the features have been covered previous.
All mahogany grand concert body style, reminiscent of the 30's.

this is a special order with high gloss body finish.
the neck and headstock are the satin or matte finish. best of both worlds; I like the satin necks for playability, but there is something about a gloss body that just seems right
No electronics

Pretty dang basic guitar (except for the gloss upgrade)

Owned a '34 Martin 0-17 for years, but I traded it off some years back for a Larrivee OM-5, which led to a bunch of other guitars (Goodall, Petros, Hoyer, Strats, etc.) I have tended to avoid the newer Martins as I rekoned that it was only worth it to pursue vintage examples (Martin had some bad years with their "D" size guitars in the 70's... but what did I know?)

I have taken to playing more blues -- finger style and slide -- in the last couple years, and the refined, high end guitars just mostly sucked for this style. Some research on the web, regarding appropriate guitars for delta/blues slide, pointed me towards the "0" and "00" sized martins -- including the newer models. Research also led me to the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, where I obtained a mountain of good info and eventuall a pointer to this guitar (at a nice price!) I took a flyer on it, and I am not sorry I did.

It is not a dread, so huge enormous volume is not it's forte; but if it is basic funky mojo you are looking for, it's the thang. Substantial bottom end comes thru -- but more percussive (as opposed to piano-like, oceans of low-end sustain on higher end spruce/rosewood guitars). A thumb-pick struck on the lower strings provides a whomping bass drum like beat that is just perfect for alternating blues lines... almost like I'm playing with my own string bass player, snapping his full size, acoustic epiphone bass, along with a perfectly deadened bass drum. I find myself just thwapping the bottom strings, grooving on that 'whomp-whomp.'

Gently played, this little guitar produces some lovely tones, with adequate sustain... but it does not produce excessive amounts of overtones. Very responsive and 'quick' and the notes decay well enough to not muddy up the mix. Trademark of mahogany. Emphasis on mid-trange and top, with enough bottom to make it interesting. The fret board is 1 11/16 -- narrowish compared to the pre-war Martins of this size. After playing mostly 1 3/4 necks, I was afraid I would feel cramped. No sweat. String spacing is fine, the neck profile is nice and slim so you can really grab it and work it. Build quailty is better than I expected for a shop that builds lots of guitars.

i swapped out the micarta bridge with one I fashioned out of bone,cut about 1.5 MIL higher, set up for slide. Woof! with a glass or ceramic slide at this height, this baby rocks the house. This guitar just wails with a slide. The percussive element is deep with a good deal of palm muting, but when opened up, it can get down right trashy... on the other hand, if you emphasize the vibrato and play it smooth, you can do mellow blues and hawaiian... and have a frickin' ball. I mean, with a heavier string on top (.015 and .017), it sings like a violin. A number of posters on guitar newsgroups pointed to the 00-15 as a kicker for acoustic sliding, and they were not kidding. along side my National Radio Tone, I am a happy camper... I got a nice matched set of slide players and i DIDN'T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK TO GET EITHER OF THEM.

Can't see any issue. It's only about 3 years old, but it is tightly built. The rosewood bridge looks a little rough, but it is new, and with a little oil and a buff, it will be fine. Fret work is fine. I was pleasantly surprised when I got this guitar... surprised but also HAPPY that a respected builder (Martin) IS still building some great guitars -- especially these 'lower end' end models, and putting the same about quality build into them as they do the signature models. Nice case too. this guitar just feels like it will stick around me for a while... a good everyday instrument that covers the bases.

Ony had it a while, but it looks tough despite being a light instrument. I owned one like it that was 60 + years old and was still kicking.

Haven't had to contact Martin yet.

Been playing about 32 years
Owned the older Martin, A Goodall GC, PEtros, a Hoyer Archtop.
Currently I own a National Resonator (Radiotone), a Fender Strat (mexi blue), a mid 90's Ibanez Talman (with the lipstick pickups... a cool overlooked axe!), a couple project amps, and a Real McCoy Wah pedal. That's enuf. I'm angling for a vintage 00 to just have an older one.

I almost bought a 000-16SGT (slot head 12 fret) and a Newer Gibson Blues King. In retrospect, I'm glad the offers I made on those guitars were TURNED DOWN by the sellers. this guitar suits me. If it got ripped, I'd certainly seek out another.

I recently purchased a 2003 Martin 00-15 from Nazareth Music Center in Nazareth, PA. This is also where Martin?s makes them. I was told the factory was only blocks away from this store. The Guitar has 14 frets clear of the body and it has a satin finish solid Mahogany top, back & sides. This guitar is a plain Jane on looks, no binding or fancy inlays, but that seems to be the beauty of it. The neck is also mahogany with an east Indian rosewood fingerboard. The bridge is also of rosewood. The neck is thin with what I would say are medium frets. The scale is 25.4?. This guitar also comes with a beautiful wood case, no extra charge.

My style of music ranges from blues rock and 70?s metal to jazz fusion. I was looking for an acoustic that would articulate chords as well as hold up against some aggressive lead playing. This is a lot to ask of one guitar. I believe I found that guitar. Traditionally, I?ve found out that, this size guitar is meant for finger-style playing. I can see why. Because every note of a chord stands out. If you single out notes in a given chord, those notes seem to jump out against their chordal back-drop. This is a very dynamic instrument with a very complex tone. The tone is not as deep or washy as a dread. A dreadnought seams to be a little more atmospheric to me, where as the 00 is more focused, precise and in your face. Tight voicings and chords with open strings sound best. Barre chords don?t do this guitar justice. The mahogany top gives it a round punchy tone. The tone is in no way harsh or edgy. It is very smooth sounding. Single notes have a beautiful complexity to them almost like a Les Paul, on the neck pick-up, with the tone rolled down a bit. The notes have a fullness to them, even at the 12th to 14th fret. This guitar never gets thin or tinny.

The action maybe a bit high for me or it might be I'm not use to the .012 strings that came on it. I?ve been playing my electrics primarily, with .009?s, for the last two years. I?ve been spoiled. I usually play with medium or heavy gauge strings on my acoustic, so I?ll be use to it in a few more days. I don?t think I?ll change either the action or the type of strings on this beauty because of the tone. This guitar is amazing. There is no fret buzz or dead spots whatsoever. The frets were finished perfectly.and the set-up and intonation from the factory was right on the money.

Only time will tell in this category. I can say this about it, that this thing stays in tune day to day. When I take it out of the case, 9 out of 10 times I don?t need to tune it. It?s in tune already. Just like my Les Pauls. That's usually a sign of a good reliable guitar and good strings.

The life time warranty, to the original owner, sounds good to me. And I?ve only heard good things about Martin?s service.

I?ve been playing since I was 9 or 10 so that makes it about 27 years now. I am also a professional Audio Engineer. I have 5 Gibson Les Pauls (1 Custom & 4 Standards) all ranging from 12 to 25 years old. I have an Epiphone Firebird VII that's a couple years old now. And my only acoustic before the Martin is a Fender F-15 (grand concert 00 size) which I've had for 20 something years and I believe it was made in Korea. I was searching for a good acoustic, on and off, for almost the last ten years. I wish i knew about the 00 size guitar before this year. I might of found this guitar a lot sooner 00 guitars don?t seem very popular so most music stores don?t have them. They are often mistaken for a 3/4 size guitar when they do have them. I always thought my Fender was a kids guitar. I was under 13 and small for my age, so I just bought something I was comfortable playing. I never knew this was a normal size guitar. I sort of stumble upon the Martin. I played a D-15 in a Sam Ash store and something about the sound of the mahogany top grabbed me. It was different, but a dreadnought is just to big for me. I went home and did some research on Martin?s web site and discovered the 00 size. I was taking a vacation that week-end in Pennsylvania and would be going right past Nazareth. So from the web site I found this music store and made sure they had the 00-15. The buying experience was excellent in this store. It?s been there for 50+ years and I got to compare the 00-15 against 5 other Martins, mostly 000 size. this confirmed my research and they gave me the best price I have ever seen on it. I think they only sell Martin guitars.

After owning the 00-15 for about a week, I was back in that Sam Ash again. This time I tried 3 Gibsons, a takaminie, a Martin 16 series dread and some kind of Canadian guitar. Prices were from $1500 to $2700 for the Gibsons and the others were under $1000. No comparison. Nothing sounds like a Martin. The Gibsons look great, but an acoustic is about the sound. Other brands just don?t have the tonal complexity the Martins? have.

I love the tone and feel of this guitar and would definitely buy it again if it was lost, stolen or broken. I also love the smell!! Nothing else smells as good as a martin.

I have been playing guitar for over 30 years. I've played professionally and done many studio gigs with various bands. I prefer small-bodied guitars for recording and "recreational" playing as they sound better when played finger-style and with a slide, which are my primary playing styles.

I was actually in the hunt for a 3/4 or parlor guitar that I could carry on an airline as I frequently fly. I was disappointed in the types of "travel" or "parlor" guitars available. Larivee and Martin were competitively priced, but I found them lacking in sound quality. Taylor "Baby" series guitars have no tonal quality whatsoever. Collings has a nice 3/4 series guitar, but it costs nearly $3,000!

I tried the Martin 00-15 during my search for the ultimate small guitar and was very pleasantly surprised. This guitar is not fancy.. it is simply appointed but very well made. As I once told a luthier... I only care about what happens between three points.. the nut, the bridge and my ears!

Very fulfilling. My guitar is brand new and as all acoustics do as the guitar ages and the wood cures the sound will only get better. This guitar begs to be fingerpicked and is a wonderful folk, blues, new age, jazz etc. instrument.

I bought my guitar from Nicholson Music in Folsom California. I could have paid less by mail order, but Nicholson does a complete setup to your taste, reseats the Martin bridge pegs and adds a stap button on the neck heel BELOW the treble side of the neck. These guys were courteous, fast and very professional. That is worth a lot to me.

I don't have a bad thing to say about the guitar I bought. It is a very nice, very competitively priced instrument.

I play fingerstyle. Celtic, Blues, Slide. I am not going to thrash this guitar. It will probably look as pristine in 10 years as it does now. I will travel with it but even so I don't intend to neglect it.

I own two other Martins. This one makes three. I trust Martin to be there when I need them.

I own vintage Martins, Collings, Taylor and National. It is amazing to me that Martin can make a guitar that sounds and plays so well for so little money... hmmm. I wouldn't trade my vintage Martins for anything, but everybody else better look out. Tremendous value. I highly recommend the Martin 15 series.

2002 model. Exactly as described in the myriad of reviews above. Appealed to me precicely because it is a "no frills" instrument. I can't think of another all mahogany guitar. looks very funky!!

It is a small bodied guitar so you aren't going to strum it with the dreadnoughts! Picked with fingers or pick it sounds great. I play fingerstyle blues/jazz/folk and love the warm but clear tone. It is an inspirational guitar from which new ideas just seem to flow.

Haven't gigged it, just recorded so lack of on board electrics is not a problem for me

As close to perfect as I have ever experienced with a "from new" purchase. Minor adjustment to the action in the shop before taking it home and I can't fault it

Deceptively tough. The "minimalist" appearance will only be enhanced by wear! No end pin button for a strap though!

Very friendly but I haven't requested help yet. Live in the UK so I hope I don't need to claim on the warranty! They won't want to know here

Been playing since 14 (now 48). Acquired a lot of instruments in that time! This is my current favourite from A D28, Yamaha nylon string, Tanglewood 12 stringer, Les Paul (Gibson), Gibson Nighthawk (3pick up model), Gibson Blueshawk, Fender Stratocaster, Yamaha SG, and a few mandolins, resonators, lap steels and a banjo. I only wish my ability matched my collection!!

This is a brand new, from the factory, 2002, Martin! It's 14 frets clear to the body. All solid mahogany. No pickups. The bridge and fingerboard are rosewood. The finish is satin. The tuners are Martin branded small Shaller style in chrome. I think the ratio is 14:1. It came with a Geib style martin (by TKL) case -- very nice. My only beef with this depression-era beauty is that it has a decal for a rosette. I would rather skip the decal, personally. The saddle and nut are Micarta. The saddle is compensated.

I bought this baby for fingerstyle and light duty slide. I prefer to keep it tuned her in open D or G. The tone is balanced and very warm, almost hypnotic. This instrument sings. It sounds even better after I upgraded the saddle to a precompensated bone saddle and replaced the plastic bridge pins with ebony. I think the sound is phenomenal! This is an amazing value.

The factory setup was between fair and pretty good. The neck relief had to be sligtly adjusted (about a quarter turn tighter), the nut slots I filed down by about 1mm, and the new bone saddle I filed down by about 2mm. Now it plays almost by itself! The fit and finish are rock solid and without flaw.

The absence of binding makes this baby look a bit frail, but it feels quite solid. It will probably outlast me.

I don't know.

I play/own a Tacoma EM9, Fender Fat Strat, Kenny Hill Munich, and Goya G-13. This guitar is played about 50% of the time I play. I love this one. I would definitely buy another if I had to!

made in 2000 in USA of course. 20 frets, 14 clear. all solid mahogany with rosewood fingerboard. satin finish which i prefer. it came with standard martin tuners which i replaced with the more classic looking butterbean style. hardshell case included.

I play mostly play fingerstyle on this guitar but I do strum it quite abusively at times and it still sounds great. At first I thought it was rather weak in the bass department but then i moved to a house with solid concrete walls and its like playing through an amp! the only reason i dont give it a 10 is becaue my martin dreadnought blows it away when it comes to Neil Young style strumming.

Great factory action. After playing my 12-string it feels like an electric. Very easy to play. As i mentioned before i replaced the factory tuners and put the nicer butterbean style. My 00-15 was a scratch and dent item and you can tell in the right light that the finish isnt up to par. However, this doesnt matter to me one bit and I prefer the look of mine after comparing it to a "properly finished" model.

I dont play live but it holds up to my daily abuse. I've had it knocked over with no damage but it did scare the crap out of me since it seems like such a delicate guitar. I regularly hit walls and doorways since i usually pace around the house while playing. ive gotten plenty of dings and scratches but who really cares about that as long as the sound isnt comprimised.

havent had to use it.

I played bass for a few years prior to picking up the acoustic and its now been 3 solid years on the guitar. I also own a guild 12-string, a Martin d1-r and a cheapo yamaha nylon string. I play the 00-15 the most out of my guitars and would definitly replace it if it were lost or stolen. It is definitly my favorite.