Martin 000-15

I bought my guitar in January 2007, over 2 and a half years ago. As far as Martins go, I also own a HD28V (a different animal completely, different woods all around, dreadnaught)

If you're looking at this review, you know something about the features of this guitar. The finish is satin. It is all solid, mahogany or sapele construction. I don't know if there is a sound difference between these two woods. There is no binding anywhere. The rosette is a decal. I'm pretty sure the fingerboard is rosewood. It is a smaller body size than a dreadnaught-which makes this guitar more comfortable to play. I like the color and finish. It's really just a matter of preference. No electronics. I would not get a Martin with electronics. In my mind, that takes away from the integrity of the guitar (for example, the saddle is not directly touching the wood-the transducer separates them). For gigs and recording, I mic it.

It's a nice, understated, unassuming, clean and classy look, and I can't really think of anything it's missing in the features department. Other reviewers mentioned the materials of the nut and saddle. Again, this is a matter of preference as to how that affects the sound, but for the money paid (I paid $720 in early 2007), I can't complain. I would take the 15 series over the 16 series. I know the 16 series is usually more expensive, but for some reason I like the 15s better.

The rating for this category is hard to choose. Sure it could have more expensive materials and more appointments, but then it would be a different and more expensive guitar.

Literally every single time I play this guitar, I say the same thing each time I put it back in its case: "worth every penny." And it really is. It sounds best with moderate strumming, and fingerpicking. It accompanies a vocalist nicely.

As many people pointed out, this is not a dreadnaught. It sounds beautiful strummed, but it has its limits in that it can take hard strumming up to a point, but it's not as loud or clear as a quality dreadnaught when strummed hard-and really, it's not supposed to be. It has a nice, tight focused bottom end and all around balance. It does not have the strong bottom end of a dreadnaught-and again, it's not supposed to. For its design and purpose, and in the context of the wood materials used, it achieves its goal.

It has a nice clear sound for moderate strumming, and shines on fingerpicking. It has a nice thick punch when playing single notes in the mid-upper frets (around 7th to 12th frets, and more particularly, the 9th through 11th frets on the G and B strings), that I just can't get out of my HD28v (which has a smoother sound), and so I like playing this guitar for blues.

After playing it for more than 2 years, I am giving it an honest 10. It's earned it. To me, a 10 does not mean that it can do everything and suits every style of music; it means that it is excellent at doing what I believe it was designed to do-be an auditorium style guitar, with some nice balance and punch, particularly in the upper mid range, that works well for fingerpicking instead of straight strumming. I have never found myself saying "damn, if it only sounded more bottom heavy or louder" because honestly, that's not what this guitar is about.

I purchased it new from a local shop. The action is fine for me. Some people might want it a little lower, but it loses some of its sound when you do that, and with the changes in weather, any lower action might result in buzzing during the colder months. The neck is comfortable.

Martin recommends light strings, so stick with that. I'm guessing the guitar won't withstand medium gauge strings (I've read the in the early 20s, guitar players used heavier strings so they could be louder to fit in with bands, but the bridges broke-that's where all the bracing designs come in-trying to find a happy medium between having the top vibrate enough, but have the strength to withstand the pounds of pressure from the strings).

The finish is perfect.

There are no flaws. One thing that stood out for me in this regard are the frets. On a lot of guitars, particularly less expensive ones, if you run your fingers along the edge of the fretboard, you sometimes can feel the edge of the frets sticking out. This can be from sloppy workmanship, or from wood shrinkage, and can sometimes interfere with playing. Thankfully, this guitar did not suffer from that.

I suppose this could use more quality tuners, but I can't say that it slips out of tune either. Acoustic guitars are somewhat delicate, so it's obviously not going to handle hard knocks too well. I am expecting this guitar to last at least one lifetime, and am looking forward to the wear on the finish. Where my strumming arm rests over the guitar, it is starting to look a little shiny from the oils and natural buffing, but that's how satin finishes play out.

No experience.

I have been playing for 29 years (some of those years I was not active). As for acoustics, I also own a Martin HD28V, Epiphone AJ200 (my bang around guitar), and a Tamra (I think that's an Ibanez offshoot) which is a D28 copy, but a piece of junk (I string that one Nashville style). Some people are Martin people, and some people are Gibson people. I like both, but I find Gibson construction and quality to be inconsistent lately. I don't particularly care for Taylor. There's something sterile about their sound, and they always sound better plugged in than unplugged. But no matter how good the electronics, an acoustic plugged in never really sounds natural, and you don't get to hear the sound of the guitar breathing.

As with all acoustics, play as many as you can before buying, including playing several of the same model. I remember when I bought mine, I A/B another 000-15, going back and forth for a couple of days-I would return and see if I felt differently about one or the other after a day. There was a slight difference between the two--either would have been fine, but I preferred the one I picked. And remember, look at the strings when you're trying out a guitar. Some of them have been sitting there for months. That can really affect the sound (although some people prefer guitars with dead strings).

First I'll say that I judge harshly... if anything gets a "10" I call that "impossible to improve".


I have seen that some people give this guitar a low rating in the 'features' category because it lacks extensive inlay work and fancy frills. I think that is really what gives this guitar its style. It is pure quality without flash.
The top back and sides are all solid wood. Martin uses either Mahogany or Sapele, both of which are nearly identical in appearance and tone. The whole body is dark with rich wood grain and a satin finish that compliments the design perfectly. There is no binding material anywhere on this guitar, which gives it a simple, clean look.
Quality tuners and a comfortable solid wood neck. All made in the USA.
The saddle is Tusq and the nut is Corian. Both good materials, but if I were to change anything, I would give it bone saddle, nut and pins.
I'll rate it an 8 because it lacks fancy electronics or inlays, and the nut, saddle and pins could be improved.

Incredible.

The mahogany top gives this guitar a very unique tone. Not overly bright, but rich and full. The low end has a smooth sound to it, not muted or muddy. The mids and highs have great sustain and a warm tone that is smooth as silk. Balanced tone for fingerpicking or strumming. You need to hear one of these...

If I had anything bad to say about the sound of this guitar it is that it is not very loud. This is not a guitar that you would play unplugged with a band if you want to stand out.

I didn't get mine new from the factory so I can't say anything about the factory setup.
Mine has a great, low action perfect for fingerstyle and light strumming. Again, this is not an instrument that you would hammer on, it sounds better played lightly.

The Satin finish is kind of a matter of preference. I have heard of some people buffing this guitar up to a gloss finish, but I'm leaving mine how it is. This guitar has its own style, no flash, no frills. I think the satin, low gloss is the perfect compliment.

I can't find any flaws anywhere.

Stays in tune... Other than that, I cant really attest to its reliability. I don't play on stage and will never take it it to a gig. As far as durability goes, I don't plan on throwing it down the stairs, but it feels solid enough to take it.

Never dealt with Martin CS, but I've heard good things about them.

This is my favorite guitar I have played. It looks great, plays great and I like its style. I would be hard pressed to find a different guitar that sounds this good, for this little $$.

If it were run over by a speeding locomotive, I would go find another immediately.

mine has a factory fishman prefix - blinding sound when plugged in.
It has all the features I was looking for - no frills, all quality solid mahogany/sapele wood - what more do you need ?

I love the sound - i play fingerpickin' blues on it mostly and this little baby makes me smile and cry - it's got a real mellow sound -just go and try one - you'll see ! It also stands up well to strumming - but be warned "this is NO dreadnaught" - I have no dislikes with this guitar.

Action -: i think this is completely down to personal preference and playing style - out of the box i originally felt the action was a little too high travelling up the fretboard - but i've not had it set up yet and it's never stopped me playing it.
Fit & finish -: just like it should be - top quality.

Yes - the satin finish is not as durable as gloss - however if this guitar is looked after it will stand the test of time.

never had any problems

I've been playing again for 6 years (although played 6 years previously) - i own a Blueshawk, "The Paul", yamaha SG1300 & a JC16GTE. The 00015 is still my favourite. I would highly recommend this guitar to anyone who loves playing acoustic. It's a no frills touch of class........ If it got lost or stolen ? I'd search forever to get it back - altough i would buy another one until i found it!!

you all know the basic features, i love the simplisity of this guitar.

this guitar reminds me of that little 7 year old opera singer you see on the talk shows all the time. this guitar eally sings, gets loud, and also holds good tone when your playing real low.

everything is good, i travel a l ot with mine, and also with the louisiana wheather, i have had to tweak the neck a couple of times. i had to buy a special set of allen wrenchs to reach the neck adjustment. that has been my only complaint about this guitar. it is wereing beatifully, the top portion of the guitar has a good whorn in shine to it, just from a couple of years of playing.

this guitar is dependable, although i have a couple of cracks forming on the back, both of these came banging around in a stage setting. this guitar always sounds good, holds tune good as well. this is usually the only guitar i travel with, so even though i own a backup, i don't need it.

never dealt with martin. never had anything i could not adjust my self i.e. the neck...

i am 23 and have been playing for approx 10 years. though i have played several martins this is my first to own. i had accomondered a 58' d18 for a while. the sound quality of this guiat is compairable. the week before i purchased mine i had to pass on 57' ooo-15. i didn't have the money for the 57', but after a trip to the casino i had the cash, i called the guy up and he had just sold it the day before. i had my mind set on the guitar, so i just went an bought a new one. no regrets. it complments my 62' strat beatifully.

The basics: 14-fret Orchestra Model/OOO size Martin guitar. No electronics, 100% solid wood: back, sides and top. No frills, just a high quality, US build guitar of C.F. Martin heritage at a reasonable price. Case included.

The OOO-15 (and it's sister guitar the D-15) are the entry level of C.F. Martin's high-end, USA made line of guitars. Lacking a high gloss lacquer finish, attractive top-wood, bindings or inlay work this is not a guitar Elvis would have played. That is to say, it's not designed for the eye and for that I see some have scored it a 1

I've given the OOO-15 a 5 because while it does lack cosmetics that can be hand in less expensive guitars from other builders, the OOO-15 makes up for in being 100% solid wood: front, back and sides and this 'feature' alone should account for a high score. It also features a bone nut, Martin's high-end tuners and high quality fret dressings, etc... that you get on any Martin guitar.

As with the others in the 15 series, it's made of solid Mahogany or solid Sapele. This is interestng case where it might be one or the other and Martin doesn't indicate anywhere which solid wood was used in the construction. Sapele and Mahogany share similar cosmetic properties in terms of color and the guitar has s stained satin finish so unless you're an expert on solid woods you won't know which you OOO-15 is made from.

It doesn't matter as they are both excellent tone woods with very similar characteristics.

This is the first OOO style guitar that I've owned. Up to this point I've owned four other larger Dreadnought body style acoustics. I love all my guitars, but if I could only keep one it would probably be my OOO-15, it's just the perfect balance of volume on fingerstyle play and strumming.

I've seen some people describe it as 'dark' it's not dark to my ears, it's actually bright but more mellow than a spruce top.

Factory setup was excellent. No flaws, incredible attention to detail from the Martin factory.

It stays in its case and comes out when I play it, it's solid wood. Martin's have a long history of being among (if not) the most reputable guitar in terms of durability.

Martin post-sales customer service (by way of e-mail and phone) is the best of any guitar vendor I have had to deal with. It comes with a lifetime warranty on part defects (as in lifetime of original owner). C.F. Martin has authorized service centers in most major cities with luthiers certified in their techniques and authorized to perform warranty repairs.

Current owner Christian Fredrick Martin IV has said in interview "I tell people if you're on a budget, buy a D-15, because it's the same build quality as our much more expensive guitars". The sound of this guitar is unique and very pleasant. I've heard people compare it to the Guild M-20 because of its size and top wood type... I've played on a Guild M-20 sounds different to my ears (probably because of the smaller body). The sound you hear on The Beatles "Blackbird" and "Dear Prudence" this isn't the guitar that was used on those tracks obviously, but the sound of the OOO-15 is very reminiscent of that. It's not muddy, it's not too bright. It's just perfect for folk style acoustic playing.

I own two other Martin's a low-end Dreadnought (DXK2), and a 1998 D-28. I also own a high-end Washburn acoustic with electronics and cutaway. I own a few others (high end electric Washburn and mid-range electric bass). I know a quality guitar and I also know what feels right ot me.

no frills which is what I want. Just wood. Just real honest wood

Fingerstyle: could not be sweeter for fingerstyle, fingerpicking guitar.

perfect and comfortable.

Real wood gets better with time. Give it years--better yet, talk to those who have the real wood guitars and let them tell you how it sounds after 10 years of care!

small mom and pop shops are the best. Even a year later, I still e-mail with questions and get immediate responses...

perhaps the nicest sounding guitar I have ever heard.

Mahogany body, good quality tuners, comfortable neck, as simple as they come. Not a lot of features, but this is what I like

This is where this guitar really shines. I went through a long process settling for this guitar. My search went through 1970's Gibson dreads, a 000-18, I also had a 000-28H custom shop model, which was definately beautiful, but once I picked up the 000-15 I was blown away by the rich, detailed, complex sound. It is the kind of guitar that you instantly gel with, the rich overtones soak into your body.
As far as I'm concerned I won't look any more for 'my' acoustic.
I have added a seymour duncan 'woody' soundhole magnetic pickup, which sounds great through my 1980's fender concerts, almost jazz guitar like.

The guitar was flawless from the dealer. The action was a little high for me (although ideal for slide) I took a couple of mm off the bridge and it plays perfectly now with no fret buzz.
Martin really finish their guitars beautifully, and I reaaly like the fact the satin finish is starting to polish up.

I don't really gig out much at the moment, but I'm sure if I did it would just 'relic' a bit quicker. Hardware I'm sure will last fine. I would depend on this guitar 100%.
I would gig without a backup, but if I had to get one I would by the same

Never had to use it

I've been playing 28 years, mostly as a hobby, but do know my guitars well. I have been 100% happy with this guitar, even though it took me a bit of time and wasted ?? to get there. I wish I hadn't assumed that the more you pay, the better guitar you'll get, as this smokes the 00-28H.

Like others have said here: it's a plain (Hazy)Jane box, and that is what it is supposed to be.

Now, the meat and potatoes portion: two words--Nick Drake! Nick played a Guild M20: the 000-15 nails it straight out--trust me. It's really amazing! Subtle or prominent bass can be mixed with a very distinctive brighter (Bryter)sound--very tightly focused i.e. River Man, Things Behind the Sun...etc. Just like the Guild M20. Of course it doesn't just end there. This guitar literally sounds like a symphony in a box! No mixing involved!

Bought from Elderly instruments. Set up was decent enough. Bridge pins are a little high--that's standard from Martin; also, it is a NON-ISSUE in my opinion. Strings are a tad high, but thats still ok to work with--does not bother this player. Finish is dull satin and seems to be holding up quite well...same as the neck--GREAT--I hate spending the damn time polishing anyway! The mahogany scent is there too!

Seems nice and solid around the neck. Finish is dull satin--and I would never use polish on it to make it shine. If it does wear (and it shows no sign of it yet) I'll rub it with 0000 steel wool, but only as a last resort.

IT'S A MARTIN! LIFETIME!

Been playing for 25 years plus: Other Martins, HD28, OM18V, LX1. Previously I tried to capture Nicks sound with my OM-18V, but it just wasn't there. Nice fingerstyle the OM, but it's mainly a strummer. This is both, but it's certainly not a volume monster like a dread. But the tone is one of the sweetest I've ever come across like Nicks Guild M20 or an old Martin 015.

all that this guitar needs - no shit !!!!

Not a dreadnought for sure but if you want real character then this is it - especially for blues styles.

Had it for over 3 years now and still need to get it set up right for me - so the factory set up can't be thst bad eh ?

been diged a couple of times but it's matte finish and hies most little things well. It's light weight is deceiving - this guitar is SOLID!!

don't need it

Paid $899 plus import tax - worth every penny - own a yamaha sg1300ts,
dearmond starfire, a Gibson "the paul" & blueshawk - I find it hard to open any of the others cases - the martin (mine is a 00015 with factory fitted fishman prefix) is too hard to pass every time. Well recommended.......

In this case, a rating of "1" is actually a compliment. No junk features like knobs and mother-of-toilet-seat inlays, just stuff that helps you create music. Elegance in Simplicity.

WOW!!!!!

I thought I knew what a good sounding guitar sounded like. I have a bunch of good guitars including a Martin HD-28 and a Gibson J-45, which are pretty much "industry standard" reference instruments. I can honestly say that for fingerstyle and fast single note picking, the simple 000-15 completely smokes the others. The 000-15 will lose in a volume contest and maybe strumming chords, but that's about it. It's counter-intuitive that a single type of wood and a small body can make such a huge sound, but boy does it ever. I would characterize the sound as focused with a complex series of woody overtones that almost sound synthetic because of their richness, sort of like a subtle chorus effect. At the time I bought the guitar, I also played a custom nitro gloss 000-15, a bunch of other expensive small bodied 000/00/OM Martin's, several Taylors (yuck) and 2 $7000 Goodall's. Despite being the cheapest, the 000-15 had the best playability and richest/loudest sound.

My guitar was actually very poorly set up, but that's OK; all new acoustics should be set up specifically for the player and style. I usually go with 3/32" string height on bass side at the 12th fret. This guitar likes Martin SP Lights (12-54) so far, I can't see wanting medium/heavy strings on this guitar even though all my others are set up that way. The fit and finish is typical Martin; nothing tricky, just honest quality workmanship throughout.

This guitar is not what I would call a battle axe. It has a very thin finsh and is made from mahogany which is a slightly softer wood than finished maple or rosewood. The dark finish will probably help it hide dings and I can't imagine that this thing will fall apart anytime soon. This guitar is a player not a looker, so up to a point who cares?

Maritn is generally good, although I'm currently in a warranty repair fiasco with a D-28 that has gone on for months. Not fun.

For the price and the desired purpose, the 000-15 is an absolute Grand Slam. It is understated in a typical Martin fashion, yet has power and tone like no other. It looks a little unorthodox, but after you play one for awhile you will be sold. This is one of the best values that I know of in musical instruments today, although I don't think they are carried at Guitar Center so you may have to seek one out. If you buy online, make sure it comes set up or that you get it tweaked locally. I HIGHLY recommend this guitar, the reviews hyperbole are for real.

2005 All solid mahogany. Rosewood fretboard and headtsock overlay. Sealed tuners. 25.4 scale. 000 size. Give it a 5 for features, since no electronics and all, but completely meets my expectations for what it should be.

Bright and articulate, much louder than I would have expected, given the size. Great high end, mid-level mids, thin on the bottom end, which I knew it would be and is really better (in some respects) than my '66 D-18 for the type of recording I do (strumming with a thin pick and singing at the same time), as it fits better into the mix without much EQ. I'm giving it a 9, since it's great for what it is.

Fantastic. I will say, though, that some I tried were not. There are WIDE variations in grain patterns, rosewood density and color, (fretboard and headstock), but this is subjective. I live near Gryphon in Palo Alto, CA and was able to try a few -- they had nine, I tried three, and found the right one for me. Again, rating is relative to what I knew it would be. It's got a thin satin finish, very well done. All the joints and seams are perfect, the frets are well-polished, the action was a little high but I adjusted that this afternoon by sanding the bottom of the bridge just barely and now it's just great. Nice and medium-low, no buzzing, just right.

The satin finish makes it look a little delicate but the wood is thick and the joints are solid as a rock. Can't say it won't polish out in spots and all that, but that just makes it more mine. Very solid feeling and looking.

Dunno. Just bought it yesterday.

I've been playing for 20 years and have had everything from Ovations to Gibsons (1969 J-50) and customs (Hippner) and Martins (my other acoustic is a 1966 D-18) and I bought and play them all for different reasons. This is exactly what I wanted for what is is. A pro-grade (I think) 000-size, finger-picking, light strumming party/porch/jam session guitar that I'm not afraid to leave out or take with me anywhere. Great case. Great company. Great guitar. Highly recommended with no reservations.

As you may be aware from other submissions, the Martin 000-15 is a spare beauty. It is solid mahogany with a rosewood fretboard and bridge, satin finish, no binding, and it's only nod to adornment is the raised gold "Martin & Co." signature on the headstock and a rosette decal around the soundhole. It's Walden with strings. And whether you appreciate its simplicity or see it as plain will come down to personal preference. I think it's an elegant guitar. So, giving this a rating is misleading. Since a ?10? is described on the H.C. website as "tons of features," then this has to be a 3. But I'll mention one other thing that others have mentioned, and it shouldn't be taken for granted. This has the most intoxicating aroma of any guitar I've ever held. It's like a cedar forest in the summer rain. You'll remember the scent long after the sound fades away.

Try Googling ?guitars, sound and tone.? It?s dizzying. The truth is, it?s difficult to put into words our idea of the perfect tone and everyone will have different criteria, but we know what we like when we hear it and why. When I first heard the Martin 000-15, I knew it was the guitar that I wanted. The sound is warm with trebles that shimmer with sweetness and woody bass notes that you feel in your arms and chest, but they never overpower the overall sound. In fact, everything I?ve read about the 000-15 suggests that it is a fingerpickers dream, and, while this is true, I love playing chords on this guitar because the balance of sounds is so delicate and even that I appreciate the harmony of the notes. Even within the few days of owning it, it has drawn me into experimenting with more complex chords just to see what sounds it can coax from them. I was playing a simple ?D? Chord one night and my wife kept asking me what that sound was. We listened to the sustain and these tonal colors just swirled around the room.

I like the feel of the satin finish. The awareness of the wood and the vibration is more immediate and raw. The action could be a little lower, but there?s a lot of bridge showing and the saddle is at a perfect height, should I choose to have it lowered at some point. But one of the reasons I wanted this guitar is it?s so easy to play.

I?ve had the guitar less than a week, so I can?t comment on durability. It?s light, but well constructed. The satin finish is probably more delicate, but all guitars should be taken care of and all guitars at some point get their share of battle scars.

Too soon to comment.

I?m looking back objectively at what I?ve written. It sometimes sounds florid or like I?m writing about a woman I love. But sometimes finding the right guitar is like falling in love. And if you?re reading these reviews, you appreciate guitars and understand what I?m saying. So, forgive my excess as you would any fool in love who does and says crazy things. I bought my first guitar 15 years ago and I didn?t know how to play yet. So, I didn?t know how to judge a guitar based on sound or ease of play, in short, all the things that matter most. This time around I wanted a guitar that would I would be happy with were I to never buy another guitar. I?ve always loved Martins, but knew I could never afford one, at least a solid wood Martin. The 000-15 was the guitar that made me realize that dream could come true. It is the least expensive solid-wood guitar they make. Here?s the best part. I wasn?t settling for the cheapest just to own a Martin. The shop where I purchased it has many high-end Martins along with Santa Cruz, Froggy Bottoms, Huss & Daltons, Collins and Taylors, to name a few. I played most of them. But the minute I played the 000-15, I knew this was the guitar. The warmth of the sound, the simplicity of the design, the mahogany hue, the feel of the wood, the earthy aroma, it?s all there. I?m looking forward to years of enjoyment.

the beauty of this guitar lies in its' simplicity.there is no binding on the body or neck.the rosette and logo on the headstock are decals.
the top,sides,and back are made of mahogany with a beautiful satin finish.the frets are medium and it has a 25 1/2 in scale neck.the back of the neck has a satin finish as well.the tuners are martin's own.

the sound of the 00015 can be described as earthy and rich with a deep,but not overpowering,bottom end.the higher strings ring clear and bright all the way up the neck.it is a beautiful thing when all these thigs are able to occur simultaneously.the natural harmonics that one is able to coax from this instrument are extremely pleasing to the ear.
i mostly play mostly finger style,rock, and blues.it excells in each of these styles. sounds excellent with a pyrex slide.
i can say nothing negative about the sound of this guitar and it seems to get better with age.

the action is a little high,but my guitar has not had a professional setup.this is not a problem until trying to fret barre chords past the 7th fret.it is a little difficult to hear each note distinctly,especially while incorporating hmmer ons and pull offs. i was able to completely solve this problem by stringing it with 10's, but alot of volume and bass response is lost with this compromise. in my opinion,not worth it. use 12's,d'addario phosphor bronze sound amazing.
the satin finish on this guitar is beautiful and flawless. without a high gloss finish,the soundbord is able to resonate freely. you can really feel the bass when holding it against the body.

i have not played live with this guitar but it seem durable enough to endure live gigs.my 0015 has take a few tumbles and it is still in perfect shape.the thin satin finish does pit fairly easily but i think it adds instant charater.i read in other reviews that the thin finish wears quickly.this has not been a problem for me with over a year of daily usage.it seems to wear very well.in fact,i eagerly await a worn spot wher my forearm rests,again character. i think this guitar will go the long haul with me.it's definitly a keeper and i think it will age beautifully.
i don't think i would ever play a gig without a backup guitar,but what could back this up?

i've never had to deal with martin.

i've been playing guitar about 2 1/2 years(average about an hour of practice a day).ialso own a 2001 celebrity deluxe cs257,a2001 celebrity deluxe limited edition,a 1996 alvarez classical,and most recently,a 2001 american fender strat.
if my 00015 were lost or stolen,i would replace it.this guitar sounds just as good or better than any martin i've tried. it is the last acoustic guitar i bought.i've continued to try other acoustics but nothing i've played comes close despite price tags 5 times what i paid for mine.the only other guitar that i wold buy would be a gibson j185 or j100,also very beautiful instruments.
the action is a little high,especially when compared to my ovations,but the sound that is put forth by this guitar and its' comfortable waist makes it the one i reach for 9 out of 10 times.

Nazareth, PA manufactured solid mahagony (sapele back and sides?). Mahogony neck with rosewood fingerboard. Pure, simple, utilitarian construction.

A kind of smoky, silky kind of sound? not exactly bell-like but very satisfying. Keeping strings new really helps out the upper end. Surprising volume for this size guitar.

Very basic, kind of minimalist look that I think is beautiful. Martin quality refined construction. I had the action lowered slightly with a simple neck adjustment before I bought the guitar and it has stayed there.

I have had this guitar for about a year and it is in wonderful condition. Solid yet lightweight. Its a joy to play, and I play it a lot. Stays in tune.

Lifetime Martin warrany. Local rep has willingly helped with a couple of minor details.

Though I had an old Fender acoustic for decades, this is my first serious guitar after I got serious about playing. It is a quality instrument that will reward you with its playability and soulful sound. I love its feel and vibe. If it were stolen, I might move up to a higher level Martin, but I plan to keep this guitar for a long time.

If you want features, buy a D41. Made 2004. This is a simple, all solid wood (mahogany back, sides and top), well made acoustic guitar and although I think it looks wonderful and somewhat unique in that it has a mahogany top (most seem to be spruce or cedar), its looks probably weren't a selling point

My music Style - Hmmm. Everything from Abba to ZZTOP. Suits fingerstyle more than rhythm although light strumming does sound nice and it does strum louder than my midrange Seagull Cedar top. Sounds good playing Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle, Nick Drake etc. Great sustain. Very bright.

Action quite high but not bothered me yet. Plays well all the way up the neck. No build flaws at all. I really like the satin finish and the full mahogany body. Smells great!! I've ordered ebony bridge pins (Plastic just doesn't seem right) and I may get the nut and saddle replaced with bone in the future.

To early to tell. Very light though compared to a dreadnought and even a 000-28. Wouldn't use it at a gig yet whilst it is still so new but would always have a backup just in case

It's a shame that the lifetime warranty only applies to owners in the US

Been playing 17 years and own a US strat, a heavily modded 80's japanese squire strat, a sanchez classical and a yamaha bass guitar + various keyboards. I spent months playing various model Martins and Taylors and eventually decided on a small bodied Martin. Very nearly bought the 000-28EC but then spotted the 000-15 and loved it straight away. I also dont think I'm a "2 and a half grand" standard guitarist but this is certainly making me play more and one day I would like to add a top end Martin to my collection

2003/4 model, with solid mahogany body and neck and mat. finish. In the distinct "parlour" guitar size which is v comfortable to both hold and play. It came with a hard martin case which is also excellent. A stripped down model but not of stripped down quality.

Great for acoustic blues/ragtime/jazz because of the equality of sound. Good resonating bass with sweet, audible treble. Although hardly ideal for strumming country/rock etc it is great for lead acoustic work especially when played w/ fingers rather than pick. Unlike some parlour sized instruments it also makes a good deal of noise.

It has quite a high action on it for an acoustic guitar (more of a classical/resonator tension) although this could be adjusted if necessary. The smaller width and depth of the neck mean it's ideal for getting around quickly esp with intricate work.

For such a light and flimsy feeling guitar it seems capable of taking more than it's fair share of knocks. The strap button comes separately when shipped from martin and must be applied yourself. It (as the bookelet recommends)must be checked regularly to ensure it's secure as it doesn't screw in. However, as i never play standing up i haven't bothered to put mine in yet

I've been playing 12 years nearly and although i've only ever owned one other acoustic guitar, I feel that this one is a keeper. Styled in the same way as the acoustic blues guitars of the 20s and 30s it suits the music i play perfectly. If it were stolen i would probably replace it with the same model again although all guitars are individual despite all being the same model. I compared it to the Martin 00016GT and the M16GT as well as a Lakewood equivelent. It combined the looks and style of the 00016GT with the sound of the M16... quality!

2003, made in Nazareth, PA. No frills. Solid Mahongany or Sapele top, back, and sides. East Indian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 20 frets total, 14 clear. Martin 'OOO' or Auditorium style body. Entire guitar is stain finished. Martin sealed machine heads. Martin (TKL) 330 model hardshell case included. Very evocative of the Mahogany guitars being made by Martin and Gibson during the Great Depression.

Fantastic! I bought this to use for ragtime and acoustic blues. Highs are very clean and clear, lows are not boomy but are definately there. Unline Martin dreads, this guitar actually produces a respectable volume when picked with bare fingers. Has that bell-like Marting ring to it. I am constantly surprized at how much volume I can get out of this small bodied guitar.

Action is typical of the Martin factory - a bit high. The entire guitar is satin finished. One cosmetic feature that I do not like, white bridge pins and end pin. Black pins would look a lot better in my opinion. This particular guitar was fresh out of the box so it is esentialy factory mint.

As people have said, it feels very light in weight. That is due to the mahogany construction. The Martin D-18 has a mahogany back and sides and when A/B'ed with their rosewood models also light in weight. I trust Martin to build it right, they've been doing this for a long time. That being said, you couldn't set this one on fire or sling it around the stage, but if properly handled; I think it will last a long time.

Haven had to deal with them but they have a good reputation.

Excellent value for the price. May look like an ugly duckling to some, but I think it's a winner.

00015, all the normal stuff,fantastic hard case,chrome tuners had to go.the guitar has a plain look and the gold groovers look elagant on this guitar.

i have a few other guitars my wife liked the idea of getting a martin but had reservations about the low price,you get what you pay for,i recieved the 00015 and started struming and said to myself nothing special here.then i started picking nothing else matters and my wife was 20 ft away my wife walked in and said there sounds like theres a ghost in the martin.i picked a few others and fell in love what a fantastic sound it engulfs you and pulls you in.this is a very difficult guitar to put down.i replaced the strings with elicsers and was not impressed with them so i stuck them on the yamaha and sounds great,put dadarios on and have been using them consistantly ever sence

the guitar was set up at the factory for a pretty quick action and great sound picking i realy dont think the guys at martin could make a crappy guitar,except maybe the backpacker,tryed one at shop and it will stay there forever.this axe has a very comforable fret board and neck and the size of the body fits me very well

everybody says its light and i agree it does feel fragile but ive had heavy guitars fall apart sitting in the livingroom.lifetime garanty

lifetime so ill give it a 10

best deal for 600 and a hard case to,if your a picker get this guitar i replaced the tuners with gold grovers just for appearance.Ive been playing a few years i also have a yamaha 413,pacific.samic artist series electric heavily costomized,crate gfx 120 great amp for the house,derring goodtime and vega tenor banjo a hand made violin my grandfather made 50 years ago and a harmonica the dog likes to chew on.

15 (solid mahogany top, back, sides) model, 000 (auditorium) style, 20 frets (i think), but you can only BARELY reach the seventeenth fret unless you buy a cutaway model (000-15C), basically a lower end 17 series martin with satin matte finish, rosewood bridge and fretboard, standard martin sealed tuners, no electronics installed in my model (couldn't stand the thought of pre-tornout mahogany replaced even by a fine fishman pickup onboard equalizer).

000 style martins are ideal for fingerstyle blues and picking, while dreadnaughts put out better volume. I was deeply impressed by the full bass sound put out by the slim-body auditorium style and chose this guitar in an instant over the D-15 dreadnaught model. The high trebel notes rang clear and bright and overall the guitar had great, full, mellow mahogany sustain. Decent pitch harmonics to for a mid-range martin.

The setup was good, I purchased it from guitar center though which I cannot reccomend as the best dealership as far as extra bells and whistles are concerned. pretty much a stock martin job, one light (but 2-inch nonetheless) scratch in the finish i didn't notice bothers me now, but thats more the dealers fault i'm certain. The martin strings that came installed lasted forever (like 5 months of constant playing) but subsequent martin string sets (particularly the SP+) wore out on me way to quickly (breaks in the D and G string windings and dulling tone), but no real quips about the guitar itself.

The satin matte finish is a little problematic, as the area where the top of my arm rests (to the bottom left of the bridge: picture the guitar standing, facing you) has wore down to the wood after maybe only 3 months of, albeit constant, playing. The mahogany has a great natural, perfectly aged smell, but tends to absorb any oils it might come in contact with. The finish has otherwise survived surprisingly well with only minor nicks and scratches. This is my favorite guitar, but i would never gig with it, even solo, its too delicate. I believe it'll last forever and sound great even after i'm gone, but only with proper care.

I honestly don't know why I wasn't given the warranty papers for it by the Guitar Center folks, but i saved the reciept and i'll chew em out for it someday. As of right now i'm not worried (knock on mahogany). :)

Been playing for 2 years now, mostly acoustic (beatles, blues), I'm entering the provebial "school of hendrix" presently and buying a strat (all the reviews and classifieds on this site have been instrumental(forgive the pun) in that. Anyway thats not the point, the point is this is a great guitar, great sound, great value, if you're willing to take good care of it, i highly recommend at least picking one up the next time you're shopping for an acoustic

OO015, all mahogany solid top, back and sides 1994. Plain simplicity itself

Suits blues acoustic very well - good mids, wraps around you without smothering your voice when singing. I love the mahogany warmth and sweetness. Quiet, but I line it that way.
Incredible value for the money !

So comfortable - can be played anywhere; neck fits my hand perfectly.

This guitar seems a bit fragile, but I'm not worried about breaking it for some reason - I think it's maybe a bit stronger than it feels !

N/A

Would buy another one immediately - highly recommended if you like small sweet and rich guitars

I bought it new in 2000 from Musician's Pleghm. Solid mahogany throughout with rosewood fretboard and bridge. Durable satin finish. 25.4 in. scale, 1 11/16 neck width, 14 frets in the clear. Finish is deep, dark, and lovely. 000 body style. Great Spartan simplicity with a vintage look. Comes with a very nice hardshell case.

The sound of my Martin is pure, sweet, clean, warm, woody, fat, crisp, and I love it more than any acoustic I've ever played. When I strum tightly voiced chords on this one, it builds up these rich, compressed, complex overtones that make me drool like Pavlov's dog. It records killer too. I must have gotten a particularly sweet instrument because I've played some that don't sound this good, but maybe I'm just partial. I give it an 11 for sound. This little acoustic is a tone machine.

It came adjusted OK, but I always do my own setups anyway. They're not the easiest guitars to adjust but it's worth the effort. Absolutely perfect finish on this one (when it was new). I tightened the tuning gears, and replaced the saddle with a bone saddle designed for a Martin. I adjusted the relief to perfection.

I've played this guitar in church, many living room gigs, and countless hours in my room. It is solid, and dependable, and I suspect it will last many years with care.

I've never dealt with Martin, and I've never had to.

I've been playing 15 years, though I am primarily a bassist. I like quality instruments and this is definitely an example of the legendary Martin quality and care. It's different than most acoustics that one will run across and that was a big attraction for me. This is one of the all-time great solid wood acoustic guitar buys. If it were lost or stolen I would definitely buy another. I have a lot of acoustics but this one is "My Guitar", if you know what I mean.

2001 Martin all-mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Simple detail, nice mahogany smell. Basic, but that's what I like.

I'm an intermediate player, and this was the first guitar I played that made me realize I could be good. I think that says something. The sound is true, clear and it has a mellow tone that fits my quiet, moody, blues-country cross type of playing.

Easy to play from get-go. I had struggled with F chord until I got this guitar.

It is light and seems fragile. But treat it carefully and I think its fine. I think the fragility and satin finish, along with the lack of decoration make it a pretty romantic little tool. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

No problems, no need for customer support.

It made me into a guitar player. I can entertain a group now. This seemed unlikely before I decided to try this baby out at the shop one day.

2001 model, solid mahogany back and sides. Includes TKL brand case with Martin Logo on outside of case. Simple features, no binding, but nice dot inlays on the neck. Visually, a rather nice looking guitar. It comes with Martin brand sealed tuners.

When I got the guitar the strings were a little corroded, so I changed them with the Martin SP+ strings. These are the strings that come on the guitar and are recommended. The sound was better for about 5 days, and then they needed to be changed again. I always wash my hands before I play, and I wasn't really playing excessively. I did not keep the guitar long enough to change them again. I bought this as a second guitar, I already own a Taylor 310 and there was just no comparison. The Martin has a very dull sound. This is due to the wood, and the smaller body. I just couldn't warm up to the sound. I gave the guitar about 3 weeks, and I'm returning it to musicians friend tommorow.

The action was great when I received the guitar, nice and low without any buzzes. The body has a satin finish on the back, sides, and top.
Unfortunately, there are some small problems in this area that some players might not mind, but I could not get past. First, when you get the guitar, the strap pin on the bottom of they body is not factory installed. What I got was a hole drilled into the body, where you simply tap the pin in. The hole that had been drilled was very sloppy, the edges were very rough and when I inserted the pin, I discovered the hole had been drilled at an angle. Second, the holes were not drilled out large enough for the bridge pins, so they stuck up higher than you would usually see on a guitar. I know I could have fixed these problems myself, but for $500 I felt like this should not have been an issue. Finally, the rosette was an adhesive sticker that was ugly, and over time would have peeled off. (The Martin logo on the headstock was done the same way) The pick guard was ok though. These are small cosmetic problems, but I have seen better features on foreign made acoustics. I expected more from a Martin.

This is a very lightweight guitar, that will be very touchy to climate changes. The satin finish will probably ding very easily, but I won't have it long enough to know. I would not use it as a main guitar or a backup. To be fair, the tuners are a Martin Brand, and are sealed. They seemed to work very well. I really did not have any durability problems for the three weeks I had it.

I did not contact Martin, because I was quite sure I would return it to Musicians Friend.

I have been playing for about ten years, and have had experience with all different brands of guitars. I didn't rate this guitar highly because of the small problems, but I know what I want in a guitar. I know it is only a $500 guitar, but I expected better quality from a Martin. I guess this just makes me appreciate my Taylor that much more. To be fair, I did get this through mail order. I knew I was taking a risk by not seeing it before I purchased it. If I had seen this guitar in a store with the problems I have listed, I would not have even considered buying it.

This is a correction of the date of production for my 7/7/02 review. The guitar was made in 2001, of course, not 1991. I apologize for any confusion. Thanks.

Made in 1991. Bought used, in person, from a small, reputable local guitar shop about two weeks ago. It looked like it hadn't been played as the protective film is still on pickguard. Please see the other eleven reviews for further information. They have done a good job describing the features common to this model.

This guitar has a very nice, even, full tone especially for its size. I was particluarly impressed by the low-end. I flatpick in bluegrass style so I'm used to playing dreadnoughts. This guitar appealed to me as a good instrument to play in the house and take on trips due to its size. Considering its size and body style, it responds nicely flatpicked strumming chords and playing single notes.

The action was very friendly, more playable than my dreadnoughts, which aren't bad by any stretch. It is very easy to play and was a nice change from dreadnoughts. Yesterday, however, I noticed a little gap on the top side, however, where the heel and fretboard meet the body. (Yesterday was a bad day regarding this guitar. Please see my comments in the next section.)

Yesterday I put my leg up on the frame of my bed and lifted the guitar into position. I bent over a little to start playing and heard "POP!" What was it? The body had CRACKED on the lower waist! I was shocked. Within the hour I had it back to the shop where the owner graciously offered to repair it for no cost. He could only describe what happened as "weird." I could hardly stand to look at it but it was probably a 2 to 3 inch crack. There is no excuse for this to have happened. There was no physical evidence of any damage to the instrument when I bought it and I've taken great care of it in the two weeks I've had it. It was made as recently as 1991. It can only be a case of poor materials, workmanship, or both. I am extremely disappointed and don't feel like cutting the 800 pound gorilla of acoustic guitardom any slack. It is inexcusable, period. I won't be doling out any of that "It'll outlast me." or "It's a Martin." praise. Martin doesn't deserve it. I suspect that Martin produces too many guitars and trades on its past more than some are willing to recognize. I have no confidence in this guitar anymore and probably won't keep it.

Because I bought this one used I don't have any recourse with Martin through customer support. Thus, the company is spared responsibility for this embarrassment of an instrument.

No matter what virtues it had, it started to fall apart on its own. It just doesn't get any worse than that.

Mine is the OOO15-M, so it's solid Mahogany throughout. From memory, it was made in 2000. All the features on it are simple in style yet dependable and feel like quality. Personally, I love the way it looks, as it stood out from all the others in the shop. It reminds me of Woody Guthrie. The luthier i used to alter the set-up even grudgingly said what a quality guitar it was (although he corrected a few fret innaccuaracies - this made him happy!). The mahogany looks, feels and smells great! The top feels more responsive than glossed spruce, more fragile but more active. The fingerboard is very playable and the neck is beautifully shaped - handily thin! If you wanted lots of fancy inlay though - this isn't the guitar for you.

I was trying this in the shop against a spruce 000M and mine came out on top by a mile. It sounds organic if that makes *any* sense. Simple strumming gets a good thunking rhythm going and a bright depth to the chordal notes. There is also a great sense of sustain. It's not a huge and boomy loud sound - which is what I wanted. I mostly play delta blues and fingerpick; one of the main reasons for choosing this guitar. It suits my style perfectly. There are some really resonant notes to be picked - thumbing a full A chord at the 5th fret gets it ringing! It sounds laid back and mellow...like a dream where everything is made of chocolate, it's sunny and i've got a lie-in. Actually - the sound has got better and better in the 12 months that I've been playing it.

The action was fine when I first got it. It gradually got a little too high and I've now had it re-set (by the grumpy luthier) and restrung it with Elixir lights. The difference is incredible. It's developed the playability and the sounds gone 'one louder' to 11. As mentioned earlier, the luthier reckoned a few frets were out, by I never noticed and it was perfect as far as playing goes. It feels like quality. The lacquer finish adds to the organic feel. I was very tentative at first as it felt pretty fragile, but now I've become familiar with it's lightness I'm very happy. I'd reckon that if you like a low action then get it re-set after a few months. (I waited around a year) - you'll love the difference.

I've found that the finish has been 'buffed up' in places (along the back of the neck, and where my elbow rests on the top) and is now shiny...but I really don't mind. Sorry to not be really critical here but that's what makes it my guitar. I wouldn't know how to prevent this or even if this is a flaw. It seems to be very minor and is hardly noticeable. I haven't gigged with it and I'd think twice about taking it outdoors. I think because it's not gloss then it may need more protecting than some - but that's fine by me as I think the lacquer adds to the tone and voice! The hardware seems solid - the tuners are very accurate and hold it tune pretty well. I just need to tighten up the low E after using it to drop to D so many times.

I haven't used the customer support so I can't comment here.

I shopped around a lot and got a really good price for the UK. Other places were asking 750 GBP. I guess that would be an OK price to pay for it given its sound and playability, but maybe you'd want some fancy inlay for that price! I had bought an Ibanez electro-acoustic which was partly laminated but I quickly traded that and bought this lovely thing instead. They are in different worlds. I chose this guitar because it sounded a lot better than a lot of other more expensive models. I'd whole-heartedly recommend it if you want to play folk, blues, fingerpick or just strum acoustic tunes. It's got a versatile sound which is responsive to individual style. I have lots of favourite features: the way it sounds, the feel as it plays and the big wash of mahogany as you open the case! I may upgrade the bridge pins and nuts at some stage but that's for tinkerings sake really.

I purchased this guitar new in Jan of 2002, and made in the states, as are all Martin Guitars. All-mahogany body/top which has a really lovley look and feel to it (although my wife said initially that it looked like a bookcase). A satin finish is standard and I believe contributes to the sound (see below). A hard case was included. If you are looking for a no-frills acoustig guitar with a unique sound, you can not go wrong.

The sound of the all mahogany guitars is very interesting, and something that ultimately I could just not get use to. It has a very dry timbre to it and when you start to strum with some force on the guitar it has this wonderful projective quality that it hard to describe. In the end, however, it just did not suit the sort of music that I was going for and in the end I traded in back in.

Not too much to say here, the guuitar was wonderfully manufactured and set-up with a very high quality benchmark that comes with the Martin name.

Unfortunatley I can not comment here, but it definatley had a sturdy feel to it, belying it's small size. I could certainly see using it live, just keep in mind that the satin finish is a more delicate creatture on a guitar than a gloss one.

Not able to speak to this, but I can say the location where I pucrhased it was easy to deal with when I decided to return it.

I've been playing over the last 11 years, but just seriously got back into it at the beginning of the year (new years resolution). No real issues with the guitar, I played it extensively at the store before purchasing but it just takes time with a new guitar to determine if it 'fits' I guess. Since I returned it I have been considering whether to go with a similar Auditorim sized Acoustic or move into electrics. If I were to purchase an Acoustic, I would probably look for a good sale on a high end Yamaha or Seagull, of which I like the tone better.

Made in 2000. All solid mahogany top/back/sides in satin finish. Hard case with green plush interior included. 14 frets clear of the body. Frets are thin vintage style. Rosewood fingerboard. Very bare bones basic acoustic. This is what I was seeking, so it was sparse by design. I also requested that no pickguard be applied to mine--and Martin agreed. Makes for a really clean look. I'll rate a 7 but there are really no features I was looking for on this. The case was a huge bonus compared to others that dont include one.

For modern pop and my own version of "fingerstyle" it is perfect. No amps or effects, but it will be going into the studio in a week and I plan to put down a bed track with it on almost all our songs.

For a mahogany top it can be surprisingly bright and crisp...and really loud--belies its small size. But there's a warmth on this one that was lacking for me in other traditional rosewood and spruce tops. Interesting thing happens when strumming full on, which will easily drown out a medium level shout across the room (again -its loud) the 000-15 starts to sort take on a really magical compression and the whole top starts to resonate--it's like the sound wells up inside and rich overtones start to build under your strumming--it starts to sound like there's more going on than just the chords--hard to describe. But I have felt it in other 15 series models too and it's inspiring!

Action was great right out of the box - no flaws at all. Smooth satin finish which really has grown on me and looks right on this guitar. Fretwork is top class and makes chords easy. Attention to detail for such a low priced guitar was great. Also, the bridge is a brilliant compensated 1 piece design and tuning is extremely smooth and stable.

I can tell finger oils will soak into the mahogany satin finish--and will likely be impossible to remedy. But if it was sealed up, I'd probably not get the resonance and overtones I mentioned earlier. But I do not foresee a durability issue on the horizen at all.

It is responsive to heat/cold/humidity changes. The action came up a bit with summer/fall change and I needed a setup. Took it to Washington Music Center and forgot to specify that I wanted SP 1400 strings--they used Martin Marquis which are good-- but somehow it was night and day difference! The Marquis sounded dull and muffled--no resonance- the whole magic was gone! I immediately called Martin and discovered on their website that these are definitely factory strung with the SP series strings. And it makes a GIANT difference. Got the right strings on and it came right back to life! Now seasons are changing again and its time for another setup--the neck is bowing a bit more than I can take--but I dont begrudge the guitar needing a setup--that shows that it is built to close tolerances - thin wood--only as much glue as needed--and light braces--all of which add up to maximum tone production.

Helpful when I called saying that my new purchase sounded like there was a bag of wet cement inside! They advised the SP strings, and understood what I was dealing with right away. I also called them in advance about getting the pickguard left off--they said it'd be no problem. I've also just called and asked about other models under consideration and they were happy to discuss a bit. Their website is also very good.

Over 20 years. Own PRS, Danelectros, Hamer, Gibson, Music Man.
I would replace this immediately, its the only acoustic I have or really want. I love the compact size and that Martin made the full range of sizes in this mahogany 15 series--usually choices are more narrow--and the price for a USA made all solid wood guitar is pretty unreal. I chose this one because although I am not a strict fingerstyle player, I loved the way the small body seems to force sound out quickly--it seems to get lost inside the giant Dreadnoughts and the 000 15 sits perfectly on me, very comfortable to work with right away. It has a tone all to itself, the mahogany top adds a sweetness to the treble that really distinquishes it from what my ears were accustomed to with traditional spruce tops. A great value and a wide range of choices within the 15 series. Martin really packed in quality on this one at every place that others may have skimped. No frills, just an excellent piece of craftsmanship.

I recently purchased Martin 000-15. This instrument was manufactured in 2001 and being a Martin handcrafted in Nazareth PA. This guitar features an auditorium body style which is smaller than the typical dreadnaught acoustic guitar. The top wood is solid mahogany as are the sides and the single piece back which has no inlay. Careful consideration was given to the choice of tone woods. The rosette is a herringbone decal and the pickguard is tortoise color. The bracing is A-Frame X-Bracing. Both the fingerboard and the bridge are rosewood. This guitar does not have and binding on the body or fingerboard. The neck width at the nut is 1 11/16" with a scale length of 25.4". There are 14 frets that are clear with a total of 20. The body finish is satin. Tuners are enclosed C.F. Martin's and turn freely. Included was a Martin TKL lined hard shell case. While this guitar has special features the quality speaks for itself. The all mahogany construction yields a truly beautiful piece of art.

The sounds this guitar produces are incredible. With the use of mahogany wood for the top, this instrument provides a very warm sound with plenty of sustain. The low notes produced are excellent especially on the low E string. This is due to the mahogany top which is fairly unique in acoustic guitar construction. The high notes are clean and ring. The overall tone can range from warm to rich to full and bright. This guitar is an excellant choice for fingerstyle players though strummed chords sound very warm with great sustain. The 000-15 just plain sounds good on anything from blues to ballads.

The action on this guitar was set up fairly well from the factory. I will have it professionally adjusted as it is a bit high up the neck. This may be due to the very high humidity recently in my area. I will let everything settle in for awhile and see what I am left with. The mahogany wood used for this guitar is very high quality and beautiful to look at. It even smells great! The neck, which is set pefectly, is slim and very smooth, a joy to play. The fingerboard and fret work was outstanding. Everything on this guitar from the wood used to the craftsmanship in assembling it are all top notch. I have not noticed a single flaw. This is a Martin!

I have not played out live with this guitar yet and I will most likely use this guitar at home but I would have no doubts as to it's ability to withstand live playing. The end pin is solid, the construction is outstanding and I am sure the hardware will last for years and years. I have not had this guitar long enough to notice any problems with the satin finish. I do not forsee any problems with this guitar looking great for a long time to come.

I have never dealt with Martin for repairs, but judging from what I have heard and seen on their web site as well as testiminials from Martin dealers and end users, this company takes pride in what they do and stands behind the instruments that the produce. They even offer a limited lifetime warraty which says alot.

Overall this is an outstanding value at less than $600 for an solid all wood Martin acoustic I traded in a Martin 000X1, that at the time of purchase I thought sounded better than the 000-15. After many many trips back to the music store I was finally able to see and hear the differences which make this guitar so special. While the 000X1 sounded good, the 000-15 sounded even better and was SOLID wood with a unique mahogany top sound. This guitar is an incredible value with no peers in it's price range a few at all. I would highly recommend the Martin 000-15 to anyone.

My baby was made in 2001 I believe, with the most beautiful dark mahogany finish. The neck is buttery smooth and the tuners turn without effort! Compared to my Washburn and Guild, this guitar is in another league in terms of playability

I got this guitar to suit my more percussive playing style (things along the lines of SRV, Dave Matthews, Blues Rock, acoustic punk). This guitar shines both as a ballad guitar and as a down and dirty blues machine. I love it

The action was a little lower than I liked when I bought it, but after a few days I was used to it, and loving it- being easy on the hands but still very responsive. The finish was perfect and it held up to months and months of sitting in Mars Music (I know because I visited it monthly until I could purchase it!)

I've played about 10 gigs with my Martin, and it comes to band practices 3-4 times a week, and holds up, even when the bassist is playing around with it! The strap button is held by friction only and has to be taken out before putting the guitar to rest in the case, and does not always stay in when I get wild playing, but it's not a problem.

never needed any customer support

I've been playing for over 11 years (I'm 16), and I own 20 guitars. This one by far has surpassed everything from my vintage Harmony hollowbodies, my Guild and Washburn acoustics, Fender and Gibson electrics, and custom made electrics. I love the sound and the compact size of the guitar. I would recommend it to any guitar player who wants a quality guitar. I love it so much, I put a pickup in it and play it through my electric amp in place of my electric guitars in my punk/rock band (and it still fits the music!) this is the most versatile guitar ever made! BUY NOW!

Solid mahogany with sealed Martin tuners.....umm
that is about it & that is why I love it! BTW, it also
included a damn good Martin Hardshell Case.

Incredibly clear & thick acoustic tone. much warmer then the rosewood,
maple & spruce models. Truly a unique sound that inspires innovation &
songwriting. Excellent response to figerpickin'! Has great bass resonance
too. People normally pay well into the thousands to get anywhere near
this much bass. Higher notes are clear & creamy as oppossed to thin &
chimey. An excellent, original tone in a vintage package.

Medium action which seems perfect for this guitar. It was set-up excellent
from the factory & played incrdedibly easy. The auditorium size is pure
playing comfort & is an excellent alternative to the classic Jumbo and
Dreadnought designs. The neck is as stright as an arrow & the guitar was
in perfect condition from the factory.

I have had ot about a year now and it has withstood many years worth
of abuse. It has suffered no less then 10 serious falls, countless late night
bumps & bruises & almost daily beatings from a 3 year old. It is left on the
stand most nights & it "never" goes out of tune. It has been in the studio
& used at many, many a gig. It has survived all this with ease & sounds better
every time I pick it up. I am amazed at the durability of this guitar. A++ here!

I have never had to deal with Martin customer support.

First & foremost I would like to say that this may be the best value in
the entire acoustic guitar market. The 000-15 was tested against D-28's,
D-35's, DM's, DR's, many $1500+ Taylors, Gibsons & Guilds etc... etc...
etc.... I bought it for a few basic reasons. Most of which was the incredibly
rich, thick & classic acoustic tones. The playability was amazing and I
always have a hard time putting this guitar down. It is the first guitar that
I have ever owned that makes me forget about my Nocaster at my studio.
This guitar provides an alternative sound that you cannot get out of any
other acoustic at "ANY" price. That is unless you can find another all
mahogany solid top acoustic made with the attention to detail that we all
know is exclusive to Martin. This guitar oozes a 1920's vibe & really does
not have any direct competition anywhere on the market. It is a classic
reproduction of a masterful design & make-up. It quite simply sounded &
played better then any other acoustic I had access to! (and they were
plentiful). Money & brand name are never a consideration when I am
purchasing a new guitar but in this case Martin truly shows it's superiority
to all the other pretenders that like to refer to themselves as "high-end"
acoustic guitar companies. Bottom line is that this sweet axe has made it
onto the incredibly short list of guitars I will not part with. The only other thing
I have to say is don't be fooled & bullied by high price tags, rumors, & names.
Go out & play this guitar & see why everyone is raving & drooling.

It's an acoustic guitar. It has machine heads and makes a sound. What other features are there?

This was my first top quality acoustic guitar. I used to play electric most of the time, (an old US Strat). I love its sound. I listen to Nick Drake a lot and this guitar sounds EXACTLY like his. Which is great. My dad has a reaaly expensive Guild, but I prefer the sound of this. It's so sweet but very clear and ringing, and when the strings get old it sounds almost like a classical. Absolutely no complaints here.

The action is absolutely perfect. Low enough for comfort, but high enough so it doesn't buzz. Brilliant.

Nothing has gone wrong with it thus far. So...

This really is a fantastic guitar and I would recommend it to anyone who likes this style of guitar. It's all solid mahogany construction give it a very different sound to, say, a rosewood and spruce guitar, but I actually now prefer it. I love this guitar. Buy one. Now. You won't regret it.

This Martin 000-15 was made in 2000 I'm sure - serial #747046. All solid mahogany with sealed Martin tuners and rosewood fretboard and bridge as per spec. I looked at a D-15 at the store but when sighting down the neck from the headstock end, it looked like a roller coaster around frets 13-16 (where the neck and fretboard join the body). Also frets were not the same height in that area - I'm guessing trouble at the factory... I sure hated to see that since it sounded great. But then I saw the 000-15 and the fretboard looked much better, and sounded great also. Just looking the guitar over convinced me to spend an extra $100 to get a solid wood Martin. Then it hit me - this is a solid wood Martin for $600!!! With an accepable, if low-end Martin case! I asked for a discount since it was "scratched" - actually just the peel-off plastic sheet over the pick-guard - and got a token $20 off.

This guitar suits my current needs: a very playable, well constructed, sweet sounding flattop guitar, while I wait for a semicustom handmade guitar which will cost about 5 times as much. I went for something I could perhaps travel with or let someone else play without suffering too much. As for the sound - it is a rich tone, somewhat muffled compared to sitka spruce and rosewood, yet with the beautiful tones ringing through. The low E sounds more like wood that metal, and the strings ring more as you go up to high E. BUT this is Mahogany, and it has its own tonal qualities. Great for acoustic blues and mellow fingerstyle. I think of Jerry Garcia playing "Casey Jones" (traditional song, not the Cocaine song) or Duane Allman playing "Little Martha". For fingerstyle, a thumbpick will bring out much more of the base strings, and for some songs I don't use it because the base strings should be a little subdued. My point is that this is a mahogany guitar and it can't be compared to an HD-28. It has a tone that is mahogany. However it can still keep up, and sounds great by itself. When I hold this guitar and tap it reminds me of a fine violin - it has less mass than a big D-28 type, and it feels fragile but really resonantes - feels and sounds like a finely made instrument should. I currently have medium Elixir strings on it and they sound very rich. I am sure that a set of light guage strings will make the 000-15 sound brighter. Because I love traditional southern acoustic styles, from Bluegrass to Delta blues, this guitar will get consistent attention from me.

After being in the showroom with many people playing it for several weeks or months? this guitar still had decent action. Since Martins are reputed to have medium to high action from the factory, I feel this one was a good one. I will be getting the neck and bridge adjusted ($100 worth) and will report later on how that affects action, tone, etc. This is just to get the best out of the guitar, as I really can't see much wrong with this guitar. I will eventually peel off the "rosette" decal or have the luthier do it. This is a simple and beautiful guitar. The finish is a no-gloss satin - clean with a damp cloth only. The only flaw I see is an imperfectly bookmatched top - but close enough. The neck lines up to the top of the bridge, and the heel joines the body precisely - no shellac in the joint, as it should be with a Martin. Fret job is beautiful as is the mahogany all around.

Since I do not play gigs these days I can only guess that this model is a little more on the fragile side than heavier rosewood guitars, although everything is quality. Everything is solid, and this is all solid wood, so I think it would be fine if babied a little. (Who would do a gig w/o a backup?)

Hopefully won't need it - Martin limited lifetime warranty but I hear it takes months to get warranty work done.

I have been playing for 25 years - have had a variety of flattop and classical guitars. This guitar is BIG bang for the buck, assuming you find one with a good fretboard. This is not the guitar for someone who is concerned about having fancy styling and inlays on the guitar, but what a steal for an a non-plywood Martin for under $600! It is not a professional gig box either, but a solid performer for home and with friends, or the occaisional open mike night. It is a fine example of Martin craftsmanship and smells of Mahogany! For $600 I rate it a 9.

I just got this guitar a couple of days ago, and it was advertised as new on Ebay so I assume it was made in late 99 or early 2000. The guitar is solid wood mahogany on the top, back, and sides. The finish is satin, body-style is the smaller auditorium size (as opposed to the D-size of most Martins I've been around). Tuners are sealed and held the guitar in tune from California to Indiana, and so far I have not had any problems keeping it in tune. Also comes with a very plush Martin hardshell case and the "Care and Feeding of you Martin guitar" booklet, as well as all of the warranty information.

I am primarily an electric guitar play (prefer Strats), with a desire to play the funky percussive stuff of Dave Matthews, which is the reason I wanted a quality acoustic. My acoustic playing will probably never see a stage, but I do play electric for a church band (contemporary Christain - Christain Rock style). I find that the Martin has an excellent sound for messing around the house, very balanced due to the mahogany bod and auditorium size, but not a real loud strummer guitar. I found that my playing on this guitar can get different sounds depending on the dynamics, which is true for all acoustics, but this one seems to sound sweet whether picking single notes or strumming chords. I don't think this guitar is as bright as my spruce topped acoustic, but my roommate uses a Martin D-15 and the 000-15 has a tighter sound. In other words, individual notes are clearer on the 000-15, and all of the notes in the chord stick out a little more. The D-15 is better suited to strumming hard, as it is simply a louder guitar, but all-mahogany guitars aren't really suited to loudnes anyway, so a spruce top dreadnought would probably be a better choice for simply strumming.

The set up on this guitar is excellent, actually a fairly low action for my tastes. On my Strat I have my action fairly high to prevent buzz on Stevie Ray style aggressive rhythym stuff, but the action on the Martin has next to no fret buzz, even when attacking it pretty hard. I think it has to do with the smaller fret size on the Martin. Althought the fretboard radius is very flat, I have no problem at all grabbing chords easily on this guitar, and single note picking is also quite easy too. I haven't even touched my Strat since I got this guitar because it feels so good to play. As far as fit and finish, I'm not super particular, but no flaws stand out, so that speaks for itself. The frets are perfect, no blemishes on the body, and the satin finish really lets that awesome mahogany smell to stand out.

This guitar feels somewhat light and fragile when you're holding it, but I think mahogany is just a lighter wood than most other acoustic guitar woods. The bracing seems solid, and it has a lifetime guarantee, so I'm not worried about reliability. It'll probably outlast me, and I'm only 24.

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Martin, and with the quality of their guitars, chances are I will never need them.

I've been playing for about 4 years, I also own a Fender acoustic (don't know the model, not really much of a guitar, although spruce top and rosewood back and sides, so it sounds ok). A highly modified Strat with a Warmoth v-neck, duncans and a lace pickup. My best amp is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, I also have a couple of cheap amps, a Pod 2.0, a Dunlop Wah, Ibanez TS-7 Tubescreamer, and Boss Chorus. I love this guitar and will take this whenever I can only take one guitar with me. I will readily admit this guitar was an impulse Ebay bid, but I think it was fate because I couldn't be more pleased with this guitar, it is the best of all of the acoustics I have played in the last few years.

Made 1999,features as above reviews.All very well executed

The guitar sounds warm,yet the unwound strings have a nice ring about them.Open tunings are handled well,the guitar sounds nice when strummed,fingerstyle sounds ok but maybe lacks a little sustain,and bottom E lacks a little clarity.

When purchased,in spring 2000,action,measured at 12th fret was around 2.5mm,during the summer the action has risen considerably.I'm hoping this is due to humidity.I notice there is some bellying around the bridge area,I'll wait and see if action lowers during the winter,because when purchased action was perfect,but at the moment it's quite hard work.I've lowered the saddle to 1/8th of an inch protuding at the bridge action height is now 4/32 inch at 12th fret on bottom E string,a bit high for my liking.Woodwork and finish flawless inside and out.

As I mentioned earlier I'm a tad concerned about raised action/bellying around bridge,hopefully will improve when guitar dries out a bit in winter.Hardware seems durable,guitar is very delicate wouldn't really be 100% happy about travelling and gigging with it.

Not applicable,yet?

Overall this is a very sweet sounding guitar for the price.For fingerstyle string spacing is a bit narrow at the nut and bridge,however I now read that Marin are introducing the OM15 with wider neck geared toward fingersyle players.Compared to my Guild D25 this guitar is alot more lively and responsive although the guild had supreme playability it is not in the same league,sonically,as the martin.If I lost this guitar I'd be mightily upset but I'd spend the insurance money on the Om15,now there's a thought..............

Solid mahogany top, back, sides and neck with rosewood bridge and fingerboard. Unbound body, herringbone rosette decal. Not much here, but it's all top-quality.

It sounds like it should have cost more than it does. It has a sweet, rich and velvety tone and, like other Martin 000s, is very balanced with a solid but not overpowering low end.

It is definitely a Martin. The action is set up medium at the factory, but can go lower. On mine the sixth string sits a little high in the nut, but that's nothing unusual. I usually have mine set up professionally anyway, so it's no big deal. But the frets are perfectly done, nicely polished, no need to touch up at all. The fit and finish is flawless. I just love Martin's attention to detail.

I don't play live so I can't really judge. But the hardware is top quality. Like any other well-made acoustic, they should be treated with care, but it's not the kind of guitar that will fall apart on you. Comes with a lifetime warranty, and the older (1940s) versions of these guitars are still holding up well, so I expect it will live longer than me.

I have always have good experiences with Martin's customer service. They are just what I expect--courteous, informative, and very patient. I have had other Martins repaired under warranty with absolutely no hassle.

I rate this a ten. It's a real player, and at about $550 wtih case it's a real steal