Martin 000-15S

According to the serial number this is a 1999 model, althought the guy I bought it from said he got it new in 2001, I guess it must have been hanging around for a while. Other reviews have given the technical specification - if you want it from the horses mouth then visit the Martin website: http://www.martinguitar.com
Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in fancy features as such, whether it has got abalone this or clever inlay that, all I won't to know is what it sounds like, how playable it is and is it well made! This guitar sounds beautiful, plays well and is constructed to a high standard. Bottom line is it is a Martin and a damn fine one at that and has all the features I need :-) Someone else has said they like its simplicity, and I have to agree with this view - it really is a lovely little guitar - with a big sweet voice. Great thing about this purchase is it came with a very plush non-standard 500 series Geib style case - very plush and adding nicely to the vintage vibe.

Great sound - very well balanced - some of the other reviews have hit it spot on. One of the things that I really like (and one of the ways by which I judge a guitar) is that it still sounds sweet and reasonant even with the capo right up the neck - many guitars just loose it in this department. If you know your guitars you will know that sound is in the ear of the beholder - to me this one has it - my HJ28 didn't! It is a great picker's guitar and if you like muting the strings when strumming then you'd like this too as the bass chugs along with reasonant clarity. I haven't found any dislikes yet - maybe they will become apparent as the days pass buy and my love affair with it waxes and wanes.

It had been set up by a London luthier before I got, according to guy I bought it from, and I have no reason to doubt this, action is just right - a nice balance between volume and reasonance and playability. The finish is excellent, sort of a nice semi gloss - not too satiny like the new ones. The wood tone is also beautiful, I know many players prefer the colour of a spruce top, but I have been sold on mahogany guitars ever since owning an all mahogany Kinkade (handbuilt by UK luthier) some 12+ years ago. Sadly aforementioned guitar suffered a nasty accident whilst gigging :-(

All acoustic guitars are liable to damage if treated badly - for goodness sake they are made of wood (usually) - if you buy an expensive guitar to gig with then you have to expect the odd knock or two. My advice is don't do 'rough' gigs with your top end guitar. I have an old Korean Ovation that I gig with, built like a tank - also sounds good in a band mix.

Never had to make use of them - but others have said nice things!

I have been playing for 30+ years. This is my third and favourite Martin and also the least expensive. I've owned lots of acoustics over the years: Guild, Yamaha, Kinkade, Ovation (including a double neck!) to name a few - never a Gibson though - something about them I don't like. I've also had lots of electrics mostly Fender Telecasters, with the odd Godin thrown in. I'm not really an electric player, although currently in the band I use an Epiphone Riviera through an Engl Screamer valve amp. The Epiphone is a really nice guitar, I like hollow body semi acoustics. I've tried all sorts of acoustic amps - different models of Trace Elliott, Marshalls, Peavey Ecoustics and AERs. You know what, for playing in an amplified live situation I get the best sound plugging straigt into the PA, sometimes through a Trace TAP1 preamp pedal if the guitar is piezzo loaded or bypassing it if uing a Fihman rare earth. So there you have it - this little martin is a lovely guitar - great for Folk Clubs - with a traditional vibe, 12 fret to body neck and a slotted headstock - other players say they like the looks and sound of it - but the main thing is I just love it - now if it was a choice between loosing the guitar or my wife then I'd have to say ..................

Made in 2003, USA, 12 ? fret body, solid mahogany, 1 ?? neck. Kind of plain but I like it that way. Even the lack of binding is fine because I like seeing the solid grain on the edges of the top and back. Since it had all the features I was looking for ? solid woods, slotted head (great vibe), 12-fret (larger upper bout)

Sound: Best sounding acoustic guitar I have ever played. Bass is just write, great mid, treble, and sustain you won?t believe. The sound has texture. I noticed this with some of the other 15 series Martins ? D-15, D-15S etc? Its funny, a year before buying this instrument, I was trying them out at Elderly Instruments. The sales person helping me out with A & B?ing kept steering me away from the 000-15S, saying it has a mahogany top and is thus cursed. He said I should only consider the Spruce top. But I couldn?t get that rich textured, high sustaining, bell chiming, ass kicking acoustic guitar sound out of my head.

Action Fit and Finish: Action was a bit high. I made a bone saddle to correct this.

Haven't had to deal with them.

Overall rating: 10 I?ve been playing guitar for 32 years. The 000-15S has all the ingredients for the perfect acoustic guitar and I?ve never in this year of playing it, had one second of buyer?s remorse. There simply is no better deal out there. I?ve owned the following: Martin D-35, Guild D25, Guild D40 (which I still own and love), Tacoma DR12, Tacoma LJ, Alverez D44, and Larivee OM-05. The 000-15s blows them all away!

Although it looks very plain, to me it's the Jacky Onasis of guitars. It glows with simple elegance, the "Less IS More" thing applies here.

I have always wanted one of these from the first time I saw them when they first came out but unlike the rest of the Submissions here I did not like the Mate finish they came in. I always saw potiential in this little unit, a couple of add on's and it can look like any $1500 to $2000 guitar you might find in your music local store. I even pondered trying to put a few coats of gloss finish on it myself but didn't want to chance ruining such a wonderful guitar.

I was in my favorite Guitar store(FQMS) about 2 years ago and hanging there on the wall was a 000 15S with a full gloss body they had special ordered. SOLD! FQMS had ordered 2 of them with FULL GLOSS bodies, that beautiful Mahogany jumps out at you with the gloss. Again I have always seen the potiential this little beauty has to offer. I didn't like the tuners that were on it. I tend not to like anything that looks cheap or flimsy that won't last. These tuners said this to me even though I'm sure I'm not 100% right on this. I just know I didn't like them. They worked OK but the stem would sway when I applied light to moderate pressure.

I replaced them with a set of Waverly 3 on a plate Bronze tuners with Pearl buttons. Thats what this little guitar needed! It looks like it sounds and like it was made 100 years ago! I absoultly love this guitar for both it's sound, feel and now looks. Most of the other submissions did not like the looks of the Mate Finish very much at all. If ever you are faced with refinishing this guitar I'd ever so strongly recommend the Gloss over the Mate. Picture a 0017, this should give you an idea.

I then replaced the nut & saddle with bone, a year later installed a set of Mammoth Bone bridge Pins. That's the ticket! The warm well rounded sound/tone that had drawn me to this guitar has just been improved 10 fold. No kidding! Did I mention that I love this guitar? My favorite!

I loved the sound of the 000 15S as soon as I laid ears on it! I had over the course of 2 years compared it to just about everything coming & going and always came back to the 000 15S. I still can't get over the way it sounds even when it's up against other guitars priced up to $3000 retail. It comes down to this: wood is wood no matter(same set) which guitar you choose to use it on. This grade tone wood coupled with of C.F. Martin & Co's attitude toward their time honored pursuit for quality,constantly working to improve their products is why this little "Blues Box" delivers. I string mine with Martin Acoustic SP Phosphor Bronze Light, .012-.054 guage strings. They sound like they were made for it, probably were, LOL! The e & b strings are tinted with a goldish bronze color and they even look like they were made for this guitar! When in as near perfect tune you can get with an Intellitouch tuner this guitar will vibrate long after you can no longer hear the note with the plain OL ear. Mezmorizing tone! Light guage sound better to me on this guitar. When the Tec put on the new strings before the sale he got mixed up and put on a set of med. guage. They sounded muddier and were not near as bright as the light guage.

Perfect right out of the store. I've gotta tell ya, I'm one the worst on the planet about spotting flaws and things. I have always worked at jobs where I was responsible for the job and whether or not the customer would accept the product. I found "nothing" at all out of character with this instrument. If it had even one flaw I couldn't find it!

As I've mentioned before, I waited 2 years to rate this guitar. It's still as nice as the day it was bought! It's the first guitar I reach for, I have 11 other guitars. I have given it it's own chair in my living room, LOL! I have a big leather chair with all the padded arms and so on. I keep the case sitting across the arms so all I need do is walk over , flip open the lid, grab it up and start in playing/practicing. My favorite way to practice is while watching TV, This way it's always within reach if I'm indoors. I see no reason these guitars shouldn't be a highly sought after guitar in several years after they're discontinued, if ever they are! Something this good & this affordable lives on to become a Classic. Heck, you'd think I was talking about a one of a kind $20,000 guitar, LOL!!!

Don't feel like I'll ever need it in my life time! But have contacted them with questions when comparing the 000 15S with others and they were "Johnny on the Spot" every time!

I love the sound, feel and quality this little Martin has built into it. This guitar is a bonified winner whether you keep it origional or add a few of your favorite appointments as I did. I think anyone would be "hard pressed" to come up with a guitar that could hold a candle to the 000 15S just the way it leaves the factory. I lucked out with mine, the store mgr gave me an old price for a Mate finish guitar, when he realized his mistake he honored his origional word, $685, I love this guitar, LOL!!! It was supposed to sell for $770, I used that easy $85 to buy 2 sleeves of Martin SP's, phosphor bronze light guage.

Not much to say here...the features are limited, but that's the point of this guitar. Stipped down to the minimums for an affordable good sounding rig. I will say however, that the more I look at this guitar hanging on my wall, the more I love the blast from the past look of it. The color is actually quite nice and matches well with the 12 frets until you hit the body. It looks like a guitar meant to be played.

It's a basic 12 frets until you reach the 000 body which looks very nice. All Mahagany Body (solid wood), Rosewood Fretboard, and the Slotted Head looks fantastic.

I'm giving it a rating suitable to the guitar...it's not a dressed up 10, but please keep in mind, the money you are not spending on all the trimmings is what puts this amazing guitar in your hands for $700 instead of $1700. AND it comes with a hardshell case.

The features are appropriate for what this guitar is...a meant to be played machine...It's like Rueben winning American Idol...it has Talent of Looks.

I'm not going to rate it's features...it doesn't have any, and it's not supposed to. Martin did an AWSOME job with nothing added except a perfect sound and easy to play feel.

This is where it shines. I bought this baby as a Camping guitar, because I didn't want to take my $1300 Takamine Santa Fe out to the island. It was meant to be an investment to protect my Santa Fe from the elements....but, I cannot put this thing down. Possibly the best investment I made because this thing feels and sounds SO good, my Santa Fe will never get played again unless I'm plugging in.

I won't install eletronics in this guitar..I do not want to mess with the sound one bit. It's perfect...somehow Martin found the perfect shape, build, and sound for a Mahagany guitar. I lowered the action a little myself (a lot of effort on that 12 fret to get your bar chords if the action is too high, but some slide blues players will like the factory set up) and I cannot stop playing with this guitar.

With the Satin finish, you can feel the notes ringing through your whole body...it has great sustain and nice base (as good as a much more expensive guitar...better than most) while the high notes ring true from fret to fret.

This guitar sounds wonderful...do not think twice about spending less and getting this guitar instead of the $2000 guitar. Trust me...this guitar sounds as good as anything. I absolutely love it.

It's a Martin...what else is there to say...you're hands move with no effort and you don't have to focus on your position at all withe the 12 fret neck. Lead players who like getting past 12 will be limited with this guitar, but what you lose in Neck...is gained in Body which gives you the sound.

It had no flaws and the only thing I did was lower the action. I'm giving it a 10 even with the Satin finish..because...DUH, it's supposed to have Satin Finish. That's intentional and it lets more sound out by not having to get through all that gloss.

Don't beat it against a tree...It's solid...holds it's tuning.

The hardware will definitely last...I love the slot head. Feels tighter. Finish should not wear off as long as you don't drag it down the street. It has a pickguard...basic strap button...I would definitely gig with this baby. I'd probably mike it...sounds to good to mess up with electronics.

Not Applicable...never had to deal with them.

I've been playing for 4 years, I love this body style in this guitar much more than a dread....

It is now my favorite guitar. If stolen, lost, broken...whatever...I would first pout for about 60 seconds, and I'd be back in the Music store immediately to replace it without even trying anything else.

In and out...I'd have another on in my hands. I would not "upgrade" to a different model...I love it...you will too.

This is a solid mahogany guitar based on an old martin design from the 1920's. 12 frets to the body... slotted head-stock... 1 3/4 inch at the nut... 2 1/4 (?) at the 12th fret. 4 inch depth at the base. I love the simplicity of this guitar. I was looking at other 12 Fret guitars (Goodalls, Froggy Bottom, Ryan, etc...) and felt the 000-15s better represented a guitar from the old Country Blues days than the others. I actually surprised myself, I never thought I was going to own a Martin. I'm not partial to the large guitar company's. But, regardless of the automated machinery they use, I believe they have created a great sounding guitar... at a resonable price.

This is where is totally shines... even over the aforementioned guitars I tried. I love the sound from this mahogany top... great mid-range and fantastic treble... the bass strings were strong. I have a luthier friend of mine who was doing some work on my Lowden guitar. I brought him the 000-15s to check out. This luthier is considered one of THE best in North America (I can't afford his guitars :)... during his early years he worked at restoring vintage Martins. He was so impressed by the 000-15s... thought it was the best sounding/playing guitar in that price range... he really liked the mahogany top... he couldn't stop playing it. He did noticed the neck was slightly bowed and made a minor truss rod adjustment (nice to have such friends eh ? :)

I love the satin-matte finish... you feel the wood more than a lacquer, which is a nice feeling. The neck is SO playable. I have a few other 14 fret guitars... I don't think they will get much playing time compared to the 000-15s. If you are looking for a 12 fret guitar that captures that old Country Blues or Vintage Western music, this is the guitar for you. Compared to the other 12 fret guitars out there... it's a fantastic deal. I am so happy I bought this guitar... I feel no need for anything else.

Everything looks extremely well constructed... I'm a very detailed oriented person and I couldn't find the slightess flaw in this guitar. From reading many comments in the newsgroups, it sounds like Martin produces quite a consistently good product (000-15s).

I have not had to deal with these folks. Their website seems informative/helpful (www.martin-guitars.com) but a bit clumsey to navigate.

Again, I liked the sound and feel of this guitar better than all the other higher priced guitars. They were all quite nice in appearance and sound, but I thought the 000-15s was their equal and at a more resonable price. I fell for its simplicity in appearance, the mahogany top, the slotted-head stock, the finish, etc... this is an outstanding guitar that is resonably priced. If you like playing the Country Blues this is the guitar for you.

2000 was the production on my OOO-15S, 12 fretter.No frill's simple playing box. Serial # starting with 7. Made in USA, Solid mahogany top/sides/back. Matte/Satin finish.Rosewood board and bridge,micarta nut/saddles (replaced the bridge pins w/ ebony/abalone top dot).Body style OOO from the 20's.Tuners are of high quality, Stays in tune.Neck is 1 3/4 from nut.Came with a nice Geib style case, along with and endpin for the straps.I have an adjustment tool on its way from Martin which i requested.

Sound is very clear/balanced/clarity is there for every note all along the fretboard.Rich/Full/Round/Warm.Top vibrates like a conga when tapped,great for rhythm thumpin' sound.Cannot be compared to other acoustics, A&B'd againts perfeectly set-up D-15,D15S,OO-15,OM-15,D-18,D-28 which are all brand new?? Recorded with a couple of high end mic which includes Roden/Neumann cut and play??? Guess who came on top?? Enough said!!!!

I adjusted the action to a med/low with no relief at all. Perfectly straight neck,Slapped on a fresh new set of Gore/Elixer's NanoWeb Lights? Bammmm!!!! I'm a Happy Camper!!! No flaws to be found at all.Meticulously put together by one of Martin's Best Hand Jobber.( Hats off to them,whoever they are!!.) Everything is cut perfect from top to bottom.Amazing!!!!

This OOO-15S will do anything but fly!!! LOL!!! I would trust it GIG Wise,Jam and all!!! It will last better thatn the Gloss Top,i can assure that.It's actually a gloss top which Martin put another very thin durable coating satin finish.Time will only open this puppy up more. The more i play it the more it opens up.I have giiged w/o a b/u. This guitar/acoustic may not be perfect to all?? But to me its the TOPS!!!

Great Customer Support all throughout!!!!

N/A It'll be too long.

All-mahogany body (and neck). Rosewood bridge and fingerboard. The cool features that make this guitar really stand out, to me, are: it's 12-fret, old-school body (fellas, it's Rag Time!); it's 1-3/4" nut width; and it's--again old-school-cool slotted peghead. Small, shallow Martin frets would come under the only real bummer for me, as far as appointments go.

For what you pay, this guitar sounds fantastic! Actually, regardless of the price, this one is a winner. It's warm and full... and just plain pretty sounding. Now, when I first set my sights on this guitar, I was hoping for a modern-production guitar that caught that old, trashy-but-hoppin' sound of the old ragtime/country blues guys. This is not that--but I ain't complaining. (It's not a resonator or an arch-top, and 70 year old recordings do a lot to a guitar's sound.)

This is just a really good sounding acaustic guitar. Bass notes are full but not boomy. Also, though I would not mind it, it doesn't suffer from the brittle top-end attack that I've heard in other all-mahogany Martins. Yes it's great for fingerpicking... but it belts out considerable volume when picked. If it does "bottom out" under heavy strumming, I haven't strummed it that hard yet and wouldn't really want to.

It's a no-frills guitar with a satin finish and no decorations (which is to my taste). The wood seems to be consistent and high-grade and the fret work was fine. The only problem on mine is a very slight raising of the fingerboard where the neck meets the body. I lowered the action a little and would also like to lower the nut to closer to zero-fret level. That is something I feel outfits like Martin ought to do to all their guitars, but maybe some people like high action at the nut, with it's resulting difficult F (and even C) chords.

Looks and feels good to me. It is, however, an acoustic.

I ordered this guitar from musician's friend and did not get it until over five (5!!!!!) months later. During this time they continued to advertise it as "available in 2 - 4 weeks." I emailed Martin after several months asking THEM for feedback as to production/availability and they did not, and have not responded. But hey, water under the bridge.

This guitar is an absolute winner. I think the price has gone up recently but even then it's a steal. I have long been a fan of 12-fret guitars of yore, but to own one seemed to be a choice between custom, "botique" models (at staggering prices) or 70 year old vintage intsrument, too frail to play and at double staggering prices. Thanks to Martin for making affordable production models of this classic (and functionally excellent) design.

Made in 2000 in the USA, like all Martins (Backpacker excepted). 12-fret body, all solid mahogany. 1 3/4" neck. Dark stain, matte finish all over. Some call it plain, but with the slothead, it oozes mojo. I gave it a 10 based on what what you get for the money. Nothing else came close.

Absolutely outstanding. Deep, rich tone that compares with guitars costing 2-3 times as much. Good all-around guitar, great for fingerpicking or strumming.

Action a little high, but I like it that way. Flawless, though plain, construction. No binding or embellishment, but what is there is well built.

Lifetime guarantee, and Martin's reputation for standing behind their guitars. Though quite light, it seems very well built for the long haul. Finish seems thin, but from what I understand, its the same as gloss guitars, just not buffed out. I'd play it live in a heartbeat.

Can't comment, haven't had to use it. Martin has an excellent reputation, though.

As I stated before, I haven't found any other guitar that can touch the 000-15S for the 2-3 times the price. I was prepared to pay $2000 for a guitar when I bought it. I tried several that really impressed me, but were no better than this one. It's probably the best all around guitar I've seen. I've also got an Epiphone Les Paul Standard and an Epiphone PR-350-12 12 string.

A simple looking guitar, with solid mahogany top/back/sides - the 12 frets clear/slot-head gives this guitar a unique look. Purchased with all satin finish - rosewood bridge and fretboard, and 'throwback'pearloid tuners.

Nothing fancy, but for the money - what does one expect? Martin took as much 'fringe' labor out of the mix as possible, to reach the > $1,000 price point..

I can only say that that I was looking for a warmer guitar to add for recording purposes - and been given the 'OK' (wife on board), and had scrounged up enough dough to consider the $2 - 3,000 range...

The guy brought out a used 000-15S - after sampling other Martins, Santa Cruzes, Lowdens, Taylors, Larivees - I walked out with the 000-15S...Sweet sound across the board, with unbelieveable sustain and presence. Louder than I would have ever expected this guitar could be (just looking at it) - without being 'muddy' - and extremely well balanced. Equally proficient finger or flat-picked.

I'm simply amazed by this guitar - I think that this is one of those rare instances where everything goes right in planning, production, pricepoint, planets' alignment...etc.

Everything seems 'tight' and ship-shape. As I said - I bought the guitar used, and with the exception of some 'glossing' of the satin finish on the necks' 1st position, and on the lower bout (where your right arm rests) - everything is as solid and tight as new...including the original tuners..

Action (while not original - due my replacement of nut and saddle with fossilized mammoth ivory) is 'crisp' and very responsive. Low-profile 1 3/4" neck is comfortable and 'fast'..

I have, and will continue to use the 000-15S for both recording and at gigs. The finish is less of a concern with this instrument than it would be for an axe greater in detail and appointment. It gives the appearance of a 'work-horse' and should be treated as such!

I've been playing for about 20 years, and have 'sampled' a number of brands in that time. I currently own a Taylor 410 and 714CE, Aparicio flamenco, Tacoma Papoose, Yamaha APX as well as a couple of electrics.

As I mentioned, this particular guitar was tested against Santa Cruz, other Martins, Taylor, Lowden, Larivee - most were 3 - 4X the price!

I would describe my experience with the 000-15S as 'falling in love'. And would be quick to replace it with one just like it, if necessary (God forbid!)

I bought this for $600 over Ebay because I wanted to try a 12 Fret and trusted Martin. Features are "utilitarian" but I think it is a very cool, vintage sorta look. It has no electronics, satin finish, slot head, nice case, good tuners

One word: Unbelievable. After I bought this guitar for $600 I stopped playing all my other guitars, inclduding my $2500 Taylor. Big bottom end, great fingerstyle blues guitar

Nice action, plain finish. If you're in to looks, this is not your guitar. If you want maximum tone for the money, then buy this

She has held up nicely so far and I "play 'em hard"

No experience

For the money, a 10+++. The best bargain I've seen recently. I've played some high end stuff, including Taylors, Santa Cruz, Collings. The sound coming out of this 600 buck guitar can hold it's own with the big boys. This is a "working man's guitar", inexpensive, reliable, and plays the blues for ya...