Martin 000-17S

All solid Mahogany
12 fret auditorium
Full gloss finish
Scalloped bracing
1-3/4" nut
Slotted headstock
Micarta fretboard
Tortoise pickguard
White stripe purfling

Somebody said it below... overtones and resonance. I fully agree, I've never heard these kinds of rich sounds from any other guitar. Strumming is powerful and balanced. Finger style.... prepare to cry. I must disclaim, however, mine came with a Fossilized Walruss Ivory nut and saddle. Being new to both the guitar and the fossilizd ivory, I can't credit either one alone for the richness of the sound.

The finish seems a little wierd around the neck/body joint. There's a bit of white residue in the joint itself, like extra glue that came out or something. I don't know what it is, but it doesn't really bother me. The bridge has a slight white/grey haze over it... like the pigment in the Micarta is fading or something. Again, I don't care. The sound is far more important than the finish.

Guitar feels nice and solid in hand. I have no reason to believe it will be any more or less durable than the rest of the Martin lineup.

Never had to use it.

This guitar is ridiculous. I can't believe they stopped making it. Forget about the 15 series guitars... this is NOT a fully glossed 000-15s. The scalloped hybrid bracing makes ALL the difference.

I'll say it again... unbelievable sound. It makes the rest of my guitars seem boring to play. As a matter of pure fact, I sold my 00-18V and D-18V when I got ahold of this 000-17S. They were both great high-end guitars, but boring tone-wise. Now I have the acoustic tone of my dreams in a rare all-mahogany 12 fret auditorium design and an extra $1700 in my pocket. If you happen to find one of these for sale, give it a serious look.

I'm also a little scared to use this guitar on stage. That was the reason I bought it, being perfect for finger style and great for strumming, it sounds great and makes a statement. But I don't know what I would do if it were damaged or stolen. Haven't yet decided what to do about that.

Auditorium body, superfast neck, mahogany wood. Martin tuners, no electronics...

The tone is amazing. I was actually looking for a Taylor at the shop when I heard this little beauty. The bottom end of the guitar is just perfect and the playability is the best of any acoustic I own. Neck is liquid smooth and the wood sounds dramatic.

Typical crappy high Martin setup...way too high! I had a luthier set the action and now it cooks. I wish I could hear Robert Johnson go off on this guitar.

I wouldnt use this guitar live only because its too valuable as a studio guitar. Now that it's discontinued, theres no way I take it onstage. Also, theres no cutaway. In 50 years, this guitar will be worth a ton. It is a classic design.

I've never had to call martin for service before...

Martin D28, Gibson Chet Atkins SST, Takamine Santa Fe,

Martin 000 17, no frills
12 fretter, slot head
mahogany top and sides

I'm a rosewood/spruce top man (HD28 and Taylor 712S?), but this baby is more like chocolate: dark and sweet.
They say dark chocolate is good for you, too!

The sales guys always talk about complexity of rich overtones - this guitar I can really hear them - more resonance than I've heard on any other instrument...

Great bass. Well balanced. Slightly harsh at the very top - might mellow with time...

Moderately high action - might have it adjusted
Harmonics match 12th fret pitch very accurately.
Have sweaty hands so the Micarta bridge is great - won't warp.

Great guitar - fits like the guitar was built around me. Lots of speed, good acceleration, great aesthetic appeal, but most of all: fun to drive. I keep it out and play it everyday - something draws me back.

N/A

Once again, very fun.

Now...why is this model discontinued????

tHIS IS A 2003 MODEL , A TWELVE FRET MAHOGANY TOP,BACK, AND SIDES
AND A MAHOGANY NECK AS WELL.IT HAS A GLOSS FINISH,WITH TORTISE PICKGUARD . THE TORTISE BINDING REALLY COMPLIMENTS THE MAHOGANY.
THE OPEN HEADSTOCK REALLY ACCENTUATES THE OLD STYLE CHARM THIS LITTLE GUITAR CONVEYS. A REAL CLASS ACT FROM MARTIN,
i PURCHASED THIS LITTLE DREAM FROM PHIL'S GUITARS IN BELLINGHAM WA.
i LIVE IN SASKATCHEWAN CANADA. I WAS SEARCHING FOR THIS GUITAR ON INTERNET AS THEY ARE DISCONTINUED. I STUMBLED ACROSS PHILS GUITARS, CHECKED THEIR STOCK , THE GUITAR WAS THERE IN STOCK. i EMAILED PHIL AND WITHIN A WEEK AND A HALF I WAS PLAYING MY 00017s. THE FOLKS AT PHILS ARE A REAL CLASS ACT TO DEAL WITH IN EVERY WAY! I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THEM!

i PLAY COUNTRY, FOLK , GOSPEL AND JUST OLD STUFF FOR THE SENIORS. I MUST SAY THAT THIS LITTLE GUITAR SUITES ME TO A T! I FOUND IT TO BE A BIT SUBDUED ON THE BASS AND A LITTLE SHARP ON THE TREBLES AT FIRST,. I CHANGED THE STRINGS AND PUT ON A SET OF D' ADDARIOS LONG LIFE. I READ THEY WOULD GIVE GOOD BALANCE .THE PERSON WAS CORRECT. THE GUITAR IS EVEN SOUNDING NOW RIGHT ACROSS THE FRET BOARD.I HAVE BEEN PLAYING IT ALOT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND I DO BELIEVE I AM HEARING SOME SWEET SOUNDS THAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM MY OTHER MARTIN. (LIKE THAT MID RANGE GROWL I LOVE SO MUCH. I KNOW I'M CHATTING LOTS , BUT I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THIS GUITAR. I HAVE A D.28 C.W. AND AS GOOD AS IT IS IT NOW STAYS IN THE CASE.THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THIS LITTLE 12 FRET THAT KEEPS DRAWING ME TO IT.
DUE TO ITS SMALLER SIZE IT IS VERY COMFORTABLE TO PLAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ONE MORE POINT ON SOUND, A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO I PLAYED WITH A GROUP OF GUYS THERE WAS A 1947 D18, A 1950 GIBSON J45, AND A NEW MARTIN D16,
. MY LITTLE 17S GAVE UP NOTHING TO THEM IN SOUND OR VOLUME. I WAS IMPRESSED1

THE SETUP ON MY 17S WAS TYPICAL MARTIN , HIGH. THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL. I HAD IT SET TO MY PLAYING STYLE AND NOW IT PLAYS LIKE A DREAM!
I HAVE LOOKED THIS GUITAR OVER CAREFULLY AND IF THERE ANY FLAWS THEY MUST BE SMALL BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THEM. I THINK IF I COULD HAVE ORDERED IT FROM MARTIN I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED WAVERLY TUNERS, JUST A BIT MORE NOSTALGA I GUESS.
THE MICARTA FRETBOARD AND BRIDGE DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A STUDIO MUSICIAN IN NASHVILLE. HE WAS PLAYING HIS DADS D16 AND WAS REALLY SUPRIZED AT HOW CLOSE THE GRAIN WAS ON THE FRETBOARD, INFACT HE COULDN'T SEE GRAIN AT ALL! NO WONDER IT WAS MICARTA. IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM EITHER. IT FEELS AS GOOD AS THE EBONY FRETBOARD ON MY D28 C.W. NO KIDDING! DON'T BE WORRYING TOO MUCH ABOUT MICARTA. GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN USING IT FOR YEARS AND THEY STILL MAKE SOME PRETTY GOOD STUFF! MARTIN DOES TOO.

wILL THIS GUITAR LAST? YOU BET IT WILL! THIS LITTLE BEAST IS WELL MADE AND WELL CONSTRUCTED. AS I SAID EARLIER, I USE THIS ALL THE TIME NOW AND MY D28C.W. STAYS HOME,I WUILL BE SELLING IT AS THE 17s GIVES ME EVERYTHING I NEED IN A GUITAR.

I HAVE DEALT WITH MARTIN BEFORE AND HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND HELPFUL. AFTER 170 YEARS OF PLEASING COSTUMERS I WOULD SAY THE GOOD FOLKS IN NAZARETH HAVE GOT IT RIGHT!
A GREAT COMPANY AND A GREAT GUITAR. I HAVE HAD VARIOUS GUITARS THROUGH THE YEARS, DIFFERENT GIBSON MODELS LG,J50,DOVE.AS WELL AS OTHER MAKES, BUT I MUST SAY THAT FOR ME MARTIN DELIVERS.

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR SOME YEARS NOW,AND AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT I HAVE THIS LITTLE GUITAR. MY FRIENDS REFER TO IT AS MY TOY MARTIN! I HOPE IT IS NEVER STOLEN , AS ANOTHER OWNER HAS STATED THEY ARE HARD TO TRACK DOWN.I WOULD DEFINETLY BUY ANOTHER ONE .
I LOVE THE SIZE OF THIS GUITAR. IT IS REALLY COMFORTABLE ,AND I LOVE THE SOUND JUST A REAL NICE MARTIN CROON.I DON'T COMPARE IT TO OTHER GUITARS , ALTHOUGH LAST NIGHT I PUT MY D28C.W. BESIDE IT AND PLAYED THEM BOTH THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. THE D28 DEFINETLY SOUNDS DIFFERENT , MUCH LIKE AN EXPLOSION IN A BOX! BUT DOES IT SOUND BETTER? WELL,I WOULD DEARLY LOVE TO HEAR IT IN THE HANDS OF DOC WATSON. HOWEVER, I WOULD LOVE TO NEAR MY 00017s IN THE HANDS OF ERIC CLAPTON.THEY WOULD BOTH SOUND AWESOME! THIS LITTLE GUITAR IS TRULY A JOY TO PLAY!

The features on this 2003 guitar are simple & tasteful. It's fancy compared to the 15 series. I was concerened that the Micarta fingerboard & bridge would look fake and plastic-like. I was wrong. I can't tell the difference between this stuff & ebony. The neck on this guitar has a bit of "V" to it, not sure if that is just a feature on this guitar or the model??? The case though inexpensive comapred to other Martin cases, is really well made and attractive.

The sound is mellow and sweet. I find the trebles & basses to be even and smooth. This is not a loud guitar.

The guitar was set-up perfectly, could have been the factory, could have been the shop. The wood on this guitar is beautiful! The high-gloss finish really brings out the beauty of the solid mahogany top, sides, and back. The fit & finish is first class aside from mild shopwear.

If stored and cared for properly, this guitar will last a lifetime. It may require some maintenance down the road, but most accoustics will at some time.

I registered my warranty through Martin's web site, and my warranty card arrived 3-days later. I was impressed. I don't expect to have any problems dealing with the Martin folks.

My overall rating on this model is a 10! It is what I was looking for, I was lucky to find it since they are no longer made. Tracking one down is a challenge. I am not dissappointed at all. In fact, I'm more pleased with this guitar than I thought I would be. I paid close to the street price, but the shop is a not-for-profit shop so I feel good about buying this guitar from this merchant. This particular guitar is a joy to play.

I'll chime in on this guitar now that I've had it for a few months.

Mine is a custom 000-17S. It has Waverly tuners, FIK bridge pins, bone nut and saddle, no pickguard and came with Martin's high end Geib case. I also had a Baggs Active I-Beam pickup installed at the time of purchase.

It's all solid mahogany - top, back and sides... gloss finished. The neck too is mahogany... satin finished.

I'll correct the previous reviewers insofar as his statement that the 000-17S is simply a dressed up 000-15S. The 000-17S is braced very differently than the 000-15S.

I flatpick mostly old-time and jug band music. The guitar is a near perfect match for that sound. It has a surprising fullness across the toanal spectrum. The bass certainly exceeded my expectations.

The guitar is very nicely made. I have two Santa Cruz's (an OM and a D) and I'll say that this little Martin is as nicely put together as those significantly more expensive guitars.

The guitar strikes me as being utterly dependable if provided with reasonable care (proper humidification for example).

I do gig with it without hesitation.

Haven't really dealt with Martin except to submit the warrenty card. They responded to that quickly.

Overall I'll give the guitar a 9, not because I'm dissatisfied in any way, but rather because I think pretty much any guitar is going to be less than perfect.

I almost didn't buy the guitar because I was put off by the Micarta bridge and fingerboard. That would have been a huge mistake. I really don't notice that the board is Micarta. It feels and plays like the ebony on my Santa Cruz's.

I love the sound this little guitar produces. It's comfortable to play, nicely made and has a way cool 1930'sd kind of vibe.

I'm very happy with the instrument and would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in a 12 fret 000. At its price point I doubt it has an equal.

TOP: Solid Sapele or Genuine Mahogany
TOP BRACING PATTERN: 00012 Fret Hybrid
TOP BRACES: 1 Style/Scalloped
BACK MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany or Solid Sapele
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany or Solid Sapele
BINDING: Tortoise Color
TOP INLAY STYLE: Multiple Black/White
NECK MATERIAL: Solid Mahogany
NUT MATERIAL: White Corian?
HEADSTOCK: Slotted/Square/Tapered
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood/ Small Raised Gold Foil Logo
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Black Micarta?
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 12
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 3/4''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Style 28
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss/ Dark Mahogany Stain/ Dark Filler
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss/ Dark Mahogany Stain/ Dark Filler
FINISH NECK: Semi Gloss/ Dark Mahogany Stain/ Dark Filler
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Black Micarta?
TUNING MACHINES: Schaller Gold Side Mounts w/ Acrylic Knobs
BRIDGE & END PINS: White w/ Black Dots
PICKGUARD: I-03 Tortoise Color

(From Martin website)

This is essentially the uptown version of the 000-15S guitar. I was amazed with that guitar's sound and this one is no exception. The tonal balance and range is extraordinary. Fingerstyle jazz has a 'pianistic' quality to the chords. Such great bass and clean treble from a small body! I was going to spend $1500-2000 on a guitar but I couldn't find one that played or sounded better than the 000-15S which is the plain version of this. So I found the 000-17S at Elderly's and bought it via the internet.

The gloss body and addition of a tasteful soundole rosette and purfling really dresses up the top. The top and back are bound with tortoise shell which against the mahogony wood looks gorgeous! The gold plater tuners have pearloid buttons completing a really classy understated looking guitar. The only mod I felt it needed was to lose the white plastic bridge pins. I changed them to ebony with pearl dots and the whole look was much more integrated. Even black plastic with white dot pins improved it. Just my opinion.
Fit and finish is just about perfect. I can't see everything inside but what I can is great!

I've played this guitar since August 2002 and it just gets better! I can't put it down and when I do, I can't stop looking at it. It's just thst cool! (Well I keep it in my living room so it's always available, so I DO have a life!)

Like the reviewers of the 000-15S said: This guitar has what other guitars costing hundreds and maybe thousands more, try to achieve: AMAZING tone and playablity!!! On a budget? Get the 000-15S. Want a little more eyecandy? Go for the 000-17S! You won't be disappointed!!