Martin D-15 Acoustic

A twelve year old flat finish mahogany acoustic dreadnought, just as it came from Nazareth in its green-lined hard case. Bought it from a starving musician for fifty cents on the dollar about 10 years ago. I can comfortably use 13 of the 14 useable frets on the rosewood neck. No bells or whistles - ust a great piece of American craftsmanship. If it came with better quality gold tuners vice silver, and strap buttons, I would have given it a 10

I play folk/blues/indie - while it can't be all things at once, it's got a marvelous tone and sustain. Whether flatpicking bluegrass close to the bridge, strumming in the middle or fingerpicking close to the neck, it's the best example in a collection of 9 eclectic pieces including a couple of pre-1960 Martins and Gibsons, of what I think a great guitar should sould like.

This particular guitar has very jerky tuner action - even after a shot of spray lube and replacing the neck nut, but it stays in tune forever. The action is astounding for a relatively inexpensive guitar, and several studio players that I occ. jam with have commented on just how great it looks, feels and plays. The top, sides and back are simply stunning in color and grain. The finish is absolutely flawless, as is the joinery, and I defy anyone to find any flaws, anywhere, in the construction craftsmanship. Even the backside of the neck has spectacular black graining that sets this one off from the rest.

The stock strap buttons are not the best - I use a rubber oring to keep the strap from slipping thru. It's more often than not my choice for miked-up small club gigs and has never let me down, not even with a broken string, but it does feel a bit more fragile than a D28 or a Guild.

Mahogany does have its downside... A few years ago, the end mysteriously developed a 2" long split which I figured was the beginning of the end. A perfect repair and restoration by Ron at the Guitar Center in Virginia Beach defies the eye and finger. I could have sent it back to the factory, I guess, but I doubt they would or could have done any better, and assume they would have charged me an arm and a leg if the loss wasn't under warranty. In all fairness, the factory folks were very friendly and emphathic.

I've been playing about 50 years. I own a total of 18 acoustic stringed instruments - including Taylor, Youngblood, Gibson, Guild, and Rickenbacker - but of all, this plain jane is hands-down my favorite. For an $800 investement (including setup and the repair) I got the best of all worlds - the sound and action equal to almost any $3000 model, without having to hire a security guard to watch it during breaks.

Bought it brand new for 6000 danish kroner (approx 1100 $)about 4 months ago. So it is still new to me.
No need to get into appearance or features - it should be covered by now.
Just good quality - plain and simple.

I needed "the one" good acoustic guitar for all kinds of acoustic styles. A guitar is, in my opinion, more that just a work-tool, it is also a kind of companion (especially when you play solo)and in that respect you'll have to have a good companion that you can trust in terms of reliability, but of course with the sound and playability being the most important issues.
I also like the fact that it doesn't have built-in pick-up. I prefer to choose the guitar for it's own sound.
And by the way, I mike up the guitar with a microphone for live jobs - nothing beats that sound - because it's the natural sound of your guitar!

Neck suits me fantastic - the satin finish brings out the sound perfectly - I actually prefer it like this.

I have never owned or even actually played a Martin guitar before, but this time I decided to check out if their reputation, as one of the worlds finest manufacturers of mass-produced steelstring guitars, would be true.
And this guitar really comes through as the best acoustic guitar I have yet owned. Sound and playability are nothing short of fantastic for the price (this being the cheapest(all-solid)guitar in the Martin-line, and included a fine hardcase, too) and I couldn't ask for anything more from an acoustic guitar in this price range, or indeed, any price-range nearby. I believe that this guitar will satisfy most acoustic players need most of the way down the line.
And I haven't even changed the factory settings or even the strings yet.
I am no beginner in this game as I have been playing on and off for 30 years. I am totally satisfied with this guitar and I can strongly recommend Martin Company to anyone who hasn't been there.

Martin D-15 - has all I need - plain and simple!

Martin dreadnaught D 15 Rosewood

Clear, articulate, reanonably balanced. The bass is very distinctly present, while the mids and treble chime in for a really rounded tone.

I've playing for well over 30 years,and have owned several good guitars, (Guild, Talkamine,Sigma etc.) In other reviews, people are concerned with the "finish" or lack thereof. Truth be known, the thinner the finish, the more freely the top vibrates, and that is what makes the majority of the sound you hear. This is th first satin finished guitar I've owned, and I like the way it looks!

I'm sure the tuners aren't the same as on the higher end Martins, but they seem to be just fine, for now, time will tell. Once again, I think to much emphasis is placed on the finish, if you want all the bells and whistles, chunk out another $1500 and get a 28! As far as reliabity goes, things can go wrong with any guitar, don't worry, be happy!

I haven't had to contact Martin with any problems, but from what I've heard, their on top. And while we're on the subject, Musicians Friend rates a solid "10" in this catagory!

I definitely would replace it. It may overtake my beloved Guild D44M as my overall favorite, but hey, a Guild doesn't sound like a Martin, and a Martin doesn't sound like Guild, they both have their own unique tone. The only thing I wish the Martin had is wider frets.
Excellent instrument!

It has a satin finish, is a normal sized Martin Dreadnaught. Has a sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides.Has Martin tuners, that work well. It has a modified low-oval mahogany neck. It came with agreat hard case that fir the guitar like a glove. Perfect! It wad made in 2008, and made in the USA. It has 14 frets clear of body, Indian rosewood fingerboard and white binding around top and back. Solid wood throughout. This is one very handsome guitar.Fretboard has large white dots with small dots on side.

As I mainly play country(Older country, not this new junk stuff),and bluegrass and this guitar is perfect for it. Beautiful rumbling bass, Great mids and sparkling trebles. With this sound, there are no limits as to what you can play. The best sound that I have ever heard out of a guitar, was a D28, I played back in 1950. This guitar has the closest sound to it I have ever heard. This sound in my guitar would be hard to beat. I played 10 to 15 high dollar guitars before I found this one. It beat all the others, hands down. A picker just don't need anything better than this.

My guitar was set up great, right off the rack Top and back matched as good as you can get, in my estimation. The action was perfect for me. I really checked this baby over before I put my $999.00 down. There were no flaws or any other problems that I could find. I really couldn't ask for better.

This guitar could handle live playing easily. Having a satin finish the guitar will stain easily I suspect, so you will have to watch for this. Sweat and skin oils will have an effect, but with the sound this guitar has I just flat won't worry about it. I bought it for the sound, not the looks. Looks don't make the music. I am quite sure I can depend on it and I would use it without a back-up. This is one hell of a great guitar. I'm as happy as a pig in a slop trough. You can't beat this guitar for 10 times what I paid for it.

Like other Martins, it has a limited lifetime warranty. Having dealt with Martin before, I know their help is as close as my telephone. They REALLY WILL HELP.

I first started playing guitar in the spring or summer of 1949. I have two other Martins, a Samick SJ 14,an Epiphone Hummingbird that I just gave to my wife, and a Beckman Music Co. Delta that I've had for 34 years. If this guitar were lost or stolen, I'd probably have a heart attack, cause I can't afford to buy another one. As I said before, I compared it to 10 or 15 others before I bought it. The sound is what I love most. Damn, it's awesome. This sucker looks professional and really it is

I bought this guitar used, a '97 model I think, and it was beat to crap but super cheap. For some reason I like trashed guitars, they tell a story maybe, and I had fun bringing this one back to life. It had been smashed, rebuilt, and experimented on with weird extra holes for multiple pickups. Still plays & sounds great! It did come with the original Martin hardshell case.
We know the deal with this model- all solid mahogany, rose wood fretboard and bridge, mortise & tenon neck joint, non scalloped x bracing, medium frets, 1-11/16" wide neck that's sorta thin, but no binding, inlays, eye candy, etc. keeps the price down.
The best feature about this dreadnaught guitar is it's lack of features. The Satin lacquer finish that's thin and allows the guitar to really resonate and breathe. Keeps the cost down too since it eliminates a few production steps to make it glossy. The finish does get shiny from wear which might bother some players. I think it looks cool, but I like when guitars get beat up. A cool "secret" about satin finish- take it to a buffing wheel and you can polish it to a gloss...
The tuners are my only complaint, mine don't stay in tune very well and tend to slip.

These guitars really need to be broken in. In the case of this one, literally broken in! Brand new 15 series Martins always sounded dull to me off the rack, with no life or sustain. A lot of that has to do with the lame coated strings they come with. This one is ten years down the road and is a totally different guitar, very open, alive, loud, and resonant. Records great, really cuts through the mix and sounds good solo. It's warm, full, bassy, but has sparkle. I'm a strummer and sometimes fingersyle player, but mostly strumming in open tunings. Huge sound. I actually sold my D28 because this one passed the blindfold test and recorded so much better. It's way louder too. It definitely has a darker, warmer tone than the more common spruce top guitars.

Martins always come well setup from the factory and have excellent quality control, light years ahead of Gibson.(Gibson says that they like to leave the final adjustments to the individual player. Whatever, that's a cop out. They're just greedy.)
I can't comment on my guitar since I bought it in a state of disrepair, but every new Martin I've checked out has been excellent, unless the dealer neglected it.

I would say that this is the most reliable guitar I have ever owned! From total destruction and back. Whoever repaired it left if pretty ugly but it's holding strong. It really depends on how nice and neat you like to keep your guitar. The finish is thin and will scratch and ding easily. I personally don't care. The tuners will probably last just fine but feel cheap. I depend on mine with no issues. Also, anything can be fixed. You can smash a guitar into a hundred pieces and still rebuild it.
If you break a lot of strings, check your nut for pinching (hey, no snickers from the peanut gallery), check your tuners for sharp edges, or check your saddle for string grooves. What else goes wrong live with an acoustic?
What working musician can afford a backup?

Martin has a limited lifetime warranty for original owners. They have excellent customer support and take pride in their instruments. They will fix any Martin guitar.
A rare business practice in this day and age.

I've been playing for 16 years, mostly "modern" rock, and have owned pretty much everything under the sun. I play primarily electric, and all Gibsons into Fender amps. If this guitar were stolen I'd try something else, maybe the spruce top version of this guitar, or an OM sized Martin. I like to check out different gear, I'm a nerd that way. I love the character this guitar has, it's a specific sound, not your standard acoustic tone. It's a great guitar. It's not an HD28, or a D18, or a Clapton. It's not supposed to be. Tone is a very subjective thing, use your own ears and think about what you need in a guitar. Overall, this is a well built guitar in a good price point.

Basic and bare bones. All solid wood - mine is mahogany for the neck, top and back, african sapele for the sides, and rosewood for the fretboard & bridge. The plastic bridge pins are a little chincy, but the saddle and nut (Tusq & Corian) are acceptable & well done. The tuners work well and are smooth. The rosette is a decal, there's no binding, and the finish is the cheaper to produce satin finish (which I prefer). I'm pleased they're still using lacquer instead of poly. Mortise & Tenon neck joint instead of the higher end dovetail.

This isn't my end-all be-all guitar, but it does sound really quite good. As other people have mentioned, it sounds well "balanced", neither favoring the top end or bass too heavily. It doesn't have the giant boom of my father in law's D-35, but it's got a good woody tone with more bass than most of the other guitars I tried before I bought it. I tried out alot of Martins, Seagulls, Taylors, Epiphones, Takamines etc. This guitar, while definitely not the showiest of the pack, has a very solid & respectable tone, especially when compared to any of the other guitars under a grand (hell more than a grand). I know it's cliched to say it, but it really does outshine many more expensive guitars. Many of the other guitars sounded thin and pale in comparison after switching around a few times. It's not super loud, but it is as loud as I'll ever need an acoustic to be.

The real beauty of this guitar is the crazy overtones it makes - like a piano. It really fills out the lower chords, although if you go too far up the neck, they are diminished somewhat. Individual notes ring through clearly whether by themselves or in a chord - you can really hear what you're playing. You could say it sounds full but not flubby. It's a very responsive guitar. The sustain is amazing for an acoustic guitar.

As soon as I walked in to the store, I was pleasantly surprised they had a used D-15, as I'd been wanting to try the model out. That pleasant surprise turned to gut wrenching horror when I saw there was a humidifier right next to it, blowing directly on the mahogany top of the guitar (yay Guitar Center!) I knew had to rescue her. I looked down the neck & saw that the top / bridge / fingerboard had all started to sink. The salesperson said not to worry "there hasn't been water in that humidifier for months". So essentially, they had the guitar in front of a fan, left to dry out and crack into a pile of despair and broken dreams. The action was really really low (dry top) and the strings were old and dead. Even so, I was able to see that I was going to really like this guitar. The finish is flawless, the insides look good and solid, the tuners feel great. It still sounded and played really well even in it's sorry state. Once I got her home and put on a new set of strings on, I set out to re-humidify the guitar. It's almost back to normal, with just a little ways left for the top to come back up. I have to give it an 8 for it's sheer will to survive in such an inhospitable environment.

The compensated saddle and nut have kept the guitar in fine playing condition, intonation is still dead on. The neck is relatively thin & v-shaped, a good fit. I like the smaller squarish frets, so again, it's a good fit for me.

It does seem light and fragile on the surface. The finish will surely get messed up and it being mahogany, it'll ding up like crazy. But, once again, after proving itself to be able to come back from it's stay at Meguitar-olo-mart, I have to give it a good mark.

Haven't had to contact customer supprt.

I know you're sitting there, with your mouse hovering over the "buy it now" or "submit order" button, looking to Harmony Central User Reviews to justify your impulsive online gear purchase. I'm here to tell you that if this guitar were stolen, broken beyond repair etc, I would hands down buy one again from American Musical with their evil 3 easy payment plan - damn the consequences from the wife. I only hope that if mine meets a disasterous fate, they're still in production and affordable as they are now.

Can't say more than what has been said.

I play mostly country and 70's rock. This guitar has great sound. It has a rich full sound. I have added a fishman bridge pickup and the sound is still great.

I have not touched the set-up that came on the guitar. It was just about right. The guitar had a repaired crack that effects the looks but not the sound. The wood is mahogany and is soft but the aging process is ok with me.

As time goes by I know this guitar will gather dings due to the wood. But, I think it will last well and the vintage look will add to the beauty of it.

Never dealth with them.

I have played for more than 40 years and have played many good intruments. This one will hold its own with them. If I lost it I would be sad and would probably replace it with another one hoping I would get one as good as this one.

Made in USA. Nazareth, PA. All solid mahogany. Satin finish. 20 frets. Made in 2006 I think.

As for other features, I'm not primarily interested in features and looks. I just want awesome sound and this thing delivers. It's a very simple look, but don't be fooled. It's a sleeper. Have you ever seen an old Martin. They look pretty worn and simple, but the sound is always better with age. That's this guitar and I'm sure it will get even better with age.

Right now I am playing more bluegrass and flatpicking stuff. I like the tone of David Grier's stuff. At first I was looking for a solid spruce top tone. I tried this on the recommendation of the music store guy. I quickly realized that this was the sound for me. It sounds more like the David Grier sound I like. The highs are smoothed out while keeping the Martin boom. It's a nice balanced tone. It's fairly loud. When you pick a note, you can hear and feel it resonate and ring in the box. For $659, you'll be hard pressed to find any other solid wood guitars with nice ringing tones like this one. They might consider this an entry level Martin, but it sounds like much more than that. It's just missing the fancy inlays and binding of a D18 or D28. I never knew a solid mahogany top could sound this good.

Satin finsh all around. I really like the satin finish on the neck. It keeps your hand from sticking if it gets a little sweaty unlike a gloss finished neck.

Fretwork is nice. No sharp edges when you run your hand up and down the neck.

The action was a little high on the low E, but the guitar tech took care of that in 15 minutes. Shaved the low E side of the saddle down to proper tolerance. No truss rod adjustment required. It plays like butter.

I don't play live so I don't know how it would hold up for that. The tuning hardware seems good. I like the flat finsh. I think I prefer it to the glossy finsh because it means there is less finish to interfere with the sound.

Haven't had to deal with the company for a problem. But, hey, it's a Martin. I believe it's a lifetime warranty.

Not sure what year, 2001 or 2002. Somewhere around there. Made in USA. Enough said about that!

I tried the DX series and was really impressed. Then a salesperson (some kid that was adept at acoustic playing) played both the DX and D-15 for me. While his playing was more acoustically proficient than mine by far, I could definitely hear the difference in tone between the two.

Some guys may skof at letting someone else demo the instruments, but not being an acoustic player, I found it helpful to hear someone else playing the two side by side.

The D-15 was priced similarly to the DX model. I choose the D-15 because it had the fullest, most repsonsive sound and was louder (every acoustic I owned was always to quiet in jam settings).

I don't care about appearance. I'll pass on the mother of pearl inlays, the intricate rosette and other cosmetic features that may impress some. This instrument is basically a sleeper.

It is the most plain looking guitar (electric or acoustic) I've owned. but I'm past that phase of appearance, as my wife will attest to.

since this is a very modestly appointed instrument, I have to give it a 7. There is nothing fancy about this guitars appearance. That's fine by me.

Not as bright as others, but the mahogany body is at least partly, if not entirely responsible for this attribute.

The tone is very rich and full. Perhaps a little heavy on the bass, but for my style of playing (open tuning and bastardized finger picking) it works great for me. Of cours one can manipulate the degree of bass response by adjusting the attack. Plenty of natural bass if you want it, but if you pull back on your attack on the bass you can get a wonderfully balanced tone.

Great drone notes. Upper strings sing. Overall, this is a very resonant instrument.

If you've never played a decent acoustic in the comfort of your home on a Sunday afternoon, you don't know what your missing. I find this instrument to be very responsive to my input. Depending on picking and fretting pressure, you have a wide range of tone available. This guitar will deliver wonderful tones with little effort. Although if you really dig in and work it, this instrument will not abandon you, leaving you to pull back and play within its limits. The more you play it, the harder you play it, the more it rewards you.

Action is great. It's an acoustic, not a glorified eletric. The action is low enough to allow most any player to warm up to, but not so low that you can't play it hard and really get some wonderful tone out of it.

The finish is a satin finish. However, after a few years of playing you will develop shinny spots. a plus in my book. If you are looking for a glossy, shinny guitar, this isn't it.

Never had any problems with reliability or durability.

Never had to call support.

Been playing longer than my ability reveals. Should be better than I am, but I enjoy what I do. And the D-15 more than meets my needs.

2002 usa mahogany top back and sides,satin finish.nice martin hardshell case

This is one sweet sounding guitar,i play country blues,folk and rock
nice dark woody sound.lots of bass.I used this on several recordings and it sounded awsome.never could get used to the thin neck.

the finish started rubbing off after several month(it is satin)not a problem for me.the action was perfect from the factory.well built guitar

been playing since the mid 70's,loved the sound of this guitar.The only problem i had was with the thin neck,after playing for several weeks i started getting a severe pain in my fingertips.i play mainly a gibson acoustic(hummingbird)which has a thick neck.after putting this down and playing my gibson's i havnt had a problem.Went back to the martin and the pain came back.I sold this guitar to a buddy of mine.I probably should have got the om model with a thicker neck.all in all this is a great sounding guitar for the money.I do miss the deep woody tones that came out of it but just couldn't get used to martins thinner necks.If your like me and have played gibson acoustics and 12 strings for years try the om15 with the thicker neck.martin makes great guitars and the d15 is no exception.just wouldn't work for this gibson guy!