Martin D-15 Acoustic

Martin D-15 Dreadnought
-Genuine Mahogany body & neck with East Indian Rosewood Fretboard
-20 frets total 14 frets accessible
-Tortoise Shell Pickgaurd
-Satin Finish
This is a simple guitar and while it doesn't offer some of the features available on the higher end acoustics it's a great guitar in it's own respects. I like the simple dark look of the mahogany wood and the satin finish. This guitar is a refreshing break from the "high gloss spruce top" acoustics on the market.

I read many reviews online about the rich tone of this guitar before I purchased it and I was not disappionted when I got it home and played it. Finger-picked arpeggios shimmer and sparkle brilliantly. Open chords sound amazing when delicately strummed. Low end can be a bit sloppy when hammering away on power chords...but who the hell buys a Martin to do that anyway right?

The action seems a little high to me, but I'm primarily an electric player. Compared to my other two acoustics the action and intonation are great. The three pieces could have been bookmatched a little better but overall I am pleased with the finish. The look of this guitar has a very natural vibe and I'm sure the minimal finish on the mahogany body plays a key role in the resonation and great tone of this guitar. One thing I absolutely love about this thing is the smell of it. This guitar has a very exotic spicy smell to it that just adds to the overall experience of playing it. Another thing that I appreciate is the way it fits in the included hardshell case. The body has to be gently coaxed into the tight fitting case and is amply protected on all sides by thick padding covered in green plush.

The light build of this guitar makes me a little nervous at times but I'm not the kind of person who leaves his guitar laying around out of the case so durability is a non-factor for me. I am meticulously carefull about my surroundings when playing it so as not to ding it up. I have to mark this category down little though because I know that not every person out there treats thier guitars with this amount of respect and in the hands of the wrong person this guitar could become an eyesore or firewood pretty fast. But like I said before, the case is an excellent fit for it and paired with a humidifier and TLC this guitar could treat you well for a life time.

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I've been playing for roughly three years and own two other acoustics besides this guitar, an Ovation Celebrity and a "Mr Potato" acoustic my girlfriend bought for me in Korea. This guitar eclipses them both in sound quality and looks. Another thing I can appreciate is that for the price range you can't find another non-laminate built guitar that compares to the Martin D-15. I shopped around for months before deciding on this purchase and couldn't be more pleased. The features are very basic and thats what I love about it.

very unique looking guitar. i very rarely have to tune this baby,seems to never loose that beautiful tone. i love the all mahogany look. The one downer would be finish,other than that i feel there's not a better guitar out there.

i tried dozens of guitars before i settled for the D-15 and there was not one that came close to the tone. i tried everything from other Martins to gibsons, from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand. can't say enough about the sound!

Action is a little high and the wood could be matched a little better.

I've only had it for a year but i don't see why it can't last a life time. needs a little more TLC than a spruce top.

limited life time warranty, have not had to use it.

I have been playing for a couple years, i own an old Harmony that i take camping and other places where i would be afraid to take my Martin. I can not imagine wanting another guitar, i play it around people who have been playing for years and they can't get over the sound/tone. i only hope the satin finish lasts....

This is an all mahogany dreadnought acoustic guitar. The mahogany throughout is high grade and there is no lamination on the instrument. There are no electronics included on this guitar. The only non-mahogany pieces on the guitar are the fretboard and the bridge - which are rosewood. The tuners are nonlocking. As for the neck and frets, I'm not sure of the dimensions, but I would describe the thickness as thin to medium. The frets seem to be stardard. The guitar comes with a nice hardshell case.

The score of 7 that I give this category is due to the fact that this guitar does not have a lot of high-end features. It is meant to be a simple guitar without binding, high-gloss finishes, electronics or other expensive features. But that is why I was attracted to the guitar - it is simple, but very well built. Ultimately what is most important is its tone - and that is superb.

I play folk, blues, jazz and rock. I also use the guitar to play at guitar mass in my church. It has great sound that I find very inviting and adaptable to many different playing styles. I have since added a Fishman under saddle pick-up and a Tech 21 SansAmp Acoustic DI. With these additions, the guitar is capable of a very wide range of sound. I would describe the sound as very clean and crisp - with a balanced spectrum.

The guitar came with a standard Martin factor set-up. Which is to say that it was very good. The satin finish was consistent throughout the guitar and I think adds to the beauty of its tone. After about a year - I started to notice some discloration in the finish. It was hard to describe and very subtle. I took it to a registered Martin repair rep and he spoke to the company for me. They wanted to see the guitar so I had it shipped back to Martin. They ended up refinishing the entire body of the guitar.

Despite the fact that the guitar is very light weight (due to solid woods, no lamination) I think it is durable. The lack of binding on the neck and the body does make is prone to nicks and bangs that dent the wood. As for the finish, see my comments above. I think it is a beautiful finish, and I'm not expecting any problems now that it's been back to the factory for a refnish job - time will tell. In all other regards the guitar is solid and dependable.

I did have to deal with Martin to have the instrument refinished. They were helpful on the phone in referring me to a local repair rep. After that initial referral, I had no contact with them. My repair rep - an outstanding individual was persistent with Martin and dealt with them directly. Martin said to expect 11 weeks for the repair, but in reality, they had the guitar for about 5 months. I thought this was a long time to wait, but when the guitar came back, it was like new again. The Martin warranty covered everything but the shipping - so I was very pleased with their willingness to take the guitar back for repair. I think the warranty is lifetime.

I would have liked some personal contact from someone at the company, but I have no complaints with the work they did. Perhaps it is better that they deal directly with the certified reps - it is surely more time efficient and they can resolve issues more quickly.

Overall I'm very pleased with this guitar. I've been playing for 30 years and I have other less expensive acoustics and a couple of electrics. If I'm not playing this guitar, I'm playing my G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy. I would buy this guitar again and would highly recommend it - or one of the other series of guitars in this all mahogany line from Martin. My favorite feature is the tone - it's just beautiful and it gets better the more I play it. Before buying this guitar, I looked at other Martins, Guilds and a couple of Gibsons. For the money, this guitar is outstanding.

If I were playing gigs, I might go for a guitar with a high-gloss top - mainly for looks. Nonetheless, this guitar is comfortable and so fun to play. I have to regrets buying it.

I purchased this Martin D-15 dreadnought in early 2000, so it was probably made sometime in 1999. As you already know, it's a solid mahogany guitar with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. It has Martin's special "A-Frame" bracing and a simple heringbone rosette decal around the soundhole. There is no binding on the body or the neck, but the fingerboard does have nice inlays. This guitar is simple in appearance, but it is very well made and as a result has beautiful warm sound. The guitar comes with a nicely padded hardshell case.

I bought this guitar because of the sound. It is full and warm - with a richness of tone that is uniquely Martin. I think mahogany is a beautiful tonewood. Joined together with a satin finish - the sound achieved is just beautiful and unlike many high gloss acoustics. I added a passive Fishman under saddle pickup after purchase and this gives me a lot of extra flexibility. I switched from an 11 guage string set to 12's and this has made a real difference in the depth of tone that get out of the instrument. The thicker strings add warmth, particularly on the low-end.

The factory set-up and action from the factory were very good. I've since had a good luthier adjust the action slightly lower and this has been a nice change. The bridge routing is precise and very clean. Unfortunately, the finish started to show some discloration after about a year. The finish problem was subtle and difficult to explain, but Martin agreed to take the guitar back to the factory for review. More on this later.

The guitar is light and as a result, seems a little fragile, however I think it is solidly made and will withstand the test of time if properly cared for. As noted above, I think the finish (was) a weakpoint. Martin agreed to refinish the entire body of the guitar due to the discloration problems and it was returned to me like a brand new guitar. In all other respects, pins and buttons are solid and reliable.

Martin didn't deal with me - only with my authorized repair rep. That was a little impersonal, but understandable in order to make the process efficient. Unfortunately, they kept the guitar quite a while - about 5 months. That seemed like a long time, but the end result was worth the wait. I would have preferred more personal contact from the company on this repair.

I've been playing for 30 years. I own a variety of other acoustics and electrics including a 1966 Fender Coronado II, and a G&L ASAT Classic. I would definitely buy this guitar again, but check the finish carefully. I compared this guitar to other more expensive Martin instruments. I chose this guitar because of the uniqueness of tone, the simplicity of the design and price. For a solid wood guitar - this instrument is a bargain.

Yes, a fine smelling Mahogany guitar. Mine was made in 2002. The case is incredible. No pickup.

What turned me on to this guitar was the incredibly warm sound. I fell in love with in instantly. Later, I had a craving for a brighter tone, so I ended up with the other exteme (Taylor Big Baby). But after playing the Big Baby a while, I returned once again to my first love, this martin. It's warm personality really suites me. However, if you are looking for bright, I suggest looking elsewhere.

The guitar arrived perfect. However, it seemed to be very sensitive to the humidity of my house, and there was a period of about 9 months where it had to adjust. So now I have different saddles, but the one in it now has stayed there for a while, so I think the Martin has decided to settle in.

Right now Martin seems very happy and content. It also seems quite durable, although I haven't put this to the test.

I lost the ownership card and had to call to get it replaced; they didn't seem that eager to help me, but they did help me. (My experience has been that the Taylor people are friendlier)

For the price, this guitar is awesome.

The features have been covered in many of the other reviews of the Martin D15. The main feature is, of course, that the whole guitar (including top) is mahogany.

The sounds is different than other guitars because of the mahogany top. I think it is less bright. I really like the midrange tone. I love listening to single notes on this instrument, but its not my favorite for full-on chord strumming.

The guitar seems well made to me, but it is the first guitar >$200 that I have bought.

I definitely think that the neck is not as easy to work with as say the Taylor 410 or 714 that I tried in the store (but maybe thats not fair because those two instruments were more expensive) As a novice, this is my biggest disappointment. My left hand finds it harder to play than some other guitars (specifically the ones I mentioned above as well as the Martin Smartwood one, and at a lower pricepoint, the Seagull guitar actually was very agreeable to me)

I really am not qualified to answer this question.

I've played about 2 years on and off. At one point I owned a Hamer electric and a Tech 21 Trademark 60 amp. And I have a Yamaha FG 401 dreadnaught thats very beat down.

I wish I had not caved in to the pressure of the Guitar Center salesman. If you are susceptible to impulse buying like me, set some ground rules for yourself before walking into a place like that. Or better yet, just go to a small guitar shop. Also be patient. And check prices.

I wouldn't get this guitar again. I do like the tone when playing fingerstyle, I must admit, but if I can only have one guitar, I dont think this would be the one. In fact, if someone had a nice Seagull or a Taylor 310 / 410 and wanted to trade, I'd be inclined to do it.

This a standard and very basic dreadnought with mahogany top, sides and back. The D-15 has a satin finish which is a wonderful compliment to its warm earthy sound.

Sound is such a subjective topic. Great sound to one, may be ear-piercing to another. I play a mixture of blues, rock, gospel and Alt/country. I have read many reviews of different guitars in the $500 and under price range and narrowed my search down to an Alvarez ad60k, an epiphone ej200, and a Martin Dx1. The Alvarez was just too tinny sounding. The ej200 had a good full sound but I could not convince myself to buy an all laminate guitar for $500. That left the Martin DX1. The DX1 had an amzingly deep sound that could be played loud. Again, I started thinking about the laminate sides and top when the D-15 caught my eye. Here was a full wood bodied guitar for just over $500. The D-15 is not as bassy as the DX1 but has a much warmer, full sound across the range and with the wood construction will only sound better with time.

The D-15 I chose had been played in the store and I think tha action had been lowered to accomodate someone's style. This was great until you started to play it hard, then it would buzz like a chain saw. Also, the neck was really tight. I relieved the truss rod in the neck and raised the bridge just slightly. I put a set of medium guage strings on which also raised the action a little and viola. What a sound! I can play her hard or sweet and she just purrs. I think this one of the warmest, richest sounding guitars I have ever heard. I have a friend with a '74 D35 and he swears my D-15 has as good of a sound as his.

This is my first Martin. I have friends who have owned them for years and stand behind them 100%. I have always had the philosophy that the player makes the guitar and not the guitar makes the player and I have never spent over $200 for a guitar. So I truly hope this is the last guitar I will have to buy.

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I have been playing for about five years. I have an old fender and an ovation balladeer that I bought used for $100. I think this is probably the best guitar for around $500. I would definetely replace it. I love its simple beauty and warm inviting tone. I am not exactly crazy about the dark mahogany look, but I am warming up to it.

Very basic matte finish. I know some don't like it. But, I actually LIKE the satin finish better! No fancy inlays or anything. Just a plain old guitar with some basic inlay dots on the neck. The finish is actually nice to touch. Feels very well done. The wood is joined perfectly. Extremely high quality wood and great neck finish! Smells nice too!

The richest and creamiest sound of any dred in the Martin line. I played it against the D-28 and D-1 and I liked it better. Much more unique and special sound. Very, very ditinct and lovely sound. I mean, you have to play one if you haven't yet. You will know what I mean when you hear it. I bet you will buy one when you hear it and THEN look at the price.

This Martin was set up better than any of the others in the store. Nice action. A little high, but anyone can sand down a saddle a little. I didn't need to, but I can bet that it would be necessary on a few models to suit styles and tastes. Finish MIGHT be a little less durable, but I doubt it. I mean, if you ding a guitar it is going to dent. If it doesn't then the finish is probably holding the top so tight that it can't vibrate properly. I actually played the D-17, which is essentially a D-15 with a gloss finish, and I didn't like the sound at all. It was just a plain sounding dred to me. The finish drastically changed the tone, and not for the better to my ears.

Seems good so far.

NIce case. Good warranty. Excellent customer service.

25 Years of guitar playing. I own Taylor, Martin, Larrivee and Fender and this guitar is very unique and special. A must buy. It sounds like no other guitar.

I really only want "Two Features" in a guitar and they are Playablity and Sound. I sure as heck dont want to play a guitar that looks like something Porter Wagner Would use with his 70's Rhinestone suites ARG.

I play all types of guitar and this one is my anchor axe. If you want Ear Piercing treble then this axe aint for you but if you want the best Lows and Mids then this baby has it all. I find it a little too boomy for recording but then that is the trait that makes it a great jam/acoustic player.

Mundt Music of Longview Tx. failed to do a propper setup but between myself and another local luthier, we have it perfect. I think the lack of a heavy finish is part of the secret to the great sound.

Sure it will ding especially around the rim where there is "NO" Binding but mine has has some good bumps and no sign of failure yet.
By the way I Often play Texas Contest Style Fiddle Backup and hit the top just below the bridge with my fingertips to add a percussive effect and too emulate and to substitute a mandolin beat on the off beat. The Fiddlers love the rythem that comes out of this guitar and I have played with some pros.

Have not had to use them but I trust myself with any repairs that may come along. "American Craftsmanship" :)

Just going to add my 2 cents worth...you have already read the justly glowing reviews for the D-15 in the previous posts.
Features are basic. (Fitting for this model).

I will repeat what many have said before. I tried many, many other guitars but I kept coming back to this one. The "dark" mahogoney tone is absolutly beautiful to hear and feel as it resonates through the D-15's thin body and into yours. Easily the best sounding guitar below $1000 (and probably above). Its nearest rivals(in my case anyway) were Talkamine, Tacoma and believe-it-or-not one of the $400ish Ibanez AE Cutaway acoustic-electrics (I listened with my ears
and tried to keep an open mind).

It's a Martin. It close to perfect. Not one defect found yet.

Lifetime guarantee. It's a light guitar but that's why it sounds like it does so I will not fault Martin fore that.

Try it. Listen to it and FEEL it as well. Then compare to other guitars. It's a unique (to my generation -I'm 41) guitar when compared to more conventional acoustic wood types, but its sound is SO hard to get out of your head. I think I'll go play mine now.