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!

My D-15 USA made great features, pretty standard for Martin, Great looking wood, I like dark wood.

I play Christian Rock, Blues, and folk it sounds great in all styles. I also have recorded with it, with two mics in stereo, wow, sounds like a 12 string if you do it right, and I do I own a recording studio. I wouldn't have any other acoustic in my studio but Martins, the best. Taylors and Gibsons are good too. Sound is rich full and don't need major EQ ing to bring it out like other acoustic guitars do.

Action is fine from factory, but it needs to be setup by a pro if your a pro and want the best action. Don't do it yourself take it to guitar center or somewhere that the tech knows what he's doing. I found no flaws in guitar, tuning pegs are great and hold strings in tune all session long, (but you still need to check it anyway, if you bend string alot, it keeps the engineer happy). The necks are great almost as good as an Hagstrom (thin).

Reliable & durable for life if taken care of. The wood is alittle soft beware, that's why they SOUND so GOOD. Finish is fine, strap buttons strong,would gladly take to all my gigs & studio & I do. That's what is so good about this model, great for studio & your shows, super all around guitar. Rock solid & on, brother!

Martin people are the best, THEY CARE>>>> & you don't find that everywhere anymore..................

I have been in music for over 30 years now, as a musician & recording engineer, these are very good guitars. I own several guitars, fenders,epiphones,Hagstroms,Yamahas, gibsons, and others. I rate Martins as the best acoustics out there in all areas. Take it from me there are several Good acoustic and they are Martin 1st Taylor 2nd Gibson 3rd (older ones) and on & on........ If you can afford one buy it..........
BOB

Already stated many many times!!!

Everything you need, nothing you don't!!

Case is a three ply hard case with a foam faced lid.
Mmmm... secure...

Fan-tabulous.

Very very clear, well defined notes: the overall sound is very rich and mellow. Very powerful sound.

Personally, I think this is far better than the Taylor models at the same price range, and indeed higher: It seems o have a lot more body and soul than the rather bland (in my opinion) Taylor 110 and 210.

I personally adore it, and knowing that it's all solid and will only get richer in time make me love it all the more.

As with all Martins, the saddle is a little high (this is NOT an error - it allows the individual player to file the saddle down to their own required height)

However, the action is really good, and the setup in terms of intonation is 100% spot on - and I'm very very very picky!!

Well, as its solid wood, I won't banging it around.

But take care of your investment, and you'll have it for many many years.

Martins have never ever ever come back for repairs in the shop I wourked in. Ever!

Have been playing for 11 years, and this is my first "professional" acoustic.

Couldn't be happier with it. Would buy again which is the real acid test, and I don't actually want another acoustic - Taylor, Tak, Guild, or indeed a d-45. This will last me!!!

barest features for a martin guitar

this puppy sounds golden (and that goes for the 000-15 and J-15 too). nice open sound is probably due to the thin finish as well as to the general design and mahogany/rosewood combination. the bass is deep, the treble is sparkly, there's plenty of midrange and volume too. in comparison, the d-28 sounds a little more refined, restrained, with the bass tamed and the treble perhaps more sparkly, with a more smoothly blended resonance overall between midrange and bass. i'm not sure if i'm comparing them accurately, but this is my best attempt. make sure when you're testing yours out that it does not have old strings.

the martin set-ups on the 15 series are as good as they are on the standard series from what i can tell.

my experience is that mahogany is a soft wood, easily dented.

limited lifetime warranty to original owner

considering that this guitar is half the price of a D-28, it's surprisingly good. highly recommended.

La D15 tiene solo lo esencial que debe tener una buena guitarra (sonido y comodidad), y ademas en su simpleza, es bonita.

El sonido es increible, teniendo en cuenta el precio. Inmejorable. Ductil, parejo, la dinamica es apabullante. El sustain eterno. Los graves, medios y agudos bien balanceados.

Martin decidio invertir sus mejores recursos en lograr una guitarra barata y buena. por eso no se fue por las ramas (por ejemplo al no incluir filetes en los bordes de la tapa). Muy bonita

El recubrimiento de guitarra no es fuerte, tarde o temprano se reaya (inevitable).
Es ultraliviana (al igual que las guitarras espa?olas, esa es una se?al buena,! en cuanto a sonido, ya que la vibracion se produce mas rapidamente).
La funcion del filete, ademas de decoracion, tiene que ver con proteccion de eventuales rajaduras por golpe, he ahi un punto encontra. Hasta ahora no he tenido problemas pero rezo. Espero equivocarme.

Martin funciona solo con Estados Unidos, el resto del mundo para Martin, parece, no existe.

No le pongo 10 poerque es posible que haya guitarras mejores, pero dudo que a precios que vayan por debajop de los U$ 2500.

i don't know much in the way of specs for this guitar, honestly, i don't care all that much. it's an acoustic guitar, there's not that much to it anyhow. some of the more important stuff: it has a satin finish, which means it will open up much faster than a guitar with nitro or poly finishes; it comes with cheap, plastic nut, saddle, and end pins--i've changed all of these for ivory; and it is solid mahogany, mine looks to be one-piece back, two piece sides, and one-piece top. the guitar should come with a case if you buy it from a decent dealer. it doesn't come with an onboard pickup, which, depending on whether you need one or not, may or may not matter. for me, since i play in situations that would benefit from having a plugin, the fact that it didn't come from the factory with a pickup is a negative mark. oh yeah, and the guitar is really fragile--more on that later.

my d-15 holds its own in all of my jams. one of my mates plays a taylor, one has three seagulls, and another bloke i play with regularly plays an alvarez-yairi. of course i'm biased, but i think my d-15 sounds better than all of them. it was a pleasant sounding guitar when i bought it, but after the modifications (as stated, ivory pins, saddle, and nut) it became a full-blown tone cannon. it has opened up an incredible amount since i bought it: the bass, which was originally a tad flabby to my ears, has sharpened and become more defined, while the mids have become more prevalent, standing out more than before. the chap who fixed me up with the ivory pieces loved the guitar and offered to buy it from me. not a chance! the guitar almost has an overdriven tone to it. this is perfect acoustic guitar tone--if i give it anything but 10 for sound, i'm going to have trouble sleeping.

factory setup was all right, but it had medium strings on it--i think martin ships there guitars with lights, but it was restrung at the shop. anyway, medium strings are too heavy for me (i'm used to my gibson electrics), so i had to have it setup again for lights (.10). the finish is a thing--mine has oil spots all around the soundhole and on the top where my arm rests while i play. you can scrub them off if you have a few days to spare, but they'll return. really, there's no point. plus, i think it gives it a neat look--the sign of a well loved instrument. the look of the mahogany with the red pickguard is amazing. uber-mojo, my friends.

as i stated earlier, the guitar is fairly fragile--you can dent the wood by rubbing your fingernail over it. my headstock has rings around the tuning pegs where my thumbnail has rubbed while tuning. however, martin build durable guitars, and mine has been through all kinds of crap (burned with cigarettes, dropped a 4lb pc speaker on it, liquor spilled on it, fallen off its stand, etc), and it's still a rock. i have absolutely no problem gigging without a backup, it's never failed me, and i doubt it ever will. these are like those guild guitars from the 70s you seen in stores all of the time (d25 i believe), these guitars are beasts. these will be around for a long time.

never dealt with them. the shop i got mine from is run by incompetent assholes, though, so i drive a bit to have mine setup and such. locally, customer support isn't that great, but i have no clue about martin themselves.

i have been playing for almost five years. i currently own this d-15 and a gibson sg standard. in the past, i've owned *deep breath* two fender american telecasters, a fernandes strat copy, a fernandes palisade acoustic, four fender american stratocasters, a gibson les paul studio, two ibanez acoustics, peavey and crate practice amps, a fender hot rod deville, a mesa boogie dual rectifier, a mesa boogie rect-o-verb, a marshall jcm800, and probably some other junk i'm forgetting. i was always more into playing electric guitar before, but, now that i've found my acoustic sound, that has changed. i've owned this guitar for almost two years (the longest i've ever owned a guitar), and i don't think i will ever sell it. if you're interested in this guitar at all, i highly recommend taking the plunge. it's not terribly expensive, and it's an incredible investment--just think, the more you play this guitar, the better it's going to sound. that statement is truer of this guitar than any other i've played due to the satin finish, bracing pattern, and tonal characteristics of mahogany. this guitar will become your ally for life. again, i'd feel guilty if i gave this prize anything less than a perfect score.

The other 100+ reviews will give you the specs. I purchased this guitar in 1999 - a few months after they were first put on the market. I saw and heard a guy playing it at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. I loved the "old"look and feel of the guitar so I picked one up at Guitar Center soon after. Simple appointments -- If it doesn't make the guitar sound better then I don't need it. I love the smell of this guitar, but I'm careful not to let anyone catch me with my nose in the soundhole

The sound has opened up over the years. It took a while though - the sound was quite restricted at first. The guitar is mid heavy, slightly brittle in the treble. But when you throw this puppy into DADGAD it is absolutely amazing. The deep celtic droan is simply not acheivable with my Norman B20's nor my Taylor 314ce. The D15 also shines in open G (sounds great with a slide)or open Dm. If your looking for an ethereal "Nick Drake type" sound this is a great choice. Of course it's not as bright sounding as Spruce -- I was looking for something that sounded unique.

I've come full circle with the set-up. Action was medium/high at first, so I initially sanded down the original saddle. I eventually added a bone saddle and nut. But the bone nut screwed up the tone a bit -- there was a bit of a shrill treble. I put the original nut back on and kept the bone saddle -- original nut tamed the shrill and bone saddle added a touch of definition to the upper mids. The finish confuses me though. Satin finish looked nice at first, but there's been a strange change since 1999 (aside from the shinny neck and arm areas described in other reviews). Difficult to describe, but the sound board has developed some discolorations around the sound hole and near the pick guard. but it doesn't affect the sound so no big deal to me. Hardware is still solid

A mysterious crack appeared in the back of the D15 a couple years after I bought it. Humidity was normal, and I didn't wack it against anything. The crack went all the way through to the inside of the guitar and had to be tacked and glued to stabilize it. It was on one side of the lower bout in a non-structural area. Interestingly, I saw a Martin all mahogany acoustic bass (modeled after the D15) a few weeks later with a crack in the same location. Anyway, there have been no further cracks since then, but I hesitate to play out with it as I consider it to be somewhat fragile. So much for resale value.

Never really dealt with the company directly. My warranty was long expired and I couldn't really explain how the crack occurred so i didn't bother contacting them.

I do enjoy this guitar. Throw a good condenser mic in front of it and it's great for recording, especially in drop tunings. Since adding a Fishman Ellipse Blend with Matrix transducer, I've really come to love the amplified sound as well. I've been playing for 8 years and although I have a day job, I do the coffee shop singer/songwriter thing frequently. I own a Taylor 314ce (expression system) as my main recording/performing guitar, a Seagull Grand Auditorium for travelling, and two Norman B20's with fishman prefix (wonderful guitars for the price). I do have a zen bond with this guitar and it would be thoroughly missed if lost. It could be sturdier, but if the unique tone would be altered as a result, then it wouldn't be worth it.

I already rated this guitar.. see john cotter below. You know the features. Really what more features would be nice.... an elecronic system... a cut out...

Compared to my new guitar Taylor 410 RCE it sounds like crap. But its better than most foreign made guitars. After you play a guitar with a sitka spruce top you can tell that this d15 is missing something crucial to its tone. If you play with some string that brighten up the sound then it is ok. Elixers are bright. It does have a unique sound... and if any salesman ever says that to you in a music store then it probably means that the guitar doesn't sound good.

The action AINT BAD... lower it yourself. The finish.... IS BAD.. Either get a guitar with a glossed top or never play this guitar without long sleeves. You body-oil will leave a "natural" finish where your arm sits and rubs. The neck has got that same natural hand oil finish to it now.. and really slows down my playing. Keep your hands clean.

Its incredibly fragile. Be extra careful with it. Wash your hands before playing.. Don't let them get sweaty.

Never had to do cust support. But chuck levin's is the best cheapest music store ever.

i've been playing for about 7 years now. I also own a taylor 410RCE which blows the martin away. I would have bought a taylor big baby, if they existed at the time i bought this. i wish it had a cut out and a electric system.. If you ever think you are going to maybe one day "play out" get a guitar with a electric system.

The D-15 is a plain guitar. I have the standard version. It happened to be on sale at Mars, and I had about a $500-600 spending limit. By itself, I thought the guitar was an excellent deal for the price.

They gave me a hardshell case with the guitar, which made it an even better deal.

I had previously owned a Fender acoustic which was very bright. I like the warm sound, and I've wanted a Martin or Gibson. I don't play well enough to justify spending $1000+ on a guitar. When I played the D-15, I was amazed at the full, even mellow sound. It's not a particularly loud guitar, which is fine by me, but I was amazed--I thought it sounded better than many of the more expensive Gibson, Martin, and Taylor guitars in the room. I thought the bottom was clear and clean while the highs weren't too bright but still good. Three years later, that warmth has developed.

The action was very good and comfortable (I have small-medium size hands.) It looked good. I loved the satin finish, plus I love the mahogany grain. It's a uniform look, but it stands out.

The one adjustment that I made was a shorter saddle. I dropped the action by about 1/16". I bought the saddle from the Martin online store (though I don't see them there anymore). I thought I might have to adjust it by hand, but one of the standard saddles was perfect. The action got even better.

When I first saw this guitar, the knock on it was that it's not durable, especially for live playing. I'm one of those home players, so I can't speak to its road durability, but I think the reason this guitar got that knock was that it's very light. It probably *feels* fragile. But it's a well constructed guitar.

The finish is pretty durable, though I have rubbed it shiny on the neck and part of the body. To keep the satin finish, you'll need to wipe it after you play.

I've had no dealings with support.

If something happened to this guitar (knock on wood), I'd buy another one without hesitation. While I have owned some pretty crappy acoustics in my life, I have had several guitar players for friends, and I've played theirs. Outside of a 1939 Gibson, I wouldn't trade this D-15 for any of them. One friend, a professional guitarist, played and really liked it as well. Some might not like that it doesn't project as loudly as other guitars, but the action and the full, warm sound is what I like most.

It was a pretty decent for features. Pretty standard but it was a solid-top. I like the mahogony wood on the top. Gives the guitar a little zing.

WoW, how can i even explain this. The sound is incredible. I love the fullness of it, it just seems almost perfect, I have no dislikes about the guitar.

The guitar i got had nothing wrong with the action, fit or finish. It all looked pretty much perfect for this catagory

I think this guitar will last for quite a while. All though mahogony wood is rather soft, that is the only thing i worry about. But so far it has served me well in it's life time

Haven't delt with these folks.

I got it 525 used with a case. The case looks perfect and the guitar doesn't look like it was touched. Well this guitar is great. Everytime i play it i feel like i can make twice as good music as usual. This guitar brings out all the goodness about martin guitars. This is probably the best sounding guitar for under 1500-2000$ on the market. I love the sound and i love the orginality of the mahogony wood. If you find this guitar, pick it up. I'm almost positive it will please anyone.

2002 Made in the USA. Non-cutaway Solid top, sides, back made of mahogany with satin finish. Very plush case included. Rosewood fretboard and headstock overlay. Nice tuning machines, seem to stay in tune very well. Dealer threw in two new sets of strings, leather deluxe martin strap, martin hat, t-shirt, martin picks, etc. Needless to say he is a martin fan.

I bought the guitar to try my hand at bluegrass. I play mostly acoustic rock with the occasional blues. I found that this thing just projects more than any other acoustic in this price range. The sound seems a little brighter than most taylors or seagulls i tried. The guys i've started playing bluegrass with love it. It stands out among other acoustics with it's own sound, which adds a variety to a band with three guitars, an acoustic bass, mandolin banjo. We laid down a few tracks of jam sessions, and you can pick this thing out in every song. There is no mistaking the brightness and projection of this guitar. Not noisy at all, no fret buzz.

This is where this guitar really stands out. In this price range a guitar should be flawless. My D-15 didn't fall short in this category. I love the neck feel and action. As soon as I played it i was amazed at how well it fretted. The frets were dressed perfectly, as are the fret ends. I love the satin finish, though i know some dilike it. The finish will hold up well, it's not as thin as people think. It is a workhorse, not a showcase instrument. But out of every acoustic guitar i've ever played, this one is has the best feel. The mahogany body also stands out in a crowd, to most people outside of the guitar community acoustic guitars pretty much look the same. I've had many comments on how beautiful this thing was. Wood is bookmatched perfectly. Hardware is still shiny, and tight. I fell in love with it after playing straight out of the case and tuned up. But when i got it home and put a new set of Martin strings on, it just came alive.

The guitar has stood up well to live playing, with no backup. I take care of my stuff, it stays in it's case when not in use, and has never seen a guitar stand. Hardware seems very good and is holding up well with no corrosion. Very dependable and reliable, has never let me down.

I have contacted Martin with a few questions about care of my fine acoustic instrument (humidity, cleaning, storage, etc.) They returned my calls or e-mails immediately, next day at the latest. They didn't refer me to my dealer, instead they took the time to help me themselves. Martin has a good warranty, and will back it up if anything ever goes wrong.

I love this guitar. It is a pleasure to play and sounds wonderful. I've owned other acoustics (epiphone, alvarez, ovation and a yamaha). None have compared to this one. If stolen i would, go straight to the dealer and pick out another one. I couldn't believe i bought a non-laminated solid wood, mahogany guitar for under $700. This is one of the best deals around. It will outlast me. Hats off to Martin for such a fine instrument

C'est une guitare tout en acajou massif,pas plaquee ni laminee.Le verni naturel mat lui donne un air tres austere mais apres tout,c'est son son qui nous ravira.
La finition matte deviendra satinee puis brillante au manche et a d'autres endroits carresses par nos mains.
L'etui que j'ai recu cette fois ci,parce que c'est ma seconde D15(en effet,j'ai regrette d'avoir revendu ma premiere voulant acheter une 016NY de 1963) est le 600,en plastique tres resistant pour le voyage e avion et plus legere que les 500 et 400.

il suffit de tapoter des doigts sur la table pour comprendre le son que cette guitare va sortir.tous les registres sont a mon gout PARFAITS! Et que l'on joue avec plectre comme aux doigts...un regal!!! J'ai essaye des Santa Cruz,Collings et autres Martins plus cheres pouvant me permettre ces budgets mais aucune ne me donnerent le son de la D15(chacun son truc!).Les basses sont enormes et la caisse vibre si bien contre la poitrine de l'utilisateur!quant aux medium et aigues,le tout s'harmonise tres bien,parfaite balance naturelle!

La guitare etait bien reglee lors de l'achat.Tout en acajou a l'exception de la touche et du chevalet en palissandre indien et les barrages en epicea.J'ai eu l'occasion de voir des photos de la D15 avec du Palissandre sur la face de la tete,ce n'est pas le cas de la mienne.Je n'attend que les heures a jouer dessus afin de rendre le manche tout poli,tout brillant par le passage de la main.

le bouton pour sangle n'etait pas place en vue de placer plus facilement un micro si necessaire. Sans filets sur les cotes de la table,il va falloir etre prudent et ne pas la cogner,sinon c'est le bois qui prendra...donc prudence!!!
Je dois dire que Martin a eu beaucoup de franchise en sortant cette guitare et en offrant le meilleu de la guitare folk a ce prix.En effet,on ne paye pas les fioritures tres couteuses.Cependant,J'adresse aux luthiers de la marque mon plus grand respect a la vue des splendeurs du Custom Shop!!!

la garantie est a vie...a vie...a vie...tant que l'on traite bien sa guitare et que l'on laisse un luthier professionnel la regler si besoin.

J'ai quelques guitare dont 3 Martin:D15,O16NY et Backpaker.
C'est ma 2eme D15 et si c'etait a refaire,encore une D15.
Je cois que resumer la D15 est difficile et que j'ai essaye d'exprimer ma plus grande satisfaction a tous les chapitres de ce rapport. LA D15 N'EST PAS UNE GUITARE COMME LES AUTRES ET CELA SE VOIT TOUT DE SUITE,LA D15 N'EST PAS UNE GUITARE COMME LES AUTRES ET CELA S'ENTEND ET SE SENT TOUT DE SUITE EGALEMENT!!! ESSAYEZ LA!!!!!

All solid wood dread. The case is first class. Quality construction.

I have compared this guitar to all the top end guitars. Can't beat it
with anything under 2 grand. I find the Taylor sound to be thin at any price. Gibsons don't have the dynamics of a Martin. After tweeking
it a bit it became superb. Everything an acoustic should be. I think that some may not hear it because they are half deaf from loud music.
A common problem.

No flaws. All guitars need setup to suit different styles of play.
Anyone whining about the action or string buzz should learn how to take care of thier guitar or find someone that knows. If there is a REAL flaw with the guitar, Martin has the best warranty in the world.
MAKE THEM HONOR IT. My only criticism is the rosett, better to have left it off. I put a bone saddle and rosewood pins on it. I like Martin SP 80/20 extra-lights. They give it more brightness.

This guitar was built for the sound. Heavey construction dulls the sound. Heavy finishes dull the sound. The finsh is not very durable
it scratches fairly easyly. So be careful,thats all. The reason that seagull has a good sound for it's price is mostly because of the thin finish. If you want durable the sound will suffer. On mine I am thining down the finish by rubbing it down with 0-0-0-0 steel wool, just the way they do it with fine furniture.

Lifetime warranty.I haven't needed to deal with them yet.

I have been playing for 30yrs. All kinds of acoustic music. I own a dozen guitars. From an old Yamaha FG-180 to an old Guild D-212. Old is better. This is the first new guitar I have ever owned. It sounded old and it felt special in my hands when I played it. I was looking for an old one when I saw it, and it called to me. Since I bought it three yrs ago, the price has risen by 25% The word has got around
I picked this one out of thirty other D-15s. Look for straight grain on all sides with no checks. I saw a lot of them with these little flaws in the grain. Maybe I got a one in a thousand because I knew what to look for. I would not trade it for a D-28 or anything less than a OOO-28.

There is just nothing special about this guitar- It's a solid wood guitar with no amentities. Actually a bit boring for the price paid. You can read the other reviews for the generic who what where why and when.

It sounds much less full than my other guitars, almost seems muted. It also has a very narrow neck- which makes it hard to bend the high e string (not good.)

The orginal action was way to high- I had to get it adjusted by one of Martin's incompetent associates. The endpin was a joke, so I had a Martin Associate install a custom endpin- in the process of this the finish of the guitar was damaged and I was without the guitar for two months while the martin rep did nothing.

Due to the muted sound of this guitar I would not use it live without a backup. The eye catching mahogony is an excellent addition to a multi-guitared band. I'm not sure if the finish will last on this guitar- my other martins have the same Satin finish and they have become quite unappealing over time.

I've dealt with this company many times, which is not a good sign. They are not helpful, and could careless about customer loyalty. The warranty is lifetime (doesn't include finish issues - second hand martins)- but dealing with customer service and repair reps is a waste of time. Your better off buying a new guitar each time you have an issue. Worst customer service ever!

I've been playing for 7 years, and have been through about that many guitars. Unfourtunately I have invested in mulitiple Martin's, but now that I have experienced their customer service I will not buy any more Martins. I like the guitar- but every time I pick it up I think about the shoddy customer and repair service I have gotten.

2003 D15 made in nazareth pa. body,soundboard, neck made of solid mahogany(satin finish). neck, headplate and bridge made of indian rosewood. No electronics. hardshell 345 case included.

Sounds good if flat picked(not strummed)My arsenal of songs are probably 50/50(strummed/flat picked) Tight bass sounds good. Midrange is a little overpowering. Airy trebles(particular of mahogany) not a plus for me. I prefer fuller trebles. "A" sting has an intonation problem at upper registers.

Action was standard martin med/high. Some wood pieces left inside body. Strap lock hole wasn't drilled exactly straight but no biggie.

This guitar will probably last a lifetime if halfway taken care of. Tuners seem decent. I probably wouldn't want to use it on a gig(period.) without a back up but I'm just a cautious person.

Lifetime warranty always a plus! Haven't had to deal with martin directly but did have the action adjusted and strap lock installed with martin approved person and she was very nice and supportive and answered any questions that I had

Been playing for about 10 years. I also own a washburn acoustic. I'm quite please with the guitar considering its price. If it were lost or stolen I probably wouldn't buy another one only because i'm ready to move up to a more expensive piece. I do love the punchiness of it's sound though. Really kicks ass with some pieces of music. The main thing I don't like about it is it's airy, thin trebles but what do you expect with a mahogany sound board? I compared it with some takamines, seagulls and a some tacomas, but it came down to what i was willing to fork over (money).

I think mine was made in 2003.As far as design goes this is a pretty no frills guitar.No fancy inlays,side binding,decorated back,no fancy headstock. This guitar in appearance is very plain.The mahogany wood is dark and gives this guitar a somewhat uniques appearance.The fingerboard is average size.Not extra wide like some steel strings.The whole guitar is made of solid Mahogany. No electronics.

This is where Martin spent the money on the sound,not decoration. The sound is loud a powerful. Sounds excellent strummed,warm sound. This guitar can hold it's own with more expensive Martins.This guitar is loud! The bass is deep and full. The balance of the bass is great it's deep,but not dead. The sound is amazing,and to think the sound is suppose to get better over time!

Very playable guitar. Action is not so low that you get buzz,but no so high that is causes you to be uncomfortable playing it. Set up is very good,not as low as a Taylor, but comfortable none the less. The thin neck on this guitar makes this guitar easier to play also.

This guitar seems very sturdy. You can just look at it and tell someone took there time of this one. It came with a very nice hardshell case will plush interior. This is what I like about Martin,no matter what model you buy they will throw in a hardshell case.Both of the ones at guitar center had no strap button. Another feature that I like about this guitar is that it seem to be noticeable lighter than a lot of acoustics,which improves playablity.

Came with a limited lifetime warranty. I haven't had to deal with customer service yet.

If you want Martin Tone and playability without all the cosmetic frills this guitar is for you.The Tone of this guitar sounds just as good as the more expensive Martins and the playbility is there also. In my opinion If this guitar was given a lot of features to make it more attractive there is no way you could get this guitar for under $1,000. Many people because of the x series Martins that a Martin under a thousand just can't compete,not the case here. There is a key difference between this guitar and the ones in the X series. This guitar is made of all solid wood.There is not an ounce of laminate or plywood on this guitar! To me that's why the sound is as good as it is. This guitar is a great value and will proabably last for many years.

I'm reviewing a 2003 Martin D-15. It has a non-cutaway dreadnought body, the top, back, and sides of which are made of solid mahogany. The neck is also made of mahogany, and the neck and headstock overlay are of rosewood, as is the bridge. I'm not quite sure of the scale length, since I do not have the spec sheet at hand. The neck is somewhat small for a Martin, but is definitely more substantial than that of a Taylor. The guitar came in a very plush case and has no electronics. All-in-all, I wouldn't say it is feature-laden, but that is fine with me. I value simplicity.

I play many different styles (rock, jazz, blues, classical), and the D-15 handles them all very well with a warm tone and strong, enveloping projection.

I tried several different guitars in my search for a first acoustic, and while I did find some that played (Taylor) or looked (Ovation) slightly better, none (in my price range, at least) could even come close to the D-15's amazingly rich tone. This guitar captures all of your single note or chord passages with a sound that, while being distinctly Martin, is also unique. However, because of this warm tone, some low register riffs, especially on detuned strings, lose a bit of clarity, hence, my less than perfect rating.

My D-15 already has several scratches, which I attribute to the thin, satin finish and the wood of the body. Mahogany is a fairly soft wood. This is probably the biggest factor in the uniquely dark tone of the guitar, but it also lends itself more easily to blemishes.

The Martin factory set-up, I believe, was a bit sub-par. The action was a little high for me, and there is a dead spot at the E postion at the seventh fret. This could probably be fixed by a slight truss-rod adjustment of some fret filing, but I would hope that a company as reputable as Martin would see to these issues before the guitar left the factory.

Another qualm I had with the factory set-up was the strings that were on the guitar when I received it. At first, I thought the strings were just dead from being played in the music store (Guitar Center), and I promptly replaced them with a new set of Elixir's. I have since re-strung the guitar with another set of Martin strings (80/20 Phosphor Bronze SP, I believe). These, too, seemed dull and lifeless within a week. As I am new to the realm of acoustic guitars, I haven't really any idea as to what string I should buy. I enjoyed the tone of the Elixir's for a few weeks, but they really didn't seem to be worth the extra money. If anyone has any suggestions, please e-mail me.

As I mentioned above, mahogany isn't very dense and susceptible to more scratches and dents than, say, maple is. However, I still believe that proper care, this Martin could withstand the rigors of the road for many years. As of yet, I havevn't been able to test this theory, but I will able to do so soon enough. However, I trust that my Martin shall be able to make it through the night, as long as I can resist the urge of doing my Hendrix impression.

I have never dealt with Martin's Customer Support, but I must say that Guitar Center's service is less than satisfactory. Most of the staff at my local branch have a condescending, "holier than thou" attitude. Furthermore, when my mother went to buy the D-15, the case they first tried to include was obviously used. That is just unacceptable. This rating is supposed to be for Martin's customer support, though, so I will give no score.

Before I received this guitar as a Christmas gift in 2003, I had been playing electric guitar (ESP M-50 through a Dunlop Cry-Baby wah into a Randall RG-75 solid state combo) for 3 years. That may not seem like much experience, but I have practiced, taught, and gigged extensively in that time. Through gigging, I have come to cherish simple, reliable gear, mostly because I haven't the patience for anything else, and I believe that the best tone comes from the least complicated instruments (and signal paths). The Martin D-15 is a great example of this. Though it doesn't have many features, the features it does have are of superior quality and add significantly to the instrument's tone.

If this instrument were lost or stolen, I would probably buy it again. The only instrumet I would consider (and only fleetingly, since it's more the twice the price of the D-15) is the Gibson J-45 Rosewood. However, I would play the instrument before I actually bought it this time. As I wrote earlier, this guitar was a Christmas gift, and I think that had actually been able to choose which D-15 to buy, I could have avoided my set-up problems. I have played at least two other D-15's, and neither one of them had these problems. Mine seems to be some type of anomaly.

Overall, however, this guitar, despite its flaws, is a fine instrument, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a simple, reliable acoustic with a unique, though still fantastic, tone.

All mahogany plain jane dreadnaught--made in America for those who are interested. Satin finish, holds its tune, excellent tuners. Came with a HSC. It's features befit its price and purpose.

I play an eclectic variety of gospel, country, folk and bluegrass. This guitar does well on all. It has a full mellow tone, not too bassy and not too brassy. It has the usual Martin set-up, but the neck is more comfortale. I can rock back in my recliner and just enjoy the experience of playing. It is a great vocal companion. I first heard a young man wandering around playing one at the
Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas several years ago and knew I needed one of my own!

It is a solid wood Martin guitar. What else can I say? I have come to like the satin finishes because the do crack with age, use or temperature changes. Martin has been putting out some low price HPL junk at a low price, but this is a low cost Martin at its best.

I have had the guitar maybe 3 years and it is as solid as ever---will probably outlast me! I can pick this guitar up after a month of neglect and it will invariably be in tune. It stays in tune without mid-backyard gig re-tuning. Satin finish is imperceptable, but I think the cross-link polymers have shown themselves to be worthy successors to the thick finishes.

I have had no problems, but whenever I have had problems with other Martins, my dealer and Martin have been quick to respond. Martin has a limited lifetime warranty

I have been banging away for almost forty years. I own several Martins--new and old plus a Tacoma RM6, a Blueridge 140 and a 1937 Sears brass resophonic. I would replace the guitar because it fills an important niche in my music. I sold a Baby Taylor because the D15 is a little bigger physically and a lot bigger soundwise.The D-15 is as small as I want a guitar. I rate the guitar very highly, not because it it the finest work of the luther's art, but because it is top-notch at being what it is.

Purchased around 2000 or 1999 (don't remember). All solid mahogany guitar (rosewood bridge and fretboard, or course!), unique to Martin (I haven't seen others). It has a satin finish, no laquer and I heard that it means the guitar will be louder and have a better tone. Came with Martin hard case. Tuners are still shiny, no corrosion/tarnish. I always keep it in the case.
I also installed a Wittman "Mic-In-Tuner", which is a small electronic tuner that hangs inside on the brace and also has a condenser mic output through the strap button. It sounds awesome! Wittman doesn't make these anymore :-(
And I just had a bone nut and bridge saddle professionally installed.
For what this guitar is - a plain acoustic with awesome sound - the features are a 10 - not because there's "tons" of them, but because nothing's missing.

I though I liked the Ovation guitars and the jumbo acoustics. A friend of mine bought the D-15 and I had to have one! The tone was so warm and yet brilliant. It's not too loud, but not quiet. It sounds like $1000 guitars. It actually sounds great with extra-light gauge strings ("tens"), even though some people have told me that "tone will be sacrificed". I just can't play the o.12's! this guitar comes with Martin SP strings, which are all bronzed, including the plain high strings - to resist corrosion. I find that these sound best on this guitar and I always get them. They also last longer.

It was quite well set up, but most guitars will benefit from a professional setup when purchased. The action is excellent and even though there's no cutaway, I can play higher frets with ease. There were no flaws in mine and it's all around very well made. The satin finish eventually becomes "polished" or shiny where it touches your hands, clothing, etc. Very light scratches and dings also begin to accumulate, but it doesn't really affect the look and much less the tone.

Well, it'll probably withstand live playing physically, but not cosmetically. Hardware is good - after 4 years mine is still shiny and tight. Finish will surely wear off eventually. It's not laquered. Can't comment on strap buttons - I had a metal one installed at the neck (doesn't come with one installed, a plastic one is included in the case, I hate them). The other one is replaced with the mic output/strap button. Wouldn't need a backup other than if you break strings (I've never broken strings on mine).

I haven't dealt with them, but my friend's D-15 had the back separated from the sides (from sitting in a basement w/o a case) and I was told at Sam Ash that the Life Time warranty will cover that no problem. You have to have your receipt and warranty papers. Couldn't ask for more!

I've been playing on and off for about 10 years. I used to have tons of electrics and basses and a few acoustics, but now this is my only instrument. No regrets ever about this guitar except that for me even $600 is a lot of money. But that's not really Martin's fault. The already came very low on this one. If I lost it I just couldn't afford to buy one like this. In fact I am selling mine to buy a lower priced "beater" to free up some money. I love the tone, but I'm not a good enough player for that to matter. I don't want to be worried when playing by the campfire. I also like jumbo guitars with cutaway, so that'll be my choice this time. But tone-wise this is still the best guitar I've ever held/played/heard under $1000.
If you like straight dreadnaught guitars (well, even if you don't) you owe it to yourself to find one at a store near you, make sure it has fresh strings, and play it a little and have some else to play it for you.

All mahogany solid wood guitar. Chrome Tuners that do a good job staying in tune. Rating features on this guitar is not really fair. It really does not have many features but at it's price for a well constructed solid wood guitar that is it's best feature.

This guitar to my seems very sad. By this I mean I like to play it when I play some of the more "sad" or "depressing" songs. It is very even and mellow. Good for blues or some of those tear in you beer kinda songs.

The guitar was set up well from the factory. I have had it for over a year and have not changed a thing.

This guitar has been very reliable and durable. For the lack of a better term it has been my "beater" and has held up great.

N/A

This has got to be one of the top guitars on the Market for under $1,000. They usually go from around $500 to $700 dollar range.

This guitar features all solid Mahogany construction with a satin finish, the fretboard and bridge I believe is Rosewood. The look of this guitar is simple and plain but I think this lack frills makes this guitar really unique. This guitar does not get a perfect score however because of the cheap sound hole decal. I would have paid the extra cash for a real one. This guitar also came with a nice case that fits like a glove.

This particular guitar is a cannon. The original owner installed ebony bridge pins and a bone saddle which I think helps its tone and power. Even with pretty dead strings this guitar has a nice rich sound. I also own a Tacoma DM-9 and this guitar has a much more defined tone than the Tacoma (which I also think is a great guitar for the money) Some people have said this guitar isn't loud. My wife from the first time she heard it was blown away with how loud it was. She said it was a little unattractive but the sound could not be beat. I use this guitar to lead children in worship and it works awesome.

This guitar was put together with the quality you would expect from Martin. I have found the build quality to be much better than my Tacoma, but it should be the folks at Martin have been doing this along time. My D-15 has smoother frets than my Tacoma and much better action due impart to the smaller neck diameter.

This guitar will hold up to live playing if you treat it with respect as you should any guitar. The guy before me added a second strap button but I'm not real keen on its location but will leave it as i don't want a hold in my nice guitar. I would never choose to gig without a backup because I break strings quite often.

I've never dealt with them but have heard good things.

I think this guitar is great for the money, I played hundreds of guitars before settling on this one. I really could not justify spending an extra grand on a higher end model. If this guitar was stolen I would be hunt them down like a dog and take it back. If this proved impossible I would by another one just like it. I really can't say enough good things about it.

03, made in Nazareth,Pa. An all wood guitar. This D-15 smells like a dream. Mahogany body, neck, and Martin tuners. No pickup. Nothing real fancy, but that's not why I bought the guitar.

The sales guy was actually pretty cool and threw in a nice Martin 640 case and humidifier for nothing. Not bad...

This is what sold me on this guitar. The tone is really warm, rich, mellow and full. You could really hear (and feel) the strings resonate into the body and out. Beautiful Sound, and best of all, it's going to sound better with age. This guitar has plenty of bass and is meant to be played loud. The sound reminds me a lot of a Guild D-50. I'm a mix of a flatpicker and fingerpicker and suits both styles. I just restrung it with DiAddario EXP 12's. It now sounds more balanced, but with that same punch.

I compaired this guitar to a Taylor 310, 410, 414ce, and Martins DM, D16. I thought this guitar sounded better then all of them. The Taylors sounded to silverly, and lacked that punch.

One important tip, if their is more then one of these guitars hanging around, try them all... Their were two others sitting in the room that sounded a bit dull. Mine was hanging up on the wall and when I played a couple of chords and WOW did it have a voice. It turned heads in the room...

The set up from the factory was great. I think that's the first Martin that actually had low action. Their was no fret buzz. No flaws on the body, neck, or headstock. Setup was perfect for the exception of one thing, the factory strings(Of course, like every guitar I bought. The low E string sounded more like a thud. But that all went away when I changed the strings. Now it's perfect...

Here's where I run into a problem. I doubt that I will subject this guitar to live playing.. I would say that I can depend on it, but this guitar is not built like a tank and I would be afraid that I would break it. I would definatly use it in a studio recording though. The wood isn't as thin as some people say, it's medium.

So far the finish still looks as good as the day I brought it home.

Never dealt with them, and hopefull never will. But it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

I've been playing off and on for about 10 years. This is my first acoustic guitar, and I LOVE IT!!! If it were lost of stolen, I would definatly buy another one, if I couldn't find one that didn't sound as good as the one I have now, I would go out and buy a Martin HD-28, D-28, or a Guild D-50. IMO this best acoustic for under $1000, and some over that...

03 made in USA (nazareth PA?)- no real accessories, only 1 strap button (not neccessarily bad) , no bells or whistles, but thats not what you are paying for, simple, but good

Amazing sound, not bright at all, mellow, balanced, martin bass, dark, warmish, very full and present sounding, i like it alot. No amps, no effects, rich and full, great for acoustic, exactly what i was looking for best sounding for price range

Factory set up was perfect, no buzz, no intonation issues, high action, but i like that on acoustic, nothing wrong from the factory

mahagonny is soft, could dent easily, otherwise should last awhile, i will update or report back in year after i have taken this on a few trips or adventures...(so i hear) i dont plan on gigging with this, we dont have acoustic songs, but if i were to gig with it, always have a backup...

N/A

An excellent guitar for the price range, best sound for under 1000 in my opinion, beat out a few used guilds and a taylor in that price range. i would replace this if i lost it right now, but in a while my tastes may change and we will see...perfect sound, comfortable body, neck, i compared it to a used taylor 8 series, 2 used early 80's guilds, a takamine, an ovation, a washburn, an alvarez, a few other martins, and an ibanex

you all know that..some days an ugly bitch and some wery pretty..it is my babe!

The sound is close to perfect..but be aware..my D-15 was not adjusted correctly when receiving it (new with tags and film on the pickguard and so on)...first i wanted to lower the bridge...someone had put a piece of plastic under the Martin bone-bridge??? why?? I removed it right away...the result wery nice and brighter treble. Further I lightened the truss rod just a bit (im sure someone had tried to to tighten it to provide lower string action...i also tested the neck it was too straight), the result, the string action got a little higher, however they felt a lot smoother just like my flamenco guitar, easier to make bends and what is most important no buzzes all over the freetboard. Now that has been adjusted, the sound is perfect, chords and single note. It also has a very nice and balanced bass.

a piece of plastic under the Martin bone-bridge??? I dont beleive that is a factory setting(otherwise my rating should be 3)...everything else is perfect.

A very solid guitar! It will last for years if you dont't mistreat it.

I've been playing for 15 years. I compared the D-15 with some K. Yairi guitars at the same price-level..the D-15 is a winner in playability and sound. I've read all the other reviews, THANK'S it was a greath help.

Most people have listed the basic features, mine is a Custom model so it has tortoise binding on top and back and a real rosette inlay (very simple, though) and open-gear old-style martin tuners.
I bought this one new but with a long crack in the top that was well repaired by the Guitar Factory in Orlando, FL, an Authorized Martin Repair Center.

The sound is astonishing for a guitar in this price category. I never wrote a review but I felt obligated to do it this time. I have 2 other higher-end Martins (D-18 and 000-16C) which I am probably going to sell because the sound of the D-15 is what I was really looking for.
The tone is well balanced, I play with finger mostly, the bass are exceptional but not overwhelming, it sounds good and even everywhere on the fretboard.

I think at Martin they do a very good job, the guitar is well assembled with good materials. The only thing I did not like is the wood used for the top which does not really look like mahogany and is not consistent with the back and sides. But it sounds good.
I can't complain about the finish because the glossy laquer would make it more expensive.

This is definetely a keeper for me, of course I would have liked a glossy finish that protects better over the time but at least I got the binding which helps making the guitar more durable.

They let me register the warranty even if I bought the guitar (new) from an E-bay seller, they are very quick and responsive.
A couple of years ago I enjoyed the factory tour that they give every day for free at 2pm; they even waited for me after I called to tell them I was late (I got a speed ticket right outside Nazareth for driving at 95mph while I was trying to make it there on time)

I own a lot of guitars (too many, actually) and I can say this is the best I got in terms of sound; I could sell almost everything but not this one.

I bought this guitar used for $350 at House of Guitars in Houston. It is about 4 years old and it snatched it up due to its wonderful tone and low price.
Mahogany body, top, and neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, Martin chrome tuners, satin finish, one strap button, standard Martin inlays on the neck, cheap decal rosette, looks like synthetic nut and pins but I think the saddle was replaced with bone, great mahogany smell, came with a Martin case but I got it used and the case around the neck and headstock had started to collapse a little like someone sat on the case or something, the locks on the case rusted, but it is very protective ad holds the guitar very snugly.
Simple features, but they are very well made, which is why it gets an 8.

This guitar sounds great for my style, which is some fingerpicking but mostly soft to hard strumming and pounding away at it. It has strong bass and mids, with a mellow though not quiet treble. It sounds great for any type of acoustic music and I am going to get a Martin pickup in it so I'll have to see how it sounds plugged in later.
There were two buzzes with this guitar when I got it, but I fixed one by tightening the nut on the low E string's tuner, which had come loose and made a horrible racket pretty soon after I bought it. The other one is quiete and is only on the high e and b strings, probably due to the high action and the (I think) non-stock saddle.
I have compared this guitar to many others such as a high-end Taylor and a 1970s Martin HD-28. Both have a brighter sound than this guitar, but I think it has a better tone and it is actually louder than both guitars. I still wonder how a guitar I got for $350 has a better tone than a $2000 Martin HD-28 that is 30 years old, but it does.

The action on this guitar when I bought it was very high, and I havn't had time to change it yet. The finish is satin mostly, but over time the oil from the owner's body made it glossy in places like where the arm rests, on the neck, and other areas. I suspect that this is common of all of these guitars after a while, but it still looks beautiful in a dark, simple way. Where it is glossy though, that mahogany really looks beautiful.

The guitar withstands intense strumming and asks for more with only minor beauty marks on the soundhole. The finish will last and, if anything, will only get more glossy. The strap button is solid, and the tuners are great. It needs binding, as there are already many dents on the underside of the top of the guitar and one small crack on the side.
The wood is very thin, so be careful with it, but it'll stand rough playing.

I bought it used and have not dealt with Martin.

I love the tone and the look of this guitar, though I would change a few things, such as giving it binding, a better rosette, and an ebony fretboard and bridge (the light rosewood really doesn't look as good with the similar colored mahogany).
I chose this guitar because I didn't have much money and so I was looking at many different guitars for under $500. This guitar beat out all the rest by a ton, and I am extremely pleased with it and the deal I got on it. This guitar will probably last me a long time due to its wonderful tone that rivals guitars worth much more.

After 4 1/2 years, the basic features of this guitar are it's simplicity and tone. Sure you can get a guitar with lots of special extras, but why? Solid mahogany- I'm hard pressed to understand why one would pay for more when the feature of importance is sound.

Deep resonant base, singing highs- perfect for finger-style work. The players I've been with have just loved this instrument- it stands up with bluegrass players especially.

The action out of the factory was solid, but four years have taken their toll. Off to the Martin luthier for fresh set-up, and back cam an instrument with a set-up to rival anything.

I would use this instrument anywhere, anytime, for any purpose. The finish wasn't my favorite thing about the guitar, but 000 steel wool took off the satin and gave this D-15 a shiny, oiled appearance. It's just heading into adolescence and is maturing beautifully.

My box came straight from Martin, and the service has been great, although only needed once. Taking this to the luthier was a great experience. Martin doesn't cover set-up, but the luthier lowered the saddle, removed and lowered the bridge, and gave me back a guitar that was better then new. We'll do a neck reset (again covered by Martin) in a few years. Who can ask for more than a lifetime guarantee and a great luthier to do the work?

I've been playing for 30 years now, and this is the finest instrument I've owned. That includes a D-28, a Les Paul, a Telecaster, and a few more. There's nothing like it for the price. I've had Taylors too- great concept, but not a Martin

Mine is a 2002 which I have had for 9 months. The features, already covered below, are very sparse making this the affordable guitar it is. No binding, satin finish. The decal rosette is a disappointment. If any guitar could do without it, its the D-15. The case came with the guitar, (increasing the value--try finding a all wood $500.00 guitar without a case that beats the D-15!) I like the stock Martin tuners. I never see to have to tune this thing. Will probably put in a bone nut and ebony pins at some point.

Sound is the main reason to take a look at this instrument---I played a lot of guitars in the $500.00 price range and nothing came close. I could have gone for a Takamine, Ibanez or a Seagull Artist and gotten a gloss finish, binding and a spruce top but would not have this sound. To my ear, the low priced, unfinished Taylor was no more impressive than the Seagull. Then there's the famous "Martin Sound." Even with stock coated strings it had that soulful boom, but once I got it home and put on a new set of D'Adario phosphor bronze, it was a whole new ballgame. The high end really came out to accompany the already impressive mids. In the 9 months I've had it it has become even more resonate and broadened in tone, like its waking up fom a long sleep. I thought long and hard about the DM, a very good sounding guitar made by Martin out of God knows what, but the D-15 had a richer tone for about the same price. Indeed,I have not played a new D-18 that I thought sounded better.
I'd love to have a good Taylor someday because of that beautiful clear chime, and a Gibson Dove or Hummingbird rivals anything out there INHO, but none of these axes can be had for $500.00. Gibson's Epiphone line doesn't even rate a mention in this discussion. Taylor puts their sound and finish into the higher end instruments, not the low end 110. But Martin has essentially put together every component that makes for the trademark tone of their nicer guitars and left the product plain and unadorned, thus affordable. Hats off to Mr. Martin.

The action moved from moderate to high in the first month or so. I tried a couple of set-ups and finally gave in and let the guitar figure out its own environment. I live in NC and the summer is pretty humid, so it took some time for her to settle in. I finally moved to light strings and had the nut and saddle adjusted. The intonation is perfect, it was always a loud guitar so not much was lost with going to light guage. The action is low up the neck like an ES-335 which makes practicing scales more tolerable.
Though I understood I was buying a satin finish, which really means, "not finished," I was still a little annoyed at the uneven shine that appeared where my right arm rubbed the top. The guitar quickly obtained a lopsided glow, so being the obsessive compulsive I am, I had the whole top surface buffed to even out the gloss. Where the neck and bridge join the top, it was hard to polish but the rest came out evenly. The results were surprisingly beautiful bringing out the mahogany grain. I would encourage anyone interested to ask their luthier about this treatment since it is easy and cheap to do. I know this was an inexpensively finished guitar, but it made me wish Martin had added that one small step to assembly. My next guitar will definitely be a gloss top.

I don't think any guitar withstands being dropped, so I'm a big strap lock guy. With the D-15, attaching the buttons requires some wood work. (The far button is just a peg crammed into the end.)I wasn't crazy about drilling holes in my new guitar but it beats dropping it. This was always a budget purchase so there was no way to go for built in electronics. Therefore, sound hole and bridge PUPS need to be handled with care. (Ya might rip off that cheap rosette!)This guitar is light and fragile. I have already dinged it up a bit, especially where there would be binding. But then I play it all the time, so these are beauty marks. Still, you can go all Willie Nelson on this axe without intending to. I play mainly in settings where they forgive a string change, but a backup is still a must.

Because of finish issues and my own over-zealous consumerism, I have dealt with Martin several times. My main issue was that Martin put into their literature some mention of the deterioration of the satin finish. They basically said, "You get what you pay for and this is still a great deal." I had to agree. I give them high marks for their warranty and customer service, but really, there's no substitution for a good Martin approved luthier and I've got one of the best in my area. All my set up, repair and maintenance work goes through him and if necessary, then to Martin.

I've been playing off and on for several years but recently concentrated my practice with the purchase of this guitar. In retrospect, I could have waited, saved up and gotten a D-18, maybe a Hummingbird or a Taylor, but I doubt it would be worth twice or three times the price. If it were lost I would definitely buy it again. Simply put, I have not found a better value out there. And nothing else has that smokey tone, perfect for folk and blues. She may be a plain jane, but what a beautiful voice!

This is a comparing test between low bedget Martin and Taylor guitars.

I have to admit, I took great interest in comparing the low priced Taylor Guitars to their Martin cousins, in fact the Taylor 110 and 214 to the Martin DM and D15. I had some more expensive Martins and Taylors around for overall comparison, and here is what I came up with:
First let me tell you that Martins are definetly much louder with a boomier bass and a much clearer tone. A DM or D15 should be played loud. It's voice is authoritative, with lots of sustain. The all mahogany body sounds way darker than the spruce top of the DM, which adds a lot of sparkle.
The Taylor 110 or 214 on the other hand are very quick responding guitars with a worn, broken in feeling. They are both not as loud as a Martin, but they do not need to be played loud, they sound good at low levels. They are much more balanced and "silverly" in tone, they tend to sound compressed in a nice way when played hard (wheras the Martin has that much headroom and reacts to dynaimics individually). They are much better to handle but the Martins are manufactured better, the Taylors feel grainy in no negative way.
I myself do like both the Martin and the Taylor sound. Note: More expensive Martins are not neccesserily better sounding ones (even the "cheap ones" carry that warm, boomy Martin trademark sound), more expensive Taylors on the other hand are defintely better sounding that their low budget cousins. I came out of this test of mine with both the Martin D15 and the Taylor 214 - they are the affordable best of both worlds in my opionion.
Another hint: I had two of each guitar (two D15, two 214, etc.), the Martins of one kind sound very much the same, the Taylors quite different, so try some if your store has more than one!

see above

Everyone else has already told you about the features. The important thing is the solid mahogany top, back, and sides. Rosewood fretboard, bridge, and headplate. Satin finish, very nice and plain. Comes with a very nice hardshell case with a plush inside.

Oh, many people have mentioned the smell of the guitar. It is great!

I give it a 9 because even though it has very few features, they are mostly top notch.

The mahogany gives it a very mellow, warm sound that is perfect. If you like a brighter, jangly tone, get a Taylor. I like to use this guitar for acoustic folk, rock, and blues. It sounds better flatpicked than fingerpicked.

The store I bought this from tuned it way down (2 steps), so I thought the action was a lot lower than it really was. That said, it didn't really bother me. I'm used to playing with high action. Good bookmatching, no flaws in fretwork or bracing that I can tell.

I have been playing this guitar at home every day for the last 3 months, and it has already picked up a ding or two from my clumsiness. The finish is thin, but I like how it shines up to a gloss. That's already happening on the neck. The strap button is not even glued in. The guitar has a hole in the bottom, and the clerk pushed it in. I have not used it with a strap due to my fear of the button coming loose and dropping it. I don't play out.

No contact with Martin other than a letter when I sent in my registration. American Music offers free setups, so I may take them up on that offer later. They are a very cool store, with friendly salespeople who were willing to cut a deal.

This is the best guitar I currently own. If it were stolen, I would definitely buy another one just like it. One thing: the stock strings (Martin SP Lights, I think) suck. They dulled within a month of playing. The other thing I don't like about it is the decal rosette, which looks ugly. I would've preferred just no rosette at all. No frills baby!

I love the "legendary Martin tone (tm)", solid wood for an unbeatable price. I had originally wanted to buy something for around $300-400, like a Seagull or Ibanez, but this guitar spoke to me and convinced me to open my wallet.

solid mahogany nothing fancy

This guitar has a nice warm,crisp woody sound.I play country blues,rock folk.This is a very quite guitar much quiter than my gibson hummingbird.I use this guitar mainly for writing songs and when i want to play late at night and not wake up my wife and daughter-it is a very quit guitar but has a rich sound

action was high but lowered it to my liking.No flaws at all martin makes great guitars

it is very light and must be treated with care.I could see how you could easily hit this against a coffee table and knock a hole right thru it.I use my gibson hummingbird when i play out.But i'm shure with the proper pick up it would sound just fine.

I have been playing for over 25 years.I own a gibson hummingbird,taylor 514ce,gibson sg,rickenbacker 620,vox ac30tb
fender acoustisonic sfx,fender bassman amp.If it were stolen id probably buy another.Ilove the sound of this guitar,i bought this
as my campfire guitar.I'm to paronoid to take my gibson anywhere except a gig and this martin is the perfect take it anywhere guitar
and not have a heart attack if it were destroyed guitar.It is one of the best sounding under $1000 guitars i have played.Also check out the new taylor 214 it has a great sound also but i prefered the d-15
melower sound

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.

N/A

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.

N/A

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.

Obviously it would be redundant to say this guitar has limited features but what IS there is the abilty to play very warm acoustic tones thanks to the solid mahogany construction. I've had my Martin only a short time, but I have been playing for a long time and beleive me this guitar is WELL worth the money because of the U.S.A craftsmanship. I paid $589.00 and I think that's not too bad for a tone that rivals guitars that cost hundreds more. It comes with a nice case. It has a very plain rosette and a delicate satin finish which if you've never played is very smooth and fragile feeling not at all like laquer. If you don't like simple, traditional, warm, light and fragile guitars, then steer clear of this one.

I think this guitar would be great for anything you want to express accoustically with one exception. The sound is very warm, and when tuned to standard 440 cycle concert pitch, it vibrates and rings out beautifully, but, when tuned below standard as is very common in some music, the bass string sound is way too warm (more like a thud) and the projection is diminished greatly. So for me this guitar is best suited for standard tuning. I think the guitar is better suited for country overall but, there are no rules so let your ear guide you.

If all the D-15's are set up like mine, you won't be dissapointed if you like the action at sort of a middle ground, not too high or low. I could find no string buzz and the intonation is that of a higher end instrument. The fretboard is rosewood with a mahogany neck and plays well. The martin tuners are very smooth and worthy of the instrument and are kinda small. The finish is satin and for me, smooth and comfortable. It is a less durable finish than laquer and is not at all a flashy guitar. I can't find a seam for the bookmatching but as I understand it, it's a solid top as well as back and sides.

The guitar should survive live playing if you're not Jimi Hendrix but I would advise a little common sense caution since the barely protected satin finished mahogany is somewhat soft and dings with a minimum of effort. The tuners should last a lifetime of normal use. The guitar only comes with one plastic(or simalar material)strap button so if you are considering a strap, then consider your options. My solution was to install a metal strap button at the base of the neck like is commonly done with accoustic guitars, but consider placement carefully as not to make unnecessary holes. If you're inexpierenced with this, please let a pro do it so you won't ruin your guitar. I think you can depend on this guitar, but if dropped, it would be ruined. If you can help it, never gig with just one guitar no matter what kind it is. If you can have only one guitar then shop around and weigh price v/s construction v/s sound v/s playability. Just remember this guitar is not built like a tank.

I have never dealt with them but a lifetime warranty sounds good if they honor it. I will say that Sam Ash Music where I bought my Martin in Madison Tennessee have poor salesmen and are very rude. The only time they are nice is when they try to push an extended warranty on you as to make themselves a commission. They have a good selection and good prices but they seemed rather pouty when I requested a price match that they did honor. I will only shop there if the price is right and can't find it at that price anywhere else.

I have been playing for 19 years and I really like a lot of things about this guitar which I hope I have outlined in my review. I would buy this guitar again if it were stolen. The only thing I wish this guitar had was a nice straplock system so you could move around in a strap better without fear of dropping it. I think if you're ready to step up to a solid top acoustic, then this guitar is a fairly decent value and I don't think anyone will be able to tell by the sound that you paid under $1000.00 for it. I compared many guitars for under $1000.00 at Sam Ash and this one was the winner.

its beautiful. made in PA usa. solid mohogany

it has a great bright, natural wood tone. Sounds great with elixers. Is great for picking with a pick and strumming.

The action is perfect. no finish which gives it its bright and natural open tone.

i wish the guitar was a little more durable. The wood seems so fragile because it is thin. and you gotta be careful not to scratch it

Ive been playing for 6 years and got my martin about 4 years ago. well maybe 4 1/2. I was wanting to buy a guitar for my birthday amd i went to chuck levins and loked through the window at the acoustic room and i saw this one guitar that just stood out amoung all the others becasue of its dark face. And i said man that one is cool. So i asked the guy if they had any sales on their guitars and guess hich one he told me they had a sale on. MARTIN D15!!!!!! I couldnt believe it. So i saved up all my money ($530) and my birthday money and bought it. I noticed how playing it immediately improved my skill. So many people told me how they liked it too but then.... on the 2nd saddest day of my life, this guy wanted to play it so i said "ummm ok" and he picked it up by the strap and the strap came off so the guitar fell to the hard floor and BROKE! it was like seeing your own bone sticking out of your arm. so the guy was kinda loaded so he bought me a new one for $550. The new one sounds just the same. but he murdered my sentiment with the old one. what an idiot, never pick up a guitar by its strap alone!!!!!!!!

2002 Martin D-15, hand constructed in Nazareth, PA. All solid Mahogany construction. No electronics. Satin finish. Dreadnaught style body. Chrome tuners. Perfect neck. Comes with hard case also.

Though this guitar seems to be lacking in the "features" aspect, I assure you that it needs no features. It is a great acoustic with an old school feel. Very plain, and it is the plainness that makes it stand out among the acoustics on the market today.

Sound is great for my style: Folk (Dylan, Drake, Cash, Jurado), Praise and Worship, and just rocking out. Depending on where you strum or pick, the sound is perfect for any style.

Thanks to the solid Mahogany construction, the whole guitar vibrates when you play it. You can actually feel the sound in your stomach. In a bathroom or stairwell... look out!

Upon buying, I played guitars in the similar and higher price ranges (Taylor 310, 410, 420, and 510; Martin DX, D1, D16, and D18; Gibson J45; Plenty of Takamines, Alvarezes, and Fenders (Blech!!!)), but nothing compared to the sound of the Martin D15.

I think that the D15s are not as popular as they should be because the 15 series is not as well known as the 18s and 28s are. However, I promise on my life that the D15 sounds just as good or even better.

Action came from the factory perfectly. The top and back are so perfectly bookmatched that I cannot see the seam at all... honestly. No defects at all--believe me, I have scowled this thing over countless times. No glue in sight. Grain is so perfect and consistent that I had to research the guitar to make sure that it was real wood (it is real wood).

This is the same guitar that I lusted over for weeks. I fell in love with it hanging on the wall there and ended up taking it home one day. I seriously had dreams about this guitar.

As a side note, as with all satin finishes, the finish does eventually wear down into a soft gloss. On this guitar, which already has the looks of a 40s Martin, the soft gloss is welcome. I have had mine for about a year and the body is already fairly "glossed out", which I love.

The guitar is made form Mahogany, which is well known for its softness as well as tonal response. Any genius who picks it up will notice that it weighs next to nothing. Just as long as you are careful not to bump it on anything, you are fine. Do not buy the guitar to play and resell as "like new". From about a year's worth of daily playing (travelling and on stage), I have a about 5 minor dings, which are not noticeable from afar. As I said before, the finish does wer off also.

Reliability is a better feature of this guitar. The guitar sounds good all of the time--never damp or dry. If I want to hear a great guitar, I pull it out and I have one. It holds great tune. I have never broken a string on it. I have never been upset with it.

One week after sending the warranty registration in, I received a letter from Nazareth, PA with a warranty card and a letter thanking me for my purchase, signed by CF Martin the fourth. Great family-owned business. I think the world's love of Martin Guitars shows that they are doing something right (and have been for over 100 years).

Lifetime gurantee on any factory defect, which is not matched by any other company.

I walked into Mars and hated this guitar at first. I thought the dark mahogany finish was putrid. However, I could not stop thinking about that guitar. So, I went back into Mars and played it for a bit and was amazed. The Martin D-15 had the sound that I was looking for. Deep, rich bass. Present, but not overpowering mids. Perfect, creamy highs. Ooh la la.

Looks way better and sounds way better than 90% of the acoustics presently on the market. Has a great old school feel to it in that it has no binding and has a beautiful dark finish on it. Very plain in looks, but that is one of its best features.

Sorry, this isn't a review, but I want to add some information that these reviewers have been missing. The nut material is NOT plastic, as others below have suggested. It is white Corian, which I believe is better than bone. The saddle is also white Micarta. Martin would never be cheap to a point that they use plastic parts in the most critical parts of a guitar.

Made in 2002
For others, please see the Martin website.

It's just a guitar without a pickup system. I like the colour, the natural wood colour, and the smell which makes me get closer to it everytime. The relatively high quality case was included. But nothing fancy and I do not complain it for this priceof $600 USD.

I like to listen the sound of Taylor but I do not like to play Taylor guitasrs. It's just my taste. The martin D-15 sounds, well, between Taylor and Gibson. I really love the wood-tone sound from D-15. When I hit the A cord, the sound was contined very long time which means the inner harmonic sound mechanism was just great? Martin made a real affordable (for price) guitar with high sound quality.

There was no flaws. Almost perfect! Action, fit and finish, they are just great.

I know the build quality of Martin, but D-15 looks a little fragile and it is very light. Nothing happened ot it yet, but it seems that I need to take a good care of it to get the advantage of Martin's lifetime warranty.

Lifetime warranty! I did not get the response from Martin after mail the registration card. No contact with them yet.

I got it about 3 weeks ago, and as time goes by, it sounds better. If it was lost or stloen, sure I would buy another D-15 without a question at all. I just copmapred simiar priced Yamaha and Taylor with D-15, well I could not take off my hands from D-15! Easily winner! I just installed Baggs dual source, and it sounds great through PA at my church. I just wish it is strong enough to last longer than I think(?). I would recommen it to anyone who love Gibson sounds. If you like Taylor sounds, uhhhh, try Taylor or Yamaha. If you were a lover for a classic guitar and like to try acoustic ones this time, just check out D-15 and you will know.

Solid mahogany dreadnought Martin at $639 new with plush black hard case. Good tuners and plastic nut/bridge. Case is very sturdy and the guitar fits like a glove. You almost have to work the guitar into the case.

This guitar sounds GREAT! I read all 69 reviews and agree that this guitar has some kind of magic in it. I went out and bought it the day after I read the reviews and am glad I did. I am a total Tele and Strat player and always said acoustics were for wimps. Well this is a power boater that has taken up sailing. This guitar rocks and I think I enjoy playing it more that my cranked up Tele/DeVille combo. My favorite sound is when you muffle the bass strings and bang on them (Buddy Holly style). The bass resonates through your whole body. It makes you come back for more. Plus the upper-mid harmonic string blending (complexity) is perfect.

The set up is almost perfect. I have found no flaws. The action seemed a little high because I usually play electrics. I think the action lets the strings vibrate without hitting any frets so you can really bang on the guitar with no fret noise. What impressed me the most was the perfect intonation. The guitar stays in perfect tune all over the neck and when you hit a loud open chord the strings blend like I have never heard on an electric.

I seems a little delicate but then I am used to indestructable Strats and Teles. I think it should withstand live playing if you keep it in the case when you are not playing. The harware should last the life of the guitar (forever). The satin finish is great because you don't have to worry as much about dinging up a super glossy finish and I think it lets the wood blend the harmonics together better.

Have never dealt with Martin customer service but I am sure you get what you pay for.

Playing 32 years. I have a 4x10 Fender DeVille, a Mesa Boogie Mark III (that I never play), '57 re-issue Strat, genuine 63' Telecaster, two cheap classical guitars, Fender Lead I, and a decent Ibanez electric. Lately I felt I needed a good acoustic to balance me out and the D-15 was the perfect choice. I would definitely buy this guitar again if it was stolen. I wish it had strap pegs. There is a hole at the end with no peg. I don't know if it was suppposed to have one included or not. We tried just about every Martin in the store all the way up to $2500 and for the price this guitar could not be beat. I think the only thing the more expensive models may have is a louder, brighter sound if you like that. For blues, the D-15 is perfect. We also tried several Tacomas, Taylors, Seagulls, and Takamines. I just kept going back to the D-15 because it was so warm. For the money, I don't think you can beat this guitar. Read all of the reviews and you will buy one tomorrow. I was afraid to buy online through Musician's Friend (even though I could have saved $100-no tax or shipping) because of the variances between each guitar. I took the review's advice and played the two Guitar Center had in stock and definitely preferred one over the other. Online, you take what you get unless you want to pay to ship it back. Happy hunting. Good luck.

Already been said. D series Dreadnaught, solid mahogany top back and sides. Very plain appearance. The rossette is a decal and it has no binding. The dark grain in the wood is attractive. This guitar reminds me of my first good acoustic, a Gibson LGO purchased in 1963.

I love the rich sound of the guitar. I have a Martin DM that is much brighter, but the D15 has a very rich tone. I've played Gibson's and higher end Martin's and the D15 has a unique pleasing tone.

No flaws in the finish, beautiful grain. The action is quite good right out of the box. I generally use ultra light strings so I won't know if there are any rattles or fret buzz until I change strings.

No Opinion yet. It's a 2002 model and I just purchased the guitar. I purchased it to take to Aruba where I am currently working. I also bought an ATA acoustic flight case so I hope the guitar will be protected well enough for airline baggage handling.

Martin support is excellent.

The features are spartan, but the finish is attractive in it's own right. I really love the deep rich sound. It's a great bargain for a well constructed U.S. model Martin. I would highly recommend this guitar for those of us on a limited budget. I have been playing for over 30 years and this is one of finest instruments I have purchased in the past ten years.

Not sure of the year... and with a ton of reviews on this model you know the details... Simple to look at but gigantic on the sound! It's a no frills looking guitar - except when it comes to the construction and sound.

Wow! I have played literally hundreds of guitars searching for the one that grabbed me and said "Here I am - buy me now or forever regret putting me down". And yes - after about 2 minutes I was hooked. What can I say - It sounds like a guitar that costs $2000 - no kidding. I was truly shocked. In fact, so much so that I ran home and called my professional guitar playing buddy to come see this anomoly of a guitar. We came back hours later and he just sat there staring at me as if I was crazy... This was the greatest sounding guitar he'd heard as well. In fact, after I purchased it we've jammed several times and each time he says that if I ever get rid of this guitar he'll break my fingers. That sums it up. Rich full body tone.

Feels as good as it sounds. I'll eventually need to get the action adjusted just a touch, but I can't let it out of my site long enough to do the work.

So far so good. It is surprisingly light - so you must be careful.

No idea. However, I dare you to find another guitar on harmony central with so many great ratings... Says a lot about the construction and the company.

I've owned several acoustic guitars but none have sounded like this one - ever! I would purchase another one in a heartbeat!

All the features are named elsewhere: solid mahogany dreadnought Martin at $600 new with good black hard case. Good tuners and plastic nut/bridge. It is not pretty, but it is light and feels pretty; a good action and no buzzes and balanced. A touch boomy on the bass E.
I just wandered in the shop (Richmond Music: excellent store) and had seen these before, but they were plain Janes, so I passed them by. I was NOT looking for a guitar! Two of these D-15s were on the floor stands and I went 'ga ga' over the worse one! After a few minutes, I checked out #2 and it was even better (by a bit and played just a little easier). My pal has a Martin HD-35 (hand selected at Martin) that I like, but I prefer this $600 'mohog' and I'll know his feelings when I see his face on first play. I may be a little embarrassed for him with his big $$ guitar that Maybe sounds as well as mine... You young guys or casual players need to check into these: at $400 USED it would be obscene. DO NOT pay attention to the finish or brown look. Listen to your ears and feel the guitar in your hands. This is a fine value and a very good guitar for under $1500. And if it is new: remember... this is the worst it will ever sound! Dayum!

I had a Taylor 25th Anniversary Dreadnought with saepele (sp?) that was gorgeous and really nice at 1500 bucks. And this Martin sounds better to my ears: richer and more throaty, yet mellow and smooth and resonant. I play with nails (classical training) and fingerpick melody lines, so it needs to sound good all over and strum nice as well as sound well when picked (try the Martin 'moto' pearloid thins). If the bass E were a tad less boomy, it'd be perfect. But the guitar is only 3 weeeks old, so let's be realistic. As Berry Gordy said: "the hit's in the grooves".... the sound is what makes your eyes pop and the action and feel cinch the deal.

Set up is quite good; action is easy, firm, a tad high, but OK. Well finished (satin, but I can live with that) and light weight. The neck and fretboard are comfortable and it stays in tune well. For a $600 guitar including case that sounds like most 2500 dollar Martins do NOT, it is unreal. It isn't perfect, but it's close enough.

This I cannot comment on. Mine is very new and I do take care of my guitars in handling. I met the younger Martin a few years back (CF III or IV) and he said "...treat your Martin like your dog... If you keep your dog in the trunk in summer or knock it over and step on it, then treat your Martin that way..." We all got the message.

Cannot comment. I rely on a reputable dealer to act on my behalf.

This is a shoo in ! At $600 you get decent guitars (like the Ibanez Artwood line at about $400 and no case, but beautifully finished). But this particular model in the Martin line is the only one I would consider. The others are overpriced and do not perform, in many cases. For $1200 or more, I expect a damn good sounding guitar. For $2500, you can have a good custom guitar or a Collings. At $600, I never saw or heard of anything close to this Martin D-15 'mohog' guitar. It is the workingman's fingerpicking, general sweet guitar.

Solid "mohog" all the way round. lighther bracing under hood to accomodate darker sounding tone wood.I give it a ten not because it has a "ton of features" I am not sure what a "ton of features" would do for an acoustic anyway!.

I bought this instrument in '97. it has aged beautifuly in both sound and looks.There is not a fret buzz anywhere in sight evan when played hard .I have crossed the Atlantic with this baby six times, it has taken an unmerciful beating, it actually has a hole the size of a pea in the lower side. I can't say enough about it's response.I am a pro musician and have played it both with full band and solo. If you are considering fitting it with electronics however! I highly recomend using a hot pickup (sunrise s-2 or l.r. baggs lb6 along with gigpro preamp) I used a fishman nat2 and it's projection was weak. my conclusion: mohog topped guitars need a hot p.u.. unplugged this baby shines, not in the sense that it projects like an old d18 (but it can hold it's own in an acoustic ensemble) but more in the sense it's upper-mid complexity is to die for! . I truly believe the d-15 is better sounding than the 2002, d-28, hd-28 dr etc. Has anyone noticed a huge drop in quality of Martins higher end instruments recently? .I think the walls of new Martins at stores=diminished quality. I don't care who you are, if you mass produce, quality suffers!anyway enough of that rant.The d-15 along with the Tacoma dm-18 represent the absolute best value available today. oh by the way it smells great!

Plays like buttah! . A simple but inteligently designed instrument.tunes easily, intonation is perfect!(tune to an open e chord,then play a 12th fret harmonic chord, strum all six strings, listen to the notes merge into harmonic heaven....ahh!). Am I going overboard? try one out and see for yourself.

Truly has had the snot beat out of it! not intentionaly I assure you. plays perfectly in tune all over the neck with no buzz anywhere.

dunno!

This one's a keeper!

I have had this guitar about 9 months now. I used it fro teaching, and playing out some. I also have used it to record (home recordings).

It has a sold mahog body (dreadnought), side, back and neck and is made by Martin. It has the 25.5" scale with 1 11/16" wide fretbaord (rosewood) and "vintage" (small) style frets. Neck connects to body at the 14th fret.

I has a satin finish. I am not sure what the wood is the bridge is made of. The nut and pins appear to be plastic. It has Martin tuners. There is no binding.

I came with a hardshell case.

I am not sure how to rate features, it is a solid wood non-electric acoutic under $600 (US). What more can one ask for?

I bought this guitar as I loved the way it sounded. I have a tendency to think of acoustics as too bright (yes I like humbucker electrics). I play blues, folk, hymns and some rock.

I would say is is the 'humbucker" of the acoustics. It has a darker (not muddy) tone that has depth. It has sounded good as a flatpicked guitar (most common use) and as a finger picked guitar.

I have found the smaller fretwiore is not real receptive of my blues lead playing (bends and such) but it appears to be fine.

Like others, I find that the fit and finish are good but not perfect in some areas. I have found it way better in fit and finish than anything in its price range though, and have no real problems either.

Where my arm does rest on the body, and places where I play on the neck freqently have been polished from satin to more gloss in appearance due to wear.

This guitar is a solid wood body guitar. These are not as durable as laminates (to me) but sound way better. I also use a humidifier with this type of guitar, and treat it more carefully than my laminite "hay ride" guitar.

I have dinged the edge of it, a binding would have hlepd this I suppose, but it is nothing into the wood and is a finish ding. This points to the nitro finish issues that come up. Nitro is not as durable as poly and so does not take abuse (or use) as well. It allows the wood to breath better (so I am told) and may improve the sound some. But, it does leave the guitar more vulnerable.

Also this acoustic, like all acoustics, are not finished on the inside (not that they should be). Any moisture that gets into the soundhole is able to be absorbed by the wood immediately. This includes sweat, flings from wet rags or towels, leaky humidifiers, etc. So one need to use some care with any acoustic.

It appears as durable as any solid wood guitar to me.

I have had oppotunity to contact the company a couple of times. None of the contacts were due to difficulties. In each case the company has been great.

The only issues I have had with the company is that as it has a nitro finish it is not warrenteed against strap wear, and a button for the strap at the neck end of the guitar would be nice. Unless a "Martin certified" tech installs it it can void your warranty.

I have been playing on an off for about 20 to 30 years (part of old age is I don't rememmber exactly). I own other acoustics but this is my "good" one, and I see no reason to spend more or get a second. It sounds and plays great. If it were taken I would get another.

I do wish it had a binding, but that increases the cost. My favorite feature is its tone.

I chose it as it sounded great, and was reasonably priced. Again, a second strap button would have been nice and a bit larger fretwire would have been a plus to me.

With 63 other reviews nothing needs to be added. All solid mahogany,
rosewood bridge and fingerboard, satin finish, no binding and obviously no fancy dancy appointments. The guitar is very light in weight which I like. Like the other reviews it comes with martin sealed tuners and a martin case. I give it a "7" for what it is, a basic dreadnaught guitar.

Wonderfull sound, excellent base and mids with very toned down highs.
Gives you the CSN, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell sound for rock and ballads and is also excellent for finger picking. I've already used it in church with a sound-hole pick-up and have been complemented on the wonderful tone. The guitar's tone is perfect for my ears. The guitar is brand new and I expect it will sound even better as it ages.

The action from the shop was medium but more than comfortable enough.
The workmanship (like most of the other reviews) is near flawless. The neck is wonderful, although it will take some getting used to as I have been playing my 12 sring Seagull for the last year.

This guitar has already performed live and it will have to withstand it, I don't forsee any problems, I take care of my gear. As per the other reviews I expect the satin finish to wear (gloss over) and get
dinged, but I will keep it looking nice as long as I can. The strap button that comes inside an envelope inside the guitar is made of plastic (but seems to stay in so far), the dealer installed another button on the neck. The tuners seem fine, (although gold tuners would really suit the look of this guitar).

Basic Martin warranty, guitar is too new to have used this service yet. I'm still waiting for the paparwork to come back from Martin.

I have playing since 1975 and this is the best acoustic I have owned to date. I owned an old El-Degus acoustic in the late 1970's (a Martin copy)which was a really good guitar but it didn't play like the D 15. I also owned a cheap Ovation (a mistake I made in the 1980's), I will never buy another for acoustic purposes anyway. I also own a 1976 El-Degus Telecaster (great guitar) and a Seagull M12 Gloss 12 sting. The D15 has a great sound, and it's nice to be able to get an affordable solid wood Martin for this price. The 15-17 series was a great idea by Martin, bravo to them. My next purchase acoustically will be a rosewood guitar, so I will compare the D28 and
Larivees and possibly Garrison's.

I have terrible taste for things according to appearance. I tried out thirty acoustic guitars at different stores and found the sound of the Gibson j-150 suited my playing style the best but it was quite expensive and kind of country(that's Ok though, I'm in Ohio). Then I took my friend's 9-year-old fiddle playing daughter to the store to see the great Jumbo and she yawned at it. Then she looked around the whole room of Taylors, Gibsons and Martins and pointed to the D-15 and said, "I like that one, except it would be nicer if the front was a slightly different color from the sides." I always thought Martin was the most boring guitar company ever and the D-15 was the worst design among Martins, not even worth testing out. So, naturally three weeks later, I bought one.

2001 model, purchased in March 2002.

It wasn't the best or the worst. It beat out everything I tried under $600 by a mile in sound and feel. I was surprised by that. It was also better sounding than some of few-thousand dollar models. But the materials and construction and appearance are the reason for low price. Sound is more important to me than flamed maple and bubinga.

The action was fine and the neck is very comfortable. The joint between the neck and body was not the best workmanship, but this guitar sounded better than the ones with perfect joinery. I already knocked a small chip out of the back edge where the binding should have been. D-17s have binding, so consider that.
But the worst thing is when I set the guitar on my bony knee and put a one-inch crack in the side! I couldn't believe that. These things are as fragile as they feel, be careful.
Also, to me, the discoloration from my arm rubbing on the top is not as charming as most people say. Kind of gross really. there will be thousand of D-15s with that same look and everyone will think theirs is special. D-17s have glossier finish, so consider that too. But they have micarta fingerboards.

It's fragile and I wonder how much the belly will bulge with age after seeing how delicate the sides are. I would rather see one simple line of dark wood inlay as a rosette instead of a decal. Maybe ebony or dark rosewood. Even a dark wood binding would be interesting maybe.

We'll see, I haven't called yet. They'll just tell me to take it to the shop.

I started playing guitar in Jr. High when my female guitar teacher said an acoustic guitar was like a woman's body. Wide hips, narrow waist, long neck, gold hair and if you treated her properly she would sing beautiful music for you. Then some guy wanted to know what the big hole was and she said, "her navel". So I bought a strat-copy and went totally electric. So we'll say I've been playing the same eight chords for 20 years.

2002 d-15. All of the features have been mentioned in previous reviews. A visually simple yet stunning guitar because of the mahogany. The smell is fantastic! Like a cigar box.

A rich, loud, colorful sound when strummed, with a pick it howls. Lovely and sensitive when dampened slightly. I play rock, mostly Beatles and some country rock.

The guitar was set up perfectly- the guitar was beautifully in tune.. The action is a little high, but it has helped toughen my calluses. No flaws

Seems very durable. I've banged it around a bit, and it has a few dings, but I wanted a guitar I could play, not baby. I'm confident my kids will one day inherit a well-used Martin with character.

No opinion.

An amazing guitar, particularly at this price. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

I bought this 5 years ago, looking for a guitar to grow with. I was after one with a pickup, but the sound of this baby just melted my heart. I lost the bottom strap peg, and had to send away to Martin for a new one, cause I coudn't fiind a replacement anywhere, which was irritating. The matte finish looked good, and has given way to a lovely deep shine above the soundhole after 5 years polishing with my sleeve. There aren't any features to speak of, but the overall quality is great - you feel special just picking the machine up. The case is a beauty too.

I play pretty simple stuff really, but the Martin has brought me out of myself. The sound is perfect - the top end is mellow without being muddy - I can't stand acoustics sounding too bright. The Bass is out of this world - crisp and full with no twanginess at all. As it's matured, the guitar sounds better and better. It's more responsive, fuller more rounded but still as sharp. The best thing though, is that even though it feels as fragile as an egg, it can take a real belting. Some songs I really let rip, hitting it for all i'm worth, and I still feel like I've got comlete control over the sound.

No faults whatsoever. I'm no expert, but I am fussy and I could find nowt wrong. The finish is superb.

The strap button falling out was a downer, but I was nervous of pushing it in too hard. I've had it set up once in five years, and even then that was more out of a sense of duty not to lunch out such a beautiful instrument than because it really needed it. It's had a few knocks, and probably deserves more TLC than I give it, but it just gets better and better as time goes on. The frets and board are a little worn now, but that's only to be expected. The bridge, nut and machine heads are as good as new. I regularly gig with it, and it's my only guitar, and I've never had any bother.

Martin were great - they sent me a replacement peg across the atlantic within a week! The guy sounded a bit stressed on the phone, and could have been a bit nicer I suppose, but it was a pretty trivial request.

It's the only guitar I own. I had a Wasburn D10CE as a second guitar, but I lent it to someone who subsequently developed a smack habit, so that was that. I don't need no other guitar, the Martin's the one for me. If I lost it I probably couldn't resist shopping around, but this one would be the standard to beat. A soundhole pickup to match it is my current quest - I've been looking for a year, but I haven't found one to do it justice.

Brand new. Made in 2002. Mahogany acoustic. Very plain and simple. Elegant in it's simplicity. Not gonna score it high because it has no appointments, but not gonna score it too low as the appointments it does have are perfect.

Alrighty, it sounds like a Martin. Which may sound redundant until you consider the price these can be had at. It sounds like a Martin that costs double or even triple (maybe 4x?) as much. It is very well- balanced, the highs are not too high and the lows are not too low. It is not a real loud guitar, due to the mahogany body, but just mic it and play. A great sounding guitar.

The set up is a little (and I really mean a little) high, but I have already gotten used to it. No buzzes, no dead spots. The finish is spotless, the fretwork the same. The neck joint looks great. Not a single complaint. Just tune it and go!

For one, would never gig without a backup at any time. This guitar does seem fragile, but all acoustics seem fragile to me. I baby all of my equipment and this won't be any different. Kind of like a car, take care of it and it will take care of you.

Haven't had it long enough to really test it though.

Have heard nothing but good things about Martin, so my fingers are crossed.

I will give it a 10! If lost, would immediately buy another, no questions asked. A great value! A must have for anyone looking for a reasonably priced, but beatiful sounding guitar.

Very plain looks that produces an incredible sound when played. Good tuning heads and figure board. I picked this one up used in 1969 and it has only gotten better with age (it is now ~40 years old).

This sounds like honey. I have been offered to trade it straight across for far more expensinve guitars.

It plays like silk. SOme frets are showing the years (but then so am I). It finger picks and strums with equal ease. The action is a bit high up the neck, but well withing the acceptable range.

It has lasted 40 years through some hard use. I rate it excellent

NA

Excellent guitar for all purposes.

I bought this guitar because I liked the simple way that it looks. I didn't buy it for any flash or anything like that. I liked the fact that it was made out of mahogany. It's an acoustic so I'm not concerned with a pickup.

I'm extremely satisfied with the quality of the tuners and fretboard. This is the most expensive guitar I've bought to date and I don't regret it at all.

The Martin case that she came in was very surprising. I've never seen a guitar fit a case so perfectly. The case was lined in green plush with 3 excellent locks. The case is perfect for protecting this guitar and even the case looks good!

I have no idea when mine was made, but I'd assume in 2001 or 2002 since I just got it a couple of weeks ago. Sent in the warranty card and I'm waiting for the information to come back.

What I did before I bought this guitar was go to Guitar Center and test drive quite a few guitars.

This D-15 sounded and felt better than all of those guitars that I played. This includes those $900 Martins and $1,500 Gibsons. I couldn't stand that neck feel of Gibsons and I think they're terribly overpriced.

I love the sound of this guitar, it's very rich and perfect for the "Unplugged", coffee house atmosphere. The action is perfect, I didn't buy from a retail store because I didn't want one that everyone took for a test drive, LOL. I'm sure the combination of Martin SP strings made a difference in the sound as well. I don't see any reason not to use Martin SP's on this Martin.

The guitar was perfectly set up and the only thing I needed to do was tune it.

The quality of the wood was excellent. There were no scratches or dings. Other than the folks at Martin and American Musical techs, I think I'm the only person to touch this guitar. I was given a piece of advise which I think I'll follow: don't let anyone else play your Martin.

Will this guitar withstand live playing? I don't know and I'm sure I want to find out. As it is now, this guitar is not leaving my house and if it's not being played, it will rest in it's Martin hardshell case.

The hardware seems excellent and should last the life of the guitar. I love the plain and simple finish of this guitar, it was one of the main reasons why I bought it.

I put the strap button on, but took it off since I won't be using a strap anyways. I had an Epiphone that I used a strap on and swear that using a strap and playing will throw the instrument off tune very easily and force me to get the neck adjusted.

If I had to play a coffee house type of gig or for a small group of people, I would consider bringing this out. But for anything large where she has to be out of my site, it's not happening.

Just sent in the warranty card. I haven't heard anything but good things about the folks at Martin.

I've been playing for 10 years, but have just recently been seriously getting into the guitar. I play mostly Beatle's, Pink Floyd type of old stuff. I have a Peavey Tracer (equipped with an active EMG pickup) that I play through a Marshall 30 Watt Valvestate amp. I had an Epiphone LP 100 for about 4 years, excellent guitar but I want the real thing one day. My previous acoustic was an Epiphone PR350, great for the beginner, but I wanted to get more serious so I went Martin.

If it were lost or stolen, I would definitely get another one. Maybe I should insure it, LOL.

This is the best guitar that I have bought. Not only does it sound great, I think it'll somewhat hold it's value over time.

I bought it from American Musical Supply in NJ. They had a free shipping deal and they also had a payment plan with no finance charge, you can't beat that. I have 3 payments of $196, you don't need their credit card like Guitar Center or Sam Ash. You just use your major credit card and they bill you when it ships. They send you an e-mail and you can track where the package is! I ordered it online on Sunday night and received it Wednesday afternoon!

Martin acoustic solid wood top, sides and back no frill guitar.
I've had my guitar for 1 1/2 years and thought I would leave feedback.
I changed the tuners to gold grovers mainly for the look. I thought gold looked better with the all brown wood.
I recently replaced the saddle with Mammoth Ivory, which did improve the sound but the sound was outstanding to start with.
I have played many high end guitars at the guitar center and I have yet to find one with a sound as appealing as this guitar.

Even after a year and a half this guitar sounds so good I play it daily just to hear it, The sound has improved and started to open up because of all the play. The neck is now polished from my hand movement and parts of the guitar body that your wear are now polished. I didn't buy this guitar for the looks but Its a truly beautiful instrument mainly because of the sound that comes out of it.
You feel the base: It vibrates the whole guitar into your body.

The action was low and had a good feel now buzz anywhere..

This guitar does ding easily. I have three dings. And I've been as careful as you can be. I have resolved that this just adds character along with the normal wear. I believe it will stay together in the long haul but it will show wear.

I've on dealt with Martin once and they were friendly and quick with help.

Been playing 2 years. I have a couple electric guitars but its hard to put the Martin down.
If it were stolen I would purchase another the next day.
The sound and the smell of this guitar is wonderful. even after a year I still get that woodsy smell from this thing.
I don't think their is a better guitar for any amount of money.

Not much in the way of features, other then a nice hardshell case. Guitar comes with a strap hole empty (plug is in the case)incase you want a pickup installed, its easier..

For the style of music I play with is preaty much a little of everything, from classical, to Heavy Metal and everything in between this guitar delivers nicely...You can get many different sounds and moods by simply changing the way you pick or hit the strings, its very responsive...

The guitar was still up perfect, right out the box, no problems, no buzzing just sweet blessful tone...

I can't really answer this one since I haven't had it more then a couple of days...But it seems to like if babied a little it'll last a long time....

Haven't Used it....just got the guitar...

I've been playing off and on for many years, original started out playing classical, then recently moved to electric and acoustic..First bought a Taylor Big-Baby to see if I would keep playing acoustic or it would just go in the closest. I really liked the sound of the T.B.B. but when I played the D-15 in store one day during lunch, "the sound was so much fuller, and rounded, the bass was low and articulate, the trebles bright but not shrill".. I had to have it!!!!...I've tested out alot of guitars during lunch and sound to $ ratio on this guitar is amazing. I liked it better then most guitars 3 times the price. If it was lost or stolen I would go right out on the next payday and buy another one... At some point I'm going to have the pickup installed, then I'll have it all, hahahahahahahahahaha

Not a lot in the way of features - but it's the simplicity of the guitar that drew me to it. A solid mahogany dreadnought guitar - very lightweight but beautifully finished - I couldn't find a flaw inside or out. Came with a very nice hardshell case. I've never seen a guitar fit a case better than this one.

When I played this guitar in the local music store, I knew I had to have it (although I bought it over the net). The richness of the sound, particularly in the bass strings, was incredible. Strum it hard, and it fills the room with its full sound, strum it softly, and it whispers like a ghost in the night. I've played it so much over the last few days that my fingers are raw.

Action was slightly harder than I was used to - but not a problem. The guitar is beautifully crafted and finished. Flawless.

This is the lightest guitar that I've ever played. At first, it seemed fragile, but I'm becoming convinced that it will stand the test of time. We'll see!

Haven't needed to deal with them yet, but have only heard good things.

I've played for about thirty years, and have been through a number of guitars (Epiphone, Alvarez, Dean) - but none with a sound like this one. This sounds a little weird, but I love the smell of this guitar. My wife and I passed it back and forth while watching tube so that we could smell it. The greatest features are the guitar's simplicity and craftmanship - and most of all it's beautiful rich sound. I can't imagine finding a better guitar for the money.

Standard Dreadnought. I loved the smell and they way it FIT in the case...no other guitar could fit in a case like that. It didn't come with any electronics or anything. It was made in Nazareth, PA (of course. I think It was made in 2002 since i bought it on June 6th 2002. The whole thing is solid mahogany ('cept the fretboard...can't remember what that is...rosewood I think). The guy who sold it to me also gave me a humidifier and and a strap and some other free things.

I walked in the store and asked to try a D-15...I knew that I was probably going to buy one, but I needed to play one first. It soundded amazing. I think I was in the store playing for almost half an hour. I started some scales, then scarborough fair. It really responds when you hit it (not literally), but if you strum hard, it will fill the room with its gorgeous sound. I don't really have a style..I mean I play acoustic music, but just about all kinds...except blues. The low end is insane...it just goes....i mean you can feel it through the guitar...and through the ground. The guitar sounds crisp without being so flaming bright. It's mellow and crisp at the same time.

I guess the action was low...I've played some guitars with high action...one bright red washburn... My other guitar's action is pretty decent too. This guitar is so easy to play though...it just takes over.
I love the satin finish too...I don't want to blind people with my guitar...gloss can be cool but satin feels so good. My friend just touched the guitar...and is like...that feels awesome.

Like everyone else has said. this guitar is light. But it's mahogany...I mean. Unless you plan on breaking it...you're not gonna hurt this guitar. It doesn't feel as "solid" as my other guitar (yamaha fg-432S). But it's like comparing a broadsword to a tachi. You have to really try to break either one.
I am pretty sure this will withstand live playing. I only have so much space to take stuff to college and I can only fit one guitar...and I know which one I am taking. I don't think I'll need a backup.
The strap button comes in the case you gotta stick it in on the bottom. I got a little martin strap button that goes under the strings on the headstock, and I think I'llbe fine with that set up.

I have been playing almost a year. (don't laugh..I have a demo CD). I have a yamaha fg 432s...which is another really good guitar (not as nice as the D-15 though.

If this guitar were stolen (I WOULD NEVER LOSE IT). I'd mope around for a week...and go sell something so I could come up with the cash to buy another one...or I'll just start playing on the street with my yamaha and pray to make enough money to buy another martin.

I love the smell, the sound, the satin finish. I wasn't so fond of the price, but it was soooooo worth it.

From the first time I saw an add for this guitar...I have been saving to buy it. I dunno what it was but something about the D-15 was calling me. So i answered.

Standard D15, bought it about 6 months ago from musicians freind online. Got a good deal ($579.00)although my wife thought i was crazy spending close to $600.00 for my guitar "hobby". Everyone else has said it. Very plain, with a cheap rosette decal. The fine clear grain of the wood, the flawless book matching of the top and bottom, the amazingly perfect joints between the sides and the top/bottom. This thing is a piece of woodworking art. At first I didn't think I would like the lack of binding, but now I love it. Seeing joinery like this is a daily re-affirmation that you have something of quality in your hands.

Spent six months playing guitars. I was totally set on buying a nice acoustic electric cutaway (ie Ovation Balladeer, or Legend) for around this price range. Every time I went out playing the guitar I always ended up playing with the most was the D15. Finally realized that it was destiny. The sound is amazing. Strummed hard it is loud, punchy, and rocks. Hybrid picked it is intricate, detailed, and smooth. Strummed softly it whispers like the wind through a thousand chimes. The dynamics and range of sounds you can draw out of this guitar is mind boggling. Whatever your mood,this axe is with you heart and soul. The only complaint I've gotten so far is that my wife claims that it is too loud.

Action from the factory was higher than the Alvarez that I've been playing. At first this bothered me because some of the D15's I've played were really low and fast. Haven't bothered to get it set up and now I've grown used to it. I may try a lighter gauge string. As others have said, the finish tends to get glossy where your hand rubs against it. In my opinion, this improves the "playability" along the neck. The neck on mine is much faster now that it is "broken in". As I said earlier, the construction of this thing is beautiful.

I've only been playing it for about 6 months. I don't gig (yet). Haven't tried the strap button yet as I play when I'm sitting down. Tuner are nice and tight. It holds a tuning forever. Based on the quality of the exposed joints I think it will hold up for a long time to come.

No need to deal with Martin yet but I've never heard anything bad about their service. Heading to PA on a camping trip this summer and I am planning on visiting their factory. Can't wait!!!

PLayed lots of guitars in the 500-900 range. I really don't think you could find a better value in a guitar. Exquisite sound, meticulous craftmanship. It is a very satisfying guitar to play. Would I be upset if it was stolen...absolutely. Then I would have to go out and buy another one. (I may buy another one anyways because I can't believe that Martin will be able to continue making a guitar of this quality, for this price, forever). Can't wait to see how it sounds in another year or two. Some people say the golden age of guitars was in the late 20's to early 40's. I think Martin has started another golden age with the D15.

Everyone else has summed up the features of this model nicely! I think mine is a 1999 model. I gave it a "5" on features because it's about as basic (at least cosmetically) a guitar as you can get.

Incredible -- beautifully touch sensitive for fingerpicking, louder than a clanging B-17 bomber when strummed hard. Very versatile. Can't understate how nice it sounds fingerpicked. Bassy on the thick strings, bright-and-shiny on the thin stings. Wonderfully complex harmonic overtones and just the right amount of body resonance. What else do you need?

The factory action seemed high at first (but I was used to only electric guitars at the time). Over time, got used to the action, and actually now really like the tone and volume it produces. As my finger skin got thicker, I could dig in better. But yowch--those first few weeks! If this thing didn't sound so sweet, I would have never hung in there. But it does -- even after owning it for a year-and-a-half, I still have trouble putting it down once I start playing.

Since it has what appears to be a thin satin finish, I'm not sure about the durability -- but I'm sure that finish is what allows the top to sing so sweetly. It's had it's share of bumps with no visible effects. Overall construction seems rock solid. I try to take good care of it, so I'm sure this guitar will outlast me!

Never had to call Martin about this fine instrument -- it's been great!

I've been playing for more than 20 years, and I don't think there is a better acoustic guitar for the money -- even though I got a screamin' deal on mine (I actually had a coupon toward anything in the store), I would gladly pay hundreds more for this guitar.

Features have been described plenty, so I won't waste my time typing about them, or waste your time reading about them. Average on the features, but that's okay, because what it lacks in features (no ebony fretboard or gloss finish), it makes up for in sound.

No electronics on this baby, good ol' fashion acoustic guitar. As for its sound, this guitar is FREAKING AWESOM. As someone had mentioned here before, it has what I would call a "smokey" sound (if that makes any sense). If anybody has ever heard the solo artist Nick Drake, or the duo Tenacious D, it sounds similar to their mahogany Guilds. It makes a good solo guitar, but would also be good for playing along with a spruce topped guitar. Compared to a spruce top, this guitar does not sound better or worse, just different. I would give it a 9, since there are better sounding guitars, but at a value standpoint I must give it a 10. Just my opinion, but I think the D-15 sounds about 90% as good as the D-28, at 30%-40% of the price.

Guitar was bought brand spanking new, the last person that had touched it was in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Action from the factory was a little high, but acceptable. I am going to get it set up at the local guitar shop this week. As for the finish, I kind of like it. Once this guitar has been played, it will develop a glossy look in the places where my arm and hand have had contact with it. I like the look of this---I think it makes it look pretty sweet. Tried to check for any problems with the internal structure of the guitar, but as I expected, there were none.

I'm not for sure about durability. It would probably be OK for live playing, but I wouldn't want to chance it. It stays in the case when I'm not playing it, and when I do play it, I'm real careful since there is no binding on this guitar. Binding would make it more durable, but by skipping the binding, Martin was able to make this guitar extremely affordable.

Haven't had to use them, but I've heard nothing but good things about the people at Martin. Sent my warranty papers in today. Hopefully I don't have to use the warranty service for a long, long time.

Been playing for just over a year now. Started out on a $50 Synsonic Electric Guitar (POS). Got the "acoustic fever" and bought a Yamaha F-36S. It was a good guitar, but I figured that if I had a Martin, I would stick to this hobby. I'm a college student, so $565 was a lot of money for me, but the D-15 is something that I'm going to have for the rest of my life, and as they say "you only live once". My decision came down to the D-16GT and this, and due to my doubts about the Micarta bridge and fingerboard on the D-16GT, I went for the D-15 and haven't regretted it (plus it was $150 cheaper). I belive that the 15 series that Martin has going is absolutely the best thing going in the under $1000 price range. I love it.

This is a no-frills instrument. Solid Mahogany construction, 20 frets, Martin quality. Comes with a solid hard shell case.

I bought my instrument sight unseen based on what reviewers said in this forum. When I pulled it out of the case and hit one note, I was astounded. I flat pick lead and rythmn on this thing and it just flat out sings (and the strings were toast!) This guitar rings like no tommorrow. The bass end is incredibly full and rich. Please note that these instruments are basically just a year or so old. Just think what it's gonna sound like 10-20 years from now, when it's played to death!

My guitar has the flat plain finish with a very dark mahogany. For my tastes it is beautiful. I can't say the action is a dream come true but then again it is not bad. Can't give any opinions on this thing w/electronics, never tried it.

For a solid mahogany guitar it is pretty light, however it is no doubt solidly constructed. Even the case is pretty solid. I wouldn't hesititate to take it on the road

Never dealt with them.

This is a staid plain, in your face instrument. I've been playing 20+ years electric/acoustic and was looking for a Guild 12 when this guitar came up. I thought $500 for a Martin w/ case, c'mon. You gotta do it. My advice to anyone is if they are going to spend 200-300 dollars for an instrument, save your $$, and see if you can buy one of these for around $500. Not only would it be worth it, it is an absolute steal. I have a Gibson 335 and a vintage Telecaster Thinline, and this git is just another great instrument. If anything happened to it, gosh i hate to think...

Martin D-15: About 3 years ago, when I started looking I was looking for a vintage Yamaha Red Label FG300; couldn't find one and was intrigued by the look of the D-15(kind of has a 40's type of appearance). I figured, why pay $600+ for an old dried out Yamaha when I can get a vintage-looking and sounding D-15 for about the same price? To the point, it's a very simple guitar that does alot.
The top wood was a beautiful figured pattern of mahogany; you could tell whoever put this together cared about what they were doing. Check the woods in each guitar, though; some are very plain and not that visually appealing....

The sound is distinctive and woody; yet kind of airy in the highs; nice bass response that really comes out when you open tune a half step down. It has a personality in its sound all its own.

The guitar was VERY clean, inside and out---no traces of excess glue inside; no binding, so you have to watch out for the dings....the satin finish will turn into smooth look over time, especially around the neck; too bad they cant' get that look over the whole guitar!
The top and back were beautifully bookmatched with a nice swirled pattern of mahogany(on the top); other D-15's look very plain.
One complaint; the decal soundhole rosette is very cheesy and I wish they would have had a simple wooden inlay(it would have been worth paying $50 more for that). I put an L.R. Baggs RT pickup in it and replaced the stock saddle with a bone one.

The guitar is very light, yet I would not hesitate to use it live, and have. Only caveat is that with the strong bass response you will probably have to roll off the bass a tad on whatever effects you are using or it might be too boomy. Strap button is solid; I would probably have a backup, because its sound is not applicable to everything and would have my Gibson CL-30 or Taylor 810 to backup.
Treat it gently, respect it and it should last a lifetime...

Great to deal with; had a '77 D-28 with a shrinking pickguard, and they authorized warranty service; what more could you ask?

I've been playing about 25 years; off and on...I would replace it if stolen...favorite feature is the broken in, distinctive 'woody' sound of mahogany. -Don't like the decal rosette, wish it was an inlay...
It reminds me of the guitars of the 1940's...very cool..
The best deal for the money, though, in a solid wood guitar.

Nothing fancy here: solid mahogany, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, sealed Martin tuners, your basic guitar. If you're looking for all sorts of bells and whistles, look elsewhere. But if you prefer to keep things simple (like myself) and don't need pre-installed electronics, all sorts of decals and decorations, etc. this guitar is perfect for you. It's especially good for those who like customizing their guitars, as it keeps the price down so you're not paying for things you'll just replace anyway. It comes with a nice case too: plush interior, compartment under the neck with a silica gel pack to keep your baby dry when it gets humid. Also has a hole for a lock which is a definate bonus, as anyone in college will tell you! ;) With relatively few features, I still gave it a 9 since it doesn't claim to have many features, and the features it does have are implemented perfectly.

The sound is absolutely beautiful! It has a much more mellow sound than, say, a D-28. The mahogany gives it, as several other people put it before, a "smokey" sound to it and keeps the bright and high treble to a minimum. The treble's still there but the bass and mids are just much more defined. In fact, it's been my experience that the lower you tune it the better it sounds! Try some lower open tunings and it sounds absolutely amazing. It's definately more suited to more laid-back music such as blues and folk music, though you can get it to rock out just as easily. I've heard some disputes that it doesn't have as much bass as a D-28 and their kind. I've tried a few 28s and I still have to say that my D-15 has more pronounced bass to it. This may be because the highs aren't as accented so you tend to concentrate more on the low-end, or it might just be my guitar, I'm not quite sure. But I have to agree with everyone else: definately try out different guitars because, especially in this price range, there can be some pretty significant sound differences in these guitars. Only reason I docked a point for sound is described below...

It's a Martin, so even if it's not set up to your taste they'll make sure it gets done well, and for free. When I first got it the action was a tiny bit high, but the setup fixed that right up. Other than that everything else was perfect: finish looks beautiful, all pieces are fit together perfectly, flawlessly bookmatched, the whole 9 yards. Looks like it was just cut from the middle of the tree. After having it several months everything's stayed the same, though you do have to be a bit careful with the satin finish as it tends to ding easily. The finish on the neck also tends to become a bit polished as you play it more and more, but that's just character building up... ;) HOWEVER, my guitar isn't without any flaws whatsoever: I've taken it back to my luthier twice and had it inspected by another once about this problem. The problem is that at several sporadic spots (3rd string 2nd fret, 6th string 12th fret, you get the point...) I've been having some buzzing troubles. I've had the frets leveled, checked, leveled, and checked again but I can't get rid of it. However, this is only when I play pretty hard and while in the middle of a song you don't really notice it anyway as it's not a real loud obnoxious buzz. The second luthier attributed it to the fact that certain guitars resonate more at different frequencies than others, so those certain notes might be resonating more and causing the buzz. For this I docked two points, but with it being my only real gripe about the guitar, I couldn't bring myself to take off any more because I still love the guitar.

I haven't played with it live yet as I have yet to get a pickup installed, but just playing for friends and small crowds it works great: sounds great, projects well, lots of volume, stays in tune and is easy to tune otherwise. But you do have to be careful with it as it does seem fairly light and frail, plus what I said about the finish earlier. But being lighter just makes it easier to stay on stage longer, right? After a lot of playing time the satin will start to look more like gloss from being rubbed and "polished" (I can already see it happening on the neck and where my arm rests on the body) but a well-worn guitar looks just as beautiful as a new one to me (notice I said "well-worn" and not "well-beaten!"). The lack of a binding also kind of worries me, but for all of these concerns they will never become a problem to those who take good care of it and never hit it really hard against anything so the rating is more dependent on how good of care you take of it rather than the guitar itself. Plus it's a Martin so I'm sure it'll last for plenty of years to come, and it's probably also much stronger than its weight suggests.

To start, I should probably explain the warranty process, which is fairly easy: you get the guitar and either you or the dealer sends in the receipt and some paperwork to Martin. Within a few weeks you'll get an official ownership card and letter welcoming you (again, for some of the luckier people here...) to the Martin family, and that's it. However, I got mine a week or so before heading back to school so I needed a setup done fairly soon after I got it. I called Martin and explained, saying I hadn't had time to get my card in the mail and they said it was no problem, just show the receipt to the luthier. The luthier understood and just made a copy of the receipt, no hassles. Anything involving initial bodywork such as neck adjustment, fret polishing and leveling, etc. is done free of charge. If it's not done to taste, they'll keep doing it for free until it's right, no questions asked. As far as I know, if you want another similar setup done that's also free, barring fret replacement or anything extensive like that. (Don't quote me on that though, I could be wrong.) But it does have a lifetime warranty, so again, if you take care of it, they'll take care of you! Also talked to someone online who has a Martin from the 1940's and he said they still service it. How's that for customer service?

I've been playing for about 7 years now. My other acoustic was a hand-me-down from my uncle, a 1980 Guild D-25, though I have a Strat and a cheapie electric bass too. As much as I love my old Guild, it's got nothing on the D-15's sound. In my opinion, it's one of the best-looking, best sounding guitars out there, regardless of price. And once you take the price into account, it makes it that much better! For the money, you just can't beat this guitar, especially considering it's solid wood. It sounds better than many guitars at twice the price, even if you prefer your guitars a bit brighter. If it were stolen, I'd cry like a schoolgirl for a while and then I'd immediately go out and get another one. I could go on all night, but I think I've said enough already...

Purchased around Christmas 2001, so I assume it is a 2001 guitar. 14 fret, solid mahogany with satin finish, no electronics. Relatively thin (i.e., fast) rosewood neck. Dreadnought body. Hard shell case included. This is a beautiful guitar --- in its simplicity, materials, color, but especially, sound. After fixating about and researching the D-15 for a long time, I was presented with a choice: the D-15 for about $625, or a fine Taylor dreadnought (spruce top) for about $975. I agonized, playing both repeatedly. The Taylor was an excellent "traditional" guitar with a bright, clean sound. My wife would have bought me either as a Christmas gift, and I was tempted to choose the higher priced guitar. But the Martin had such depth of character, and I chose it. I have not regretted my choice in the least.

To repeat almost all of the preceding reviewers, the sound is luscious. Somehow it is smoky and mysterious, but full, rich, and penetrating. The bass E string fills the room, and you may find yourself just sitting there plucking the open strings. It may be true that the D-15 sounds best played with open chords and strings. But I often use a capo on the upper frets, and the sound is warm and clear, if not particularly bright. Overall, the sound is balanced throughout all strings, and all along the fretboard. You can make it "boom" a little with hard strumming, but this guitar never sounds unpleasant. I play folk, rock, blues, and a little bluegrass and jazz. I prefer D'Addario phosphor bronze lights (even over Elixir); they seem to suit the D-15 perfectly. The guitar seems especially well suited to fingerpicking (Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, etc.).

I bought a rarity, in that the guitar came with a small blemish in the finish, on the sound board near the neck. The salesman said his store tried every safe method to remove it, but couldn't. He said he was surprised that "Martin" let that blemish get by (I am dubious about this.) Nevertheless, it does not affect the sound, and I've come to think of it as a distinctive birthmark. Otherwise, the fit and finish is very nice. The salesman lowered the action slightly, and it is very easy to play. The satin finish is lovely, and is easily conditioned with Martin guitar polish (at every string change.) I wipe it down carefully each time after playing, and always keep it in the sturdy case when not playing.

I just noticed that the nut on the top of a tuning peg has begun to loosen, and the washer under the nut rattles. I believe this will be no problem to tighten. The guitar is surprisingly light, and somewhat vulnerable to careless handling. Conceivably, it would stand up to live playing. The hardware seems sturdy, and I see no reason why the D-15 should not last a lifetime or more with careful handling.

No experience, though Martin seems serious about the value of its lifetime warranty (you register the guitar, and receive a warranty card and booklet at purchase).

This is no hyperbole: the D-15 is a 10, and truly a fantastic value. I have been playing for over 30 years. I play keyboards and guitar, and used to play wind instruments -- all of them in bands. I own a pre-CBS strat and a practice amp. These days, I am an extremely busy professional (non-music), but make time to play every day. I undertook to teach myself new skills, such as fingerpicking, when I bought this giutar. The practicing and results are very rewarding. The D-15 bears out the truism that buying a better guitar will make you want to wark harder, and you will improve more quickly. Somehow, this guitar has SOUL. It will become your soulmate. They say Woody Guthrie played a mahogany Martin. That's good enough for me.

This guitar was manafactured after 2000. Mahongony top, sides and back, all solid wood. Has the satin finish, Martin tuners and came with a nice hard case.

I think the guitar sounds great. Being mahongony it is not going to be really loud like a spruce or cedar topped guitar would. But it has excellent clarity and balance.

The setup arrived from the factory at about medium height. I plan on getting it setup for a lower action soon. It has an elastic like action and is fairly easy on the fingers compared to other, less expensive guitars. The quality is excellent. I have found no flaws on it as of yet.

I have had 5 or so guitars throughout my lifetime and this is the finest guitar I have owned so far. I also have a Seagull S6+Cedar which I am selling. The Seagull is much louder but the action is stiffer even after I brought the saddle down a bit. I had read from many on the AG forum that they would be of equal quality. But after playing both I had to laugh. The workmanship on the Seagull and action is not as good as the D-15. Nor does the wood smell as good. :)

All the specifics have been listed already. This is a simple guitar, just don't confuse simple for anything less than wonderful. It's tough to give it a rating because all though it isn't fancy it certainly isn't lacking anything. I'll give it a 9 since nothing is perfect.

This is one of the most beautiful sounding guitars I've ever played. It suits my style just fine, I guess if I had to define that style it would fall somewhere near Neil Young and Wilco. It took me quite some time to settle on this guitar. Like most people who shopped in this price range I tried the lower model Taylors, the Larrivee D-03, Guild D4, Fender DG25, and a Taylor Big Baby. All of those guitars sounded great, some better than others, but none of them compared to the well balanced and rich sound of the Martin.

Some other reviewers mentioned that you should play as many D-15's as possible and I'd have to agree, the first one I played sounded great and then I shopped around at some other stores and always played the D-15's I came across. Deciding on a guitar was tough because some of the D-15's sounded great while others just didn't have "it". I finally went back to first store and I was lucky enough to buy the D-15 that I first played.

Overall the sound is kind of dark, especially when played without a pick. I've got Elixir strings on it now and i suppose that might add to the darker sound. I am more than happy with the sound of this guitar.

The guitar played just fine off the shelf. The action was just right, high enough to avoid any buzz and low enough to be more than comfortable. The finish is impeccable, just a simple satin finish. The grain of the wood is very nice, and this is another feature of the guitar that seemed to vary greatly.

I've only had the guitar for about a week and so far it's held up quite well. I don't think this is a guitar that you'd leave laying around but it's not fragile by any means, it's mahagony.

Haven't had to deal with them yet. I've only heard great things though.

I've been playing for about 15 years and this is my first new acoustic guitar. I've had an old yamaha fg-75 for about 10 years that now sounds like a toy compared to my Martin. I couldn't be happier with this guitar, my father has a D-35 from 1965 and I'd take my D-15 soundwise any day. You can't go wrong with a Martin, consider it an investment for the non-business savy. If it were stolen I would replace it without hesitation.

I own a Martin D15, 2001 model. It has 20 frets. no laminated anything. It has a satin finish. The salesman said not everyone likes the color but I think it looks beautiful. It has covered tuners and came with a hard shell case. the case is as nice as the guitar, soft fur that cradles the guitar firmly. Nothing fancy by way of ornaments, which is fine by me.

I play mostly pop and folk, Beatles, Neil Young, etc...It has such a clean sound. the bass is rich enough for my taste. Doesn't overpower the higher notes. I mostly strum with a simple fingerpicking style.

The factory setup was almost perfect but the salesman listened to me play a while and made a slight adjustment to the neck. The strings are lower that anything I've had before. A Washburn D10 and a Carlo Robelli. they're not in the same price range and the difference is obvious.There's not a blemish anywhere.

I don't perform so I can't comment on live playing, butit certainly feels solid and well made.

Haven't had to call the company yet.

I"vew been playing a few years. I had intended to buy either a Guild D4 or a Tacoma Chief. The fell of the neck was critical in my decision. My hands are small and the Giuld and Tacoma felt like ax handles compared to the Martin. I just like the way the Martin felt in my hands. It its price range the D15 sounded as good as anything else I tried and its playabiliy was the deciding factor. I would definitly replace it if it was lost or damaged. I don't play well enough to deserve this guitar, but I appreciate quality in an instrument. I'm a keyboard player first, guitarist second.

Mine was made in 1999 and purchased in early 2000. I installed a Fishman (active) pickup in it soon thereafter. Came with a nice HS case.

This is my guitar soul mate!!! I play blues and folk.
My goal when looking for a new acoustic guitar was to get the most tone I could for $1000. I played Taylors, Tacomas, Seagulls, Normans, and Alvarez. When I played this thing I was impressed by its balanced and interesting tone. I didn't buy it that day--I obsessed about it for 2 months before finally buying it.
I run this guitar through a tech 21 acoustic DI and into my PA at gigs. I get many compliments from audience members about my tone.

This guitar was perfect the day I bought it.

Others have questioned the durability of this guitar. Well, I haven't seen any issues. I gig with this guitar several times per month and practice with it every day. I've been doing so for 2 years and it is still going strong. I am surprised by how durable the finish is too--I've knocked this thing against all sorts of things and it has only very minor dings.

Haven't had to deal with Martin.

I've been playing for 6 years--3 of which I've been playing semi--professionally (not because I can play the guitar but because I sing well).

I love this guitar and would certainly replace it with another if it were lost or stolen.

Nice features, a simple guitar, nothing fancy. Unassuming. Dark mahogony. I wish the tuning machinnes were a tad bigger.

Excellent sound. And not just "for the money". Nice bass, good highlights, holds together pretty well. It blew away a Taylor I was looking at for upwards of $1500, as well as many others at Guitar Center in San Francisco. I traded my Gretsch G3700 for this very close to the end of its warranty. The Guitar Center folks were generally pretty gracious. By the way, Gretsch has lousy customer service. Their acoustics leave something to be desired but then again they are fairly low priced. Martin's customer service I have not yet experienced and hope I don't need to.

Flawless finish, smooth and not even the tiniest defect that I could find. But an ugly duckling! No frills in the design. Not pretty. Very lightweight!

I have yet to test its durabilty, but should hold up well if its a Martin and they have a good reputation. There is no strap button on the top end. Need to install one.

Not yet dealth with them. See above.

Been playing over 30 years. Blues, rock, folk . Would buy it again, good value. Love the light weight and the sound is great.

Based on the serial number, my D-15 was constructed sometime AFTER 2000... made in the good 'ole U.S. 14 frets/solid Mahogany with a Satin finish. Dreadnought style with what I would consider a thin neck. Excellent Martin hardshell case was included. This is a plain-appearing guitar (which really appealled to me). I like things that look solid and perhaps a bit different (for example - I love the shape of the '87-95 Saab 900s). As features go - it has EVERYTHING I need....

The sound is AWESOME! I play exclusively without picks, and the variety of tones I can produce is incredible. This is a super guitar for folk, country, and "unplugged" rock.

Action was perfect for me (low, but with NO buzz). The guitar was flawless... and as many others have noted - smelled incredible!

Not sure I would go clubbing with this guitar - but given the quality of the wood and hardware, I have NO DOUBT that I will be able to keep the promise I made to my 14 year old son the day he saw the D-15: "I'm leaving you this when I die". (I'm only 41 and plan to be aroung A LONG TIME!) The finish is bound to change/rub - but I'm counting on that giving the guitar even MORE character. The strap button comes seperately packaged and gave me a bit of worry as I inserted (praying that I wouldn't crack anything) - but so far, so good!

Haven't had to use the LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY - but trust that Martin will live up to the terms should it come to that....

I started playing in 1974 - while in Jr. High. Let the guitar slide when I got to college and found out I was cr*p compared to most of the other guys playing the "coffe house" scene... (I kicked their butts on keyboards though!!!). Pawned my Guild D-40 (gift from my parents - big mistake) and went without a guitar until 1985 when I bought an Ovation Ultra (acoustic only) through the Army and Air Force Exchange Catalog (as an Army Officer, the frequent moves and life in a tent about 6 months out of the year didn't lend themselves to hauling around a keyboard). Still have the Ovation - and it has been a decent (and indestructable) companion. Actually, I had probably only played twice in the past 5 years - until about a year ago when my son began taking lessons. I was motivated by his rapid progress (on a Valencia classical) to pull out the ole OV and show him (and his instructor) a thing or two. I was suprised by how much I enjoyed playing again - but was quickly reminded how heavy and thick the OV was. I decided that if I was going to get serious about playing again I deserved a better guitar - and after MUCH research and many "test drives" I picked the D-15. I just could not believe how comfortable I felt with this guitar in my hands. If it were lost or stolen, I would definitely replace it with another D-15.

Made in 2001 in Nazareth, PA. It's a dreadnaught,has 14 frets, all solid Mahogany top and sides with a rosewood fretboard. It has a satin finish and chrome hardware. At first glance, it doesn't look like much- it doesn't have fancy inlays or bindings( actually it has no binding at all). But I've had the guitar for six months now and think it is one of the most beautifully designed guitars-almost Shaker in its simple, functional elegance. And it does smell great!

This guitar suits my playing style well. Mostly I just like to strum and play rhythm.I play a great deal of different music from Elvis Presley and the Everley Brothers to The Stones, CSNY, Pink Floyd and even Bush and Kid Rock. The D-15 has a warm, rich well balanced sound. The highs and lows do not compete with each other, if you know what I mean. As for fingerpicking, each note is clear and distinct and the D-15 has a lot of sustain for a mahogony guitar. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the sound of this instrument. It delivers on the promises that the Martin name implies.
There is one thing I've noticed that seems a little odd. The guitar takes a little time to "warm up". I know it sounds ridiculous, but my experience has been that when I first take it out and begin to play it,it sounds a little muffled, like the music is stuggling to come out. The bass strings seem to dominate the tone with a sort of thump, as though they couldn't vibrate enough or something. Then after 15-20 minutes, sometimes less, the sound opens up, the thump is gone, and that warm, rich balanced tone is there in all its glory. I don't think its my playing, because this happens even after I've been playing my other guitar for a while and then I switch. It might have to do with the soundboard being mahogony and not spruce. This little quirk doesn't bother me at all, and might even be my imagination.

The guitar wasn't set up exactly to my liking. I like a low action, because it helps me to fret barre chords. The action on my D-15 out of the box was medium-not too high or low. The quality of the workamnship on this guitar is unbelievable. Every surface is pefectly joined. There is no binding, yet the seams between the soundboard and the sides are absolutely flawless. As for the satin finish,well it does interact with sweat and moisture. Where my arm rests as I play there is a spot where the finish is dulled and on the neck in the area where most major chords are played the finish is rubbed smooth. This actually is a good thing-it makes the neck faster. The way I see it, the guitar will soon become a unique instument, formed by my playing habits. Much like Willie Nelson's guitar which still sounds great even with a hole in it.

I haven't let it leave the house yet. But I'm confident that with proper care it will last a lifetime. It is very light and seems fragile, but I'm not sure. In any case, after spending nearly $700.00 for it, I'm not going to go out of my way to find out!

Warranty is forever to the original purchaser. I had to call them once for a very minor problem with the warranty card, and they were very nice.

I've been playing about three years. I started on a Yamaha FG-402. I also own a G&L Legacy and a Peavey Classic 30. It took me months to decide to buy this guitar because I was determined to be patient and thorough and make sure I bought what I wanted. I must've played two or three dozen different guitars, but I always came back to the D-15. Why? Because for the money, I couldn't find a guitar that sounded better. I found Taylor, Takamine, Yamaha,and Guild all to have flaws. Mostly, the sound was a little too tinny and not well balanced in the guitars these companies offered in this price range. Everytime I found a guitar I liked better, be it a Taylor or even another Martin, it was two or three times as much. The guitar I really started jonesing for was a Breedlove, but I honestly can't say it sounded $1250.00 better than the D-15. If I lost my D-15, I would defintely buy another. Unless I could afford the Breedlove or a Martin D-35.

2001, in Nazareth PA, 14 accessible frets, dreadnought (well, the "D" part probably gave that away...), comes with pretty nice case (you should see the thing just kind of sink down into it...), no real wazoo features, but what's wrong with that?

Sounds great, records amazingly (it's like butta)

Everything seems to be in order, finish wears down a little bit after playing it (but doesn't that just make it better? I can't wait until this thing gets really old...)

Great all-around guitar, good for touring and recording. Sounds great all by its lonesome. Definitely holds its ground for a $600 guitar.

Don't know, but it's a Martin, so I'll trust 'em...

Been playing for about two years, own three other POS guitars, (well, one's not that bad, but only because it's a Sigma...maybe I have just a little crush on Martins...)
Overall, I LOVE this guitar. I would totally cry if anything happened to it. We compared it to a Larrivee (don't remember which one, but comparably priced) and it just blew it away, tone-wise. Honestly, I don't think you can get better sound for your money than the D-15. The only thing that sucks is the way the strap situation is set up, but it's a very small price to pay. There's no way in hell I'm drilling a hole into this baby.

2000 model, made in Nazareth, PA. 14 accessible frets, solid mahogany all the way around. Rosewood fingerboard, I think. Came with a nice green plush-lined hardshell case. Pretty much a bare-bones guitar, so I'll give it a 7.

I play all kinds of music, but mostly country and some newer acoustic stuff (e.g. Barenaked Ladies, Dave Matthews, etc.) This isn't really a guitar that'll cut through, if you're playing with others, but MAN, what a sound! It's a really nice, warm, well-rounded sound. Nothing harsh about the sound, that's for sure.

This guitar is very easy to play. Very nice, low action unlike most of the other acoustics I've played. Ok, not as nice as the Taylor 310, but at this price, who cares? No flaws that I could see, but you really, really, really have to be careful, considering the satin finish. All of the hardware seems top-notch. I have to disagree with those who say gold tuners would look better. I think the chrome ones are classy. Given the fragility of the finish, I'll give it an 8.

Like I said before, you have to be careful with the finish on this guitar. I would recommend always putting this one back in the case when you're not playing it. Given that it's a Martin, I think if you don't bash away on it, it will probably live longer than you do. Martin is the best acoustic manufacturer out there. Since the finish is so touchy, I can't give a perfect score, but it does deserve a 9.

Haven't dealt with them and hopefully won't have to, but I think if I did, they'd be pretty helpful. Besides, how many other company presidents sign your warranty card?

I've been playing since March, 1985. I also own a Yamaha APX4A acoustic/electric, a Fender Strat, Fender Tele (both Mexican-made), a Gibson Les Paul Special HB, a Danelectro baritone, a Rickenbacker 330 and a Rickenbacker 370/12. Ok, it's not a HD-28 like my acoustic hero Dave Matthews plays, but hey, it's a Martin. And, as a couple of other reviewers have mentioned, the thing smells great!

I believe I bought a 2000. All mahogony construction is great. I love the smell and lightness. This is the 2nd guitar I have bought. I checked all over and ask around for recommendations. I tried taylors, alvarez, samicks and martins. I really liked the Martin D16 but can only afford a D15. My purchased included a deluxe Martin case & 2 sets of strings. Only fault I can find are the satin finish and a need to be careful.

I like country and 70's light rock. I like the richness the guitar offers in the melody. I play fingerstyle and it sounds great. It has really a great sound not a heavy bass sound.

The guitar was set up fine and didn't have any flaws.

I think this guitar will last if you take care of it. I have concern about the satin finish. The strap button are plastic and bridge pins are also. I can depend on this guitar and construction.

Limited lifetime and I have a dealer willing to make all adjustments/repairs within 3 miles.

I have been playing for 1 year. I own a Squier DG-6. I would buy this guitar again if stolen or lost. I took 2 months and compared every guitar available. I read magazines, ask frioends and played every guitar available within 30 miles.

This is 1999 D-15, made (of course) in Nazareth, Pa. 14 frets clear, 20 total, solid mahogany top, sides, back, neck, fingerboard and bridge. I was rather lucky, as I bought this beauty used, and the dealer had installed a Martin/Fishman Slimline Gold pickup.

This guitar has the most beautiful sound I have heard in a guitar in this price range. It is rich and full of bass, with nice bright highs and mild midrange tones. I just LOVE to fingerpick with this guitar because I can really put alot of feeling in my music with it. But it also strums with the best of them. Incredible overall sound!

I love the action--nice and low with no buzzing. The guitar is light because of the all mahogany construction, and has a beautiful reddish brown color, with glowing golden grain. Some fine wood went into the construction of this instrument! The tuning machines are of fine quality, too. This guitar came without a pickguard, obviously the previous owner did not like one.

This guitar is light, as I have said before, and has a satin finish. Due to the nature of mahogany, this results in a very delicate instrument! It will ding or scratch if you even think about hitting it up against something, which concerns me. However, if proper care is taken, the delicacy only adds to the virtue--since it needs to be coddled, I am more protective of it. But the sound is a very fair trade-off for its fragile nature--believe me!

It is a Martin. Any problems, and they will bend-over backwards to help, even though it is a used instrument. These people truly CARE about their product, and the satisfaction of the owners of their instruments!

I also own a Martin/Sigma DM12-st. These are both beautiful guitars, and I will not part with either of them. They are both in my will! If lost, stolen, or burned in a fire, I would not hesitate to replace them with the same model. However, due to the personal and individual nature of every guitar, I would miss them both sorely! This D-15 is an instrument worthy of a much better player than I, but makes my mediocre playing sound so much better!

Just follow up from my previous report below - By the way, I mistyped when I said D15's bridge is filed down - it was supposed to be typed as "saddle" - not the bridge. When I was typing the roport, I think it was very late, and I was too tired to check it over before hitting the Submit button, as usual.

Anyway, I opened up the case, and took out the D15, and my wife went - "Yuk, I hope you have'nt paid more than a fiver for that ugly guitar." I smiled, and then started playing the D15, some finger picking on classical ballads, then some folk chords, then some Joni Mitchell, then Stairway to heaven by Jimmy Page. I looked at my wife, and I could see she is totally stunned by the beautiful tone coming out from this D15. She obviously is very impressed, and never commented on D15 anymore. D15 is not certainly, the BE-All, END-ALL, stuff, but it is true that it has great tone for the money. Great value. I still like my Seagull S6+, the old Yamaha Fg-336SB, but D15 is another interesting guitar. which complements my collection. I would like to have Taylor 310 for my next purchase, and then Martin D28 will complete my list of acoustic wish.

Gawd, this guitar must be popular. It has already 33 reports. Do I need adding any on features? Read the previous. All I can emphasise is that this Martin D15 is made of All Mahogany, which is cool. The colour of the body is a bit unique - dark redish, finish is satin. Due to this, it does not stand out in appearance, but the look grows on you day by day, and it smells lovely. Lack of body binding and non gloss finish make this guitar rating as 7, but who needs these cosmetics? Mine is made in 1999. I only got it new last week, so I wonder where has this been for almost 3 years?

Like its look, the sound grows on you. When I played this D15 first time in the shop, it was nice, then I could not put down, as that growing on factor was so quick and strong. It is mellow and soft when played smoothly and lightly with fingerpicks, but when you strum, it gets loud, sharp and steely. It has many different colours in tone - it is versatile. I compared with other acoustics such as Landola, Seagull, Yamaha, Guild and Taylor, but this D15 is the best. It also sounded the best from recording result. It has that Martin sound that you used to hear from Neil Young, Jimmy Page, Joni Mitchell, although this is not D28, when you strum hard, you can hear it is there.

Pleasure to play - I can play all day without knowing days gone. What more can one ask from an acoustic guitar? As I said this guitar has been 3 years already when I bought from the shop new. Due to this this D15 has been already aged quite a bit, which makes the tone awefully sweet, and even now I feel it gets sweeter every day.

Set up was reasonable, but I found the action a bit highish. I asked the shop keeper, and they filed down the bridge, which lowered the action a bit - now perfect. Finish is satin, which might be a bit fragile, but this is a little sacrifice for high quality tones.

Had it for a week, so no idea on this, but it is Martin. Hope it will last forever.

Heard Martin is pretty good in Customer Support. Will see.

Came with plush Martin hard case - I felt great walking out the shop with the D15 in the hard case - everyone on the street was admiring me, or were they admiring the D15? I feel really good having this gem - one is absolutely right in saying that you need to buy an acoustic as expensive as possible because you get what you pay. But in this case, it was still possible to get the highest quality acoustic with reasonable price - secret is one needs to do a lot of research and take time, and be cautious in choosing an acoustic.

I love this D15 in looks, the tone, the playabilty, original hard case, the logo on the headstock, the name, the history - every thing. My big thumbs up!!!

My D15 was used very little. I don't know when it wa made. Made in USA. I bought it on Ebay for $465 which included the hard case. It still had the plastic cover on the pic gaurd. What a deal!

The simple design of this guitar is really what appealed to me. Basic, no gimics, no frills.

Solid Mahogany, Satin Finish, simple dot inlays and silver hardware.

The main feature of this guitar is QUALITY of craftsmanship and its tone, and therefore I feel it deserves a 10.

Holy Cow! You WILL NOT find a better sounding guitar for anywhere near the price of what you will pay for the D15(Even new). This thing is amazing. It may strike you as Ugly in appearance at first(that will change - trust me), but as soon as you hear this thing, you'll want it.
If you are in the market for an acoustic, then go to your local dealer and play this thing against any of the more expensive guitars. A lot don't even compare. Go hear for yourself. The tone of this thing is absolutely amazing. Awesome!

No buzz! Nice low action. Very easy to play, even with medium strings. Superb craftsmanship. Beautiful guitar. Outstanding tone.

This guitar is very light, but the craftmanship is superb. It is solid, but the weight makes it feel delicate. Because of the Satin finish, it should be taken care of. This guitar isn't for the clumbsy or careless. It will dent and ding easier than a guitar with solid finish, so one must handle it with care.

N/A The Quality of craftmanship in this guitar is excellent. I don't expect to have any trouble with it.

You will not find a guitar that sounds this good for the money you would spend on a D15. This guitar sounds amazing. And though the looks may take some time to get used to, the Satin finish on this solid Mahogany guitar is just as beautifull as it sounds. And what an aroma too! This thing will grab all of your senses and take them for a ride. I would buy this thing again and again and again. I give it a 10+!

Basic dreadnought guitar shape. Nice satin finish. I am going to give it a 9 for features because I feel it has all the features essential for a guitar without some of the extra decor. To tell you the truth I can't think if a reason NOT to give it a ten here but I want to be realistic in the scoring.

The sound is excellent. In fact, and I know many people say the same thing, the sound compares very well with guitars costing much much more. I am very pleased with the warm rich sound and lack of boom. I really hate a guitar with so much bottom-end sound as to be boomy! This guitar as a nice ring to it with a warmth I find very attractive. Definitely a 10 here!!

Straight from the factory the action is set low enough to resemble the playability of an electric but it absolutely does not {{BUZZ}}! The finish is beautiful and I very thoroughly inspected it upon arrival (I ordered it from American Musical Supply because no shops around here had it.) The case it comes with is very very nice also. It is a very very well made and great playing guitar.

I think this guitar, with all its well-built quality, should last a long time. I will be careful not to bump it as it has no binding. I respect Martin's quality.

Limited lifetime warranty and I hope I never have to use it. Since it has a flawless track record so far I will give it a 10.

I give this guitar a 10 without hesitation. I love the sound, the action, the finish and the great smell. I have been playing seriously for over 10 years and have researched and tested many guitars before finally deciding on the D-15. I am very very glad I did. Now I have a great sounding/great playing acoustic guitar to play and use for recording. AND....I didn't have to sell my mom off on the street corner to buy it.

I just purchased this martin D-15, and as I have read in previous reviews it isn't much to look at it. It's body is solid mohagany top, back and sides. With a rosewood fretboard and saddle. The neck is also mohagany. Its got a decal rosette rather than the more expensive inlayed rosettes on higher priced guitars. It came with a very very nice hardshell Martin case. Which was a nice addition. It is a simple black hardshell case with a green plush lining. The guitar fits extremely snug and it includes an accessory box. It has a very subtle satin finish which showcases the natural beauty of the wood. Despite all this it is quite an attractive guitar which grows on you. The tuning machines are by Martin. The gears are closed and they seem to be of high quality. However I am not that knowledgeable in regards to tuning machines. The fret markers are simple dot inlays. The pick guard is a simple tortoise shell color which adds to the guitar simplistic appearance. If you are interested in a non-flashy simple yet attractive guitar then this is the one for you!

I have to say this guitar sounds incredible. Very rich, deep tones. With a very strong volume. I played a Takamine, Ovation, Fender and some other acoustics, but this Martin D-15 was just too rich and full of tone to neglect. Especially for the price. I generally play a classic rock/blues style and find this guitar to be well suited.

This guitar in particular was set up very well. The action was nice and low, which is how I like it. The frets are also relatively small and low. There is absolutley no buzzing and I find that the Martin SP strings which are factory standard are a great addition. Martin guitars however are not designed for any strings higher than medium gauge which I was somewhat dissappointed about. The Tuning machines were in excellent condition and seem to be of high quality as mentioned before. The finish is a very simple clear satin. It looks as though there is no finish which gives a very natural look.

I have only had this guitar a short while but it seems to be very durable despite its light weight. There doesn't seem to be much of a finish on it, but it might be deceiving. The strap button (there is only one) is plastic and designed to match the bridge pins. It is simply wedged into the hole by you the owner upon purchase. (it is included unattached in the case). I would prefer a chrome or metallic factory installed strap button but it is a minor complaint in sacrafice of excellent sound and overall craftmanship. I would definately bring this guitar out on a gig on stage or in a studio.

The warranty is a one year limited warranty on craftmanship and parts. I have no dealings with the company or customer support as of yet being that the guitar is new. I have however heard good things about Martin's customer support.

I have been playing guitar for about 10 years. I also own a 1990 Fender American Strat. With a Fender JAM amplifier. I play mostly at home for my own enjoyment but have played with other musicians. I have played many other guitars in the past and found this Martin D-15 to be superb in sound, quality and playability. I highly recommend it to anyone one, no matter their level of playing or demands. I simply chose this guitar because for some time I have wanted to own a Martin. This being my first one I chose to purchase a more inexpensive model just because of my own budget. I intend to buy a higher end model in the future simply because of my excellent experience with this current one.

This a left-handed 2000 model Martin D15, made from solid Mahogany all the way around, with a Rosewood finger board. No binding, nothing flashy, and it's looks bring to mind a very poor boy living in a 3rd world country with the only guitar he could afford. I don't find it ugly, and conversely, its looks tend to grow on you over time. But, I have to admit that I was not really attracted to it when I saw in in the store. It has typical Martin nice simple dots on the finger board starting with the 5th fret. It has a small simple, but attractive reddish swirl looking pick guard, and Martin tuners.

Its the sound that keeps bringing you back to this guitar. It has such a mellow attractive sound. I find myself wanting to play this guitar over my Simon and Patrick acoustic (Drednought style), and my electrics as well, depending upon the songs I am playing. There are some songs where I need the sustain of my electric which is hard to achieve with an acoustic. When you play this guitar, then I play my other guitars, the difference in sound is quite stark. I simply LOVE the sound of this guitar and have not yet found a song where I didn't like the sound of it. This guitar sounded so much better that all the other guitars I was playing in the guitar store (MARS MUSIC). They had a fairly nice selection of left-handed guitar there, including a Taylor 310, Gibson J45, J200, Songbird, and some others. The sound of the mahogany just really appealed to me, but it really appealed to my wife, and she is the one that convinced my to buy it - based strictly on sound.

The finish work from the factory was flawless. But, since this is a left-handed model, and they only had the one in the store, it had a couple of small dings you can see when you hold it just right in the light. This is from all the other customers trying it out and handling it in the store, not a fault of Martin. The action however was another matter. It was extremely high for me, and hard for me to play, and that is one of the reasons I hesitated to buy it, even thought my wife was wanting me to get it. They convinced me at MARS that their luthier could adjust the guitar for me. They wanted me to take it home and play it for a couple of days (which I did), but the action was just to high, especially when you get up around the 7th fret and above. I have short stubby fingers and the further the strings are from the frets the harder it is to keep from deading neighboring strings when depressing them. I took it back after 2 days and they adjusted the action down. It is great now!! But, again, that's the way I like it - others may like the higher action. Since most stores do not have a good selection of left-handed guitars (or sometimes non at all), those of us that need left-handed guitars can't be quite as choosy as you right handers. I was lucky because I think the workmanship on this one is terrific

I don't see any problem with durability on this guitar. I have had it for several months now and have not had any problems. I think how long this guitar lasts is going to be a function of how well it is taken care of. Some people would destroy it if it was made out of cast iron - that's just the way it is. I am not afraid to take this guitar with me anyplace I would take my other guitars. But, because it is made from Mahogany, that is a softer wood and will ding easier, but also, I suspect it will not crack as easily as some of the harder, denser woods, such as Rosewood, etc. And, its much lighter

Haven't had to deal with them.

I've been playing guitar since 1970, although I kind of laid off for several years and have just got back into it again about 3 years ago when my youngest son wanted to learn to play guitar, I am mostly just a home player without much desire to go on stage and perform at this point in my life. I own 2 acoustics - a Simon and Patrick, and a right handed guitar I changed to a left-handed one in the early 70's. It is called a Prairie. Has anyone heard of this? I think it is a cheap Japanese knock off from the late 60's - it name stolen from the earlier Prairie State manufactured in Chicago. Its pretty, looking much like a Gibson Hummingbird. I also own a 1972 Fender Mustang, a 1992 Fender Stratocaster, and a DeArmond Starfire Special - all left-handed. I have a 1967 Fender Vibrolux (yes, black face), a Marshall, and a Kustom Amplifier I play my electrics through. I use no effect pedals, and I don't understand that much about them. I play a variety of music, some Blue Grass, some rock, a lot of folk music, some Blues - whatever I feel like playing. I do some Travis style finger picking, and am learning some Arpeggios (p i m a) patterns - which is hard for me because I am missing the tip of my middle finger, which is also why I play left-handed. You can't cord very good with part of a finger missing on your left hand, thus I learned to play left-handed. Mostly, I flat pick my tunes. In general, I find this simple Martin D15 guitar is growing on me. I appreciate it more every time I play it. And, its a great buy for the money!!

I bought this Martin D-15 in Richmond va. It was made in 2000 in PA. It is a solid wood guitar made out of solid mahogany. I love the way it plays and sounds. I was in the Market for Taylor 310 or 410, but this Martin D-15 just sounded so much better and for less money.

The sound of this guitar is out of this world. Very rich and lots of high end and low end sounds...very clean sounding guitar which is very easy to play

Very plain Jane Guitar, no extra frills or bells and whistles here, just a solid wood guitar that sounds and plays great. It has a very smoothe satin finnish. It is a very light guitar, but seems to be very well made...what can you say, it is a Martin

Very new guitar so can not really say at this time. I have taken it on many road trips allready though. I take it camping and so far it has held up great

Martin is well known for there well made guitars and customer support, CF Martin signed my warrenty card himself

I would buy this same model guitar again if it was lost or stolen. I really feel that for the money (around $600) you get the sound of a $1500 guitar. I tried Taylors and higher end Gibsons and Guilds before I got the D-15....the sound kept bringing me back

2000 dreadnought, crafted in Nazareth, Pa. 20 frets; solid mahagony top, sides, and back; the same no-frills descriptions everyone else has given. I gotta be honest: I love the simplicity of this machine. I love looking at it, and I love smelling it when I take it out of its case.

The sound is phenomenal. I originally had bought a 000-15 at Guitar Center with a 6-mos same as cash deal - otherwise I would never have bought it. While I loved the 000-15, the tone wasn't exactly what I wanted or needed. I love the booming bass sound of an acoustic, which the 000 doesn't have. So I exchanged it for the D-15. And while I lvoed the 000, I loooooooooooooooooove the D-15. Rich, full, booming, gorgeous sound.

I'm new to guitars, so I am not smart enough to care about the action. Seeing as I learned to play with the cookie-cutter Chinese-made laminated guitar with exceedingly high action, the action on the D-15 is like strolling through a meadow on a summer's day.

Since I am stil learning, I don't know when I would even think of live playing. And since I am treating it with care, I don't think it will fall apart all that quickly. But it is light, and I am paranoid I will crush it on on my coffee table. However, those are my issues.

I was impressed that Chris Martin himself signed the warranty.

Been playing for two years (if you can call it that). I got $100 off the price because I traded in a beater bass guitar that I never learned how to play. If it were lost or stolen, I would cry like a baby and buy myself another one in a heartbeat - my wife would take my life if I bought a D-28, so for the meantime I will stick with "The People's Martin." For the money, for the feel, for the Martin name...hell, I consider myself lucky to have stumbled upon this baby.

2000 good old made in the USA Martin D-15. As most have mentioned, not much on extra features, but seems to be made of solid materials. It has what it needs, right?

Well this is the important part, isn't it. Understand that I am primarily an electric guitar player and bought this to satisfy the acoustic jones. Having said that, this guitar sounds absolutely awesome! Full, well balanced, has a very clear warm quality that others have mentioned. Not exactly loud like a spruce top Martin, but very full sounding. I tried numerous guitars and this one equaled or beat them all, even the expensive Martins and Gibsons (the Gibson Hummingbird is a sweet guitar, but at 4 times the price of the D-15 ...duh) Can't really comment on what kind of live guitar this would be, sometimes it's hard to tell whether a guitar will stand out when mixed with other instruments. Kind of like those Boogie amps that sound great in your bedroom but sound flabby and weak when mixed with bass and drums. But since I bought this strictly for home use, who cares?

Setup was excellent. I'm not real picky, but the guitar plays real easy unlike some acoustics I have played. If you play mainly electric, you will have no problem with the D-15. Some people have said the guitar is ugly, but after browsing for a year trying to find something to beat price/performance on this thing I will say it grows on you. I actually appreciate the uniqueness of the look now. Other finish flaws were non-existent. Good job.

I guess this is the main worry with this guitar since it is unbound and does seem to be fairly thin. I probably wouldn't recommend this as a gigging guitar, but since I never gig with an acoustic what do I know? I think it will last me a lifetime with care

Martin has been around for a while, yeah?

If you are an electric player looking for a quality acoustic for not a lot of cash, stop looking and go buy the D-15 now! You get a wonderful sounding guitar with the Martin name behind it, and a top quality hardshell case all for around $600. Good job Martin!

Martin D-15 Dreadnought series, manuf in 2000 in Nazareth, PA, USA. 14 frets, solid mahogany top/back/sides, rosewood neck. Satin finish. Came with case and a set of Martin SP strings. Martin machinery-- chrome. Gold would be better, but the quality of the tuning mechanisms is good. Not a lot of features--simple, but a lot of quality.

Oh my god! I love this tone! The bass is full and rich, the mid range sings and it's not too bright. It gives a very full sound. You can feel the sound resonating in your chest cavity when you play it. I do a good deal of Travis style picking and the notes ring like notes on a piano ring. I chose this guitar because I was looking for an instrument that would not "drown" when playing next to an accordion. This guitar, even unamplified, can be heard and blends well with both an accordion and an accoustic bass.

Guitar was set-up at the factory. No modifications were made by the in-store staff. The action is low, but the frets don't buzz unless I am playing poorly. There were a total of 5 D-15s in the store I purchased from. One of them buzzed a lot, one had a very high action and was difficult to play. If you're shopping for a D-15, try out a couple of them before making a decision.

No flaws on the instrument at the time of purchase, but the satin finish is soft and I've dinged it a bit. Lemon oil is an absolute must. If you are averse to routine maintenance on a guitar, this probably isn't the one for you.

The tuning pegs are standard Martin make and are chrome. Since this guitar is a nice dark mahogany, gold pegs would look much better. I'll probably replace them with Grovers before too long.

The smell of this instrument is amazing! It's got a nice wood smell. Reminds me a little of sandalwood.

I think you'd have to be pretty compulsive about caring for this instrument if you did live playing. The finish isn't "hard" like the glossier finishes on some of the other guitars I own and it scratches and dings more easily. I think it's imperative to keep it in the case when not in use--and as another reviewer pointed out, don't jump around like an idiot.

The strap button doesn't want to fit flush, but fits tightly and won't wiggle. So far I've had no problem with it, so I am not worried about it.

This is one of those "friend for life" kinda instruments. I think with care it will hold up well for a very long time.

Absolutely no contact besides sending in my warranty card and getting information back from Martin very quickly.

I've been playing about 15 years now, off and on. I own a Yamaha 12-string, an old Ibanez acoustic, and a couple of electrics. Though I tried more expensive guitars before I purchased this one (tried other Martins, Takamine, Guild), this was the cream of the crop. Oh, the D-28 was a little better, but the "little better" was not worth the substantial difference in price between the D-15 and the D-28. If it were, heaven forbid, stolen/lost/eaten by a wild beast, I'd buy another D-15 without hesitation.

The only think I dislike about it is the softness of the finish. I do wish it had an electric pickup, but putting one in the body dampens the sound enough that it's not worth it.