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.

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

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

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

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

Seems good so far.

NIce case. Good warranty. Excellent customer service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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