NAGD - Martin 000-15M

[sal paradise]

Been flirting with the idea of a small bodied Martin for most of this year since Larry turned me on to them. Picked one up with a few knocks for a bargain price. Did not disappoint.

It’s bright, it’s loud & it’s a delight to play. I was actually a little against this body shape but full-scale. It works perfectly. The body construction is solid but you can feel how minimal the bracing is. I’m not sold on the finish, I suppose I prefer my acoustics all polished and fake looking. But this guitar is not only a keeper, it’s blown my Gibson G45 out of the water.

Until now the G45 was by far the nicest & best playing acoustic I’ve ever spent time with. Compared to the Martin, it feels unwieldy & the neck chunky. That’s even considering the Gibson is set-up beautifully & the action on the 000-15M is currently sky high.









Sitting next to the slim bodied G45:

[zhivago]

Very nice! 000 is my favourite guitar size!

[BoringPostcards]

Good score! I’m also a big fan of 000 size guitars.

[Jonesie]

The singer/guitarist in my old band played a 000-15M, and the singer in my other band played a D15. Those 15 series guitars are fantastic and always sound incredible.

[sal paradise]

Thanks folks. Yeah, this body shape is a revelation. It’s so easy to just pick up and play. And it sounds surprisingly big, comparable to a much larger body.

Given this is the entry level of a ‘proper’ Martin, it’s got me seriously intrigued around higher end acoustics

[GreenKnee]

Yes! Beautiful guitar

I've owned one of these for 15 years now and I still love it. It was an 18th birthday present from my parents so not only does it have sentimental value but it's just a fantastic acoustic.

They mic up and record really nicely, not boomy at all like I find some dreadnaughts to be.

Enjoy it!

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Nice guitar, and glad you got a good deal on it. I have a poor relation version of the same guitar (Sigma), and it's a joy to play and sounds great too.

[GreenKnee]

Just noticed mine has different inlays and different bracing inside. Check the model number and mine is just 000-15, missing the M

[sal paradise]

Nice guitar, and glad you got a good deal on it. I have a poor relation version of the same guitar (Sigma), and it's a joy to play and sounds great too.

I came v close to buying a Sigma version when I was getting impatient - the videos & reviews convinced me it would sound every bit as good. I still have a mental block around spending more than £1k on an acoustic, so the Sigma range is really tempting. The J45, too.

Just noticed mine has different inlays and different bracing inside. Check the model number and mine is just 000-15, missing the M

I just had a google & it seems Martin did an 000-15 Natural in the 00s that looks almost identical. Same specs, too. Does yours have a decorated sound hole?

[Fiddy]

Very nice. Im a big fan. Would prefer cream binding but still... This is awesome.

[DaddyDom]

Nice guitar, and glad you got a good deal on it. I have a poor relation version of the same guitar (Sigma), and it's a joy to play and sounds great too.

Congrats on the NAGD!

UlricvonCatalyst, having lived with a new Sigma version I was then offered a used Martin from a pal a few years later, so went for it.
By then, a few of my students had also got the Sigma and when I play theirs, It's not like I'm slumming it at all.

While recording my album in 2017 I'd had my Sigma version for a wee while and did try a new Martin but used my Sigma in the end. I think the Martin I'd tried was still closed up being brand-new.

When I play my students' Sigmas, they sound and play the same as they always were but I can appreciate that my Martin has now opened up.
That's what they say will happen to a high-quality guitar but there's nothing 'poor' about your Sigma at all.

[Larry Mal]

I still think it's a wonderful guitar, even more so seeing the new pictures. That's a winner what will serve you for the rest of your life.

[marqueemoon]

Given this is the entry level of a ‘proper’ Martin, it’s got me seriously intrigued around higher end acoustics

These are great guitars in their own right.

You can certainly spend more and get something that’s excellent in a different way though.

I will sometimes kick the tires on high end acoustics, and usually come away from it more appreciative of what I already have.

Collings is consistently at the top for me though.

[Larry Mal]

Given this is the entry level of a ‘proper’ Martin, it’s got me seriously intrigued around higher end acoustics

I'm no expert on Martin, but my belief about the 15-series is that while they are made to be a barebones and not fancy guitar, they are not compromised in any of the ways that would affect the sound.

The -18 and up series are what they call their "Standard" series, so you'll find more accoutrements, binding and so on. You'll find spruce tops and different woods in the body often, which is really just preference.

But below the -18 series they deliberately hold the models back in some way, they came out with a nice -17 series that are great guitars but had a very inexpensive finish on them. So they took the -18 series specs and dumbed them down slightly (honestly not much, they are great guitars). But they did make compromises to hit a price point.

The -15 series guitars, though, are not deliberately handicapped, they are just all mahogany bodied guitars in the classic vein and at the traditional price points.

If you got a 000-28, you would definitely get a fancier guitar, you would get more expensive woods, and it would definitely sound different and a lot of people would call it "better".

My feeling though is if you bought one you would just get an alternative to your -15 but I'd still call it "different" rather than "better". Because both of them are holistic designs made to the quality of those designs.

[sal paradise]

Given this is the entry level of a ‘proper’ Martin, it’s got me seriously intrigued around higher end acoustics

I'm no expert on Martin, but my belief about the 15-series is that while they are made to be a barebones and not fancy guitar, they are not compromised in any of the ways that would affect the sound.

The -18 and up series are what they call their "Standard" series, so you'll find more accoutrements, binding and so on. You'll find spruce tops and different woods in the body often, which is really just preference.

But below the -18 series they deliberately hold the models back in some way, they came out with a nice -17 series that are great guitars but had a very inexpensive finish on them. So they took the -18 series specs and dumbed them down slightly (honestly not much, they are great guitars). But they did make compromises to hit a price point.

The -15 series guitars, though, are not deliberately handicapped, they are just all mahogany bodied guitars in the classic vein and at the traditional price points.

If you got a 000-28, you would definitely get a fancier guitar, you would get more expensive woods, and it would definitely sound different and a lot of people would call it "better".

My feeling though is if you bought one you would just get an alternative to your -15 but I'd still call it "different" rather than "better". Because both of them are holistic designs made to the quality of those designs.

That’s interesting info, and makes total sense. There always comes a point where you’re paying for AAA wood & mother of pearl etc. oh and a 3-part back if you’re buying a 35.

Will bear that in mind when I get round to trying some acoustics out.

For now, off to my luthier to get the action slammed.