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  #1  
Old 02-17-2024, 11:00 AM
jbow jbow is offline
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Default Martin 00 vs 000 tone question

The 00 top is 14 5/16” wide. The the 000 top is 15” wide.
The 00 body depth is 4 5/8”, the 000 body depth is 4 1/8”.
Since the 000 top is only 1/4” more than the 00 and the body depth of the 00 is 1/2” deeper than the 000. How can the 000 have any better tone?
I ask because I haven’t had the occasion to compare them.
I’m guessing that the top has a lot more to do with tone than body depth does.
Thanks
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  #2  
Old 02-17-2024, 11:07 AM
baseball baseball is offline
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I have a Martin 00-18

Before I bought it I went to Gruhns and played a single 0, double 0 and triple 000-18.

I did not hear a ton of difference between the 00 and 000...the single was the first one to have a noticeable dip in the bottom end and volume.
I think Maury posted a video of this comparison on their Youtube page.

I don't think standard 00 is 4 5/8s? I think that is only on the Tweedy model and the 'DB' models. I have wanted one of those for a while becuase of the V-neck and the depth, but there are lots of guitars I want and can't afford (LOL)

But yeah...google "00-18 vs 000-18" and i think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I love my 00 and we have spent a lot of comfortable hours together
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  #3  
Old 02-17-2024, 12:45 PM
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Dave in Olympia Dave in Olympia is offline
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Tone is entirely subjective. My 00-28 has remarkable bass response for its size. My 000's are both mahogany, so I can't compare apples to apples, but the 000-18MD does have a bit more bass.
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  #4  
Old 02-17-2024, 12:57 PM
jbow jbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave in Olympia View Post
Tone is entirely subjective. My 00-28 has remarkable bass response for its size. My 000's are both mahogany, so I can't compare apples to apples, but the 000-18MD does have a bit more bass.
Thanks. I am really interested in the 000-18 MD. I always play with a pick, a blue Chip TD 45. I try to use a light touch but I sometimes play a little bit harder. How does the 000-18 MD hold up if you play it harder?
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Old 02-17-2024, 01:02 PM
jbow jbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by baseball View Post
I have a Martin 00-18

Before I bought it I went to Gruhns and played a single 0, double 0 and triple 000-18.

I did not hear a ton of difference between the 00 and 000...the single was the first one to have a noticeable dip in the bottom end and volume.
I think Maury posted a video of this comparison on their Youtube page.

I don't think standard 00 is 4 5/8s? I think that is only on the Tweedy model and the 'DB' models. I have wanted one of those for a while becuase of the V-neck and the depth, but there are lots of guitars I want and can't afford (LOL)

But yeah...google "00-18 vs 000-18" and i think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I love my 00 and we have spent a lot of comfortable hours together
Thank you. I’m definitely going to have to find a place where I can try both the 00 and the 000. I like the idea of a 00 because I’m a bit older now and I like comfort and have enough pain from other things, lol.

I’m in the Atlanta area and will probably try to get down to Maple Street. Righteous has a better selection but you have to go somewhere else first to get there from here 😂.
Well, thanks for the input 😊.
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Old 02-17-2024, 01:23 PM
Corndog Corndog is offline
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Seemingly, you mixed up the numbers, jbow. This is what Maury says about it...

From Maury's Music:

00-14 fret

BODY LENGTH 18-7/8"
UPPER BOUT WIDTH 10-7/8"
LOWER BOUT WIDTH 14-5/16"
UPPER BOUT DEPTH 3-11/32"
LOWER BOUT DEPTH 4-1/8"

000-14 fret

BODY LENGTH 19-3/8"
UPPER BOUT WIDTH 11-1/4"
LOWER BOUT WIDTH 15"
UPPER BOUT DEPTH 3-11/32"
LOWER BOUT DEPTH 4-1/8"

My take? The difference in tone can be noticeable. I still have 00s as I am OK with those differences, in favor of shape.
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  #7  
Old 02-17-2024, 01:30 PM
Tunesalot Tunesalot is offline
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For my 00/000 Martin pair the tone is different(both rosewood, one decades older). I have found that the 000 handles harder play better. YMMV. Have fun in your discoveries.
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  #8  
Old 02-17-2024, 01:41 PM
Bowie Bowie is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbow View Post
How can the 000 have any better tone?
What is better tone to you? For someone who wants presence, fast response, and mid to high frequency projection, the 00 might have better tone. For the person who feels bass and volume = better tone, the 000 is superior.

They both have their place. My 00s do things my 000s don't and vice versa.
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  #9  
Old 02-17-2024, 02:43 PM
leew3 leew3 is offline
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I have a 000-18, CEO-7 (00) and a 000-28 12 fret. They each sound different but that seems to be due to the build and materials: the first two are mahogany and spruce, the last is rosewood and adi-and it's the loudest!

Not to hijack the thread but I recently switched from Elixir PB lights to Daddario XS PB lights and love the difference on all of them.
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Old 02-17-2024, 02:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbow View Post
..the 00 and the body depth of the 00 is 1/2” deeper than the 000. How can the 000 have any better tone?..

Better is subjective. But those seemingly tiny differences in dimensions to add up to some small difference in body size and resonance. Moreover I think they also make small changes is the relative locations of important tone affecting things like the location of the bridge, location of the x-brace, etc... A bunch tiny things that add to some appreciable differences. Personally I prefer the tone of a 00
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Old 02-17-2024, 03:02 PM
PeterM PeterM is offline
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I have both OO and OOO in mahagany. Both short scale and 12 fret.

The OO is wonderful, clear, sweet. Cannot say enough about it.
The OOO is the same, just more. A touch louder, somewhat deeper bass. I totally get lost in this one and neglect the OO. Then I realize that they all need played and the OOO gets relegated to the case for a couple of weeks.

So, sorry, not very helpful...they are both great. Buy em both!
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Old 02-17-2024, 03:06 PM
jbow jbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Corndog View Post
Seemingly, you mixed up the numbers, jbow. This is what Maury says about it...

From Maury's Music:

00-14 fret

BODY LENGTH 18-7/8"
UPPER BOUT WIDTH 10-7/8"
LOWER BOUT WIDTH 14-5/16"
UPPER BOUT DEPTH 3-11/32"
LOWER BOUT DEPTH 4-1/8"

000-14 fret

BODY LENGTH 19-3/8"
UPPER BOUT WIDTH 11-1/4"
LOWER BOUT WIDTH 15"
UPPER BOUT DEPTH 3-11/32"
LOWER BOUT DEPTH 4-1/8"

My take? The difference in tone can be noticeable. I still have 00s as I am OK with those differences, in favor of shape.
Thanks, I’ll double check. I got them here: http://onemanz.com/guitar/reviews/ac...l-designation/

I could have read them wrong 😑
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  #13  
Old 02-17-2024, 03:13 PM
jbow jbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowie View Post
What is better tone to you? For someone who wants presence, fast response, and mid to high frequency projection, the 00 might have better tone. For the person who feels bass and volume = better tone, the 000 is superior.

They both have their place. My 00s do things my 000s don't and vice versa.
I’m not sure. I became interested in Acoustic again in 2022 after decades of electric hackery. I need to make a trip to the city. I’m just wanting opinions. I have a Breedlove Premier Copper-e which is about a 00 size and a Recording King RO-342. Also a a Takamine and a Big Baby. I have no experience with Martin guitars but I’m really interested. I have XS PB 12s on the RO and it sounds really rich. I bought it to get in the Martin ballpark, to see if I like it but without spending too much and I do like it so far.
Thanks
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  #14  
Old 02-17-2024, 03:17 PM
jbow jbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterM View Post
I have both OO and OOO in mahagany. Both short scale and 12 fret.

The OO is wonderful, clear, sweet. Cannot say enough about it.
The OOO is the same, just more. A touch louder, somewhat deeper bass. I totally get lost in this one and neglect the OO. Then I realize that they all need played and the OOO gets relegated to the case for a couple of weeks.

So, sorry, not very helpful...they are both great. Buy em both!
Sounds like a good problem to have. I’m leaning toward the 00 because I play sitting, in the house. I’m not so much worried about projection or bass but more about the sound falling apart if I play harder and that boxiness that some guitars or small amps seem to have.
Thanks 😊
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  #15  
Old 02-17-2024, 03:21 PM
PeterM PeterM is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbow View Post
Sounds like a good problem to have. I’m leaning toward the 00 because I play sitting, in the house. I’m not so much worried about projection or bass but more about the sound falling apart if I play harder and that boxiness that some guitars or small amps seem to have.
Thanks 😊

I flatpick the OO at times. ( well, I try) It does not break down. Bare flesh thumb can sound a bit boxy to my ears sometimes. That is when I know it is time for a string change.
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