Martin 00-15sm or 000-15sm

MartinMan1990 · #1 02-23-2018, 10:34 AM

I apologize in advance for discussing yet another topic in reference to mahogany topped guitars, but I have limited my final decision down to two, both of which would be custom orders from Ted at LAGuitar Sales- an 00-15sm, or an 000-15sm. Both of these guitars would be 12 fret, 1 3/4 nut, gloss finish with binding. The 00 would be short scale while the 000 I could customize to preference (unsure at this time). I know that some answers are going to be 'A/B both and find out for yourself,' but living in NJ this will be quite difficult to take a trip out to LA, not to mention expensive. This guitar will primarily be used as a couch guitar that would be primarily fingerpicked and lightly strummed, without a pick. I have played the 000 and do really enjoy it but am also interested in the 00 due to its 12 fret design and easy comfort of play. I do not want anything boxy and am thinking that the 00 with the 12 fret design should add some bass and wholeness to avoid the boxiness dilemma. I could be wrong though? Any ideas or opinions would greatly be appreciated!

ManyMartinMan · #2 02-23-2018, 11:09 AM

If you're not sure, I would get the 000. Many 00's (not all) get boxy and not as full sounding. I've never had that problem with a good 000.

Sagebrush Tom · #3 02-23-2018, 11:31 AM

La Guitar Sales offer a 0-15s 12 fret model along with the 000-15sm. Stands to reason that a 00 12 fret would sound overall somewhat better than the 0. If i had all 3 body styles in front of me and had to pick one, I would definitely choose the 000.
Tom

Speedwagon · #4 02-23-2018, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManyMartinMan

If you're not sure, I would get the 000. Many 00's (not all) get boxy and not as full sounding. I've never had that problem with a good 000.

Agreed. A 12 fret 000-15sm should sound fantastic!

ManyMartinMan · #5 02-23-2018, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagebrush Tom

La Guitar Sales.. .

Okay Tom, give us our due......... it's L.A. (Los Angeles) not La (as in La Quinta)....

stephenT · #6 02-23-2018, 11:42 AM

Alright. Let stop this "a OO is boxy" b-stuff. A OO is the most perfectly balanced of all the "O's".

Was just playing my OO-15m LAGS, it's about 5 years old and is spectacular. Bass to treble, beautifully balanced. I would think a 12 version might even be cooler (tho I can't imagine).

DenverSteve · #7 02-23-2018, 11:49 AM

Two things from my years of owning both sizes. Smaller is smaller. No way around it. A 00 will always sound smaller than a 000 all other things (such as builder) being the same. Physics is physics. Secondly, if I'm sitting, I find the 00 too small for me and at times I feel bunched up. Never happens with a 000/OM. Standing both are equal. Plugged in, to me, equal as well but acoustically some 00's sound too anemic for me. The 00 will have its own rich tone, sweet and balanced, but won't compete with a good/equal 000 in volume, or fullness of sound. Additionally, they aren't "O"'s, they are 0 (zeros).

stephenT · #8 02-23-2018, 12:08 PM

No not always. Depends on the guitar. Since I've owned two OM-15s and a OOO-15s, I can assuredly report this assessment does not correlate w/ my experience.

Funny, my OO-15m has never bunched up. And I like the look of OO's much better than 00s. (insert smiling emoji of your choice).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Two things from my years of owning both sizes. Smaller is smaller. No way around it. A 00 will always sound smaller than a 000 all other things (such as builder) being the same. Physics is physics. Secondly, if I'm sitting, I find the 00 too small for me and at times I feel bunched up. Never happens with a 000/OM. Standing both are equal. Plugged in, to me, equal as well but acoustically some 00's sound too anemic for me. The 00 will have its own rich tone, sweet and balanced, but won't compete with a good/equal 000 in volume, or fullness of sound. Additionally, they aren't "O"'s, they are 0 (zeros).

Sagebrush Tom · #9 02-23-2018, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManyMartinMan

Okay Tom, give us our due......... it's L.A. (Los Angeles) not La (as in La Quinta)....

Here is your due, L.A. When you move away from so cal 40 years ago like i did, the initials lose their luster over time....and i did live La Quinta from 1959 to 1961.
Tom

DenverSteve · #10 02-23-2018, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagebrush Tom

... i did live La Quinta from 1959 to 1961.
Tom

I know. I checked you out. (smiling emoji)

Swamp Yankee · #11 02-23-2018, 02:51 PM

does Martin even make a 00-15SM?

ManyMartinMan · #12 02-23-2018, 03:03 PM

They sure have.

muscmp · #13 02-23-2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamp Yankee

does Martin even make a 00-15SM?

unless it is new, they only make the 00015sm.

play music!

#14 02-23-2018, 06:43 PM

After playing mostly 00-sized guitars for a few years, I was surprised by how BIG the 000-15SM felt when I played one recently! It sounded wonderful, and wasn't uncomfortable or unwieldy, but I definitely gravitate towards smaller bodies, given my druthers.

If I were buying today, I'd try to get my hands on an 00 -- like this one!

Sagebrush Tom · #15 02-23-2018, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

I know. I checked you out. (smiling emoji)

Boring stuff.