Why does everybody love the Martin 00015?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Sixfir

I know, that's what I try to understand, if I compare it to my Furch/Stonebridge OM32 SM it's just a whole different world, it costs maybe just 200 dollars more in Europe, and it's the night and day, awesome projection, rich and balanced sound, of course it's a sitka top, but I've tried a awesome Larson Bros Prairie OM reedition by Maurice Dupont all Mahogany (Ok it was a little more expensive), a Guild all mahogany too, the Furch OM 32MM all hog and even the Taylor GS mini all hog sounds great too (especially for it's price range), and honestly I thought all those sounded better than the Martin... But it's maybe just something wrong with me!

All the guitars you mentioned are fine guitars. Why does this have to be an either or? Why can't they all be great guitar? I think the reason the Martin gets so much love is that its readily available. Some that you mentioned aren't offered in the U.S. nearly as much and costs more.

[Rosewood99]

Perhaps you do need to get your ears checked.

[RTaylor]

had one and really liked it; tried a 00015SM.....sold the 00015M and got the SM. the rest is history the SM totally different.....great blues and folk guitar. play it almost every day. I put some mid/light strings on it has enough bottom end to drive and mids and highs are balanced. great guitar one of Martins best kept secrets

[Sixfir]

Which guitars in the same price range sound better that have the same tone woods?

Those I mentionned in my previous post, I also tried a Taylor GC4 (the name of the model has changed since that), with sitka top and ovangkol back and sides, one of the best I ever tried in this price range, although I'm not that much a Taylor guy, I also prefer the Martin 00016GT, I also tried some very cheap Furch/Stonebridge 00 solid cedar top and solid rosewood B and S, which costs 500 dollars less in Europe, which was terrific, but cedar doesn't fit my style. Some of my students have some cheap Tanglewood I even think sounds better. The point is not that I dislike Mahogany top as I said before, it's just that I tried some that sounded better in my opinion.

I think you may be the only person that would think a GS Mini hog would sound better than a Martin one. You must have played a rare bad Martin or there was something wrong with it. Maybe it had old strings?

I don't know what kind of strings Martin puts on their 00015 but you're right maybe they were dead, but one of my students had one and I wasn't that impressed with it either. But that's the cool point with guitars, there's no need to agree on everything, I just wanted to compile some views on this subject

[DesolationAngel]

Originally Posted by Sixfir

... if I compare it to my Furch/Stonebridge OM32 SM it's just a whole different world, it costs maybe just 200 dollars more in Europe, and it's the night and day, awesome projection, rich and balanced sound

I think we've found the disconnect. The Martin, in Europe, is ridiculously expensive... I made a comparison on a thread just a couple of days ago and the price of my 000-15SM was crazy expensive compared to North American prices. By comparison, given that Furch/Stonebridge is a European company I'm sure you're getting better prices. Therefore you could probably get a 'better' Furch for the price of a 000-15SM over there in Europe.

Martin 000-15SM in England is about £1400... in the US it is $1450 (which is £870).

BUT for it's price, here in N. America, the 15's are lovely...

Is that maybe a consideration?

[Sixfir]

You're right, let me see I don't know exactly the actual change rate, but in France a Martin 00015 costs something about 1250 euros, a Furch OM 32 SM about 1450, 1 dollar is about 0.75 euro, ain't it? So let's say the Martin would cost here something like 1650 dollars, and the Furch/Stonebridge something like 1900, so you're right this may be part of the explanation.
But after checking the Martin site its Price in US is 1599, so it isn't that much cheaper, or maybe is it cheaper in the guitar stores?

[mercy]

Beats me, I dont much care for the thud thud sound.

[Sixfir]

All the guitars you mentioned are fine guitars. Why does this have to be an either or? Why can't they all be great guitar? I think the reason the Martin gets so much love is that its readily available. Some that you mentioned aren't offered in the U.S. nearly as much and costs more.

I know it's just for the fun of discussing, I wouldn't be sad if someone offered me a 00015 but maybe would I prefer it with sapele?

[DesolationAngel]

I'm going to record mine, post it and you WILL like it.. ok????

[Sixfir]

Beats me, I dont much care for the thud thud sound.

Sorry didn't get it, what do you mean with thud thud sound?

[brencat]

Originally Posted by mercy

Beats me, I dont much care for the thud thud sound.

Wrong hole buddy. The Gibson thread is thataway ---->

[00-28]

In the US, if the price is $1599, a 15 series could be had for around $1100. You can't normally get the 60% of list for Martins below the Standard models. .....Mike

[Sixfir]

I'm going to record mine, post it and you WILL like it.. ok????

Go ahead, I love to listen to others guitars

[Sixfir]

In the US, if the price is $1599, a 15 series could be had for around $1100. You can't normally get the 60% of list for Martins below the Standard models. .....Mike
Reply With Quote

You're right it's pretty cheap, but even here in France where this model is more expensive, people loves it, it's almost like a legend

[Jim]

I also would put them low on my list of guitars to buy in the future. I would much rather have a D-18, or even better, a Collings D-1.