Martin ooo-15sm

eyesore · #1 09-01-2019, 12:01 PM

is anyone familiar with this guitar?just looked it up.i like the body size but i'm not sure if i would like the 12 fret to body thing.i wish someone made a small body [not parlor size] that is clear to the 14th fret!!

AdlGMT8 · #2 09-01-2019, 12:10 PM

I think it's a great guitar! Really comfortable to play and a brilliantly loud sound. If you're looking for a small bodied guitar that's 14 fret instead of 12, Martin has the 0-18/0-28. They're small bodied but not parlour guitars.

Jaden · #3 09-01-2019, 12:14 PM

You could always try out a Martin 000-15m which is 14 frets to the body, and I believe the 00-15m is also. The sm of course has the slotted headstock and the body is slightly lengthened with bridge placement shifted rearward towards the endpin, providing more lower-midrange bloom. The 000-15m provides a flatter frequency response from bass to treble, and has more punch - Martin sells more of these.

ChrisE · #4 09-01-2019, 12:26 PM

They seem to cool to me but I'm sure I could get by just fine if it only had 5 frets. What are all the rest for, anyway?

beatcomber · #5 09-01-2019, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyesore

i wish someone made a small body [not parlor size] that is clear to the 14th fret!!

https://www.elderly.com/products/far...coustic-guitar

I have both that ^^ and the 000-15SM.

The question in the first post is kind of unfocused. What info would you like?

Bob from Brooklyn · #6 09-01-2019, 02:11 PM

I have a 00015sm and I love it. I've stated here before that it is my 'comfort food' guitar. On the rare occasion where I need the additional frets I'll pull out something else. There are plenty of 14 fret smaller body guitars. The 00l-17 is a sweetie.

zoopeda · #7 09-01-2019, 05:34 PM

As stated above, Martin also makes a 00-15m and 000-15m which are 14-fret guitars, but then you lose that epic 12-fret tone. CFM changed most of his designs in the 1930s from 12 fret to 14 fret to help players reach higher frets and NOT for tonal reasons. In fact, many agree the switch was made at the expense of tone, for player convenience. I can’t believe it took me 20 years to discover: a) that I vastly prefer 12 fret tone vs the 14 fret equivalent, and b) don’t miss those high two frets at all. The 15 series Martins are about the best value they offer, and as far as tone, the 000-15SM is the gem of the series. You should play one; then decide, good luck.

Jaden · #8 09-01-2019, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoopeda

As stated above, Martin also makes a 00-15m and 000-15m which are 14-fret guitars, but then you lose that epic 12-fret tone. CFM changed most of his designs in the 1930s from 12 fret to 14 fret to help players reach higher frets and NOT for tonal reasons. In fact, many agree the switch was made at the expense of tone, for player convenience. I can’t believe it took me 20 years to discover: a) that I vastly prefer 12 fret tone vs the 14 fret equivalent, and b) don’t miss those high two frets at all. The 15 series Martins are about the best value they offer, and as far as tone, the 000-15SM is the gem of the series. You should play one; then decide, good luck.

Sounds great. In this life I will miss out on owning the 12 fret 000, but I can say the 000-15m I have sounds precise, like a Swiss watch, harkening back to this family’s tradition of old world craftsmanship - plucked first position chords and arpeggios, it has extremely well defined, harp-like note separation with an even balance across the strings, and with a clear forward punch. Good enough for me.

jimcaleca · #9 09-02-2019, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyesore

is anyone familiar with this guitar?just looked it up.i like the body size but i'm not sure if i would like the 12 fret to body thing.i wish someone made a small body [not parlor size] that is clear to the 14th fret!!

Take a look at the Martin 00L size like the CEO-7. If you are talking about the rounded/Slope shoulder look. They are 14 fret guitars.

WYfish · #10 09-02-2019, 08:05 AM

I've had one of these since they came out and love it. I've got other more expensive martins, but the SM is one sweet guitar and probably one of the best bang for the buck guitars out there. It does everything well.

DukeX · #11 09-02-2019, 11:52 AM

The 000-15sm is an awesome guitar IMO. Addictive. Just a blast to play.

eyesore · #12 09-02-2019, 12:20 PM

hmm interesting views.i sure would like to try before i buy. any advice on that issue? i bought one guitar "by mail" and i don't like it!

Jaden · #13 09-02-2019, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyesore

hmm interesting views.i sure would like to try before i buy. any advice on that issue? i bought one guitar "by mail" and i don't like it!

It definitely is a good idea to be able to try the Martin 15 series in shop. Being wood instruments, there can be quite a variation in responsiveness between them, even within the same model, and it’s also well worthwhile to see how you like the feel of the guitar and neck profile.

mysterious1s · #14 09-02-2019, 03:00 PM

The 000-15sm is very nice sounding and plays very well. I went back and forth with the 000-15m and thought the sm was much nicer sounding and better playing. I was very close to buying the sm when I played a CEO-7 which blew them both away! I purchased a CEO-7 and couldn't be happier.

guitar12 · #15 09-02-2019, 03:39 PM

The 000-15Sm are kind of, dare I say, universally loved. I've had two and loved them but then I always kind of convince myself that 1 3/4 is a bit too big for me and then I ended up reaching for my 1 11/16 guitars.

Always best to play one before you buy, you'll have to find an independent store tho as they don't have them at Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc.

Rob