Thoughts on the Martin 0015m?

[Toby Walker]

A very good friend of mine just picked one up and loves it. From what I've seen so far online it looks like a great little instrument.

The one on Maury's has a 1 11/16" nut width but L.A. Guitar sales is offering them with a 1 3/4" nut

Has anyone else tried either model?

Thanks

[Bluside]

I'm interested in this also. I recently sold an OM-15 that I bought from Ted. I didn't think I would miss it as much as I do. The 00-15 with the 1 3/4" nut is on my radar.

[stephenT]

Well, I've got one from Ted at LA Guitar Sales, a forum sponsor. I'd say buy it. Couldn't be happier w/ my purchase, I think it's a great deal, the specs are right w/ the 1 3/4ths nut, the binding is also a nice upgrade.

Bluside, I sold an early OM-15 (2000 model) to buy the OO, glad I did, the size is perfect. Forgive the reposted photo;

[Funkstarfish]

i did not like mine at all. had the standard 00-15. i hear the 12 fret 1 3/4 nut ones are a different beast. But I thought mine was flat and dull. No character.

just one thought.

[jpd]

1 3/4 nut, 00 body...don't wait too long!

[jrbarilla]

Very nice guitar for the money. Great for blues, ragtime fingerpicking etc. I was one of the first people on Ted's list when he started custom ordering these. Mine is the custom with 1 3/4' nut as well as gloss body (no binding). I removed the pickguard shortly after picking mine up at the Martin Guitar factory and love the looks.

My Martin custom shop 00-18v (custom ambertone w/ Adirondack top) offers a bit more in volume and sparkle but where the 00-15M excels is in that midrange which suits certain musical styles. Funny as it is, this guitar actually sounds good with what I would consider "dead" strings.

You can't go wrong for the money and Ted is a great guy to deal with.

[random works]

I played one recently. It had a great quality about it. I could find no weak areas and for the price, what can you get that's better?

The mahogany had a nice, understated quality.

[GibbyPrague]

My experience has been that I much prefer this model in Sapele. Wanted to buy it when tried it in mahogany but tone was too dark and flat, then came across a Sapele version and took her home there and then.

Much sparklier and alive to my ears than all mahogany.

[stephenT]

Mine is neither dark nor flat, to be honest, that was my experience w/ the early 15 series guitars and most i tried in stores.

I bought three of them before I was happy w/ my second OM-15 (and that needed mediums to make it sound good).

My OO is my fourth 15 series (not counting the j-15 I had for a minute and sold, too big). And new out of the case it's much better than the OM-15 after 12 years.

Ted said of the four OO-15ms he had, they were all very similar in tone. There's enough brightness to give definition and there's some "shimmer" when you play open chords up the neck (not just for blues and ragtime).

My other guitar is a custom John How ladder braced concert, I've owned Collings, Goodalls, Merrill, Gibsons and many Martins, I'm here to testify, the OO-15m custom I got from Ted is a great guitar, a keeper and at $1200, a bargain.

[NewMartinFan]

While I am not a lover of mahogany, I really like this guitar. Very comfortable, excellent tone. And I think it's about as good of a value as you are going to find.

The only negative I could find is that I prefer a little more sustain for strumming. I thought it excelled for fingerstyle playing. It has a really nice, dry, fundamental, woody tone with fairly rapid note decay, which is particularly good for blues.

[Kerbie]

I have the standard OO-15M... no binding, 1 11/16" nut. I love it. It's a great fingerstyle blues guitar. I agree with the description of a very dry, woody tone. Not as complex as rosewood... makes it a great blues machine. Dollar for dollar, I think it's the best deal Martin offers. Elegantly simple in style...

[wezzywest]

Mine arrived in th UK from LA Guitar sales and its an absolute cracker, the binding is reall cool and with the 1 3/4 nut, whats not to like. Took it to a local guitar Tech. fror set up and he was blown away by it. To see his face when he strummed a C chord and heard the natural reverb. You cannot go wrong at this price.

[muscmp]

i have the 0015m and it is a perfect compliment to my other guitars. real woody sound and plays like a dream. i've also played the 00015sm with the 12 fret and 1 3/4 nut and found it to be completely different than the 0015m. i'd love to have it too but right now can't afford it. my wife and i bought it for her daughter so we had it around here for a while before giving it to her. it did have more bass to it but was also a dream to play.

as with all guitars, you'll have to make it yours with a personalized setup and strings of your choice.

play music!

[Toby Walker]

Thanks so much for the input folks. I really appreciated your thoughts.

[fmmusicman]

Toby,
You have two friends who just bought one.
I love mine.
Warm tone, sweet. Simple.

Doncha know me by now?
FM