Martin 000-15SM Acoustic Guitar - Mahogany Reviews

Fantastic guitar. Exceeded my expectations both in Quality and setup. Versatile both with a pick or finger style.

After weeks and weeks of research and reading reviews I ordered this guitar.

Not one regret.
Love the look, love the warm clear tone, it just feels so good to play! Not to mention the amazing smell of mahogany I get every time I open the case.
So glad I found the one and only acoustic I'll ever need!
Might be selling my other guitars now. It's that good.

I have performed with a Martin DCPA4 for the last ten years, and after years of being frustrated with the piezo in a live setting, this year I started looking for another guitar to use on stage. While I wasn't planning on completely replacing my current guitar, I honestly can't stop playing this one. The mahogany smells incredible, and has amazing warmth, resonance and projection. I ordered my 000-15SM through my Sweetwater rep (shout out to Alex!) and had it set up to my specifications, alongside the installation of an L.R. Baggs Anthem and Martin Luxe Liquidmetal Bridge Pins. It is one of the most playable and enjoyable instruments I've ever owned, and if you're on the fence about buying one, take this as permission to go ahead and do it!

This is a great Martin model! I also have a 000-15M and I love the warm tone of the all-mahogany models. I do prefer the wider nut width of the 000-SM nowadays, it's more comfortable and accommodating for my hand.
I did a fair amount of research before buying since it's a new model for me. The reviews were universally good, and I agree. This is one of the better values out there.
A special thanks to Andy Rice for helping me with the purchase, as well as my other purchases at Sweetwater.

If you just don't like all mahogany guitars, I understand. Otherwise, this is the best acoustic guitar available under $10,000. Go for it!

Buy too many guitars? Buy this one and you may discover you don't need so many.

I was looking to buy a parlor guitar with steel strings and a slotted headstock. One that looked old and played new. One that had that authentic ethnic sound straight from my grandpappy's front porch down the Holler in the hills of Kentucky or Tennessee. One that loves to be picked on by my fingers, and strummed by a pick and doesn't lose her beautiful rich tone. One that's light as a feather and has that feel of a fine instrument. Yep I'd say this one bout does it all for me. It's a keeper.

I have owned many high-end Martins, and each were great in their own way. But this guitar is my all-time favorite, it just sounds fantastic. No frills, no elaborate inlays, just a solid mahogany guitar that plays smooth and has a very vintage vibe. I feel this guitar is the best value of all the American Martin guitars being produced today.

Martin

This is my favorite to play, my go to with gorgeous sound, excellent playability and sweetest sound. It's beautiful and perfect in every way

I'm a firm believer that mahogany is the king of tonewoods! That sweet, mellow, warm, thick, round, woody tone is perfect for almost any genre. Personally, even the vintage Martins that are worth tens of thousands of dollars sound like an all mahogany guitar to me even if they have brazilian rosewoods back & sides. Anyways, after watching & reading reviews online, I decided to give this Martin 00015SM a try and man, it's one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Because this guitar just sounds & feels great to play. It has that deep bass and sweet, warm, mellow, round (not too bright) trebles. Its just perfect. I totally recommend it to anyone who is looking for that 1 acoustic guitar to rule them all. Take it from me, once you get this Martin 000-15sm any other guitar is just a bonus. Cause this is the perfect sounding guitar in my
opinion. And its very comfortable to
play as well. the 1.75 nut width is perfect. and neck is really nice to the touch as well. You wont be disappointed. & Also, if you plan to keep this guitar for life (which you should) have Sweetwater do their pro plek setup & the intonation will be perfect way past the 12th fret from the bass strings to the treble strings. It's worth every penny. & Shoutout to my sales engineer Zack Davidson & Luthier Carter D & inspectors, Jesse S & Jon M for the hook up and treating my guitar like its their own. That's what I love about Sweetwater, they treat their customers like their close friend and also treat their customers guitars like its their own. I hope they dont change that.

If you're like me and you sat listening to video after video, unable to get the full idea of what this guitar sounds like, but think it might be the one, I can assure you that it is. N After listening to countless reviews and loving the 12-fret and the slotted headstock, I pulled the plug, and I couldn't be happier. It's everything you think it is, and more. It has a wildly full sound, with the perfect low end, and still simultaneously shimmers in the mids and highs. It's the perfect singer/songwriter guitar, and I honestly cannot put it down. Huge shout out as well to my sales rep Christie Timmons who has been fantastic for years, and never fails to follow through with me every step of the way. Sweetwater is just pure class.

This model doesn't come around often. I saw one here one day and didn't jump in time. But the reviews on this page were so stellar that I was determined to find one in the wild. The search took some time until I was able to locate a beautiful grained one with a faux tortoise pickguard from a music store in Montana.

There isn't much for me to add that hasn't been said many times. She has a straightforward and honest folksy voice with more than ample bass. Light as air. Smells of cinnamon. Looks vintage. Really a comfortable fit on my lap. A joy to play with fingers or a pick. Handles it all with grace.

She fits well, with an old as the hills Americana voice, in my modest but well-chosen acoustic collection. I give her my highest recommendation.

I've owned this guitar a few years now and for what it is, I love it. Dreads have their place and I own several, but so does this guitar here. The slotted headstock was a nice touch on this. If you're concerned about the task of changing strings on one, don't be. A quick YouTube search of how to change strings on a slotted headstock will set you at ease as they will walk you through the simple procedure. It's not worse than a flat headstock, it's just different if you've never done it. I've grown to like it a bit more. So this guitar will take you back to a time when guitars were guitars, not ornaments. I've nothing against ornate, as I own a few of them. That said, adding this to the arsenal was a great decision on my part. It is extremely light weight and design change where the neck meets the body was genius by Martin. That sloping of the shoulders, whoever came up with that, was just genius. It really does affect the sound, in a great way. If you close your eyes, you're in a train station in NE Arkansas in 1930 playing this thing. I take this out frequently and just noodle fingerstyle blues with it. It's worth it for sure. As with all guitars, don't forget to pick up some humidipacks, or some other method for humidity control. Don't learn that lesson the hard way, as I did with a Gibson J-45. That's a lesson I'll never forget. Check out the review I did on YouTube and you can see my guitar and hear it.

This is my first quality acoustic guitar and I could not be happier with my purchase. I played electric guitars growing up and have moved more towards acoustics after not playing for 10+ years. I've been able to find the passion again for playing. I have not gone a day without playing this guitar since it arrived at my doorstep (after 24 hours acclimating). After hours and countless videos researching guitars, I decided to go with this all mahogany 12-fret. The tone is so warm and well rounded. You will not want to put this guitar down, it just sounds so good. The slightly wider nut makes playing much more comfortable for me. I still enjoy playing my electrics, but this guitar just calls to you.

If you are thinking about this guitar, just do it. This is the nicest instrument I have ever owned. You will not think twice about the decision after playing that first note.

This is the finest acoustic guitar I've both played and owned. I agonized over which Martin Mahogany guitar I wanted, did a lot of comparison. I'd watch online comparisons of this guitar with other Martin/Other brand mahogany guitars. I'd just close my eyes and listen, and whenever I heard the tone I really liked, I'd open them up and it was consistently the 000-15SM.

So I pulled the trigger and ordered one from Sweetwater. Ordering one of these babies, you're probably going to have to wait until it arrives in stock, but hold out - the wait is worth it. I really only had to wait a couple of weeks in my case, and I'm really, really glad I did.

Shout out to Ben Cameron for guiding me through this purchase, keeping an eye on stock, and sending me picks when the guitar was ready. Another shout out to Sweetwater - I've always been 100% happy with any dealings I've had with them.

Get this guitar if you want to put something really sweet (and good smelling, no kidding!) in your life.

This is my favorite of the series, probably by a wide margin. The tone is balanced throughout. Not as much spank and definition as the 00015m or D15m, but it's other qualities far outweigh that. It has a softness in its tone that just sounds so laid back. This guitar grows on me the more I play it.

This is the first nice acoustic guitar I've ever owned. I fell in love with the sound of small mahogany Martins a long time ago, and I'm glad I finally got one. The sound is just right for me. The bass doesn't boom, the top end is slightly dark and easy on the ears, and the midrange is strong and punchy. The neck is a little narrower than I am used to, but the string spacing is surprisingly comfortable to my hands. I mainly play electric, and this is easy to play for me. The guitar is very light and has a smooth satin finish. I think it looks good, and that mahogany smells amazing when I take it out of the case. I was looking for one nice acoustic that wasn't crazy money, and this is everything I was hoping for.

I received this yesterday and I could not believe the tone and sustain this guitar has. It really exceeded my expectations in all respects. If you are in the market for a all mahogany guitar, this is it. Now, a little bit about Sweetwater. If you are reluctant purchasing instruments on line, with Sweetwater you can calm your fears. I have purchased a Guild 1225e, a Martin 000-28, a Martin Custom HD12-28 and this Martin 000-15SM from them. My sales rep Cliff Hackleman has always been there to answer my questions and help guide me to make sure I'm completely satisfied with my purchases. Thier 55 point inspections assure you that your instrument is set up and ready to play. They make sure your purchase is the best it can be, there reputation relies on it.
5 stars for Martin and Sweetwater.

Just got one of these. It rings like bell. Cuts through the muddle of the rhythm accompaniment like a knife. My go to axe,and I have a bunch of high dollar Martin's, Gibsons, etc. Completely exceeded my expectations.

Today I bonded to my 00015SM companion.
How do I know?
When I purchased this guitar from Sweetwater this past February, 2021, I had been looking for a replacement of my Taylor 712. Never really enjoyed playing even installed an Anthem pickup and purchased a Fishman miniloudbox Charge to get the sound I was looking for.I paid a lot of money and felt obligated to play it. Over the past many years I've accumulated other guitars also.. GSMINI, Baby Taylor, Takamine nylon, Taylor Backpacker. You'd think that I would be content. I'm a flatpicking mediocre Folker ... Yes,I miss Hootenannies!!!!
So.... I was determined during the pandemic to get a new guitar and sell the rest.
I narrowed the choice to 3 guitars.
GC, Sam Ash, and local music stores were visited almost every day. I purchased a Martin D15m and got a Presidents Day discount at my local GC. Loved the guitar. There is a 'but!'
While at GC I also was playing a 00015m and 00015sm.
Unfortunately, inventory was terrible, and by the time I was leaning towards the 'sm' the only ones available had some minor Nick's and I passed. Then bought the 15m.
A few days later, a buddy suggested that I check out Sweetwater. I never bought any musical instrument online so I was skeptical.
I spoke with a representative and was blown away by our conversation. Tyler was my rep (I understand he has moved on... Brent is now my rep). To make a long story short (ha), I was walked through the process of procuring of my next purchase.... Yes ... The 'sm.'
I waited about 10 days...then the requisite 24 hours acclimating in my house.
If you read other reviews about this guitar... Frankly, I cannot write a better review than hundreds of other people.
Yes, it was delivered immaculate.... Signed off by the many techs and staff at Sweetwater to insure safe delivery. It was set up perfect! In tune and ready to play.
I alternated days with my new guitars. You could bring the soundhole up to your nose and you could smell the mahogany.... Wow!
This week I found myself playing the 'sm' more.
Today! Today the SM was in my hands and I was doing a playlist of 60's folk songs...preparing for a lounge sing-along at my 99 year old mom's assisted living place. (Alert and social).
The bonding happened right before I wrote this post.
The mahogany aroma increased as I was playing. I never had this happen in my whole life. I love playing this guitar.
The whole experience from day one with Sweetwater has been amazing.
I've purchased many guitars over years... This was definitely my best experience. The integrity factor was excellent! At no time did you feel manipulated or ignored.
Thanks to my friend for introducing Sweetwater to me.
My next guitar purchase will be for my Granddaughter's next birthday (she loves playing my guitars)
My son-in-law is getting my D15m ...

I've had this guitar for about 8 months now. It sits next to my bed right next to my HD-28. They say that we keep the things we hold most dear the closest to us. It is a beautiful-sounding guitar. Very mellow and soothing. Great for country and blues. I love the sound and the way it plays.

The best musical instrument I've ever owned. I own a J45 and I'm telling you this thing beats the hell out of it in terms of tone and just utter projection. Great guitar!!!

I was shopping for a vintage 70's Martin and nothing was really available for the price and condition that I wanted. I always wanted a 15M dreadnaught, however I have a Taylor dread. I love the Jeff Tweedy Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest because I was in Northern California when he was there, but unfortunately missed the availability to go to the show. He plays a Santa Cruz OOO and his Martin signature is a OO which is out of the price range that I would spend on a guitar because music is not my vocation but a hobby. Anyways this guitar fits the bill. The slotted headstock is rad, the sound is warm and crisp, overall fit and finish is phenomenal. From the factory the action is higher than I prefer with the Martin 12's. Installed Elixir phosphor bornze 10's and the guitar plays much better. Outfitting with a sound hole lr baggs pickup and having it setup by my tech. Thanks sweetwater for this sick guitar. I will have it till I pass or become stricken with dementia etc.

I've been playing for a little less than a year, after trying to learn about 20 years ago and not succeeding. I've always heard that the right guitar makes a difference for playing, but didn't have the experience to back up the claim. Until now. When I upgraded to this guitar, my playing improved immediately. It's so comfortable and sounds great, and I can suddenly play chords that were more of a struggle before. I also want to play more often now that I have this guitar. It just feels good. And others have mentioned the smell. Seriously--this thing smells as good as it looks, feels, and sounds. Shoutout to Joel, who helped me get this guitar set up exactly right and made sure I was satisfied. I was nervous about buying online, but the Sweetwater experience has been, well, sweet.

I commented on this guitar when I received it. Excellent follow up from Toni Nord and after gigging with it for several months, I am sorry Sweetwater, but she's mine, and you're not getting this guitar back unless you pry it from my dead, cold fingers.

First big thanks too Daniel my salesman/engineer who has helped with other orders. I find the Martin 00015SM spot on on every detail. Did not write review right away because I have not played a steel string guitar in a while because I play Classical Guitars. The Martin sounds excellent and plays great especially since I got used too the narrow neck, which is totality different than a wide neck Classical. Great Guitar really like the sound of a Mahogany Axe Big Thanks For Sure & Certain too Daniel & Sweet Water They know there stuff

I've bought and sold a lot of guitars over the years, searching for that elusive "one"-- many of them costing twice what I paid for the 000-15SM. While I realize it's difficult to find a guitar that suits all playing styles and genres, I find the 000-15SM to be an excellent all-rounder. It has a tremendous warmth with a well-balanced tone that really complements my alto/tenor voice rather than competing with it. The incredible tonality coupled with its wonderful playability (the satin-finished neck and ample string spacing in particular) make it an absolutely joy to play. Whether you're a singer-songwriter or just a hobbyist, I can definitively say you need look no further.

I received this guitar late December 2020. Right out of the box I noticed it had done onto it a very nice guitar setup and that it didn't need any adjusting for the height of the strings, to play it. Love the responsiveness and lightness in construction. In my understanding an American delight to play!

I don't know where to start with this instrument. I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't this. I bought it for comfort because I'm a small man and have spent years draped over large dreadnoughts and jumbos. I chose those guitars because I like the "tone cannon" type of sound. Rosewood back and sides, spruce top, you get the picture. My go to is a Guild DV 52 I've owned for twenty five years and which has aged wonderfully. That guitar is really put together and weighs accordingly. Taking this Martin out of its case the first time was a shock. It was like picking up a feather by comparison. The shocks just kept coming. This Martin is a cannon in its own right with volume and sustain I wouldn't have thought possible from a body this size; full, rich, balanced tone. I can't imagine what this guitar will sound like in twenty five years and unfortunately I will probably not be around to hear it. No matter as I am thrilled with the way it sounds right now, straight out of the box. I think I lucked out and got an exceptional example of an exceptional guitar. There are a number of guitars around here but if forced to choose one it would be this understated mahogany beauty. You'll have to get on a waiting list to buy one and I suggest you don't waste any time in doing so. I can really recommend this to smaller players looking to combine ease and comfort of playing with truly substantial volume and tone. This is the Merriest Christmas present I've had in years. As an afterthought; has anyone mentioned these things smell great?

I bought this as a backup guitar while touring. She takes a backseat to no other guitar. A definite forever guitar the more she opens up. This Martin and my Gibson LG2 deserve to have their incredible voices miked, not changed by a pickup.

This things is amazing. I know all the other reviews have repeated it, but you just can't go wrong with this guitar. It sounds nice with a pick, but if you play fingerstyle, it really shines. Great for blues, country, any style that doesn't require huge volume and the cutting top end you expect with a spruce guitar. For a strummer, maybe you want to try before you buy. For those who skip the pick, this is the one.

Of course, the customer service is awesome as always. Richard Whittington has been my guy for years; I wish every company had someone as great as him on their team.

Buy it. Love it. Play it every day.

First of all let me thank Jacob at Sweetwater for helping me with my purchase of this guitar. He is very professional and represents the company in an excellent manner. As for words that describe this guitar ? Beautiful rich mahogany with an awesome smell. Very well constructed,outstanding balance and the neck/action is a dream to play. The sounds that come out of this guitar are unreal considering its size, rich and mellow . I have a 30 year old HD-28 Martin that I usually play( great guitar) , but I honestly enjoy playing this guitar more.

I know it's hard to read reviews sometimes because it seems as though no one ever writes a bad review. This will be no exception because this is truly a fantastic guitar. Since getting into guitar seriously (beyond the cheap beginner guitars) I have been an El Cajon person. This is my first Martin. It is also my first 12-fret guitar. I have had this guitar just over 2 months now and I am completely blown away. I love the sound of this guitar. It has a very deep but mellow voice. Not deep as in dreadnaught deep but still basey enough. It is perfect for finger style blues and it has the looks to go with it but it does chords nicely too. Originally I had considered buying one of those electronic gadgets that you put on a new guitar for a week to help break it in but I don't think it needs it. It sounds great already, I can't imagine how it will sound in 20 years. I am a student of finger style blues: Robert Johnson, Lightnin' Hopkins, Son House, etc. so this guitar is perfect for me. I first noticed these more than 20 years ago and fell in love with them then but couldn't justify it on my budget. Still, I gravitated towards this series every time I walked into a guitar store. I love the mahogany on this guitar, the simplistic no-frills look. Knowing the history, that these were created as a response to the great depression, adds to the appeal of the look. So - great sound, great looks, what else could you want? Well, how about something you don't often see in a guitar review - great smell. Not kidding. Every time I open up the case I get that lovely mahogany smell that just turns me on. Speaking of the case, it comes with a massive heavy-duty hard case. I don't know about flying because I typically don't take guitars with me when I fly but I imagine it would have to be a really careless airline company to damage a guitar in this case. I am still trying out different kinds of strings with it so I can't really help you there. I have my go-to favorite acoustic strings but this guitar is a different animal so it might end up liking different strings. To be determined. Bottom line - do yourself a favor, don't lust after this thing for over 20 years like I did. Skip a few beers, eat some cheap salty pre-packaged noodle concoctions, sell your first-born son, just get it while you are young enough to enjoy it and have the pleasure of hearing it in 20 - 30 - 40 years too.

As a professional musician, I have always played either a Gibson ES-335 or a Contreras or a Nippon Gakki Yamaha, and I was a little hesitant to try the Martin, but I have an early (c1920) solid mahogany Martin mandolin, so when I found the solid mahogany 000, made or designed in my homeworld Pennsylvania, I said yes. Usually a guitar takes about 20 years to start to sound good, but this one begins sounding really quite good (read: excellent). The action is as good as a guitar can be, and the Sweetwater setup is exactly as advertised: excellent. I recommend this guitar without qualification.

Best guitar I have ever played. Extremely comfortable, really good looking and smells so good. The sound is incredible and it plays like butter.
Definitely the one I would grab if my house burning down.

So I finally got another one of these, after the one that got away. A new one I traded for, old tuning machine problem solved. Put a K&K in it, of course. Not supposed to put medium strings on these, no? So I did. But, and here is the magic part, I tune it down a half step. Big, bold, ringing, on the dark side of sound. EZ play. The lower voicing works great with my songs and my voice, and hell, what are capos for? The heavier strings (Elixir nano 13s) feel meaty and delicious under my stubby fingers, and I gots to play lightly so you can properly hear the lyrics. But it takes a beating just fine when I feel like wailing hard blues. Fingers, plastic, hybrid... all works. Ha! Highly recommended.

This is my second 000-15s, my first one around 10 years ago had issues with dead notes (F# in 3 places on the fretboard, which Martin could not fix to my liking) so I sold it - but have missed it ever since. I ordered the SM from Sweetwater, great buying experience, appreciated the ultra fast shipping and follow up as well as the photos they sent me of my guitar.

I've owned many Martins over the years, including some very expensive models including the 000-28VS, 000-18GE, and Clapton. The baseball bat V necks always gave me fits.

Since I play finger style, my go to guitar now is a 00-18 Reimagined, with the MLO neck (similar to the SM). Comparing the 00-18 and SM, the 00 is just a bit sweeter, but the SM is more powerful, and has a beautiful tone in its own right. Great guitar. In a blind test between the two guitars, I can see at least a tie, OR in many cases the SM would win out.

My only complaint is the SM is shipping with Martin Authentic PB light mediums (12-55) which were a bit too stiff for me, so I put a set of D'Addario nickel bronze 11-52 on - huge difference, the nickels are very neutral and sounded great right out of the box.

I've always had a weak spot for acoustic guitars with simple appointments and thin satin finishes. I have never understood purchasing an instrument with premium tone woods and then covering the whole thing with a heavy polyurethane finish, but that is just my opinion. Being able to feel the wood grain and feel the vibration of the mahogany is such a joy and is a prominent factor in the experience of playing this specific guitar .

I love the sweet warm highs and the deep, resonant bass and mids that this guitar produces. When comparing this guitar to the 14-fret 000-15m, I found that the 000-15m did not compare to the warmth and depth that this guitar produces. There is something very special about the 12-fret body style and the slotted headstock.

The build quality of this instrument is top-notch and I cannot help but spend time closely analyzing the fret work, the inlays, the bracing, etc.

Overall, I am beyond satisfied with my guitar and I can guarantee this will be one that I hold onto for life - the perfect around-the-house fingerpicker!

Also shout out to Sweetwater for very positive, personal and easy-going customer service! I had a very pleasant experience purchasing my first instrument from this online retailer

In every way this guitar has it goin on. Been playin the livin daylights or delights outta of it and can really hear the tone getting sweeter nearly everyday with wonderful clarity too. I can tell my other Martin is feelin like a neglected stepchild now but it needs to be sent out for some maintenance and now is a good time. Have not listened with soundhole pickup yet.

This is my third Martin. I have the D-28 and D-35 and had to have a dedicated guitar for open G and slide playing. I play this one now more than my Dreadnaughts! There's just something special about the 12 fret joint, all mahogany guitar with a slotted headstock. My only complaint is that Martin does not recommend medium gauge strings on this beauty. I follow the rules, so now I'm playing D'Addario Light Phosphor Bronze strings and loving every minute. I feel like I'm with a special girl when I hold and strum this one.

The Martin 000-15SM is a versatile, yet unique instrument. My particular guitar arrived in nearly perfect tune. It also required zero set-up. I've never owned a guitar that immediately felt so good in my hands. Both the action and intonation were perfect across the fretboard. The build quality is very impressive-not a flaw to be found. I know it's hard to believe- but it's true. Under three pounds- this thing was meant to sing.
Being all mahogany- it doesn't have quite the same high midrange punch as the Martin's with spruce tops- but that's not what I was going for. What it it does have is incredible sustain and resonance that still speaks with that "martin"voice that I crave. I play finger style on it 95% of the time. This thing just excels with fingers. I don't think that it should be compared to the 000 15M. In my opinion this guitar has so much more personality and resonance. I'm sure this is due to the slotted headstock and the 12 fret design. Both of those factors contribute greatly to the tone. The slotted headstock puts more string pressure into the nut-and therefore the neck. The 12 fret design means more of the neck in contact with the face. I could go on.... In short- you won't be disappointed. :) p

I had an older model, from the 90s. It had sealed tuning machines that were breaking, non-standard fit and out of production, so they couldn't be replaced. I sold it. I loved that guitar! It had a K&K pure mini in it. The sound was... MY sound... I've tried to replace it with other another 12-fret, namely an HD-28VS that cost twice as much. Nice, but not the same warmth and woodiness, and more difficult to play. Man, that 000-15sm was a great guitar! I really want another one, with the open grovers they put on now (which I'd replace with Waverlies, mostly because they look so cool). And install another K&K. And maybe even go big and put a strap button on the lower bout so I don't need the string thingy. I've just got to sell something else before I can do that.

Disclaimer: I own a $3500 Martin 000-18GE. This is the first time I've ever reviewed a guitar, but I feel compelled. The bottom line is that there is something special about either 12-fret guitars, or 12-fret with this body shape. It is one of the gems of Martin's line up in terms of value and execution. I walked into a store one day and picked up the 14-fret 000-15, which sounds nice. But the 000-15SM, aside from missing 2 frets (12-fret vs 14-fret) and the sexy slotted headstock, just blew it away. Much more alive sounding. It's well worth the extra $200. How does it compared w/ the 000-18GE? Well the GE is the best guitar I've ever played, but at twice the price. I could go on about that guitar but this is a review of the SM. Simply put, they are different enough guitars that I will keep the SM as well. The SM is not a general "do-it-all" guitars; it's purpose built, fantastic sounding, and has a real vintage style w/ no frills but a tone that can hang with the $2K-$3K models. You're paying for the essential tone, not the extras. It's exceptionally light with a raw/no frills feel to it (no gloss lacquered neck or binding). Tone-wise: strong fundamental, loud, warm yet bright, balanced.

Biggest con: The tuners feel cheap. A touch of synthetic lube really helps.

A 12-fret slotted headstock guitar is for a certain kind of player to be sure, but if that's you and you just want to know "is this guitar good?", the answer is: This one's a winner, you will not be disappointed.

This little guitar is a goldmine of tone--rich warm clear sound with overtones and lots of sustain--even the intonation is right on -- the neck width of 1 3/4" is great especially for finder picking-easy playing.
If I had this to do over I would have bought this guitar years ago.

by far the best guitar I have ever owned. Have them ship with a set of D'Addario's EXP 16 light P/B. Put 'em on after a couple weeks of daily playing and you will see what I mean.
I tried the OE strings that came with it (Martin SP Lifespans) but there was something missing in the tone and sustain for a couple of weeks after I got it. The EXP's are for my ear the best. Also tried Clapton's choice and went dead way too soon. Martin guitars are the best but the strings??? ( plus the D'addarios EXP 16 have less tension on the top which is a plus). BUY THIS GUITAR !!!!

The Martin 000-15SM is a super-fine and super-fun instrument!

A classic with standard old school vibe and full rich Martin Tone.

Just right.

I have had this guitar for two weeks now and wanted to share my observations.
Number one, this is a great guitar.

My other guitar is a Guild D-35 I purchased in 1971 or so and I would never part with it although I have always found it a bit difficult to chord, especially on the first and second frets. Plus it is a large guitar and I was looking for something smaller to take along in our travel trailer.

I have always lusted after Martin guitars, especially the all-mahogany models. I appreciate their full, deep voice and found them a great choice for someone who plays alone or with a few friends.

The 000-15SM was a great choice. I especially appreciate the wider neck at the nut which makes it a dream to chord and fingerpick. I have not missed the extra 2 frets at the neck/body joint at all and actually find the geometry much easier to play. I am finding the smaller “OOO” size perfect and very easy to play for extended periods. Don't let the smaller size fool you, it has plenty of voice. Also learning to appreciate the slotted head tuners.....they are very easy to access during tuning.

The 000-15SM is a great representation of the instruments Martin offered during hard times….no fancy trim or do-dads…….just a great instrument. I am completely satisfied with it. Definitely a keeper.

And I should put in a plug for my Sweetwater experience. First class all the way. Very friendly staff who guided me along my choice. No pressure and great follow-up. Delivered on time, set up correctly right out of the box, no adjustments required. Recommend highly.

sweet...this guitar plays and sounds like a much more expensive guitar...simple no frills 1930's look and construction. amazing sound right out of the box. just beautiful in every way, more than worth the money , you will want to pass this one to your grandkids.

Warm clear and woody tone. Sounds better than guitars double or even triple its price. I pickers dream - this Martin is a keeper.

Martin Guitars are the best, this guitar is great as are other Martin guitars and priced just right. I really like it. Sounds great also.

This is my favorite guitar I've ever owned. The size and tone is perfect. Only took a star away because laying $ for a guitar without a hard shell case is ridiculous.

Great sounds out of the box only two things, the tuners need to be gold in my opinion and guitar has a permanent, unadjustable wood truss rod ! If anything ever happens to neck of guitar, twist,warp anything, it has to have a new neck replaced at the factory

I am a finger picker an I really love this guitar. However I am not impressed at all with the tuners. I have several guitars that are of less quality but much easier to tune and stay in tune better. I will be replacing these turners soon.

This is the fourth Martin guitar I have purchased in the past 25 years. The three Martins that I purchased prior to this 000-15SM (DR, D-28, HD-28) will never leave my collection but this guitar will be going up for sale. While it is not a bad guitar and its tone is somewhat pleasant, the Martin quality that I have come to expect and admire is just not there. I understand that this is not a D-45 but it isn't a "Road Series" guitar either. Fist of all, this guitar comes with a cheap gig bag . The Martin hard shell case that previously was included with this model is over $ to purchase and is a must for any musician that doesn't plan on keeping their guitar at home. The neck on this guitar is rough with the carve feeling asymmetrical at the volute and a rough grainy feeling up to the 7th fret. Additionally, the finish on the neck and headstock feels like a cheap import guitar in places and the slotted headstock had a pretty good blemish on one of the inside edges. Additionally, after 2 months of constant playing, I am still getting nickel fret shavings coming out of the sound hole. Bottom line, it is my opinion that Martin is cutting costs on cases and finish quality to meet demand and pump out the sub $ guitars. The quality and attention to detail is just not there as it was in the past. If you throw the cheap useless gig bag away, buy the correct Martin hard case to fit the 000 12 fret ($+) and pay a reputable luthier to get the neck feeling right, the real price of this guitar is around $, which in my opinion makes it way over priced for what you get. I hate to say it but I think Martin's sub $ US made guitars are really not much better quality than their off-shore offerings. Time to look around at other U.S. makers!