Just to say, on the back of this I went out and bought one. Quite honestly I’m old and cynical and fully expected to be disappointed. As we know, in the hands of a skilled balladeer any old junk can sound pretty alright, but a struggling amateur will soon reveal the true character and quality of the same instrument and very different it will sound. I was looking for a small guitar and didn’t expect it to sound like a big guitar. I have a beautiful HD-28 and its awesome. Small guitars sound boxy....don’t they? A bit plinky plonky perhaps? Anyway if you had to have only one guitar ( ha ha) it would surely be a dreadnought right. Well, hell no! I don’t know what it is, but these babies are way more than the sum of their parts. The endorsement made here, I have found to be entirely accurate. I totally agree, I find my food is now almost always cold and I’m late getting to bed. I am frankly amazed at how balanced it is finger picking or strumming and thumping. I even enjoy me playing it! A very cool little guitar and thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction. Cheers
Martin really should bring the single-O back out as a standard production model.....the OO doesn't seem that much smaller than the 000 from what I can tell.....the Guild M-20 seems like a potential alternative.....
Nice playing and good demo. It's well recorded and shows the sound of the guitar well. Your guitar sounds great. You're letting the guitar resonate and not smothering it like a lot of people do.
It's a 2012 guitar, so it's not been knocked about (yet!) In the UK the only retail 0-15 I could lay my hands on was the Westside Custom Edition, and that's what this one is... and yes, I love it dearly!
Hi there, it's a production model, kinda. Westside Distribution are the UK distributors and had a batch of 0-15s made. These were the only new 0-15s available in the UK as Westside are the sole distributors. LA Guitar Sales do a similar thing in the states, and the Martin Website might allow you to work out the cost of a custom build. Hope that helps :)
Beautiful playing. Love the little Martins. I have an old 00-18G made in 1953 that I love. It's worn almost as bad as Willie Nelson's N-20 but sounds great and plays like a dream even after all these years. Keep up the great work !!!
Hi Jeremiah, you're too kind! The Martin sounds (it's always difficult to apply adjectives here, so let's go with...) fabulous, even with my playing and both strummed and finger-picked. It's lighter-built and more resonant than the others, sustains forever, and is simply a cut above. I just can't put it down.
Hi there. Absolutely gorgeous playing. I have this custom model on order with Andertons, due to arrive in August. Have you still got the guitar? Any more thoughts on it now you have had it a while? Thanks, Steven
@@stevengarside Hi Steven, I do indeed still have the guitar - it's not going anywhere! Played it earlier on this afternoon in fact and if anything, it's got better sounding. Must be 8 years of my forearm polishing the top. I never really got the concept of guitars 'opening up' but that's possibly because I was used to thicker finishes and clunkier construction in my youth - but now I get it. You won't be disappointed when it arrives, though August is a bit of an exercise in patience! All the best, Dave
@@DrRhythm1967 Hi Thanks for the reply Dave - really glad it is just as enjoyable, and that it is even sounding better. Yes, 'opening up' is one of those things I have been sceptical about myself. I have a new Gibson J-185 that sounds very stiff and I'm hoping it will happen with that, otherwise it will be sold on. Glad it seems to be true in the case of your lovely little Martin. Makes me all the more eager for mine to arrive. I am really struggling to wait until August - my Guitar Acquisition Syndrome is killing me! Best wishes, Steve
Thanks for the information I ended up buying the 0-15m. Just as your video shows it sounds lovely, but also plays very easily due to its small size. Much easier for me to play when I'm lounging in my front room on the couch. :)
Hi there - the difference is in the body size. The OM (Orchestra Model) is bigger, having been designed by Martin to compete with other instruments in orchestral settings. The O, which they don't make as standard at the moment, only Specials, is much more petite - though was once the standard size at the turn of the last century, long before the OMs and dreadnaughts came along. Hope this helps.
Nice demo of this guitar. I have an old "The Gibson" uke that is all mahogany, but I can't really "take advantage of it" as Rev. Gary Davis would say. Mahogany has a nice mellow tone that is beautiful in its own way.
Hey DocRythym.. real nicely done! I have a question for you, but I don't know if folks really get around to responding... IF So, THANKS! I have a lovely Martin 000-15SM. It's a fantastic instrument,, however, I'm realizing it's still quite big for me. The nut is 1.75", the bridge saddle spacing a titch over 2.25", the scale length is 25.65" and the 12 fret body is really full at 20.5". I bought it online due to it's 12 fret to body construction and fantastic depth of tone and a 3 year pay off. I played in person (before purchasing my 000-15SM) a higher end Martin that I thought had the same specs... only to now realize that the higher end model has the 24.9" scale length and actually a 00 body size. So... I love my guitar, but it really still feels too big. I don't know if I will be able to ever sell it, it's that good... but I'm not getting any longer myself and she's not shrinking either. I looked all around for old style Martin parlors only to realize that's a custom thing these days. Now I know that the 00-18 and the 0-18 and this 0-15 are the instruments that have the specs more to my liking. So with all that shared, here's my question.... Which one of these guitars should be my next guitar the 00 or 0 Spruce top? Or something like this 0-15 Mahogany? I also keep considering the Gibson L-00 Original. I fingerpick and I pick,... for now mostly solo singer songwriter stuff... I'd love a big voice with my guitar (or at least one that blows your socks off with tone that defies it's dimensions),... but honestly, I've had some left hand problems and I would love a guitar that is easier to play too because it's just plain smaller ( especially scale length).. Any advice to share?? Thanks PS I tried the Martin CEO and it was great, but I wasn't sold on it. Have not tried any of the 00's or 0,.. even the Gibson, but I do have a '55 O-18T tenor that is incredible,, that old timer has confirmed for me that something magical can happen with a very small box. THANKS
Hi Michael, thanks for the kind comments - and that's a really big question right there! Of course, the usual answer would be 'play all 3 (or 4 including the Gibson) and let your ears and fingers decide', but that's not always possible without travelling a long way, especially in 2020. 000s are certainly big guitars - I'm only 5'9" and have always found them quite a stretch to play, as much in the reach-over on the right as for the stretch to the left. Aaargh - this is really difficult. I was going to suggest that for singer-songwriter stuff then maybe a 00 would be a good bet, but then I remembered how good this 0-15 sounds through a PA. I fitted a K&K Shoreline 3-part transducer behind the bridge and it sounds absolutely amazing both through my little Roland amp in the garden studio and through a PA in a bigger room, so even there the 0-size can hold its own! In terms of playability, my absolute favourite and easiest-to-play guitar is the Taylor 322 (mahogany top, sapele back+sides, subject of another video somewhere on my channel). I've never really analysed *why* it's easier than the others until right now - it's not setup or string height, as they're all within a millimetre of each other. Now I do think about it, it's a lovely comfotable body shape, nice rounded top-to-body joints so it sits under the arm well, and a comfortable neck/scale length and nut width. And despite all that, like the Martin, it has a bigger sound than it has any right to, given the body size. If you are able to try one in person, I would recommend it too. But it's a 'hog top, and it's a Taylor - so might not be what you're looking for. Taylors can sound a bit clean and 'goody two-shoes' sometimes, while Martins have a bit more grit or earth to them. (Starting to sound like a wine snob, sorry about that!) So, back to the question... Obvious answer - try and get to play them and also get someone from the shop to play them in front of you too. (Small-bodied guitars can sound massively different from behind the wheel versus at the roadside!) More complicated answer, given that it's 2020 and you might have to buy online: you'e already got the warm mahogany tone in the 000-15SM, so I'd go for the 00-18 or similar... Hybrid answer: if you can get to play/listen to any combination of the L-00 / 00-18 and even the 322, then it would be worth a short road trip to try them (other than in a noisy Guitar Centre on a Saturday or similar environment!) Funnily enough, I've also noticed I use a capo much more when singing at the moment - I think my vocal range has contracted during the pandemic though lack of practice and use, so that shortens neck lengths automatically! You've inspired my to go and have a play on a bunch of guitars now - I'll update with any inspiring conclusions. Have fun in the meantime!
their overtones.) This occurs when you're playing fingerstyle as well, but not to the same degree since you're vibrating each string less, decreasing the number of overtones heard, and therefore, the muddiness. On another note, you're actually going to get a brighter sound from a thinner pick. I don't know how to explain that technically--that's just something I learned working in a guitar shop. :)
Robert, That's just the nature of strumming. What's actually muddying the sound is the relatively high density of overtones in comparison to that of fingerstyle. Not to get too technical, but when you play a G major chord, you end up with tons of dissonances between the overtone series of each note. Furthermore, these tones function within a non-tempered system, while you have tuned your guitar using equal temperament (essentially, the overtones are not in tune with the other strings and...
AWESOME..GREAT VID!..I am after one of these 0-15's..The funny part is I sold my 000-10 we have discussed in your 000 vid a few weeks ago and yesterday received my Guild M120..Now i see that you have purchased the very same guitars as I am going through...SMART MINDS!...When I first strummed the M120 it was the most anemic flat powerless guitar I have ever heard..I had some tusq pins here that I installed sanded the saddle to a proper action and gave her all the relief and I am happy..Its no Martin though...Your M120 video you mentioned is nowhere to be found..A comparison would be awesome..Did you have the same experiance when you first played your M120? ..Thanks for your great vids
Well I was able to find one, at Elderly Instruments in Michigan. They had a bunch made for their 40th anniversary, they are selling them, new, for about $3,900. I'd love one, but that's just out the top of my budget with 4 kids in college...maybe if/when they get out and get jobs!
fantastic video!! tell me if you don't mind...how does this hold up against your other small body guitars you have on your channel? guild GAD, taylor GS mini, etc. it sounds beautiful....but does it have a full and satisfying sound both fingerstyle and strumming? thanks and keep playing!!
Hi Brian, The fretboard on this one is actually matte black Richlite - which really surprised me, as I guess I was subconsciously biased against it until I tried it :)
@@MsDaydream Hi there, the new ones currently available at GuitarGuitar in the UK do indeed have rosewood fingerboards and are listed as 0-15M Martin Custom Special, in line with the current model naming - they're UK-only so I guess it's another batch ordered and distributed by Westside, the UK distributor. Mine's a 2011 model and doesn't have the 'M' in the name, although in every other respect they're the same model. Here's a 2011 model listed online - have a look at the closeup photo of the fingerboard and you'll see there's no grain whatsoever, it's purest Richlite. reverb.com/ca/item/13590402-martin-0-15-2011-westside-custom-edition#full If you're looking at UK retailers' website it seems like you're thinking of buying one, and this is where I'm obliged to say "Go for it! It's a bloody brilliant little guitar". Enjoy!
@@DrRhythm1967 www.andertons.co.uk/acoustic-dept/acoustic-guitars/mid-sized-acoustic-guitars/martin-westside-custom-0-15m-acoustic-guitar This is the one I bought. I'm hoping it comes with the rosewood. :)
@@MsDaydream I Just bought one from Guitarguitar in Edinburgh at the weekend and the fingerboard is indeed rosewood. Very happy with it. Wish it came with a hard case instead of a gig bag but that's a purchase for another day if I can find a nice case for a 0.
Nice Video, Do you know the difference between this '0-15m' and an '0m15m'. They are both for sale nearby and I can't see any difference in the specifications?
I finally received the 0-15. Mine is the full gloss with binding! I'm curious about the non-scalloped "A" bracing pattern. Do you notice a difference in tone between the 0-15 and the 0M bracing?
Having played all these small bodies guitars what one do you think stands out? I'm leaning towards the Martin 00-15M which I can pick up used for around $850-900. Going the cheap option the Taylor GS mini for about $400.
thank you so much for your video. love your playing style. i've saw the other videos of guild M120 and Taylor gs mini. to my ears this small Martin is much better. can you tell my your opion? which one of them is the loudest guitar? thanks again
Great playing! I was wondering: have you tried the US made Guild M20? And if so, then which of the Martin and Guild do you like best for light strumming/fingerpicking? I'm looking to buy a small all mahogany guitar and I can't decide between the two. I know there are slight differences in scale length and neck profile but otherwise they should be pretty similar... or? I'm looking for a mellow, "dusty" tone... not a bright one since I already have a Yamaha FS5 (Sitka spruce on top, mahogany back and sides).
Hi there, thanks for the comment. I've not tried the US-made M20, only the Pacific-rim M120 which is a cracking guitar for any money. So, while I can't compare to the M20, the biggest 2 factors between the Martin and M120 are that the Martin has, to my ears at least, a deeper, more resonant tone while the Guild is lighter and brighter and consequently 'overdrives' more easily. (I guess that comes from being slightly heavier built as well as the bracing?) The other difference is in neck profile. The Guild is a lot more of a baseball bat than the Martin which has a shallower, flatter profile - but hey, if I can wrap my pudgy thumb around an F chord on either then I reckon most people could!
Here’s the info on the spacing, from the UMGF: “I measured and compared it against guitars with both 2-1/4 and 2-5/16 inch bridge spacing, it is in between, but closer to 2-1/4”
Which mic do you use exactly? I just bought a CS-0-15M and I would love for it to sound like this and not a toy guitar like a phone recording makes it sound. Thanks in advance!
Hi Z-Bob, this is a Studio Electronics SE2200 ( www.seelectronics.com/se2200-microphone ) fed through an old JoeMeek 3Q preamp, the closest equivalent of which is the threeQ these days. I know smartphones are capable of really good general audio recordings, but trying to get a good result out of a phone mic is always going to be hard. If nothing else, finding the right placement and keeping it there is nigh-on impossible. (Personally I default to targeting the mic at the neck/body joint between 8 inches and 2 feet from the instrument - depending on how intimate the desired result needs to sound) Hope that helps and play on! Dave
DrRhythm, You really shouldn't put coated strings on a Martin. It goes against everything ever written, said, or implied about C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. As someone who has played Taylors (and really enjoys playing coated strings) and would rather play their guitar than restring it, I understand where you're coming from. But the guitar was designed with non-coated strings in mind.
Im actually trying to choose between a martin 015m and a new guild m20. I saw your guild video. What would you suggest between the two? Thanks and great playing!
My 2 cents: If you can get your hands on a Martin, I'd definitely go for that. They're both lovely guitars, but since recording this I'd say the Martin, which is slightly more lightly built than the Guild (maybe it's just the thickness of the finish) has matured beautifully. But they're both great guitars - try them both if/when you get a chance in these strange days, and let your ears/fingers decide. Thanks for the compliment and stay safe!
@@DrRhythm1967 Yeah getting my hands on them is tough, Ill probly have to do a blind buy so I really appreciate the comment. Ill be sure to keep it in mind!
The M usually means 'all mahogany' in Martin model names. At the moment there is no 'normal' 0-15 of any kind, nor any listed on Martin's website. My 0-15 is an all-mahogany custom model, from a special run made a few years ago, so if it were to become a standard model, it would probably be called an 0-15m, leaving 0-15 for an also non-existent model using a lighter timber. Hope that helps :)
Can you tell me what is the string-spacing like at the nut-end? I have quite fat fingers - ok for classical, but there are few accoustics where I don't foul adjacent strings!
I am looking seriously at a L.A. Guitar Custom 0-15m right now, but because I'm a novice and not a fingerpicker (I'm a novice player...so more strumming) I'm concerned with its sound then. It sounds amazing fingerpicked, but I'm thinking the sound might disappear because of its size strummed. Any thoughts?
DrRhythm1967 Very nice, I've not seen one at any guitar shop, I'll have to do some searching on line, see if can find one. It looks (and sounds) like just what I need for both sitting on my couch and for taking with me on a trip. Small but sounds great. Do you know how much smaller it is at the lower bout, than the 00 model? And what about string spacing at the nut and saddle? I only play fingerstyle so I want something with enough spacing for that. I love my OM, but it's just a little too big to be comfortable when slumped in my couch, and too big and heavy to haul around the world on trips.
Hi drrhythm1967...very nice guitar..is it a real martin guitar as in it was made by martin company, or a custom as in it wasnt made by martin..If its custom...does it really have the exact same bracing as martin 015 and same scale length (24.9" right)? Is it all solid mahogany? And last q, how much is it (price)? I really really appreciate your answer..im really obsessed with martin 015, but i dont have money now n it costs like my kidney, i mean literally...maybe ill do have money when i get older..but then martin 015 would be more rare..bcause martin had stopped making 015 right..so i hope this guitar (the one's like in this video) will still be produced then..haha ik im rambling like crazy 1 second ago•
Hi Rizky, thanks, you're too kind! It is indeed an actual, made-in-Nazareth, PA Martin guitar, in all-solid mahogany, 24.9" scale and 1 3/4" at the nut. It was from the UK distributor, Westside's custom run - so it's not a Custom Shop (i.e. individually specced) but a custom run (i.e. a limited short run) guitar. Westside seem to have a few of these made every couple of years for the UK market, which makes sense, as they're fabulous! Mine was around £1300 in the UK, which usually translates to about the same number of dollars, as we pay a premium over here! Hope this helps and good luck with the search.
Hey thx...i get it now.. I just seen larrivee parlor all mahogany on youtube, its also great great guitar, n cheaper than 015,, but i still prefer the 015,
Just to say, on the back of this I went out and bought one. Quite honestly I’m old and cynical and fully expected to be disappointed. As we know, in the hands of a skilled balladeer any old junk can sound pretty alright, but a struggling amateur will soon reveal the true character and quality of the same instrument and very different it will sound.
I was looking for a small guitar and didn’t expect it to sound like a big guitar. I have a beautiful HD-28 and its awesome. Small guitars sound boxy....don’t they? A bit plinky plonky perhaps? Anyway if you had to have only one guitar ( ha ha) it would surely be a dreadnought right. Well, hell no! I don’t know what it is, but these babies are way more than the sum of their parts. The endorsement made here, I have found to be entirely accurate. I totally agree, I find my food is now almost always cold and I’m late getting to bed. I am frankly amazed at how balanced it is finger picking or strumming and thumping. I even enjoy me playing it! A very cool little guitar and thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction.
Cheers
Peter, that's awesome! Thanks for trusting my opinion and sharing the love for these fabulous little guitars!
Martin really should bring the single-O back out as a standard production model.....the OO doesn't seem that much smaller than the 000 from what I can tell.....the Guild M-20 seems like a potential alternative.....
Nice playing and good demo. It's well recorded and shows the sound of the guitar well. Your guitar sounds great. You're letting the guitar resonate and not smothering it like a lot of people do.
man, this guitar really brings out your passion for playing!
Just bought one to accompany my HD28, love the guitar this video was a great help in making my choice easier.
Nice job. Sounds wonderful. I have a 00-15m and just love it!
Yes! Nice job. I purchased a 00-15 in March of 2022. Love it!
Absolutely gorgeous! Such a nice recording and your playing is wonderful.
Came for a demo, stayed for amazing playing!
It's a 2012 guitar, so it's not been knocked about (yet!) In the UK the only retail 0-15 I could lay my hands on was the Westside Custom Edition, and that's what this one is... and yes, I love it dearly!
DrRhythm1967 there are some new versions out now they have some around try andertons music
I have this guitar and confirm they are literally amazing. Great playing and demo, damn I just need to go play mine now 👍
Hi - I'm after one of these. Do you know what the string spacing is at the bridge - I can't find this out on-line. Thanks
Hi there, it's a production model, kinda. Westside Distribution are the UK distributors and had a batch of 0-15s made. These were the only new 0-15s available in the UK as Westside are the sole distributors. LA Guitar Sales do a similar thing in the states, and the Martin Website might allow you to work out the cost of a custom build. Hope that helps :)
Beautiful playing. Love the little Martins. I have an old 00-18G made in 1953 that I love. It's worn almost as bad as Willie Nelson's N-20 but sounds great and plays like a dream even after all these years. Keep up the great work !!!
I Love the sound of mahogany guitars....! Thanks for sharing this video!
Hi Jeremiah, you're too kind! The Martin sounds (it's always difficult to apply adjectives here, so let's go with...) fabulous, even with my playing and both strummed and finger-picked. It's lighter-built and more resonant than the others, sustains forever, and is simply a cut above. I just can't put it down.
Hi there. Absolutely gorgeous playing. I have this custom model on order with Andertons, due to arrive in August. Have you still got the guitar? Any more thoughts on it now you have had it a while? Thanks, Steven
@@stevengarside Hi Steven, I do indeed still have the guitar - it's not going anywhere! Played it earlier on this afternoon in fact and if anything, it's got better sounding. Must be 8 years of my forearm polishing the top. I never really got the concept of guitars 'opening up' but that's possibly because I was used to thicker finishes and clunkier construction in my youth - but now I get it. You won't be disappointed when it arrives, though August is a bit of an exercise in patience! All the best, Dave
@@DrRhythm1967 Hi
Thanks for the reply Dave - really glad it is just as enjoyable, and that it is even sounding better. Yes, 'opening up' is one of those things I have been sceptical about myself. I have a new Gibson J-185 that sounds very stiff and I'm hoping it will happen with that, otherwise it will be sold on. Glad it seems to be true in the case of your lovely little Martin. Makes me all the more eager for mine to arrive. I am really struggling to wait until August - my Guitar Acquisition Syndrome is killing me! Best wishes, Steve
very nice playing...and the Martin suits you VERY well! J.D.
Thanks for the information
I ended up buying the 0-15m. Just as your video shows it sounds lovely, but also plays very easily due to its small size. Much easier for me to play when I'm lounging in my front room on the couch. :)
Malcolm...how loud is it strummed?
Just picked up a 0-17 custom shop, it’s an amazing guitar.
I think I will get one of these ... amazing sound - considering a Taylor for a long time but played one of these and it felt great.
Hi there - the difference is in the body size. The OM (Orchestra Model) is bigger, having been designed by Martin to compete with other instruments in orchestral settings.
The O, which they don't make as standard at the moment, only Specials, is much more petite - though was once the standard size at the turn of the last century, long before the OMs and dreadnaughts came along. Hope this helps.
Nice demo of this guitar. I have an old "The Gibson" uke that is all mahogany, but I can't really "take advantage of it" as Rev. Gary Davis would say. Mahogany has a nice mellow tone that is beautiful in its own way.
Great demo & playing ! Thanl you
Excellent Dr. Rhythm! =) ...I'm looking to add one alongside my Taylor LK 12...
I have a 000-15M and love it.
Hey DocRythym.. real nicely done! I have a question for you, but I don't know if folks really get around to responding... IF So, THANKS! I have a lovely Martin 000-15SM. It's a fantastic instrument,, however, I'm realizing it's still quite big for me. The nut is 1.75", the bridge saddle spacing a titch over 2.25", the scale length is 25.65" and the 12 fret body is really full at 20.5". I bought it online due to it's 12 fret to body construction and fantastic depth of tone and a 3 year pay off. I played in person (before purchasing my 000-15SM) a higher end Martin that I thought had the same specs... only to now realize that the higher end model has the 24.9" scale length and actually a 00 body size. So... I love my guitar, but it really still feels too big. I don't know if I will be able to ever sell it, it's that good... but I'm not getting any longer myself and she's not shrinking either. I looked all around for old style Martin parlors only to realize that's a custom thing these days. Now I know that the 00-18 and the 0-18 and this 0-15 are the instruments that have the specs more to my liking. So with all that shared, here's my question.... Which one of these guitars should be my next guitar the 00 or 0 Spruce top? Or something like this 0-15 Mahogany? I also keep considering the Gibson L-00 Original. I fingerpick and I pick,... for now mostly solo singer songwriter stuff... I'd love a big voice with my guitar (or at least one that blows your socks off with tone that defies it's dimensions),... but honestly, I've had some left hand problems and I would love a guitar that is easier to play too because it's just plain smaller ( especially scale length).. Any advice to share?? Thanks PS I tried the Martin CEO and it was great, but I wasn't sold on it. Have not tried any of the 00's or 0,.. even the Gibson, but I do have a '55 O-18T tenor that is incredible,, that old timer has confirmed for me that something magical can happen with a very small box. THANKS
Hi Michael, thanks for the kind comments - and that's a really big question right there! Of course, the usual answer would be 'play all 3 (or 4 including the Gibson) and let your ears and fingers decide', but that's not always possible without travelling a long way, especially in 2020.
000s are certainly big guitars - I'm only 5'9" and have always found them quite a stretch to play, as much in the reach-over on the right as for the stretch to the left. Aaargh - this is really difficult. I was going to suggest that for singer-songwriter stuff then maybe a 00 would be a good bet, but then I remembered how good this 0-15 sounds through a PA. I fitted a K&K Shoreline 3-part transducer behind the bridge and it sounds absolutely amazing both through my little Roland amp in the garden studio and through a PA in a bigger room, so even there the 0-size can hold its own!
In terms of playability, my absolute favourite and easiest-to-play guitar is the Taylor 322 (mahogany top, sapele back+sides, subject of another video somewhere on my channel). I've never really analysed *why* it's easier than the others until right now - it's not setup or string height, as they're all within a millimetre of each other. Now I do think about it, it's a lovely comfotable body shape, nice rounded top-to-body joints so it sits under the arm well, and a comfortable neck/scale length and nut width. And despite all that, like the Martin, it has a bigger sound than it has any right to, given the body size. If you are able to try one in person, I would recommend it too. But it's a 'hog top, and it's a Taylor - so might not be what you're looking for. Taylors can sound a bit clean and 'goody two-shoes' sometimes, while Martins have a bit more grit or earth to them. (Starting to sound like a wine snob, sorry about that!)
So, back to the question...
Obvious answer - try and get to play them and also get someone from the shop to play them in front of you too. (Small-bodied guitars can sound massively different from behind the wheel versus at the roadside!)
More complicated answer, given that it's 2020 and you might have to buy online: you'e already got the warm mahogany tone in the 000-15SM, so I'd go for the 00-18 or similar...
Hybrid answer: if you can get to play/listen to any combination of the L-00 / 00-18 and even the 322, then it would be worth a short road trip to try them (other than in a noisy Guitar Centre on a Saturday or similar environment!)
Funnily enough, I've also noticed I use a capo much more when singing at the moment - I think my vocal range has contracted during the pandemic though lack of practice and use, so that shortens neck lengths automatically!
You've inspired my to go and have a play on a bunch of guitars now - I'll update with any inspiring conclusions. Have fun in the meantime!
their overtones.) This occurs when you're playing fingerstyle as well, but not to the same degree since you're vibrating each string less, decreasing the number of overtones heard, and therefore, the muddiness.
On another note, you're actually going to get a brighter sound from a thinner pick. I don't know how to explain that technically--that's just something I learned working in a guitar shop. :)
Robert,
That's just the nature of strumming. What's actually muddying the sound is the relatively high density of overtones in comparison to that of fingerstyle. Not to get too technical, but when you play a G major chord, you end up with tons of dissonances between the overtone series of each note. Furthermore, these tones function within a non-tempered system, while you have tuned your guitar using equal temperament (essentially, the overtones are not in tune with the other strings and...
IMO the '15' series cannot be beat!
AWESOME..GREAT VID!..I am after one of these 0-15's..The funny part is I sold my 000-10 we have discussed in your 000 vid a few weeks ago and yesterday received my Guild M120..Now i see that you have purchased the very same guitars as I am going through...SMART MINDS!...When I first strummed the M120 it was the most anemic flat powerless guitar I have ever heard..I had some tusq pins here that I installed sanded the saddle to a proper action and gave her all the relief and I am happy..Its no Martin though...Your M120 video you mentioned is nowhere to be found..A comparison would be awesome..Did you have the same experiance when you first played your M120? ..Thanks for your great vids
AC-240 Ibanez is a Mahogany Monster ! wow
Great review thanks
Well I was able to find one, at Elderly Instruments in Michigan. They had a bunch made for their 40th anniversary, they are selling them, new, for about $3,900.
I'd love one, but that's just out the top of my budget with 4 kids in college...maybe if/when they get out and get jobs!
elderly always has a nice selection of great instruments but extremely overpriced.
THAT PRICE IS ABSOLUTE BULL SHIT!!...
sublime
fantastic video!! tell me if you don't mind...how does this hold up against your other small body guitars you have on your channel? guild GAD, taylor GS mini, etc. it sounds beautiful....but does it have a full and satisfying sound both fingerstyle and strumming? thanks and keep playing!!
lovely video! have you by chance played a taylor 322? im struggling to decide between that and the 0-15.
Fire and rain ❤️
Hi Brian,
The fretboard on this one is actually matte black Richlite - which really surprised me, as I guess I was subconsciously biased against it until I tried it :)
I see it listed as rosewood on every UK retailer I can find. Do you have a source for that info? Thanks! Sounds good
@@MsDaydream Hi there, the new ones currently available at GuitarGuitar in the UK do indeed have rosewood fingerboards and are listed as 0-15M Martin Custom Special, in line with the current model naming - they're UK-only so I guess it's another batch ordered and distributed by Westside, the UK distributor. Mine's a 2011 model and doesn't have the 'M' in the name, although in every other respect they're the same model. Here's a 2011 model listed online - have a look at the closeup photo of the fingerboard and you'll see there's no grain whatsoever, it's purest Richlite. reverb.com/ca/item/13590402-martin-0-15-2011-westside-custom-edition#full If you're looking at UK retailers' website it seems like you're thinking of buying one, and this is where I'm obliged to say "Go for it! It's a bloody brilliant little guitar". Enjoy!
@@DrRhythm1967 www.andertons.co.uk/acoustic-dept/acoustic-guitars/mid-sized-acoustic-guitars/martin-westside-custom-0-15m-acoustic-guitar
This is the one I bought. I'm hoping it comes with the rosewood. :)
@@MsDaydream I Just bought one from Guitarguitar in Edinburgh at the weekend and the fingerboard is indeed rosewood. Very happy with it. Wish it came with a hard case instead of a gig bag but that's a purchase for another day if I can find a nice case for a 0.
@@petewaugh how does it sound? If you post a video, please tag me :)
Dammit Dr. - now I'm in need of a 0-15! 😜
Sweet smooth and niiiice
Nice Video,
Do you know the difference between this '0-15m' and an '0m15m'.
They are both for sale nearby and I can't see any difference in the specifications?
Have my fathers. Sounds exactly the same. Tho, my dads could use some work, for sure! Thanks for sharing,!
how does this compare to the Guild M120? any chance you could do a side by side sound comparison?
I finally received the 0-15. Mine is the full gloss with binding! I'm curious about the non-scalloped "A" bracing pattern. Do you notice a difference in tone between the 0-15 and the 0M bracing?
Hi Brian,
I wonder if you were looking at the custom 0-15s the Gruhn had back around the time you posted...?
I want this guitar.
What mike do you have here,might like one instead of a pick up
Having played all these small bodies guitars what one do you think stands out? I'm leaning towards the Martin 00-15M which I can pick up used for around $850-900. Going the cheap option the Taylor GS mini for about $400.
Iv’e been offered a 2012 or a new one as they made some more in recent times ! Choices?
thank you so much for your video. love your playing style. i've saw the other videos of guild M120 and Taylor gs mini. to my ears this small Martin is much better. can you tell my your opion? which one of them is the loudest guitar? thanks again
Great playing! I was wondering: have you tried the US made Guild M20? And if so, then which of the Martin and Guild do you like best for light strumming/fingerpicking? I'm looking to buy a small all mahogany guitar and I can't decide between the two. I know there are slight differences in scale length and neck profile but otherwise they should be pretty similar... or? I'm looking for a mellow, "dusty" tone... not a bright one since I already have a Yamaha FS5 (Sitka spruce on top, mahogany back and sides).
Hi there, thanks for the comment. I've not tried the US-made M20, only the Pacific-rim M120 which is a cracking guitar for any money. So, while I can't compare to the M20, the biggest 2 factors between the Martin and M120 are that the Martin has, to my ears at least, a deeper, more resonant tone while the Guild is lighter and brighter and consequently 'overdrives' more easily. (I guess that comes from being slightly heavier built as well as the bracing?) The other difference is in neck profile. The Guild is a lot more of a baseball bat than the Martin which has a shallower, flatter profile - but hey, if I can wrap my pudgy thumb around an F chord on either then I reckon most people could!
@@DrRhythm1967 thank you very much. I can only try the Guild here in Denmark since the Martin 015 is a special batch only found in the UK stores.
Anyone know the string spacing at the bridge for this westside custom model?
Here’s the info on the spacing, from the UMGF: “I measured and compared it against guitars with both 2-1/4 and 2-5/16 inch bridge spacing, it is in between, but closer to 2-1/4”
Do you prefer this to the Guild M-120? Looking to spend between 600-1000 on a new fingerstyle small-body guitar....
Which mic do you use exactly? I just bought a CS-0-15M and I would love for it to sound like this and not a toy guitar like a phone recording makes it sound. Thanks in advance!
Hi Z-Bob, this is a Studio Electronics SE2200 ( www.seelectronics.com/se2200-microphone ) fed through an old JoeMeek 3Q preamp, the closest equivalent of which is the threeQ these days. I know smartphones are capable of really good general audio recordings, but trying to get a good result out of a phone mic is always going to be hard. If nothing else, finding the right placement and keeping it there is nigh-on impossible. (Personally I default to targeting the mic at the neck/body joint between 8 inches and 2 feet from the instrument - depending on how intimate the desired result needs to sound)
Hope that helps and play on!
Dave
Nice🙌
Hey bro a question, is this the production line guitar or u make it custom build. How much would it cost
DrRhythm,
You really shouldn't put coated strings on a Martin. It goes against everything ever written, said, or implied about C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. As someone who has played Taylors (and really enjoys playing coated strings) and would rather play their guitar than restring it, I understand where you're coming from. But the guitar was designed with non-coated strings in mind.
Whered you get it? Just curious, I just ordered mine from LAguitarsales. Did you get a satin finish or gloss? Cheers
Hi J, I bought it from GuitarGuitar, a retailer in London. It has a satin finish (except where my arm has buffed it up to gloss). Thanks for watching!
Im actually trying to choose between a martin 015m and a new guild m20. I saw your guild video. What would you suggest between the two? Thanks and great playing!
My 2 cents: If you can get your hands on a Martin, I'd definitely go for that. They're both lovely guitars, but since recording this I'd say the Martin, which is slightly more lightly built than the Guild (maybe it's just the thickness of the finish) has matured beautifully. But they're both great guitars - try them both if/when you get a chance in these strange days, and let your ears/fingers decide. Thanks for the compliment and stay safe!
@@DrRhythm1967 Yeah getting my hands on them is tough, Ill probly have to do a blind buy so I really appreciate the comment. Ill be sure to keep it in mind!
In my limited experience, the Martins have a warmer/mellow overall tone than the Guild. The Guild sound is very nice, just a bit brighter.
@@mikebelz9226 Thats pretty interesting. Ill definitely take that into consideration. Thanks!
What´s the difference between a "normal" 0-15 and the 0-15m ??
The M usually means 'all mahogany' in Martin model names. At the moment there is no 'normal' 0-15 of any kind, nor any listed on Martin's website. My 0-15 is an all-mahogany custom model, from a special run made a few years ago, so if it were to become a standard model, it would probably be called an 0-15m, leaving 0-15 for an also non-existent model using a lighter timber. Hope that helps :)
Thank you!!
Can you tell me what is the string-spacing like at the nut-end? I have quite fat fingers - ok for classical, but there are few accoustics where I don't foul adjacent strings!
Hi :-) I have a 1961 0-15 . . . finger style is about the same tone as yours, but strumming it, the guitar flattens out . . . any thoughts???
I am looking seriously at a L.A. Guitar Custom 0-15m right now, but because I'm a novice and not a fingerpicker (I'm a novice player...so more strumming) I'm concerned with its sound then. It sounds amazing fingerpicked, but I'm thinking the sound might disappear because of its size strummed. Any thoughts?
Is that the O 15 or the OO 15?
I didn't know they made an O 15.
It is indeed a single-0! Smaller still than the 00 and so comfortable to play.
DrRhythm1967 Very nice, I've not seen one at any guitar shop, I'll have to do some searching on line, see if can find one. It looks (and sounds) like just what I need for both sitting on my couch and for taking with me on a trip. Small but sounds great. Do you know how much smaller it is at the lower bout, than the 00 model? And what about string spacing at the nut and saddle?
I only play fingerstyle so I want something with enough spacing for that.
I love my OM, but it's just a little too big to be comfortable when slumped in my couch, and too big and heavy to haul around the world on trips.
hey, can you please tell me what gauge strings it comes with? i'm guessing 12's?
Hi there, yup it came fitted with 12s. They're 11s in the video though for the sake of my pudgy fingers :D
@@DrRhythm1967 thankyou! im ordering one next week 😊
@@DrRhythm1967 what is the gig bag it comes with like?
@@Vespa123 Full fitted Martin hard shell case :)
@@DrRhythm1967 andertons do it with a gig bag 🙄 lol
is it nylon or metal strings ?
Hi there - it's steel strings on this one.
@@DrRhythm1967 hello there, thx for thé intell. Didnt you think this sounded smooth and gentle ?
Hi drrhythm1967...very nice guitar..is it a real martin guitar as in it was made by martin company, or a custom as in it wasnt made by martin..If its custom...does it really have the exact same bracing as martin 015 and same scale length (24.9" right)? Is it all solid mahogany? And last q, how much is it (price)? I really really appreciate your answer..im really obsessed with martin 015, but i dont have money now n it costs like my kidney, i mean literally...maybe ill do have money when i get older..but then martin 015 would be more rare..bcause martin had stopped making 015 right..so i hope this guitar (the one's like in this video) will still be produced then..haha ik im rambling like crazy
1 second ago•
Hi Rizky, thanks, you're too kind! It is indeed an actual, made-in-Nazareth, PA Martin guitar, in all-solid mahogany, 24.9" scale and 1 3/4" at the nut. It was from the UK distributor, Westside's custom run - so it's not a Custom Shop (i.e. individually specced) but a custom run (i.e. a limited short run) guitar. Westside seem to have a few of these made every couple of years for the UK market, which makes sense, as they're fabulous! Mine was around £1300 in the UK, which usually translates to about the same number of dollars, as we pay a premium over here! Hope this helps and good luck with the search.
Hey thx...i get it now..
I just seen larrivee parlor all mahogany on youtube, its also great great guitar, n cheaper than 015,, but i still prefer the 015,
Is it a 00 or a 000?
Neither - it's an 0 (i.e. smaller still) :)
John frusciante !