Martin 000-15?

[Frederico]

While patiently waiting for arrival of my Larrivee 00-03MT (aka Forum IV), I came across when browsing internet an  all-mahogany/12 fret 000-15 by Martin at similar price point.  The only significant difference may be a 000 vs 00 body size.  Does any one have an opinion on this Martin?  How would you expect it to compare with Larrivee's 00-03MT?

[gitnoob]

The 000-15 is a 14-fret narrow nut.

The 000-15S would be a better comparison -- 12-fret slot-head wide nut.

Also check out the 00-15.    And they'll make you a custom 00-15S if you ask nicely.

The old 15 series is nice except for the decal rosettes.    The newer 15M series fixed that problem and upgraded the tuners.

The F-IV is the only game in town for a 12-fret 00 mahogany-top in its price range, though.

[teh]

I played a 12 fret 000-15s and an OM-03MT last week and both were about the same price.

I would give the edge on sound to the Martin and the appearance to the Larrivee starting with the binding. I don't like the decal rosette on the Martin either but it would not have deterred me from buying it except I am on a spending freeze right now. I have to believe that it would be hard to find an 00 body size with MT at this price point anywhere. Is the Forum IV a slot head or solid headstock?

Then again, someone will buy a guitar and get the itch to sell it and I will take a closer look then.

[Danny]

I played a 12 fret 000-15s and an OM-03MT last week and both were about the same price.

I would give the edge on sound to the Martin and the appearance to the Larrivee starting with the binding. I don't like the decal rosette on the Martin either but it would not have deterred me from buying it except I am on a spending freeze right now. I have to believe that it would be hard to find an 00 body size with MT at this price point anywhere. Is the Forum IV a slot head or solid headstock?

Then again, someone will buy a guitar and get the itch to sell it and I will take a closer look then.

How can you give the edge to the Martin on sound when we have not heard a F-IV yet?  I own a Martin and really like it. But I have not played a 00-15 or 15S that has impressed me very much yet. And most of the Martins are Sapele, only a few Mahogany seem to be left.
         The one 00 Larrivee I owned was great sounding small body to me. I hope the F-IV is as nice and I am expecting it to be.
          So based on the 000-15 and 000-15S I have played and having owned a 00 Larrivee I think the sound and looks will go to the F-IV. The 15 series Martins don't have the scalloped X bracing and I think that dulls them a bit.

[tuffythepug]

  
          So based on the 000-15 and 000-15S I have played and having owned a 00 Larrivee I think the sound and looks will go to the F-IV. The 15 series Martins don't have the scalloped X bracing and I think that dulls them a bit.

Danny, I don't think the F-IV will have scallolped X bracing either, will it ?   Maybe I missed something.

T

[unclrob]

Danny I think he was comparing the Martin with an OM.

[Danny]

Danny, I don't think the F-IV will have scallolped X bracing either, will it ?   Maybe I missed something.

T

I was referring to the types of bracing Martin uses. They have a different bracing on the 15 series. And I'll add that on the 00-09FM I thought the Larrivee bracing was a plus.

Danny I think he was comparing the Martin with an OM.

Maybe I read it wrong, I'll re-read it.

[teh]

As Uncle Rob stated, I was comparing the guitars at I had at hand (000 and 00 Martins versus the OM-03MT).  To my ear, I still give the edge on sound and playability to the 000-15S I played but I think the Larrivees look nicer. I don't like the decal rosette on the Martin and I like the maple binding on the Larrivees better. Having said that, the fact that they aren't making the 000-15S anymore appeals to me and I guess I could also turn the lights down to play.

When I said that for the money I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a 00-MT at the same price point, I was referring to the Forum IV but I didn't make it clear in my original post.

History and past experience play a large part in my buying decisions. 34 years ago, I passed on a Martin D-35S (Slothead 12 fret Dreadnought) that was my second choice in favor of my current D-35 which I paid for in cash. No regrets on my final decision but I wish I had figured out how to buy the D-35S back then because they stopped making them too. That's part of the reason why I jumped on the OM-35 I bought in 2007. If that guitar had not been available I would have bought the OM-21 Special or one of the OM-21 models I played in a heart beat but the scalloped bracing and sunburst finish made the OM-35 a real keeper. I also bought my two Larrivees for their unique sonic and visual properties.

[Danny]

  Thanks teh, I am all cleared up

[bluesman67]

I had one for 1 year, it was a 000-15s sapele...spectacular in every way possible.  If I could only have 1 guitar it would have been that one....except that I already had a Forum I OM-03MT 12 fret and the only way I would let that go is if it's pried away from my dead life-less hands.    

Very closely related to the 000-15s is the 000-17s.  Most people don't know about this guitar because Martin only made just a little more than 200 of them but they are highly sought after instruments.  They sport a simple rosette just like the Larrivee 03 series, they have scalloped bracing, and they are high gloss.  The scalloped bracing gives a deeper tone, which may be appealing.  However, they also do not have the clarity of tone you will find on the 000-15s, or any 12-fret Larrivee hogtop, guitars that sound great almost independently of how they are played!

Tuffythepug has a couple sweet Larrivee hogtops, a 000 and FIII.  I'll bet they've opened up nicely, Lynn?

[Denis]

I had an all sapele 000-15S for a time as well.  Outstanding guitar!  I used it for live work and made a couple of YouTube videos with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqsVVG2jCQA

I can't wait for the FIV though!!!

[bluesmike]

I have a 00015s as well and love it to death. Right now it's probably my favorite. With only 12 clear frets, it's probably not the most practical for Rev Gary Davis, but I play on it anyway. I put some 3-on-a-plate Waverlys on it -- probably overkill considering the cost of the instrument itself -- but they really look great on this guitar. This one is a sapele.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-GxxxYv94A

[bluesman67]

I have a 00015s as well and love it to death. Right now it's probably my favorite. With only 12 clear frets, it's probably not the most practical for Rev Gary Davis, but I play on it anyway. I put some 3-on-a-plate Waverlys on it -- probably overkill considering the cost of the instrument itself -- but they really look great on this guitar. This one is a sapele.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-GxxxYv94A

Not overkill at all!  I did the same on mine!  The stock tuners just stick out like a sore thumb, I couldn't swap them out quick enough.  Nice playing Mike.

[jrporter]

FYI: http://www.myfavoriteguitars.com/product.php?productid=16164

[bluesman67]

FYI: http://www.myfavoriteguitars.com/product.php?productid=16164