Martin Guitar 000-15M 1000015MSTREETMASTER Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

Martin guitars have been around since 1833 when Christian Frederick Martin Sr. started making instruments in New York City. The company helped pioneer and popularize the dreadnought and other iconic acoustic guitar shapes. While Martin is known for premium, handmade acoustic guitars, they also offer more affordable imports under their StreetMaster line.

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster features a smaller 00 body shape with a solid mahogany top. It aims to deliver Martin's signature tonewoods and craftsmanship at an entry-level price point. This makes it an attractive option for players looking for the Martin sound and style without breaking the bank.

The StreetMaster series is manufactured in Mexico using Martin's designs and quality control. While not US-made, they incorporate some of the same woods and appointments as their pricier models. The 000-15M brings mahogany top construction found on guitars costing much more. Let's take a closer look at how it stacks up.

Construction

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster acoustic guitar features all-solid tonewoods and scalloped X-bracing for optimal resonance and sustain.

The top is made from solid Sitka spruce, a popular choice among acoustic builders for its strength, lightness, and balanced tone. Sitka spruce provides crisp highs with an open and airy sound.

For the back and sides, Martin selected solid mahogany. Known for its warm, round, and deep tone, mahogany pairs nicely with the bright spruce top. This combination results in a guitar with nice harmonic complexity across the tonal spectrum.

The body shape is Martin's comfortable and familiar 000-14 fret auditorium size. Slightly smaller and more comfortable than a dreadnought, the 000 still projects with enough volume for playing live. The compact body size makes it a great choice for fingerstyle playing as well.

The StreetMaster features a modified low oval neck shape that is comfortable and easy to play, as well as a Richlite fingerboard and bridge. Richlite is a sustainable and durable composite made from paper fiber. It has a smooth feel similar to ebony. Die-cast chrome enclosed tuners provide precise and reliable tuning stability.

For players looking for an all-solid wood acoustic with professional features and appointments, the Martin 000-15M StreetMaster is an excellent choice. It delivers the gorgeous tone, playability and reliability that Martin guitars are known for.

Fender also makes a range of quality acoustic guitars like the Fender 0970713121. This concert-shaped acoustic has a solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing, mahogany back and sides, and a smooth-playing "C"-shaped neck profile.

The body is finished in a vibrant Transparent Cherry Burst gloss. It looks as good as it sounds! Other features include a walnut fingerboard and bridge, and die-cast chrome tuners. The Fishman Presys Blend pickup system allows for natural amplified tones.

For players looking for a comfortable, lightweight acoustic with top-notch looks and electronics, the Fender 0970713121 is definitely worth checking out. The all-solid wood construction provides excellent resonance, while the slim neck allows for easy fretting and chord changes. The Burst finish and elegant appointments make this a very attractive package.

Sound

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster produces a rich, resonant sound with plenty of volume thanks to its all-mahogany body construction and solid spruce top. Though not as booming as larger-bodied guitars, the 000-15M has a balanced tonal character that projects well.

The mahogany back and sides impart a warm, rounded tone with smooth lows, pleasing mids, and crisp treble notes. The solid Sitka spruce top adds brightness and shimmer to the mahogany's darker hues. Together, these tonewoods create a versatile sound palette suitable for many styles, from strumming to fingerpicking.

While some small-bodied acoustics can sound thin or tinny when strummed hard, the 000-15M holds up well to aggressive playing. Notes are sustained nicely, not choked off prematurely even when flatpicking. The tone remains balanced across the frequency spectrum, without harsh overtones. Overall, the 000-15M delivers a rich, full-bodied voice that belies its compact size.

The Washburn Festival EA15 EA15ITB-A is another excellent small-bodied acoustic guitar that produces a balanced, nuanced tone. Its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides generate a bright yet warm sound. The EA15 has impressive sustain and resonance for a petite guitar. Treble notes ring out with clarity while the mahogany provides a pleasing midrange focus. With its compact auditorium body shape, the EA15 delivers volume and projection beyond its size. While the Martin 000-15M may have a bit more low-end punch, the EA15 compares favorably in its smooth, detailed voice. Players looking for an affordable, great-sounding small body acoustic would do well to check out the Washburn Festival EA15.

Playability

The Martin StreetMaster 000-15M features a Performing Artist profile neck that offers comfortable playability. The neck has a rounded shape that contours nicely to the hand, providing a smooth feel whether strumming chords or playing single notes.

The fingerboard is made from richlite, an eco-friendly composite material that has a smoothness similar to ebony. This gives a very slick feel when moving up and down the neck. The richlite is also very durable and resistant to wear.

The string action on the StreetMaster is set low and optimized for playing comfort. Both the nut and saddle are cut to just the right height to make the strings easy to press down without buzzing. The action is set particularly well from the 1st to 5th frets, where a good deal of playing occurs. This allows easy forming of first position chords.

Overall the StreetMaster 000-15M provides excellent playability right out of the box. The comfortable neck shape, slick richlite fingerboard, and optimized string action make this an acoustic that feels natural to play as soon as you pick it up.

Hardware

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster is equipped with quality hardware that enhances its tone and playability.

Tuning Machines

The guitar has chrome enclosed tuning machines with vintage style butterbean knobs. The tuners keep the guitar in tune reliably while adding to the vintage aesthetic.

Bridge Material

It features a richlite bridge and fretboard which provides excellent stability and allows the top to vibrate freely. The material is rainforest-friendly and has a smooth feel during play.

Nut and Saddle

The nut and saddle are both made from Tusq, an artificial alternative to ivory that produces bright and balanced tones. The nut is cut to precise tolerances for great string spacing and action, while the saddle has a compensated design that improves intonation.

Electronics

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster comes equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics. The onboard preamp and pickup system is designed to reproduce the true, natural tone of the all-solid wood body and produce clear amplified sound across the tonal spectrum.

The Sonitone combines an undersaddle transducer with a soundhole-mounted preamp. The undersaddle pickup captures the guitar's top vibration and tone while remaining invisible and preserving the integrity and look of the instrument. The preamp includes volume and tone controls and is engineered for simple plug-and-play live performance without complex EQ tweaking.

Reviewers praise the Fishman preamp and pickup for its authentic acoustic sound reproduction without colored amplification. It allows the solid tonewoods of the StreetMaster to shine through naturally whether playing acoustic or plugged-in on stage. The electronics onboard this Martin aim to amplify the guitar's inherent acoustic voice, not transform or heavily process it.

Craftsmanship

Martin's craftsmanship shines through on the 000-15M StreetMaster. The fit and finish is top-notch, with perfectly polished frets, a flawless high gloss finish, and no blemishes to be found. The attention to detail on a Martin is exceptional, from the neatly trimmed binding to the precisely cut mother of pearl inlay around the soundhole. Whether you're examining the guitar up close or just admiring it from afar, the commitment to quality is evident. Every element on the StreetMaster, from the tapered headstock to the vintage-style nickel open-gear tuners, shows thoughtful design and precision workmanship. For a handmade instrument, this degree of refinement is extraordinary. The talent of Martin's luthiers brings consistency to the process while still allowing each guitar to have its own unique charm. If you appreciate fine attention to detail, you'll delight in discovering the craftsmanship on the StreetMaster.

Value

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster delivers exceptional value relative to other guitars in its price range. While not the most inexpensive option on the market, its combination of high-end materials, skilled craftsmanship, and rich tone put it ahead of entry-level models that sell for around the same price point or slightly less.

When compared to Martin's other all-solid wood guitars in the same series like the D-15M StreetMaster, this grand concert body shape 000-15M offers a more affordable way to get many of the same appointments and tonewoods found on pricier models. The solid mahogany back and sides provide warm, balanced resonance. The solid Sitka spruce top offers crisp articulation and volume. These are the same tonewoods used on Martin's more expensive Standard Series models.

This guitar avoids fancy decorative elements to keep costs reasonable yet retains fundamental Martin build quality and attention to detail. Owners describe the tone as clear and balanced across the tonal spectrum - ideal for a wide range of musical styles. While not inexpensive, the 000-15M StreetMaster gives you an authentic, great-sounding all-solid wood Martin at a price that competing models from other premium brands can't match. It's an excellent value proposition for intermediate players or working musicians.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Class-leading balance of volume, articulation and bass
• Warm, rich, balanced tone perfect for accompanying vocals
• Excellent intonation up the neck
• Comfortable neck profile suitable for most playing styles
• Attractive appointments like Abalone rosette and fretboard inlay
• Durable build quality and materials

Cons

• Price is on the higher end for a 000 model
• Not as "boomy" as some players prefer
• Slightly heavier than other modern mahogany guitars
• Not ideal for aggressive strumming or percussive playing

The StreetMaster 000-15M offers an outstanding blend of tone, playability and craftsmanship. While the price is relatively high, this guitar delivers impressively consistent quality that justifies the cost for the right player. Unless you require maximum bass response or ultra-light weight, the 000-15M is a superb choice for fingerstyle and solo musicians.

Conclusion

The Martin 000-15M StreetMaster is an excellent choice for players looking for a responsive, articulate acoustic guitar with vintage styling. Though not inexpensive, it's a solid value in the Martin line and stands up well to comparably-priced Martins.

With its smaller 000 body size, the StreetMaster is extremely comfortable to play and ideal for fingerstyle techniques. The mahogany back and sides deliver a balanced, warm tone while the solid Sitka spruce top offers crisp articulation and volume. The short 24.9" scale also enhances playability.

Hardware includes open-gear nickel tuners with butterbean knobs, a Tusq nut and saddle, and an ebony bridge. Attention to detail is evident throughout in the rosette, binding, and fretwork. While lacking electronics, the StreetMaster succeeds in its goal of delivering a great playing and sounding all-solid-wood instrument.

For players seeking a smaller-bodied guitar with excellent craftsmanship and Martin heritage, the 000-15M StreetMaster is easy to recommend. While not as flashy as some models, it provides a delightful playing experience and impressive tone in an understated package.