Martin 000-17E Review

Fantastic guitar with beautiful clear tones

I spent hours and hours trying different guitars (various brands and various sizes). I wasn't quite sure what I was after, I just knew I wanted a guitar that had the right tone (for my ears). I finally shortlisted a Martin 000-15m and one the 000-17e. I kept going back and forth between the 2, finding different nuances in them both. I absolutely loved the sound of the 15m, but… read more there was just something about the 17 that sounded slightly better (again, for my ears…it's all subjective in the end). There was more than one in the store, so I sat for a while trying them all and there was one that just stood out head and shoulders above the others. It wasn't a hard decision pulling the plug on it. It really goes to prove that you can have exactly the same make and model, but there can be tonal differences between them. This is a 1st class guitar and that smoke colour is gorgeous. The action was low and perfect for me. No changes needed to be made at all (which I should hope for an American made Martin). I can't put it down….

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My favorite guitar I've ever played, and it's not even close. The neck feels perfect, the volume is incredible considering how small and light the guitar is, and it looks awesome. The electronics give a lot of options for amplified sounds with the two different pickups.

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Terrific! Heirloom Instrument

This is my third Martin. I already love it more than the other two combined. It's got that very old school look and feel. Interesting flat black finish and very cool vintage style machine heads. Sounds and plays great (I had mine Pleck'd, well worth it). Beyond great. Terrific. Great projection for a smaller body guitar. Highly recommend this fine instrument. At this price,… read more it's a bit of a steal too. Get one, get it Pleck'd, and enjoy your heirloom guitar for the rest of your days. I know I will.

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Smoke Show

Got this guitar literally two days ago, I'm so satisfied that I'm writing this review instead of working. Let's start with the looks: This guitar has a certain vibe to it that sets it apart from the other natural wood tops on the stage. Something about the contrast of the black and white makes the top really pop. It's stylish. It's simple in an elegant way. Many people have already… read more asked me if the body is a composite material because of the black top, but those same people raise their eyebrows in surprised interest to find that it's actually sitka spruce. I won't beat around the bush, the look is what drew me in at first. But it's really the sound that sold me. Sound: I got this guitar with the mindset that I needed to replace my old dreadnought as my main gigging guitar. I needed something a little more comfortable, but at the same time something that had a nice sound to it for acoustic only gigs. Well, I tried it out last night and it passed the test. The Fishman Enhance pickup system is pretty flexible, I rolled the Enhance control wheel around a little bit once I got on stage and found the sweet spot in no time at all. It's got a really nice balanced sound that doesn't obscure my vocals. It also sounds great unplugged, very responsive with great projection. I have yet to try it in the studio, but that day draws near! Feel: This is a big one for me. I come from mainly playing a dreadnought as mentioned before. I was hesitant to give up some of the low end response for a smaller body style, but I've got to say, the sacrifice was marginal. The finish is really nice and smooth on the body, but the satin neck is where I am the most pleasantly surprised. I play a mix of fairly aggressive strumming and lead-type riffs. This thing handles both quite well. I'd describe the profile as wide/shallow, not unlike the PRS electrics of the same description. The 000 body style is super comfortable both standing and sitting which is a big deal. Overall, I am super happy with this guitar. Looks great, sounds great, plays great, doesn't break the bank but still has the Martin quality, signature of the brand. I want to also say this: I play in half step down tuning with 13-56 strings (Elixer phosphor bronze). Sometimes that changes things. Standard tuning with lighter strings will probably result in a springier, brighter tone, but my current setup is fantastic on this guitar. And guess what? IT STAYS IN TUNE! I will end this by thanking Matt, my sales rep! I had spoken to him about this guitar and my tuning preferences before purchasing. Not only did he get it setup (perfectly, and with my preferred strings/tuning), but it shipped out literally the next day. This company will really go the extra mile for the customer, something that means a lot to me in the era of spam advertising and shady quality control. Can't thank Matt and Sweetwater enough, I will definitely be back!

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Great Tone!

I absolutely love this guitar. The tone is excellent! I had the action lowered and now I wouldn't trade it for anything. Get one today!

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