Introduction
Martin Guitar has been making some of the finest acoustic instruments in the world for over 180 years. Founded in 1833, the company helped pioneer the dreadnought and many other iconic guitar shapes we know today. The Martin 00L-17 is one of their most popular small-bodied acoustic models, offering an ideal blend of vintage style, solid tonewood construction, and accessible pricing.
Part of Martin’s 17 series, the 00L-17 features a comfortable 00-14 fret "Grand Concert" body size. This gives it a balanced and articulate voice that works well for fingerstyle playing and intermediate players. Available in two unique finishes – Whiskey Sunset and Black Smoke – the 00L-17 provides vintage appointments like an ivoroid binding, open geared tuners, and a 1930s-inspired rosette. Despite its affordable price tag, it uses all solid tonewoods to deliver the acclaimed Martin sound.
Sitting between Martin’s lower-end X series and all-solid wood Authentic series, the 00L-17 gives players a high quality solid spruce and mahogany instrument with the craftsmanship the company is renowned for. For those wanting a great sounding and playing smaller-bodied Martin acoustic, the 00L-17 is an excellent choice to consider.
Martin 00L-17 Build Specs
The Martin 00L-17 features a 00-sized Grand Concert body with a sloped shoulder dreadnought design. This gives it a blend of vintage Martin style with a compact and comfortable feel.
The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which provides excellent volume, warmth and clarity. Solid mahogany is used for the back and sides, adding more focus and articulation to the midrange frequencies.
The neck has a low oval profile that is extremely comfortable and playable. It’s constructed from mahogany with a Performing Artist taper. Other specs include a 24.9" scale length, 1.69" nut width, 20 frets, and a 16" fingerboard radius.
Open-geared nickel tuners with vintage butterbean knobs give it an old-school look. Both the nut and saddle are made from bone to enhance resonance and sustain.
The 00L-17 comes equipped with Fishman MX-T electronics, including an undersaddle pickup and discrete body sensor, allowing for natural amplified tones. There are built-in tuner and anti-feedback controls on the preamp system.
Sound Profile
The Martin 00L-17 produces a balanced, articulate tone with nice projection considering its smaller 00 body size. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers bright, complex trebles with good note separation. There’s enough crispness in the highs to bring out subtle fingerpicking nuances without getting overly brittle.
The mahogany back and sides provide a focused midrange punch, allowing chords to ring clearly. This mahogany warmth blends nicely with the spruce top, giving the overall tonal profile nice balance across the frequency spectrum. There’s enough low-end thump for rhythmic strumming while still retaining the mahogany’s signature midrange sweetness.
Volume and projection are impressive for a compact Grand Concert body. It can hold its own for medium-volume bluegrass jam sessions thanks to the solid spruce top. The smaller body size gives it a more intimate feel than booming dreadnoughts for playing solo gigs in coffee shops or studios. The articulate tone works well for both fingerstyle playing and strummed accompaniment.
Playability
The Martin 00L-17 has a very comfortable and playable neck profile that accommodates both fingerstyle and strumming approaches. The neck has a hand-filling low oval shape with a performing artist taper that gets slightly thinner as it approaches the body. It feels substantial without being too bulky.
The nut width on the 00L-17 is 1.69", which provides a good balance between space for fingerstyle while not being too wide for comfortable chording. The string spacing at the bridge is 2.125", giving enough room between strings without feeling too spread out.
The fretwork on the 00L-17 is exceptional, with smoothly finished medium wire frets that have perfectly rounded ends. The frets are easy to bend without sharp edges digging into your fingers. The fretboard radius measures 16" which allows for comfortable chording while still facilitating lower action.
Overall the 00L-17 feels very ergonomic to play either seated or standing. The compact Grand Concert body size and thoughtfully sculpted arm and rib rest allow the guitar to balance nicely on your leg. The light overall weight also prevents neck dive or arm fatigue during longer playing sessions. Whether fingerpicking intricately or strumming out chord progressions, the 00L-17 is a pleasure to play.
Appearance
The Martin 00L-17 comes in two distinct finish options – Whiskey Sunset and Black Smoke. Both finishes utilize a satin nitrocellulose lacquer that allows the tonewoods to resonate and breathe naturally.
The Whiskey Sunset burst finish starts with a warm honey-colored center that fades into reddish-brown tones along the edges. This gives the look of a vintage guitar that has aged and faded in the sun over decades of playing. The mahogany back and sides take on a rich, whiskey-like patina.
The Black Smoke finish has an understated, sleek black color. Martin applies a special toner to give the appearance of a lightly aged instrument with subtle checking and crazing across the top. It’s not overly dramatic, but adds vintage vibe.
Both models feature multi-color wood fiber binding along the top and back. The rosette continues the vintage aesthetics, with two rings of wood fiber and maple/black/maple purfling. The fretboard and bridge are rosewood, which complements both finish options nicely.
The overall look leans traditional, with the open-geared tuners, butterbean knobs, and sloped shoulder dreadnought design. But modern touches like the low-profile neck and 12-fret join make the 00L-17 a great crossover between vintage and contemporary styling. Players who like the look of a worn, pre-war Martin will appreciate these finishes.
Electronics & Controls
The 00L-17E model comes equipped with Fishman electronics for amplification and live performance. It utilizes an under-saddle pickup paired with a discrete body sensor to accurately capture the guitar’s natural acoustic tone.
The onboard preamp system provides several useful tone shaping tools. An easy-access volume control allows you to dial in the perfect output level, while bass and treble controls let you EQ the amplified tone to suit different venues and PA systems. There is also a built-in tuner for quick on-stage tuning.
To combat feedback issues, the Fishman preamp has a phase switch and notch filter control. These allow you to quickly adjust and eliminate feedback at problematic frequencies. The preamp is powered by a 9V battery or optional AC adapter.
When plugged in, the 00L-17E retains the balanced, warm tone of the all-mahogany acoustic. The amplified sound has excellent clarity in the mids and highs while still capturing the guitar’s woody low-end. It’s a very natural and transparent amplified tone perfect for the stage or studio. The Fishman system makes this an extremely gig-ready and versatile electro-acoustic.
Comparisons
The Martin 00L-17 has some key differences when compared to other popular Martin models and competing brands:
Vs Other Martin Body Shapes
-
Compared to Martin’s 000 and OM shapes, the 00L-17 has a slightly bigger and deeper body for more volume and bass response. The 000 and OM are more mid-focused and intimate sounding.
-
The iconic Martin Dreadnought guitars like the D-18 provide much more bass and projection thanks to their larger size. The 00L-17 has a more balanced tone and feel.
-
Overall the 00L-17 sits in the middle of the pack – not as boomy as a Dreadnought but more powerful than an OM or 000 shape.
Vs Other Brands
-
Up against comparable Taylor and Gibson small body acoustics, the 00L-17 is warmer sounding with more emphasis on the mids and lows. Models like the Taylor 314ce have a brighter tonal character.
-
The all-solid wood construction gives the 00L-17 better resonance and sustain compared to laminate models like the Yamaha FG800.
Differences from Vintage Martins
-
While inspired by pre-war models, the 00L-17 has a slightly wider nut width and lower action for modern playability.
-
It uses a Sitka spruce top rather than the Adirondack spruce commonly found on Golden Era Martins. This gives it a more affordable price point.
-
The neck shape is also more rounded compared to the flatter, V-shaped necks of vintage Martins.
Ideal Player Profile
The Martin 00L-17 is well-suited for a variety of players across different genres and experience levels. Here’s a closer look at who can get the most out of this guitar:
Musical Genres
With its balanced tone and articulation, the 00L-17 works great for fingerstyle-focused genres like folk, country, bluegrass, and pop. The vintage vibe also makes it a nice fit for traditional blues and classic rock. The compact body size and comfortable neck lend themselves to prolonged practice and playing sessions too.
Playing Style
The 00L-17 has enough projection to handle light strumming but really shines when played fingerstyle. The dynamic range allows various techniques like Travis picking and melodic runs to come through nicely. The focused low-end and mids provide warmth without muddiness.
Amateur vs Professional Players
Thanks to the high-quality solid wood construction, this guitar will appeal to seasoned professionals looking for a stage-ready workhorse acoustic. Yet it’s also accessible and rewarding for amateur players or students thanks to the comfortable neck, low action, and vintage styling.
Recording vs Live Use
In the studio, the 00L-17’s balanced tone cuts nicely in a mix. The lack of electronics keeps things simple for tracking acoustic parts. On stage, the guitar has enough volume and projection to work for coffee shop gigs or as a side instrument in a full band mix. The optional acoustic-electric version expands the guitar’s live versatility.
Pros & Cons
Sound Quality
- The 00L-17 produces a warm, balanced tone with good projection and clarity. The solid Sitka spruce top provides crisp highs while the mahogany back and sides offer focused midrange and articulate bass response. This makes it versatile for various styles.
Playability
- With its modern low oval neck, medium string spacing and low action, the 00L-17 is very comfortable and easy to play. The fretwork is immaculate right out of the box. The compact body size makes it ideal for couch playing or long practice sessions.
Value for Money
- At around $1,400, the solid wood 00L-17 provides exceptional build quality and tone for the price point. This makes it accessible for intermediate players looking to upgrade to a premium acoustic. The included hardshell case further adds to the value.
Availability of Models
- The 00L-17 is readily available from most Martin dealers in both the Whiskey Sunset and Black Smoke finishes. The acoustic-electric 00L-17E expands the options for players needing amplified sound. There are currently no cutaway or left-handed versions of this model.
Conclusion
The Martin 00L-17 is an exceptional small-body acoustic that punches well above its price point in terms of tone, playability and vintage vibe. It offers a wonderfully balanced sound profile that is warm and articulate but still projects with authority for its compact size. The solid mahogany back and sides provide a focused midrange, while the solid Sitka spruce top delivers excellent clarity and chime in the trebles without being harsh or brittle. It’s a very comfortable and easy-playing guitar, with a hand-filling modified low oval neck, medium string spacing, and overall vintage feel and appointments that many players find inspiring. Visually, the Whiskey Sunset and Black Smoke finishes give the 00L-17 a unique look that stands out from the crowd.
Overall, the Martin 00L-17 gets a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s an outstanding value in the Martin lineup, offering players premium tonewoods and craftsmanship at an accessible price point. The versatility to handle fingerstyle playing along with folk, country, blues and more makes it a great choice for gigging musicians and recording artists. For players wanting the vibe of a vintage flattop in a compact but robust package, it comes very highly recommended. While the 00L-17 may not be ideal for heavy strummers, aggressive pickers or those needing maximum bass response, it excels incredibly well at what it’s designed for. This is a guitar that leaves most players very impressed, and one that should be on any shortlist in the sub-$1500 acoustic market.