Martin 0015m vs Guild USA M20

[cesarleoneleone]

Hi guys!
I need some help. I want an small body all hog acoustic and i want to know the differences between the Martin 0015M and the Guild m20 made in USA. Im singer songwriter and my style of playing is light strumming and some of fingerpicking, i use the guitar for accompaiment my voice. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[jedzep]

The simplest comparison I can come up with is that the depth of richness in the Martin tone makes the M20 seem quieter and more subdued, but I like them both for intimate 'couch' guitars. The 00015M is a good kick up for richness and volume.

 

[Lowell]

I agree with Jedzep on the extra kick out of the 000 vs the 00 Martin. The 00015 has a narrower nut than the Guild, though. If you want a 'hog Martin with the same 1-3/4" nut width as the M-20, you'll need to go for the 000-15SM (slotted headstock). In my personal opinion, though, the M-20 can stand proud against any of the small-bodied mahogany Martins... Good shopping!

 

[jedzep]

Right, Lowell. Agreed. And BTW, the 12 fret 000-15SM is one of the best sounding and playing guitar I've ever owned.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Hi guys!
I need some help. I want an small body all hog acoustic and i want to know the differences between the Martin 0015M and the Guild m20 made in USA. Im singer songwriter and my style of playing is light strumming and some of fingerpicking, i use the guitar for accompaiment my voice. Thanks a lot for the help!

F30. Will get more volume and will sound fuller when strumming. great finger picking acoustics too.

 

[Lowell]

Right, Lowell. Agreed. And BTW, the 12 fret 000-15SM is one of the best sounding and playing guitar I've ever owned.

Beautiful, JZ...The SM was my dream guitar for many years. I finally settled on the OM-120, though, and I've never regretted it. If I could change anything about it, it would be to change the high-gloss to satin.

 

[Russell Letson]

Play them. If possible, play several of each. Not easy these days, but that's the protocol most likely to produce a satisfying result.

These are factory guitars, and even though they're both good, dependable factories, there can be significant instrument-to-instrument differences beyond whatever differences might arise from the design formulas of the models. I've owned Guild and Martin guitars over the decades, and while I can detect what I think of as their distinctive brand voices, there have also been instruments of both kinds I did not much care for, as well as the occasional surprise keeper.

Money aside, you should always go with the instrument that satisfies your ears and hands, no matter what the headstock says.

 

[mavuser]

to answer your actual question...the biggest differences are the Martin OO has a slightly wider body/lower bout but the Guild is slightly deeper bodied. they both sound like quintessential textbook small bodied mahogany topped guitars...and in many ways similar enough to each other...w all of this said, the Guild still sounds, feels, and plays like a Guild...and the Martin like a Martin...either or both are excellent choices. check fretboard material on the Martin before purchasing one. it has changed over the years. also the new Oxnard Guild M-20 has a 1+ 3/4" nut width and a fat chunky neck! vintage Guild M-20s mostly have a 1+5/8 nut and much slimmer neck. whatever u decide i would use 11 gauge strings either John Pearse 550-SL's or Martin Retro Monels.

i prefer the Guild myself but based on what u wrote u may very well prefer the Martin, it is hard to say with 2 guitars so similar, indeed. first world problem? i fully endorse both, u literally can't go wrong. one thing is for sure u will look cooler and stand out more playing the Guild. and more people in the audience will approach u and ask u about the Guild. i am being completely serious. just more of a conversation starter. u would be amazed at which choices in life truly open doors, sometimes.

 

[cesarleoneleone]

to answer your actual question...the biggest differences are the Martin OO has a slightly wider body/lower bout but the Guild is slightly deeper bodied. they both sound like quintessential textbook small bodied mahogany topped guitars...and in many ways similar enough to each other...w all of this said, the Guild still sounds, feels, and plays like a Guild...and the Martin like a Martin...either or both are excellent choices. check fretboard material on the Martin before purchasing one. it has changed over the years. also the new Oxnard Guild M-20 has a 1+ 3/4" nut width and a fat chunky neck! vintage Guild M-20s mostly have a 1+5/8 nut and much slimmer neck. whatever u decide i would use 11 gauge strings either John Pearse 550-SL's or Martin Retro Monels.

i prefer the Guild myself but based on what u wrote u may very well prefer the Martin, it is hard to say with 2 guitars so similar, indeed. first world problem? i fully endorse both, u literally can't go wrong. one thing is for sure u will look cooler and stand out more playing the Guild. and more people in the audience will approach u and ask u about the Guild. i am being completely serious. just more of a conversation starter. u would be amazed at which choices in life truly open doors, sometimes.

Thanks for your incredible answer!!! Lot of help. The bad side is I can't try any Guild in my country store.
Guild is a brand that always catches my eye. Like I said, I am looking for a guitar to accompany my voice(I have a deep and low voice). In your opinion, which guitar models are good for this?In the Gibson, Martin or Guild catalogue? These are the brands that interest me, i dont like Taylor at all. How you describe the sound of Guild in comparison with other big two? Thanks a lot again

 

[mavuser]

Cesar- if u are definitely only considering brand new/current run guitars, i would research the Martin 15-OOM and find out what the nut width, neck carve/depth, and fretboard material consist of.
As I posted above, the new Guild USA M-20 series have 1 3/4" nut width and a wide chunky neck carve. Ultimately this will be the biggest difference in those 2 guitars. If you are considering used/vintage examples, there will be variation in those specs

 

[mavuser]

my friends' band Puss n Boots use a Martin OO-M-15. I'll try to find some videos where you can hear it good.

 

[mavuser]

here is Neil Young on a vintage M-20, which is probably a long scale (most are short scale including oxnard) but it sounds pretty much like a standard M-20

 

[mavuser]

this appears to be a decent Oxnardian demo vid. just skip thru the talking in the middle. i did not watch the talking part and cannot confirm if the info spoken in the video is correct or not. just ask questions here if u have any

 

[mavuser]

honestly, i've heard and played plenty of both. I love the Martin but for me personally I would probably get the Guild. I would be tempted to step up to a different Martin with a spruce top and rosewood back, if i got the Martin itch. or possibly the 12-fret glossy top slotted headstock OO, or at least check it out. the OO15-M is common among singer/songwriter/solo acoustic/lead singer/folk singer etc...and I can understand it's popularity. So if u want to step out of that box just a little, and have a guitar that to me has a slightly deeper tone well so to speak...I would go for an M-20. You will sound less like other musicians (and look less like them as well, as eluded to earlier)

 

[SFIV1967]

The Guild M-20 is available in Natural Mahohany finish or in Vintage Sunburst and without or with built in pickup. I just looked at Sweetwater as example what they have.

Guild M-20 Concert Acoustic Guitar - Natural Finish

6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Rosewood Fingerboard - Natural

www.sweetwater.com

Guild M-20E Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Natural

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Mahogany Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, and LR Baggs Electronics - Natural

www.sweetwater.com

Guild M-20 Concert Acoustic Guitar - Vintage Sunburst

6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Rosewood Fingerboard - Vintage Sunburst

www.sweetwater.com

Guild M-20E Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Vintage Sunburst

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Mahogany Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, and LR Baggs Electonics - Vintage Sunburst

www.sweetwater.com

3 of the last one are in stock there. (if you click on the red "Compare all 3")

Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm still waiting for the folks at Cordoba to make a Guild F-20 (okay M-40) with a rosewood body. I think that would sound killer.

 

[Stuball48]

2019 Guild M20 on Nashville Craigslist in Lebanon, TN - about 30 miles east of Nashville on I-40 - $1100.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm still waiting for the folks at Cordoba to make a Guild F-20 (okay M-40) with a rosewood body. I think that would sound killer.

Which would be called M-50! (5=Rosewood)

Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

When looking for a used but basically new M-20 don't overlook the special M-25E made in Oxnard.




Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

Which would be called M-50! (5=Rosewood)

It's Cordoba - they will call it an M-40R.