This is a brief overview of Martin Guitars 17 Series acoustic guitars.
There are 6 different models in the 17 series – plus an alternative finish for each model. Each model has an option to have a “Black Smoke” finish or a “Whiskey Sunset” finish, depending on your aesthetic preferences.
Being part of a series they have more similarities than differences – but the different options will appeal to different people.
The guitars in the 17 series are:
- 000-17
- 000-17E
- 00L-17
- 00L-17E
- 00-17S
- 00-17SE
These names all sound quite similar but they’re fairly simple to decipher.
- 000 stands for Martin’s 000 body type
- The 00 for the 17 series stands for Martin’s 00-12 fret body type
- The 00L stands for Martin’s 00-14 fret slope shouldered body type
- The 17 stands for 17 series
- Those with an “E” in the name are acoustic-electrics
- I’m actually not entirely sure what the “S” stands for in the 2 12-fret models – but the only difference I can see (apart from being 12-fret and a different shape) is that they don’t have pickguards and the other models do.
You could also say that there are only really 3 different models – each one has the option of electronics or no electronics, in addition to the color option.
Prices
Prices in the series range between $1,999 and $2,549.
All prices mentioned are in US Dollars and are the MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price).
Alright let’s take a look at each guitar individually.
Martin 000-17: MSRP $1,999
The 000-17 features:
- Body Shape/Size: 000 (Auditorium in other nomenclature)
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Solid Mahogany Back and Sides
- Scalloped, X bracing – Sitka Spruce Bracing
- Modified low oval neck shape with high performance taper
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 9” (632mm) scale length
- 1 3/4” (44mm) nut width
- Bone Nut
- Rosewood Bridge with Compensated Bone saddle
- Black Plastic bridge pins
- Cutaway: No cutaway (no models in this series have cutaways)
- Electronics: None for this model but there is an option that’s identical except that it has electronics
The 000-17 comes in 2 color options – Black Smoke and Whiskey sunset. It features a shortened 24.9” (632mm) scale length (as do all the guitars in this series) for ease of play.
This model is in Martin’s 000 size – aka Auditorium, which is a little smaller than a Grand Auditorium but a little bigger than a Grand Concert.
Martin 000-17: MSRP $2,549
The only difference between this and the 000-17 is that it has built in electronics (Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1).
It also comes in the two different finish options – Black Smoke and Whiskey Sunset.
Martin 00L-17: MSRP $1,999
The main difference between this and the 000-17 is that it is in Martin’s 00 Slope Shoulder size – this is a grand concert sized guitar and is smaller than the 000-17.
All other specs mentioned above for the 000-17 are the same.
The table below shows the difference in size for the guitars in this series.
| 000 | 00L (sloped shoulder) | 00 (12 fret) | |
| Overall Length | 39 13/16” (1011mm) | 39 9/16” (1005mm) | 37 3/4” (959mm) |
| Body Length | 19 3/8” (492mm) | 19 7/16” (494mm) | 19 5/8” (498mm) |
| Lower Bout Width | 15” (381mm) | 14 3/4“ (375mm) | 14 1/8” (359mm) |
| Body depth | 4 1/8” (105mm) | 4 1/8” (105mm) | 4 1/16” (103mm) |
Martin 00L-17E: MSRP $2,549
This is the 00L-17 with built in electronics – the Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1 electronics like on the 000-17E model. This naturally raises the price too.
Martin 00-17S: MSRP $1,999
There are a couple of difference between this and the first guitar we looked at above. Compared to the 000-17 the main differences are:
- This is a 12-Fret model (meaning that the neck joins the body at the 12th fret as opposed to the 14th Most modern guitars join at the 14th fret).
- It is in Martin’s 00 12-fret shape/size (which is a little smaller again to the 00L models above)
- It doesn’t feature a pick guard as the other models do
Everything else, like the tonewoods, scale length etc are the same as on the other models.
Martin 00-17SE: MSRP $2,549
You guessed it! This is the acoustic-electric version of the 00-17SE.
In short
Martin Guitars 17 series features 3 main models – each with an option of electronics and without. The electric-acoustic models expectedly come at a higher price.
Each model, including the electric-acoustic models, come with the option of either a “Black Smoke” finish or a “Whiskey Sunset” finish. So all in all, there are 12 options.
There are 3 different shapes/sizes:
- 000 (Auditorium)
- 00L (sloped shouldered Grand Concert)
- 00 12-Fret (12-Fret Grand Concert)
This has been just a brief overview of Martin’s 17 Series guitars but I hope this has helped you to visualize this series.
Leave a Reply