What do we think about the 15 series martins?

terada · April 2020

I've been thinking about picking one of these up for years but never taken the plunge.

Any experience with these - in particular the 00, 000 or OM?

FunkyGibbon · April 2020

I have a 00-15. If you like mahogany it’s a fantastic blues guitar and great for singing too. I wish I’d bought one 30 years back rather than 10! I think it’s a perfectly balanced sound.

The 000 and OM bodies will be the same size the 000 will have a shorter scale.

TforTele · April 2020

I have a 000 from some years back. It's mahogany, from just before they started using sapele(?)*, I believe. I love it. The matt/satin finish might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. I guess the lack of any binding makes it likely to show any little bumps, but then as Niels Vitsoe said: "The first mark is a disaster; the second mark is a shame; the third mark is patina." Granted, he was talking about furniture!

My brother has a sapele one and it sounds fine to me, just looks a bit different. His has a lot of "patina", bu that's his nature!

Andy79 · April 2020

They are great guitars but you have to like all mahogany guitars. If you’re not sure then but the Sigma version. They are very very close

terada · April 2020

I've been a bit confused by the sapele thing. Ive seen sapele versions in person and am not to fond of the vertical stripe thing that seems to happen.

Then I've read that the current ones with an 'm' in the name are actually mahogany.

It is quite confusing really. Ideally I'd not want sapele just for the visual

Teyeplayer · April 2020

Lovely guitars that sound fantastic. I personally don’t get the dislike for the Sapele bodied ones, imo they are in the same tone ballpark and secondhand, amazing value for money. I gigged a 000 one for years and never had any regrets sound-wise.

One area of concern, Martin don’t side-brace the body, so if it gets knocked and splits, that split will travel. I’ve seen a few with splits and known a few fellow owners that it has happened to at inopportune times. I’m clumsy as hell, so it was for fear that I’d be next to suffer the split that led me to move mine on. Do miss it though, played a dream.

earwighoney · April 2020

I really like all Mahogany guiars but IMO they seem to take a bit more time to break in than a guitar with a spruce soundboard.

The 15 series Martins are superb, and I think they seem to get a little overlooked, not to be biased but I think a 0/00 sized all Mahogany guitar is one of the time greats (like a D-18/28).

rustneversleeps · April 2020

I’ve owned a 00015SM 12 fret for many years.I find a bit different than my other guitars which is a nice change.I know it’s all personal taste etc,but these are superb guitars.Over the years I’ve had many Martin’s.The 15SM’ is going nowhere.Do test drive one.

Andy79 · April 2020

i don’t think any guitar smells as good as a 15 series. Another tick in the box

GTC · April 2020

Andy79 said:

i don’t think any guitar smells as good as a 15 series. Another tick in the box

I had an 00015SML and it did nothing for me so I moved it on. However, my trusted tech Dino loved it - and I don't think he's ever forgiven me.

To my eyes (or nose) it has one significant redeeming feature - from new it has to be the nicest smelling guitar ever!

MichaelWatts · April 2020

A D15 was my first decent steel string back in 1998. I loved it then and I'd love it now if I still had it.

Creed_Clicks · April 2020

Don't forget there are also some cheap Tanglewoods and Richwoods if you want to test the waters. I had a Martin 0015 and it sounded great, but live, was weak for what I was using it for. I couldn't justify keeping it at home at the time, but probably should have. Lovely sounding guitars.

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What do we think about the 15 series martins?

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