Martin 15 series

[Loud Librarian]

Just bought a Martin 000-15 all mahogany. This guitar seriously compares to much more expensive guitars, such as the Taylor GS that I also got recently. They are two different sounds of course, but that Martin is something else...and for $839 to boot. Very fun to smack out blues fingerstyle on, dry and woody mids with just enough bass.

 

The 15 series is serious bang for the buck, never really knew until I tried one...then I had to buy it!

[flip333]

Wow, Congratulations to you!

I have been sniffing at a 000-15 or a 000-15S for a couple of years.

Your words are well-chosen to describe the sound. I got to play one for an evening at an aquaintance's house. I was able to compare back and forth between the 000-15S and an old cheaper Sigma and my Sigma DR-41 (nicest Sigma you can get).

The old sigma seemed so boomy and unbalanced after playing the 000-15S. My DR-41 sounds fine and is actually set up real well with close action, but the 000-15S was easier to play. In addition, it fits better in your lap for a high comfort level. This leads to a higher playing endurance with low-stress inspiration.

I'm an OK player. But that night I made a couple of guys think I was a guitar god.

Hmmm, I tucked away $1500 for something cool. A 000-15S with a B-band pick up would just about cover it.

I've been seriously working up my acoustic solo gig.

Also, with fresh strings, the dry, woody sound has a nice growl in the lower notes. I like that.

Do you have some favorite songs for this guitar?

[t60 fan]

As many of us as there are that really appreciate Martin's 15's, I just wonder if they should consider offering a gloss model. Don't get me wrong, I like the satin just fine, but I would like to see a 15 without the stain and in gloss. Make mine a 000-15S while your at it CFM.

[Queequeg]

for my money, i think that the 15 series are about the best value out there. I have a 000-15s, and I buffed out the satin finish to something approaching a semi-gloss which makes it look more 'vintage' somehow.
I just bought a bone saddle for it which I will install over the holidays. I've had it for a couple or three years now, and it gets played quite a lot. there's always a few guitars in rotation here because I play in different tunings, but the 000-15s definitely gets a workout. over an hour already today before 7:00am.

[kwakatak]

Well, somebody was selling a 000-17S which isi basically a gloss 000-15S. I think it was Sweb or Whalebot. They're too of the biggest GAS-aholics here lately anyway.

Me, I don't mind the satin finish so much. What I hate is that stain, but that's a whole 'nother rant. I have a Larrivee 03 with a satin finish (though it's that polyester type as opposed to Martin's nitro finish) and I love the feel of it. It just feels like I'm closer to the guitar somewhat. Besides, I always seem to be sticking to gloss finishes anyway.

Regardless, there are those of us who have switched camps, starting with satin and then wanting gloss but not being able to afford a whole new guitar. In that case, it's possible to hand-buff the finish into a semi-gloss but it's not for the squeamish because you have to do some sanding with some fine sandpaper or a chemical stripper.

Here's a how-to link :
http://www.tomyoungguitar.com/OrsinoizingPage.html

...and here's how it came out on his former Martin OM-15:
http://www.tomyoungguitar.com/photos-Martin.html

... might as well throw in this link for his pair of entry-level 01 series Larrivees:
http://www.tomyoungguitar.com/photos-Larrivee.html

[t60 fan]

Thanks kwak, I've seen those pics and someday may polish my blackwoods. I guess what I was getting at is, in my mind anyway, the 15's have sort of an upscale panache, over any of the 16's for example. I think there are players who might choose a gloss 15 if it were available. And MUCH more importantly, I'd love to see the grain without the stain, and the gloss would simply amplify the appearance.

Q, I'd love to see pics of that 000-15S. What you have there has been a chronic but so far controlled GAS temptation to me.

[Cldplytkmn]

Originally posted by kwakatak Well, somebody was selling a 000-17S which isi basically a gloss 000-15S. I think it was Sweb or Whalebot. They're too of the biggest GAS-aholics here lately anyway.

 

 

actually, whale sold it TO sweb...

 

i'd like to see martin drop the stain too... dunno what that's all about, but mahogany is NOT chocolate brown...

[HD28HLA]

I believe the dark stain is to make them look more like the old 15 and 17 Series Martins. Also, bear in mind that these two series have traditionally been the low end of the line so they didn't get the best grades of Mahogany and the dark stain could possibly cover appearance problems. The Mahogany on my 000-15 is much darker than that of my (Standard Series) 000-18.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/550862336VrSDmM

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554917113ULyApo

Buffing out the satin finish on the 000-15 really brought out the beauty of the grain which was a little dull beforehand.

My Sapele D-15S was buffed out before I got it and I don't think buffing had as dramatic effect on it.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554918060rkWQIA





Bud

[Queequeg]

I have a 1934 0-17 with a nice brown mahogany stain on the mahogany top.
But my 3-year old 000-15s has this very reddish cast to the stain on the mahogany top that I just can't abide.
The only thing I don't like about this guitar...

[HD28HLA]

Mark,
My 000-15 had the dark red appearance before I buffed it out. I think the cheezy reddish pickguard contributes to the effect as well so I changed to a black one.

Bud

[Queequeg]

yes, buffing it out definitely improved the color, although I left the pickguard on, but lately I have been considering taking it off. I dont need it because I dont use picks. good suggestion!

[knockwood]

Originally posted by t60 fan Thanks kwak, I've seen those pics and someday may polish my blackwoods. I guess what I was getting at is, in my mind anyway, the 15's have sort of an upscale panache, over any of the 16's for example. I think there are players who might choose a gloss 15 if it were available. And MUCH more importantly, I'd love to see the grain without the stain, and the gloss would simply amplify the appearance.

 

 

Totally agree. The 15 series is such an ass-kicker, IMO, I'd have no problem at all paying a little more for one of those gits with the addition of a more upscale rosette, binding, etc. I'm not complaining that they're affordable. I just think an aesthetically up-scaled version would sell pretty well; the quality of those gits is already upscale.

[Whalebot]

Originally posted by kwakatak Well, somebody was selling a 000-17S which isi basically a gloss 000-15S. I think it was Sweb or Whalebot. They're too of the biggest GAS-aholics here lately anyway.

 

Actually the 000-17s and the 000-15s are more like second cousins. The 17 is full gloss with Scalloped bracing and micarta fretboard and bridge. The 15 is straight braced and satin finished. I like em' both. If I could have I would have kept the 17 but I had some bad GAS and I already traded the guitar that I bought with Swebs hard earned money. And he then sold all of his guitars except the 17. And now I have an OM-21 and a Larri L-09 which knocks my socks off everytime that I play it. This time last year I was complaining that my OM sounded like it was full of socks. I belive JT responded "Take the socks out, it will sound better."

[rjoxyz]

I bought a 00015s this past Summer at Elderly for a little over $900 and absolultely love it. It is a fingerpicker's dream. I have tried various strings and settled on Martin Fingerstyle PB 12's. The tone is incredibly warm and clear. Definitely one of the best bargains out there.

I have thought about swapping the saddle for bone, but do not want to brighten the sound too much. May try it anyway as it is a relatively inexpensive experiment.

[t60 fan]

Originally posted by knockwood Totally agree. The 15 series is such an ass-kicker, IMO, I'd have no problem at all paying a little more for one of those gits with the addition of a more upscale rosette, binding, etc. I'm not complaining that they're affordable. I just think an aesthetically up-scaled version would sell pretty well; the quality of those gits is already upscale.

 

 

 

Yeah, exactly. I like the way you said it better, but we're in total agreement.

[D-28]

I bought a spruce-rosewood D-15 from M.F. almost a year ago to the day and I can't be any happier. It has opened up beautifully.
I had a Martin authorized Luthier put a bone nut and compensated saddle and pins and to me my '58 D-28 doesn't sound any better, just a liittle "different".
I paid $799 for it. The price went up $100 right after and is now even more, but it's still an excellent deal!
There are a couple of "shiny" wear spots on the satin finish, but I think it gives it some character.
It's a plain Jane lookin' thing but the craftsmenship is easily the same as models twice as much.

Oh..and I had no idea how loud it is until I sat in front of it while a friend played it!

[kwakatak]

What, nobody has a beef with the decal rosette too? For $900 I'd expect that it'd at least have an inlaid rosette!

Still and all I wouldn't kick a non-sapele 000-15S out of bed for having socks in its soundhole!

[Queequeg]

yeah, I hate that damn thing. no rosette would be better.

[polynices]

mine and in my hands this very moment

[Loud Librarian]

I notice a lot of you have the 000-15s, did anyone compare theirs to the 14 fret 000-15? I can totally dig the slothead 12 fretter, but no store around here has one to try out. I'd imagine a deeper bass tone on the s model. I'm totally happy with mine however, as I do enjoy doing blues riffs at around the 12th fret.

One other cool thing - the setup was perfect out of the box. I know that can all be adjusted and whatnot, but it's nice having it "good to go" right away. I also don't mind the plain looks, when it sounds and plays as good as it does!

[Treborklow]

I bought a new 00-15 from Dave's in Wisconsin earlier this year for around $650 and it turned out to be a great little guitar.

[Queequeg]

Originally posted by Loud Librarian I notice a lot of you have the 000-15s, did anyone compare theirs to the 14 fret 000-15? I can totally dig the slothead 12 fretter, but no store around here has one to try out. I'd imagine a deeper bass tone on the s model. I'm totally happy with mine however, as I do enjoy doing blues riffs at around the 12th fret. One other cool thing - the setup was perfect out of the box. I know that can all be adjusted and whatnot, but it's nice having it "good to go" right away. I also don't mind the plain looks, when it sounds and plays as good as it does!

 

I had a 00-15, 14-fretter. I liked it pretty well, and then I found the 000-15s. big difference. lower and louder, plus I preferred the look of the 12-fret slothead. after a year or so I let the 00-15 go, but I'm keeping the 000-15s.