Dread Not!
Can you imagine a world without dreadnought acoustic guitars? It seems like an impossible exercise given the way the Martin dreadnought has become interwoven with the musicological fabric of America. But until Christian Fredericks Martin built the first large-bodied acoustic with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides in 1916, there was no such thing as a dreadnought! Named for the largest, most fearsome battleship in the world at the time (the H.M.S. Dreadnought), the original examples were commissioned by a publishing house in Boston called the Oliver Ditson Company, and they were marketed as Ditsons with non-Martin serial numbers in New York and Boston only.
Once C.F. Martin realized that this whole dreadnought thing was going to take off, he started stamping his own name on the headstock of a guitar called the D-1 in 1931. The D-1 quickly morphed into the dreadnought as we now know it, and apart from a few small tweaks to the bracing and the addition of a 14-fret neck, it has remained mostly unchanged ever since. Why fix something so decidedly unbroken? After all, the Martin dreadnought has long been a staple at open mics, bluegrass jams, rock shows, and recording studios for a reason: it has a timeless sound that seems to resonate with the heartstrings of any musician who picks one up.
Power. Warmth. Greatness.
Here at Wildwood Guitars, we love ornate, flashy guitars. But we also have equally deep, abiding affection for elegant, simple instruments that don't need abalone inlays to get the job done with aplomb. That's why we're so proud to present the Martin D-15M, one of the most timeless Martin guitars ever to grace our shelves.
Based on the World War II-era 15 series models that debuted in late 1939, the D-15M brings vintage-inspired Martin tone into the modern era with immense grace and style. Martin's all-mahogany instruments from this era were favored by working-class players because of their superior playability and craftsmanship, affordable price point, and warm, full-bodied tone--quite a historical precedent! Nevertheless, the modern D-15M lives up to its vintage pedigree. It still delivers the sort of tone that will leave you glued to your favorite pickin' chair or couch for hours and hours at an unbelievable value. Let's take a deeper dive and see what makes the D-15M so alluring.
Solid Wood Magic
The biggest part of the D-15M's appeal lies in its all-solid mahogany body. There is simply nothing like a Martin acoustic guitar made of high-quality solid wood. Solid wood resonates and breathes almost as if it is alive in your hands, giving you a tactile, physical connection to the instrument. You can feel the guitar vibrate in your ribs, your gut, and your heart, and it makes for a divinely inspiring, out-of-this-world playing experience. You'll have to forgive me for getting a little ecstatic and poetic here, but it really is special that such an affordable instrument provides such deeply satisfying sonic delights!
High on the 'Hog
Speaking of delightful things, let's talk mahogany. Mahogany is most often seen singing backup to a spruce top in the world of acoustic guitars, but here it makes the most of its time in the spotlight. This classic tonewood is known for its fast response time, warmth, roundness, depth, and dryness, and the D-15M exhibits all of these characteristics in spades. In fact, it's quite easy to get lost in the rapture of the deep when playing with one of these guitars! Mahogany's welcoming warm chocolate-y bass response, rich woody midrange, and transparent, round trebles create a sonic atmosphere that invites your fingers to wander the fretboard for days.
Furthermore, each note practically jumps out of the soundhole the instant your finger or pick touches the string, making for a wonderfully expressive playing experience. The midrange is also quite responsive, and playing hard gives you that classic Martin punch on single notes. Also, you can get a surprising amount of sparkle when you play big cowboy chords with vigor.
Avoiding the Mud
Mahogany's reputation for warmth and woodiness can cause some guitar players trepidation at the looming threat of muddiness. However, clarity-conscious players need not worry, because the D-15M sidesteps the dreaded muck. Mahogany's inherent harmonic dryness keeps the sound quite focused. The D-15M has a sculpted frequency response profile that emphasizes the fundamentals with great force. So, each note on each string of your favorite fancy jazz chord sings out clearly.
Martin also made an inspired decision to use simple non-scalloped X-bracing for these guitars. Non-scalloped bracing is more rigid, which enhances the guitar's headroom. This, coupled with mahogany's aforementioned roundness, also helps keep every note tight and well-defined. As a result, the D-15M has superb string-to-string balance. All in all, it has a voice that blends warmth and clarity in an irresistible way.
We are proud to present the Martin D-15M, a guitar that provides the joys of a solid-wood Martin dreadnought at an awesome value!
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