A Lean, Mean Triple-Ought Fifteen
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 000-15SM, 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 000-15SM 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, rich tone--quite a historical precedent! Nevertheless, the modern 000-15SM lives up to
Read More...A Lean, Mean Triple-Ought Fifteen
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 000-15SM, 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 000-15SM 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, rich tone--quite a historical precedent! Nevertheless, the modern 000-15SM 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 000-15SM so alluring.
Solid Wood Magic
The biggest part of the 000-15SM'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, 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 000-15SM 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.
The 12-fret construction also boosts the guitar's natural reverberance and gives it a robust, warm, powerful voice and a delightfully slinky handfeel.
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 000-15SM sidesteps the dreaded muck. Mahogany's inherent harmonic dryness keeps the sound quite focused. The 000-15SM 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 000-15SM has superb string-to-string balance. All in all, it has a voice that blends warmth and clarity in an irresistible way.
A Wooden Swiss Army Knife
A literal wooden Swiss Army Knife would be the worst invention ever, but it is an apt metaphor for the multi-faceted nature of the 000-15SM. This is an acoustic guitar that can do it all! Flatpickers and fingerpickers alike will love it for its responsiveness and its roundness. Its midrange-forward voice makes it a solid building block for other instruments when used for rhythm parts. But, it can also cut through a mix when you need to take a lead. Its warmth will inspire jazzy excursions, yet its earthiness will also provoke gutsy blues playing. And, its rich voice is sure to inspire countless expressive solos. Perhaps most importantly, its focused frequency response complements the human voice beautifully. Oh, and sound engineers love it, because it records like a dream.
We are proud to showcase such an exceptional instrument. We believe that the Martin 000-15SM provides legendary tone at a player-friendly price. For that, we love it with the intensity of a thousand suns. We invite you to pick one up and experience the myriad magical delights of a solid wood Martin. Whatever your musical pleasure may be, the 000-15SM will prove an endlessly inspiring muse on all your acoustic adventures.
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