Guitar Tone Tuesday: Ep 202 - Martin 000-15SM - A BIG Voiced 12 Fretter + 15 Series History!!

Guitar Tone Tuesday: Ep 202 - Martin 000-15SM - A BIG Voiced 12 Fretter + 15 Series History!!



Visually Impaired since birth, Lucas Haneman of the LH Express uses his ears and hands to guide him when choosing gear, writing songs and recording parts. Will you agree with his assessment? Haneman gives you experienced tips and tricks, as well as showcasing lesser known gear in this series. Subscribe and follow to let your voice be heard!

When Martin created the original "15" guitars during the Great Depression, the purpose was to offer the most affordable guitar possible. The original prototypes were 2 different body styles with spruce tops, one the R 15 arch top likely with maple back and sides, and the other (the 015) a 12 fret size 0 likely with ash back and sides. In 1940, they released the familiar 14 fret 015 as we know it using all mahogany construction (with the exception of the binding, bridge and fretboard of course). These original 15s' had lighter unstained mahogany tops , backs and sides, while the 17s' of the time looke more like the 15s' we know now with the darker mahogany stained appearance. The original 15 style guitars were made until the early 60s'.

Since 1997 the reintroduced 15 series represents the most affordable all solid wood option made in the Nazareth Pennsylvania factory. The 15s' still hail as the most cost effective way to get into an American made Martin guitar, and the 000 15 SM has been an important part of this modern CF Martin history. Because of Mahogany availability, modern 15s' can have Sepo, Sapelle or genuine Mahogany tops, backs and sides.

The 000-15SM has been played by people like Eddie Vedder and Leo Kottke just to name a few. In fact it has been one of the best selling of all the 15s' since its introduction. The 00015-S preceded the 000-15sm in the late 90s' and early 2000s', but the two models are very similar.

Today's 000-15SM has a sloped shoulder 000 sized body to accommodate the 12 fret neck joint. Construction is all mahogany for the top, back and sides. There are no body bindings, the rosette is a simple 1 ring style, and the guitar has a rosewood bridge and 20 fret rosewood fretboard as well. The inlay pattern is the short diamonds and squares style that has been popular at Martin for quite a long time, and the guitar features a slotted headstalk to complete the vintage package.



Don't be fooled, the 000 guitars in the 15 series are indeed long scale length instruments, even though they have the 000 designation instead of the OM designation. This is not the case in the rest of the Martin line where 0, 00, and 000 guitars all now have the shorter 24.9 inch scale length.

#MartinGuitars #MahoganyTones #12FretGuitars #00-15SM #MartinHistory #AcousticGuitar #AmazingSound #Blues #Funk #Rock #Folk #Jazz #LucasHaneman #LHExpress

Do you own a 15 series Martin guitar, and, or even a 00015 SM if so what do you think of it? Let your voice be heard in the comment section below!


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