What wood ? Martin 000-15

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by Gomers

Cheers for the info. Thinking about it, maybe I should have been more specific in my email to the mothership........Nothing significant hangs on the spec to be honest, it’s just curiosity more than anything.....

I do understand...I was just curious as well when I inquired...it doesn't change anything once we have the guitar in hand. We either like/love them or not All good!

[Gomers]

Originally Posted by msb100712

I had one, a 2010. I think many other 00015M owners will agree with this.
You have to try Martin Retro strings on it. Seriously.

I shall do that, on both of the 15s.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by Gomers

I shall do that, on both of the 15s.

I can definitely second/third/tenth (whatever number in line I am) the Retros. It's like they were made just for this guitar.

[bsman]

Originally Posted by msb100712

I had one, a 2010. I think many other 00015M owners will agree with this.
You have to try Martin Retro strings on it. Seriously.

+100. In my experience, the all-hog Martins sound best with the monel or silk & steel threads. The PB and 80/20 strings haven't worked on my mahogany-topped Martin or Waterloo.

[Gomers]

A couple of additional photos, have sent the same to Rob at CFM, awaiting confirmation. He says 15 series of this generation were either ‘South American’ hog or Sapele.

[Br1ck]

I can tell you that my 00 15 is Honduran. It is a Custom, and when I had the action adjusted a few months later, they told me I got lucky and they had changed to mahogany variants, and they were asking $500 for an upgrade at the Custom shop.

Just stick to the play guitar, like guitar, and buy guitar method and you'll be fine. Some guitars are made with "real" hog tops, African hog back and sides. Marketing more than anything.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by Gomers

Cheers for the info. Thinking about it, maybe I should have been more specific in my email to the mothership.

Nothing significant hangs on the spec to be honest, it’s just curiosity more than anything.

I do now have the dilemma of deciding which of my 15s I’m going to keep and which will be moved on. The 2008 has obviously been played a lot, lots of shine on the top where the satin used to be and the back of the neck has virtually no satin left so it has some miles under its belt. I like this.

The 15m is about a month old and essentially, factory fresh. The Sipo is attractive in the way that I don’t find in Sapele. Part of me thinks keep and put my own wear on it as the years go by.

They’re both a nice complement to my LG2 which, with the slightly wider nut width has my more preferred neck profile. Predictably, the Martins have the richer tone delivery.

Originally Posted by Gomers

A couple of additional photos, have sent the same to Rob at CFM, awaiting confirmation. He says 15 series of this generation were either ‘South American’ hog or Sapele.

Nice clear pictures. Based on the pictures, it looks more like Sapele than South American hog.

I've read quite a lot of threads on Mahogany and a few posters who claim they deal in wood say you cannot be 100% certain just by its look what mahogany species they are unless you know the source of where the species actually originated from, as the supply chain is quite long.

I'm curious to hear Martin's second reply. Then comes your decision on which one to hold on to?

Not sure if you're familiar with the Martin Road Series (MIM), 000-10E, also made of all-Sapele. So if your 000-15 is Sepele, then it is very similar to the 000-10E. I think the difference is that the MIM one is 24.9" scale and has a 1-3/4" nut and more heavily-built. Some people will actually prefer the MIM one as it is cheaper (listed at $799) in the Martin website. Just some additional info when you're deciding which one to keep.

I'm with you. Keep the newer 000-15M and "put your own wear on it".

[kizz]

This is a 2010 D15M genuine mahogany, so judge for yourself.

[Gomers]

Originally Posted by kizz

This is a 2010 D15M genuine mahogany, so judge for yourself.

Wow, that's seen some action, love it

[catdaddy]

Here's the Honduran mahogany top of my 2007 J-15. IMO, it looks remarkably similar to the OP's 000-15.

[sinistral]

If you are going just by uniformity of grain/lack of stripes, note that both of these mahogany guitars were made by Martin in 1919 and 1927, respectively:

















C.F. Martin/Southern California Music Company

[Gomers]

Well, Rob from Martin has come back with a very short answer based on the photos I sent him and posted further up this thread.

"That's South American Mahogany.".

So that's cleared that up at least. Played both my 15s back-to-back over the last week. The 15m just has a bit more of the nice-to-have elements, volume, resonance and a lusher tone overall. I'm slightly conscious of the action on the 15, I haven't much saddle left to be honest and the action, while low, isn't sitting on the frets either, slight gap at 6th fret when low E fretted at 2nd and 14th.

So far, the newer guitar is edging it in the tone department, think I may have answered my own query there.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by Gomers

Well, Rob from Martin has come back with a very short answer based on the photos I sent him and posted further up this thread.

"That's South American Mahogany.".

So that's cleared that up at least. Played both my 15s back-to-back over the last week. The 15m just has a bit more of the nice-to-have elements, volume, resonance and a lusher tone overall. I'm slightly conscious of the action on the 15, I haven't much saddle left to be honest and the action, while low, isn't sitting on the frets either, slight gap at 6th fret when low E fretted at 2nd and 14th.

So far, the newer guitar is edging it in the tone department, think I may have answered my own query there.

Good to get a reply from Martin.

How about a clear picture or 2 of the winner, the 15m? Curious to see if the wood grain is nicer than the 15? My 00-15m has a very complicated wood grain.

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by Cool555

Good to get a reply from Martin.

How about a clear picture or 2 of the winner, the 15m? Curious to see if the wood grain is nicer than the 15? My 00-15m has a very complicated wood grain.

I hope (k)not as complicated as DukeCarvell’s Larrivée! Knot - unusual?

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by sinistral

I hope (k)not as complicated as DukeCarvell’s Larrivée! Knot - unusual?

Haha! It's knot as complicated but maybe more complicated. Have a look and decide. Some will think it's ugly and some will think it's beautiful. Link attached.

Sorry OP, no intentions of high-jacking your thread, but was waiting to see some pictures.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=567414