That's something I'm looking forward to, seeing how it evolves as it opens up.

Right now, it's a little bit, uh, reticent, but I'm getting a sense of where it wants to go. It already has pretty nice bloom and sustain.

And wow, does it smell nice!

Congrats on a great species. Good looking as well!

Many thanks again!

DAY TWO:

I changed the stock PB strings for a set of monel Martin Retros, and those sound spectacular on this guitar. I can feel the bass notes resonating through the body, and the sustain is greatly enhanced. These strings really woke up the guitar.

One thing I'm observing is the guitar is a lot more responsive when fingerpicked (with bare fingers) or played with a light pick attack. If my attack is too strong, I can feel the guitar fighting with me, but with a lighter touch it produces the most lovely bloom and delicacy. I wonder if this resistance is just a part of its inherent character, or if it's tight because it's new?

To me, Retros never sound better than they do on a mahogany-topped guitar. Great choice!

Congrats! That is a really beautiful guitar!

I've used the Retros on three different guitars - the all-hog 000-15SM, a spruce/hog Gibson, and even a 100% plywood Gretsch Americana (aka Jim Dandy) - and those strings sound and feel wonderful on all three of them. :up:

I've been enjoying the guitar now for several days, and I have a few more observations to share.

First of all, this guitar is extremely sensitive to right hand technique. It sounds best when picked with bare fingertips.

The 000-15SM is capable of amazing sustain and bloom, but only when it's played just so.

With a flatpick, it is very particular about how much attack I use, as well as how I grip the pick, ranging from smooth/fulsome to harsh/thin and everything in between. It seems to respond best to gripping the pick close to where it strikes the strings, with just the right amount of grip force, and at a particular angle. The touch sensitivity of this guitar is quite extraordinary.

Now, I don't mean to sound corny, but learning my way around this instrument is not unlike courting a lady. It's as if the guitar is leading me, indicating how it wants to be treated, and rewarding me when I get it right. I've never experienced this from a guitar to quite this level.

And, oh, that heavenly mahogany aroma!

I now own two mahogany Martin guitars, a D15M and a Dss15m Street Master. Although I still like my other guitars (D18, D35, etc.) I always gravitate toward my D15s. I know they are different from yours, but there is something so clear, woody, and fundamental about these mahogany guitars. I think you will enjoy yours for many years, as will I enjoy mine.

This is my exact experience. It is very touch sensitive, period--sensitive to pick angle, grip, attack, and location. I am not an "over the sound hole" strummer or picker (except fingerpicking softer, lyrical stuff that just blooms out of this guitar).

I like the area between the bridge and sound hole, especially on this guitar, and I move around a lot and alter my grip and shift the pick angle a lot. The great thing about playing closer to the bridge is you can get more aggressive without overdriving the top (which is much more likely over the sound hole). Also, as you described, just a little movement closer or farther from the bridge changes the tone significantly. I take advantage of this the best I can with my skill level.


These little fellas have a lot to offer IMO, definitely not one trick ponies.

That's a sweet-looking hunk of mahogany! Congrats.

I'm doing an outdoor jam at a Kentucky Derby party today, and last night I checked my 000-15m to see whether it needed new strings, because the Retros have been on that guitar for more than a month. Nope. They're sounding absolutely perfect. Ready to gig. I wish I'd discovered them on Day Two of owning my 000-15!

That’s it exactly!

The monels are the perfect strings for this guitar IMO.

Beautiful Guitar!!

MF

Love the look of that Mahogany! Enjoy!