Why all the different wood colors on the Martin 000-15m's?

[broccolirobert]

I am looking for a used Martin 000-15m and was
wondering if anyone knows why some
of them are a dark, solid, red color,
while other 000-15's are brownish and grainy?

Thanks!

-Rob

[HHP]

Some wood acts different when you apply stain. Mine was a dark reddish brown but they do vary.

[gitnoob]

Is it possible that some of the used guitars you're looking at are 000-15's rather than 000-15M's?

They changed the stain when they introduced the M's. The non-M's have more of a reddish stain.

[Ed422]

Basically, different trees, different colors. And, that applies to trees of the same species.

I also think one of the reasons Martin (and others) use M (or MH, etc.) in the model names is to distinguish the MaHogany (i.e. South American) from sapele. Sapele, while having grain patterns reminiscent of mahogany, is colored very differently.

Ed

[gitnoob]

The M's are mahogany. The non-M's can be either mahogany or sapele.

They changed other things besides the stain when they introduced the M's. Different tuners, rosette, and even bridge pins.

[broccolirobert]

Thanks for the replies!

I am asking because I just bought a used all-hog
00015. I actually prefer the deep, dark, solid look opposed
to the grainy look.

So is there anything I can do to darken my 15? Or is that
just a bad idea altogether?

[muscmp]

just play it and enjoy it! you'll eventually grow to like how it looks if you enjoy playing it!!
play music!

[jseth]

Glad you got a guitar you like... the good news about the color? Mahogany gets darker, with age... so, just hang in there and play it a bunch for a few years and it'll darken up a bit! I believe that exposure to sunlight also hastens the darkening process...

The neck on my Mark Angus #35 is mahogany; the guitar is 32 years old and the neck is now a VERY deep dark reddish brown... almost looks black from across the room!

play on...................................and ENJOY!

John