Martin 000-15SM is also a great rhythm guitar

[beatcomber]

The band I'm in has a strong focus on vocal harmonies, and we have a frontline of five singers. When the singers get together to work out new material, they like to have me there with an acoustic guitar, to provide rhythmic support and give them pitch reference.

Tonight we had a vocals-only session for the first time in months, and I brought along the Martin 000-15SM that I bought a month ago, currently strung with Martin Retro monel strings. This was the first opportunity I've had to play this guitar out of my house.

I had come to regard this guitar as best suited for fingerpicking or soft strumming, but to my surprise I found that it works really well as a percussive rhythm guitar, especially for snappy boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom strumming patterns with lots of attack. There were also some songs that needed steady open strumming, and the top didn't get bogged down at all, it was actually very clear and responsive.

The longer I own this guitar and the more I play it, the more it reveals about itself to me!

[Wade Hampton]

Yeah, it's an excellent choice for that role. I'm essentially a rhythm guitarists myself, and both 14 fret and 12 fret Triple O's make superb rhythm guitars.

Which is what they were actually designed for, the 14 fret version in particular. They only coincidentally also make great fingerstyle guitars. But back when they were introduced their even response up and down the neck was intended for accompaniment purposes.


whm

[PiousDevil]

I’ve found my 000-15sm (also strung with retros) can handle anything I throw at it, and it has a great rhythm chop. It’s definitely a keeper.

[Slothead56]

Got one a couple weeks ago. Threw a K&K Mini in it a gigged the second day I had it. It was perfect. Will have to try the Monels.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Yeah, it's an excellent choice for that role. I'm essentially a rhythm guitarists myself, and both 14 fret and 12 fret Triple O's make superb rhythm guitars.

Which is what they were actually designed for, the 14 fret version in particular. They only coincidentally also make great fingerstyle guitars. But back when they were introduced their even response up and down the neck was intended for accompaniment purposes.


whm

Originally Posted by PiousDevil

I’ve found my 000-15sm (also strung with retros) can handle anything I throw at it, and it has a great rhythm chop. It’s definitely a keeper.

This is very good to hear (and that's some very interesting background info, Wade). I don't think I've read much about using this guitar in a purely rhythmic role, they seem to be primarily regarded for fingerstyle use.

It's possible that the monel strings might have added to the snappiness I observed too.

Originally Posted by Slothead56

Got one a couple weeks ago. Threw a K&K Mini in it a gigged the second day I had it. It was perfect. Will have to try the Monels.

I have had a funny relationship with monel strings on this guitar. When I first bought it, I played it with the stock Lifespan PB strings for a while, and then longed to hear how it did with the Retros, since that seems to be a popular choice with all-hog guitars. (I also loved the Retros on the Gibson F25 I previously owned.)

I didn't like the Retros on the 000-15SM even after a couple of weeks, something undefinable didn't sound right to me, so I went back to using the Lifespan PB. During this period, I realized that the neck relief had room for improvement and tightened the rod just a little - it's amazing how transformative a slight adjustment of a truss rod can be! The guitar now played perfectly and sounded like a million bucks.

Shortly afterwards, I got an urge to try the Retros again, and put another set on a few days ago. Even at this early stage in the Retros' break-in period, I can tell that these strings are indeed a terrific match for the 000-15SM, in terms of feel, resonance, and tone.

One thing I have realized about the 000-15SM is that, despite its deceptively spartan appearance, it is a very sensitive instrument. As corny as it sounds, this guitar is like dating a woman. It needs to be wooed if you expect it to fully reveal its charms; you have to learn how to unlock its secrets. I will admit, at first I wasn't sure that it was the right guitar for me, it seemed, uh, resistant; it took a little time for me to begin to "understand its ways." The 000-15sm can assume quite different tonal characteristics depending on pick angle, how the pick is gripped, how the action is set-up. I've never owned a guitar before that required so much attention to technique before, and that can only make me a better player. I'll bet that the same 000-15SM would sound very different in the hands of different players, and that's pretty cool.

Right now, the guitar is still very new; I look forward to seeing how the guitar - and my approach to it - evolves as it ages and breaks in.

[emtsteve]

This thread reminds me of Jake Bugg. Check him out here - great set!



I think this is a custom guitar a guy made for him from a mahogany table, but it looks to be basically a 12 fret 000.

I had a 000-15S a while back and moved it along in a trade. I might snag one again because it was certainly a unique sound and was a joy to play.

[Goat Mick]

I'm a big fan of 000 guitars for rhythm they're tight and percussive without the boominess you can get from a dreadnaught. In the same vein as this thread the 000-17 is a great rhythm (and fingerstyle) guitar too.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Goat Whiskey Picks

I'm a big fan of 000 guitars for rhythm they're tight and percussive without the boominess you can get from a dreadnaught.

That's a very good summation.

[Slothead56]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

As corny as it sounds, this guitar is like dating a woman. It needs to be wooed if you expect it to fully reveal its charms; you have to learn how to unlock its secrets. I will admit, at first....it seemed, uh, resistant; it took a little time for me to begin to "understand its ways."

Man, do I miss dating!

NOT!

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

Man, do I miss dating!

NOT!

WORD!

[DukeX]

I play both rhythm and fingerstyle on mine. It has a unique voice that I like a lot. I actually crave it.