Burst or Plain?

[DrMickMach]

Originally Posted by Sagebrush Tom

I would pick the one that has the best tone. That being said, i voted for the plain version as i love the bare bones look. Either one you end up with, you can't go wrong.
Tom

I totally agree, tone is king. I’d much rather play them both and just pick the one that sounds right. Unfortunately I can’t find a store that has a burst in stock and carries it without being a special order (and I’m in LA!), so I’d have to pay to get it ordered.

Not end of the world as Sam Ash has a 45 day return policy (as do GC and other stores)but I’d much rather be able to play them both in store and just walk out with the one that just speaks to me

[Clarky40]

I'm not a burst kinda guy. Every time I see burst, I think Gibson. Which I never liked the looks of.

[lastingimage]

I really like bursts if they are done right and Martin does the Ambertone burst right. My custom om-21 and 000-28 are both burst. I really liked the burst on the 000-15m so I followed my instincts.

[IMG][/IMG]

[rokdog49]

The burst is first.

[Steel and wood]

I'm in two minds.

Not overly convinced about sunburst on a mahogany top guitar (given it's already darker shading) but Martin's mahogany 15 Series guitars can also look plain and bare to some.

I do lean towards the sunburst just because it will be different, but either way, you are getting a great guitar!

[DrMickMach]

So after having decided on going plain, both because, hey I like it and saving $200 meant I could get it in about 3 weeks instead of 2-3 months, I was browsing on reverb.com and found a brand new burst 000-15m for $1100 from Music 28 in Florida.

That's the total price including tax and shipping - cheaper even than I could get the plain model from Sam Ash or Guitar Centre. (And for the record I do hate calling it the 'plain' model as they are beautiful guitars)

As we say in Australia, it was a Big Baz Bargain, too good to go past so I've pulled the trigger on it and now I've got a hundred odd bucks left over to buy a few nice little accessories.

Hugely stoked about getting my first really decent guitar and can't wait for it to arrive so I can play it.

Thanks all for your thoughts and opinions, very much enjoyed reading them all while I procrastinated doing this work thing that keeps getting in the way of playing guitar.

Cheers

[drjond56]

To each his own opinion but I have an 0-15 custom with that tobacco burst and it is really a nice looking guitar. It is not "overly done" in person.

Jon

[mdshax]

I've said this a couple times here in the forum, but it bears repeating: It has been scientifically proven that a burst top improves your playing by 15%.

[bufflehead]

I was faced with this same decision a week ago, and went with natural on my 000-15m. It had the better tone of the two. I think it was actually a better piece of wood in terms of overall grain.