Guitar to complement a Martin 000-15sm

[kharma44]

Hi,

My main acoustic is a Martin 000-15sm and I really love it. It's warm and velvety fingerstyle and can have a nice mid range growl when picked hard.
I'm a singer songwriter with a tenor voice playing mostly folk songs 60% fingerstyle with skin (no nails) and 40% strumming.
What I really enjoy on this guitar also is thee wider string spacing (2 1/4) ans the 1,75 nut. I have somewhat pulpy fingertips so the extra space is welcome.

Now, my other acoustic is a Seagull Dreadnaught (Natural Element). That should be my strumming guitar, but somewhat I am not bonding with the sound. So I began a search for a higher end replacement that would complement my 000-15sm nicely.

My search started with the J-45 (but again mahogany...) and sidetracked back to a Martin or Boucher (high end maker in Québec) Dreadnaught.

But now, as much as I love the sound of the dreads I have tried, I find them a bit loud and unconfortable. I mean, thy're ok, but my 000 is much more confortable to play. So I am wandering back in OM territory... That's a bit far from where my quest began...So I'm still undecided between the following choices :

Dreads : J-45 (only hog in the lot) ; J15 ; D-28 ; HD-28 ; D21 special (super price available!) , Boucher Sg-52

OM : OM-28 ; 000-28 and Boucher SG-51

The Gibbies have the narrowest nuts and the Boucher has the widest string spacing but a not so nice headstock...

I played them all. Never all at once though. I would be happy with any I guess. But on look alone the OM-28 is my favorite one...
Any inputs? (i know.. I should choose the one I prefer...but that isn't easy)

[Brucebubs]

Maybe have a look at the rosewood Martin J-40.

Basically it's a M/0000 sized guitar but with full 4 7/8" dreadnought body depth and the re-imagined versions in 2018 went to a 1 3/4" nut.

[warfrat73]

I've always really liked the D-21 specials, and if you can get a really good price on it, that's how I'd spend your money (whether that's how you'd spend it is an entirely different matter).

But, I guess the question is really what you want the new guitar that the 000-15 doesn't.

Another way of thinking about a guitar that would compliment the all mahogany would be to find something with a brighter, more modern tone, this would also perhaps compliment your bare finger playing style... but you don't really specify a preference.

[JKMartin]

Post deleted

[kharma44]

Originally Posted by warfrat73

I've always really liked the D-21 specials, and if you can get a really good price on it, that's how I'd spend your money (whether that's how you'd spend it is an entirely different matter).

But, I guess the question is really what you want the new guitar that the 000-15 doesn't.

Another way of thinking about a guitar that would compliment the all mahogany would be to find something with a brighter, more modern tone, this would also perhaps compliment your bare finger playing style... but you don't really specify a preference.

Yeah! brighter because of the bare finger is part of the idea. But also it would have to strum well. In fact I need two...

The OM-28 and a Dread...

[Joe Beamish]

The OM-28 sounds like a fine complement. Long scale, rosewood. Comfortable.

[kharma44]

Originally Posted by JKMartin

If you are comfortable with the 000-15SM, take a look at the 000-28VS (now discontinued, but used ones are out there). Same size body, 12 fret, slotted, slightly wider nut and bridge. Sitka top and EIR body and sides. I have both (plus many more).

I will get a 14 fretter. Sometimes I have a few songs where I need the extra space.

But thanks for the suggestion. I really enjoy my 12 fret, the extra bass response is nice and sweet.

[kharma44]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

The OM-28 sounds like a fine complement. Long scale, rosewood. Comfortable.

Yeah! played one yesterday. sweet fingerpicked. Being acustomed to my all hog I may I found it a bit bright when strummed with a pick tough. But I only played it for a few minutes after a D-28 and a Boucher dread. Both full of bass and really loud. I really liked their sound with a pick.

But both those dreads where harder to fingerpick. Espec. the d-28 stringed with mediums.

[kharma44]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Maybe have a look at the rosewood Martin J-40.

Basically it's a M/0000 sized guitar but with full 4 7/8" dreadnought body depth and the re-imagined versions in 2018 went to a 1 3/4" nut.

That one and the m36 are hard to come by in Canada...

[Jaden]

I love my OM rosewood, but only fingerpick with bare fingers - strumming with a pick some find it too bright, not enough bass - that’s where the dreadnought excels, in my opinion - there is a certain transformation within the larger soundbox where the ‘click’ of pick on string is swallowed up, and a sonic transformation occurs which produces a “smooth” and delicious to the ear effect which your larger 000 soundbox 12 fretter shares in.

[stephenT]

I have a 00-15 and my favorite compliment to is a Waterloo. I settled on a WL-12. Not a high end guitar at all, but the same sort of vibe as a Martin 15 series tho a totally different sound. And fun to play w/ flesh and nail.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Don't leave the OM21 out of the mix. Less bling than the OM28 and less zing on your wallet.

[Coler]

I paired a dreadnought with a 000, and I find it a very good combination. The dread has mahogany back and sides so I went with Rosewood in the 000 for a bit if variety and I love them both.

[kharma44]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Bob

Don't leave the OM21 out of the mix. Less bling than the OM28 and less zing on your wallet.

I did try it. An ambertone version. I was left unimpressed, but it had dead strings on it.

But the D-21 special interests me and I could grab one new for 2500 CAD $ wich is super low. They use to price them 3249 CAD $. So that is 1000$ less than the best price I found on a D-28 or an OM-28. But I can't play it first. It would be an internet buy... I need to find why it's priced so low first.

I wonder if the fact they only made 300 of the D-21 makes it somewhat of a collectible item?

[gr81dorn]

I'm just here to thank you for spelling "complement" correctly. May others follow your lead ;-)