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  #31  
Old 05-01-2019, 10:01 PM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floridapicker View Post
congrats on the new Martin. It's really a day to celebrate. Play it a lot and see how it sounds in a year...you'll be floored I promise.
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!
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  #32  
Old 05-01-2019, 11:28 PM
tippy5 tippy5 is offline
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Congrats on a great species. Good looking as well!
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  #33  
Old 05-02-2019, 05:38 AM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Many thanks again!
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  #34  
Old 05-02-2019, 07:32 PM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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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?
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1955 Gibson ES-125
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1964 Guild Starfire III
1984 Rickenbacker 330
1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures
2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US]
2008 Hallmark 60 Custom
2018 Martin Custom Shop 00-18 slot-head

1963 Fender Bandmaster (blonde blackface)
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2020 Mojotone tweed Champ kit build
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  #35  
Old 05-02-2019, 08:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beatcomber View Post
I changed the stock PB strings for a set of monel Martin Retros, and those sound spectacular on this guitar.
To me, Retros never sound better than they do on a mahogany-topped guitar. Great choice!
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  #36  
Old 05-02-2019, 09:23 PM
shutterbiker shutterbiker is offline
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Congrats! That is a really beautiful guitar!
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  #37  
Old 05-03-2019, 04:42 AM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire View Post
To me, Retros never sound better than they do on a mahogany-topped guitar. Great choice!
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.
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1984 Rickenbacker 330
1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures
2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US]
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  #38  
Old 05-04-2019, 08:33 AM
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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!
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1984 Rickenbacker 330
1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures
2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US]
2008 Hallmark 60 Custom
2018 Martin Custom Shop 00-18 slot-head

1963 Fender Bandmaster (blonde blackface)
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  #39  
Old 05-04-2019, 10:45 AM
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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.
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  #40  
Old 05-04-2019, 01:08 PM
DukeX DukeX is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beatcomber View Post
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!
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.
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  #41  
Old 05-04-2019, 01:21 PM
bufflehead bufflehead is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beatcomber View Post
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.
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!
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  #42  
Old 05-04-2019, 05:39 PM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DukeX View Post
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 it exactly!
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1955 Gibson ES-125
1956 Fender Champ lap steel
1964 Guild Starfire III
1984 Rickenbacker 330
1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures
2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US]
2008 Hallmark 60 Custom
2018 Martin Custom Shop 00-18 slot-head

1963 Fender Bandmaster (blonde blackface)
1965 Ampeg Gemini I
2020 Mojotone tweed Champ kit build
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  #43  
Old 05-04-2019, 05:40 PM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bufflehead View Post
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!
The monels are the perfect strings for this guitar IMO.
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1955 Gibson ES-125
1956 Fender Champ lap steel
1964 Guild Starfire III
1984 Rickenbacker 330
1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures
2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US]
2008 Hallmark 60 Custom
2018 Martin Custom Shop 00-18 slot-head

1963 Fender Bandmaster (blonde blackface)
1965 Ampeg Gemini I
2020 Mojotone tweed Champ kit build
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  #44  
Old 05-04-2019, 06:44 PM
moore-fiend moore-fiend is offline
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Beautiful Guitar!!

MF
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  #45  
Old 05-04-2019, 08:25 PM
icuker icuker is offline
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Love the look of that Mahogany! Enjoy!
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