
( Brand: Martin ), ( Model: OM-15 ), ( String Configuration: 6 String ), ( Body Material: Mahogany ), ( Soundboard Style: Flat Top ), ( Model Year: 1997 ), ( Body Type: 000/om ), ( Size: Full Size ), ( Dexterity: Right-handed ), ( Country/region Of Manufacture: United States ), ( Nut Size: 1.75 )
Introducing the Om-15 Martin Guitar, a masterpiece of craftsmanship that is sure to captivate any discerning musician. This acoustic guitar is a brilliant combination of classic design and modern sophistication, crafted from the finest materials to deliver unparalleled sound quality.
At the heart of this instrument is a solid Mahogany top, renowned for its rich, warm tone and exceptional sustain. Mahogany has been a popular choice for guitar makers for generations, and for good reason. Its dense, uniform grain delivers a full, resonant sound, creating a musically versatile instrument that excels in a variety of playing styles.
The back and sides of the Om-15 are made from a beautiful combination of Sapele and Sipo woods. Sapele is a tropical hardwood with a distinctive grain pattern and a warm, rich color. It is often used in the construction of high-quality acoustic guitars for its tonal characteristics, which are similar to those of Mahogany but with a slightly brighter sound. Sipo, also known as African Limba, is a lighter-colored hardwood with a beautiful, straight grain. It adds an element of visual appeal to the guitar, while contributing to its tonal balance and clarity.
This guitar features a 75-style 14-fret neck, which provides easy access to the higher frets and enhances playability. The neck is made from Mahogany, ensuring that it beautifully complements the top of the guitar. The nut width is also a comfortable 1 11/16 inches, making this an ideal guitar for those with larger hands or who prefer a roomier playing style.
The bridge and fingerboard of the Om-15 are crafted from elegant ebony, known for its ability to blend in harmoniously with the other tonal elements of the guitar. Their smooth, tactile surface provides a comfortable and accurate playing experience, allowing for expressive and nuanced performance.
The Om-15 also features a number of design elements that underscore Martin's commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail. These include an elegant rosette, intricate purfling, and carefully-scalloped bracing that maximizes the soundbox's volume and clarity. The guitar's overall aesthetics are stunning, with a seamless, elegant gloss finish that showcases the natural beauty of the wood, while protecting it from the elements.
Whether you're an experienced guitarist or just starting out on your musical journey, the Om-15 Martin Guitar is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile, beautiful, and high-performing instrument that will provide hours of endless enjoyment. Its rich, powerful sound and exceptional playability make it an heirloom-quality piece that will be cherished for generations to come.
The Martin OM-15 is a popular acoustic guitar model known for its rich tone, vintage aesthetics, and solid construction. Martin, a renowned guitar brand, builds this particular model with a solid mahogany top, back, and sides, along with sapele neck and 7-inch nut width. In this analysis, we will outline the key benefits and potential drawbacks of purchasing this guitar.
Pros:1. Rich, resonant tone: The solid mahogany top contributes to the OM-15's powerful and balanced tone. Mahogany delivers a rich, warm sound that has been favored by musicians for decades.
2. Sturdy construction: A solid wood top ensures improved structural integrity and longevity. Mahogany's strength and stability contribute to the guitar's ability to withstand the test of time.
3. Eye-catching appearance: The OM-15 boasts an aesthetically pleasing design with its satin finish and mahogany top. The contrasting sapele neck and matching headstock add visual appeal to the instrument.
4. Comfortable playability: The 7-inch nut width is suitable for players with smaller hands or those seeking a slight adjustment from the more common 1-11/16-inch nut width, which may offer easier chording and increased comfort.
5. Versatile sound: The combination of mahogany and sapele in the OM-15 presents a versatile tonal palette. Mahogany provides a full-bodied sound, while sapele adds some brightness, ensuring a balanced output that appeals to various musical genres.
Cons:1. Price: The Martin OM-15 is a higher-end acoustic guitar model, and its price reflects its premium features and craftsmanship. Budget-conscious guitarists might prefer less expensive alternatives with similar specifications.
2. Sensitive to humidity and temperature changes: Mahogany is susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature, which may affect the guitar's sound and playability. This requires careful maintenance and storage to keep the wood at an optimal condition.
3. Fretwork: Some players might find the factory fretwork on this guitar less than ideal. In such cases, a professional setup by an experienced luthier can enhance the instrument's playability and feel.
4. Limited color options: The OM-15 is currently available only in a satin finish. Guitarists seeking more diverse color options might find this limiting.
Conclusion:The Martin OM-15 is a high-quality, beautifully crafted acoustic guitar that grabs the attention of players seeking powerful tone, aesthetics, and comfort. Its rich, resonant sound, sturdy construction, and vintage visual appeal are major selling points. However, its price and sensitivity to environmental conditions might deter some. Ultimately, the OM-15 is an excellent investment for musicians who prioritize a top-notch playing experience and the ability to deliver captivating performances.
Recommendation:The Martin OM-15 solid mahogany sapele 7-inch nut guitar is an optimal choice for players who demand superior tone, stylish appearance, and comfortable playability. Those who can afford the investment and are prepared for the ongoing care and maintenance it requires will find it to be a highly rewarding companion in their musical journey. However, for those who have financial constraints or prefer different nut widths, it may be worthwhile to explore other options within Martin's extensive lineup or consider guitars from other respected brands.
This guitar is the real thing, genuine mahogany before they started playing those shenanigans. Pricing and delivery you can search several sites including to find what sell for.
There is one small noticeable mark on the soundboard. I tapped that in which let me screw an elliptical tailspin prefer. I removed the stock pick guard and replaced it with a brand new genuine Martin to complete my vintage black color theme.
So, I need to take Thai into consideration when evaluating best-offer bids. That is a permanent modification but you can always remove it and fill the screw hole.
I installed a tusk nut and saddle. The satin finish helps hide such things. This can be easily removed. As an interesting side-note, google the tree quilted mahogany to read about rarest guitar wood in history.
Into the 2000Martin again relaunched this line and added 'm' designation such as d-15m, 000-15m extra. I got socked with a three grand car repair bill and have to let go of this guitar: read mahogany explanation. You can see from the photos mahogany is real, genuine. It does have a pronounced chatelaines optical illusion phenomenon where you see patterns from the grain depending upon angle view.
The mahogany were a vintage line of Martins, popular in 20s 30s and 40's. I have an original red tortoiseshell color and the yellow flame both genuine Martin. I prefer the wider nut like on my Taylor's so this was perfect for that. I like these a lot and have them on every guitar own.
Also, this one is all genuine mahogany which carries a premium. I literally finished this dream guitar of mine a couple weeks ago. The om orchestra model is same body size, 14-fret neck joint and 25.
This one will command a little more because the wider nut om designation is desirable. The more recent model's do have a nicer inlaid rosette that these older didn't. Now, mind you it is 21 years old so has a little bit of age but almost looks like new-old-stock.
Model people are familiar with Martins size guitars. The guitar does not include strap shown in photos that's mine for my other guitars it original Martin hard shell case. I am including two brand new genuine Martin pick guards if you want to switch it back.
Brand new elixir nano web Pb strings in gauge under one hour playtime on them I replaced the Grover-badges open gear tuners with newer from Martin cf script logo. There is one pick scratch type mark but almost non-noticeable. There is a lot of confusion and misleading info around Martins mahogany model's. I replaced the plastic bridge pins with brand new genuine ebony.
The more recent 15ms could be any similar wood but unless Martin explicitly lists it as genuine mahogany is a substitute. The neck angle is ideal with a straight edge lining up just to corner-edge of bridge. I read that the pre 2000 model's also have slight differences like a bevel on tail block allows soundboard to move tiny bit more freely.
I like this cheaper gold rosette that matches the head stock logo and doesn't cut into soundboard wood. I also personally turned each pin for an excellent fit and evened out any wear on the bridge holes there was like none. I turned a custom mahogany tapered pin on my lathe to perfectly fit the tail hole. I did this so you can remove it any time and isn't a permanent modification to the guitar.
5 scale length . The frets and fret board are in excellent condition. They discontinued them but then brought back in the 1990and were very successful. Once Martin added the 'm' to names they started allowing similar wood be called mahogany such as sapele and sipo.
That's where the confusion sets in: previously 15-series guitars were all genuine mahogany sweeten genus. Some folks worry about the tape harming finish but if you want to remove it can do that safely as its just been installed.
I have a spare lower saddle some folks like to two saddles for changes in seasonal humidity or if you want even action seem actually sell around these model's were all marked as 15-series guitars, such d-15, extra. An older pre om is the rarest of this series. The guitar has zero repairs, cracks or anything like that. There are a couple tiny marks around the edge probably bump here and teeny that you wouldn't see unless I pointed them out.
I took a flash photo to really exaggerate it - isn't that prominent. On the older 15-series Martin didn't have their name put tuners - I liked logo so changed them to newer ones. So silly as it sounds this guitar has piece of the tree inside. Up for sale is my 1997 Martin OM-15 in near mint condition.
Condition this guitar is truly in near-mint condition. I added an ebony john parse slimline armrest. It does, however, have the nut width instead of common Martin narrower. I added a strap button to the heel of neck.
5 out of 10.