If you are looking for a decent acoustic guitar, the Martin D-15M is a great option to check out.
It features a non-cutaway body with satin finish, a top made of mahogany, back and sides made of mahogany, and a 25.4″ scale length.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
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In this review article, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the Martin D-15M acoustic guitar by examining its features, sound, value, and playability.
We’ll go over what each guitar feature means and how it alters the overall sound and playability of the guitar.
Table of Contents
Summary
Here is an abbreviated version and overview of our findings on the Martin D-15M.
Remember that the score and rating we give to each point is our own opinion and could be different from other people.
Hardware
A guitar’s hardware refers to the various metal and plastic parts that make up the instrument.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
The phrase “hardware” is commonly associated with electric guitars, however it may also refer to some acoustic guitar parts.
When purchasing a guitar based on its hardware, ensure that it is of excellent quality and will be able to endure frequent usage.
Lower-quality guitars, for example, sometimes have plastic saddles on the bridge, which can damage the instrument’s tone and intonation while also making it more difficult to tune.
Also, when it comes to the metal parts themselves, you should make sure that they’re not prone to rusting or tarnishing, and seem strong, durable, and can not be easily dented.
A decent-sounding and playable guitar requires excellent hardware, and there are a few things that a manufacturer can do to make it perfect for us guitarists.
Let’s take a look at it more closely!
– Tuning Machines
The tuning machines on this Martin D-15M are open gear, made of nickel, and feature a classic solid surface design.
- Material: Nickel
- Design: Classic solid surface
One of the most significant aspects of any guitar’s hardware is the tuning machines (or “tuners”).
They’re responsible for keeping the strings tight so they can vibrate properly and generate the right pitch.
Poor-quality tuning machines can cause your guitar to quickly fall out of tune and be tough to stay in tune.
They can also make changing strings more difficult, as well as making the guitar more hard to play in general.
Must Remember:
Good tuning machines are made of strong and durable materials and have a precise and smooth action.
To avoid rust, make sure to choose materials like nickel-plated steel or stainless steel.
These materials are also less likely to tarnish, so your guitar will maintain its appearance for a longer period of time.
– Pickguard
The Martin D-15M has a black pickguard with a faux tortoise design.
- Color: Black
- Design: Faux tortoise
The pickguard is a little piece of plastic or metal that is positioned near the strings on the body of the guitar.
Its aim is to protect the guitar’s finish against scratches caused by the pick as you play.
Most pickguards are constructed of plastic or metal, in some cases, even carbon fiber, and there are a variety of styles to choose from.
A good pickguard should be built of a durable and strong material that can sustain regular use.
It should also be placed in such a way that it will effectively protect the guitar’s body from scratches inflicted by the player’s pick.
As far as looks, a pickguard should also blend and fit in with the guitar’s overall design.
It shouldn’t be too intrusive or stand out too much, but it also shouldn’t be so small or low-quality that it looks out of place.
– Strap Buttons
For some reason, the Martin D-15M doesn’t come with strap buttons, so you’d have to install them seperately on your own.
- Material: Not applicable
- Position: Not applicable
- Design: Not Applicable
Strap buttons is what we call the little metal buttons installed on the guitar’s body that are used to connect a strap to the instrument.
Two strap buttons, one on each side of the body, are very standard on most guitars.
Metal strap buttons should be durable and sturdy so that they do not come loose over time.
Even while the quality of the strap buttons is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for most individuals, it’s still something to consider.
Body
The bridge, neck, and strings are all joined to the guitar’s body, which is the most important section of the instrument.
A hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound can resonate from within the instrument can also be found here.
Although some guitars have carbon fiber, metal, or plastic bodies (less usual), the majority of them have a wooden body.
– Wood
If you’re looking for a specific tone, have in mind the type of wood utilized for the body since this will impact how the guitar sounds.
The Martin D-15M features a mahogany top with a mahogany back and mahogany sides.
– Finish
The final layer of protection for the wood of the guitar body is the body finish.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it has a satin finish.
It’s what gives the guitar its shine and luster, and it also protects the wood from scratches, dings, and other damage.
You’ll come across a variety of finishes, including the following:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is typically not a significant factor in the overall tone.
It can, however, affect the instrument’s appearance and feel.
Some people prefer a guitar that’s a certain color because it matches their style, or because it’s easier to see in low light conditions.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Martin D-15M has a standard pin bridge with black-colored plastic pins and a saddle made of bone.
Each of these elements contributes to the tone and feel of the guitar.
For example, the bridge is responsible for transferring the vibrations of the strings to the body of the guitar.
The saddle is what the strings sit on, and it’s usually made of plastic or bone.
And the pins are what hold the strings in place.
There are also several kinds of bridges, each with its own set of pro’s and cons.
There are three primary types of bridges used on acoustic guitars:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
The most frequent form of bridge is the pin bridge, which is also the simplest to replace.
However, they can be a bit more difficult to intonate, which means getting the strings in the correct position.
Pinless bridges are less common, but they’re easy to intonate too.
They also have the advantage of not requiring any pins, which can be a pain to keep track of.
Lastly, classical guitar bridges are only used on classical guitars.
They’re similar in shape that most other bridges, but the main difference is that they don’t have any pins and just consist of a saddle and wooden block that has a hole for each string.
Said hole is used to tie the string down, which gives the guitar a much cleaner look.
Now, the type of saddle you choose is also important; plastic saddles are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they don’t last as long as bone saddles.
Bone saddles are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they’re also the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable.
Neck
The Martin D-15M has a neck that’s made of mahogany with a Modified Low Oval shape and an adjustable truss rod.
The neck is the thin, long piece of the guitar that runs from the body to the headstock and is usually constructed of wood.
Since different woods have distinct qualities that influence how the vibrations created by the strings behave, the type of wood chosen for the neck can affect the guitar’s playability and sound.
The bolt-on neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the guitar body, is the most common type.
Another popular style of guitar neck is the set-neck, which is glued to the body.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are some of the most critical components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the area on the guitar’s neck where your fingers press against the strings.
It is often made out of wood, although it may also be made of other materials like as carbon fiber, plastic, or even metal.
As for the Martin D-15M, it has a fretboard made of solid east indian rosewood with pearloid dots inlays:
Despite the fact that this has long been a source of debate, it is generally accepted that the type of wood used for the fretboard might have a minor impact on the sound of the guitar.
For instance, maple is a popular material for electric guitars because it tends to produce a very sharp tone.
Rosewood is another popular choice for acoustic guitars because it produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars with a very clean, clear tone.
There are many different types of fretboards available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The sort of fretboard you pick is ultimately up to you and what you’re looking for in a guitar; the tone will not change dramatically, but the feel will.
Brand Info
Martin is one of the world’s leading guitar brands, and they’ve been in business since 1833.
They’re known for their high-quality acoustic guitars, but they also make electric guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments.
Martin guitars are used by some of the most famous musicians in the world.
The company offers a wide range of different models to suit every budget and every playing style and is a great choice for both beginners and experienced players alike.
In terms of quality, Martin is definitely up there with the best of them, they use only the finest materials and craftsmanship to produce their instruments.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Martin D-15M:
– General
| Brand | Martin |
| Model | D-15M |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Size | Full Size |
| Colors | Dark mahogany and mahogany burst |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Nickel |
| Tuning Machines | Open gear |
| Electro-acoustic | No |
| Built-in Tuner | Not applicable |
– Body
| Body Style | Dreadnought |
| Cutaway | No |
| Solid Top | Yes |
| Top Material | Mahogany |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Sides Material | Mahogany |
| Finish Type | Satin |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Pickguard Design | Faux tortoise |
| Strap Buttons | No |
| Strap Buttons Position | Not applicable |
| Strap Buttons Design | Not Applicable |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Modified Low Oval |
| Scale Length | 25.4″ |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Solid East Indian Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Design | Standard pin bridge |
| Pin Color | Black |
| Pin Material | Plastic |
| Bridge Material | Solid East Indian Rosewood |
| Saddle Material | Bone |
| Nut Material | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.69″ |
Please note that some brands might change the type of materials that they use on their guitars.
This can be because of new regulations and laws that come and go throughout the years.
If you see a mistake in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
You can reach out to us via our email: [email protected]
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
There are a lot of great guitars out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one sometimes.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
More than 10 years of experience playing and writing about guitars! When not writing, I can be found strumming away some Johnny Cash tunes. Favorite all time guitar is the Gibson Les Paul. #TeamGibson
