My D15m *improved* Sound and Specs

So I posted a video a few days ago showing the specs of my guitar, the history, and specs and realized that the quality of the sound was terrible.

So without further due, here is the improved sound of my Martin D15m being strummed and finger picked.

Enjoy!

Specs:

Model: D-15M

Body Size: D-14 Fret

Top: Solid Genuine Mahogany 

Top Bracing Pattern: A- Frame ''X'' Bracing

Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 

Back Material: Solid Genuine Mahogany 

Side Material: Solid Genuine Mahogany

Neck Material: Solid Genuine Mahogany 

Strings: Martin SP lifespan phosphor Bronze medium gauge

Total Frets: 20

Total playable fret: 14 

The Acoustic Body Shape

     The iconic design of the acoustic guitar has been shaped and transformed throughout hundreds of years. Some of the earliest instruments that resemble an acoustic guitar were made from natural materials like shells and bamboo. This designed later changed and formed the lute. The lute is a string instrument and the back resembles a round bowl. Today for cost purposes and comfort, the lute changed and the common shape for the acoustic guitar was born and now there are many shapes that are being created to make it ideal for certain genres of music. In relation to Martin guitars, for some guitars, they name their models by adding the 0 (zero) for their guitar models. The models I will be talking about are: 0 (Parlour Model), 000 (Orchestra Model), and the Dreadnought.

     The Martin model 0 was built in 1854 that has a 12 fret to body design that produces a tone with plenty of mid-range punch. The shape of this guitar and model is ideal for Traditional blues, folk, and Americana. The body length is 19 1/8 inches, a max depth of 4 1/16 inches and max width of 13 ½ inches. Although this guitar was very specific in genre and style of music there is one that is well rounded and can be used for almost any style of playing, the 000 model or Orchestra Model.

     The Martin 000 models are acoustic instruments that are well rounded and used by many famous guitar players, one of my favorites Eric Clapton. This guitar is perfect for rock, folk, blues, and many more. This guitar has a scale length of 24.9 inches, body length of 19 3/18 or 14 playable frets, max depth 4 1/8 inches, and max width of 15 inches. This guitar was traditionally made for auditorium use but has adapted for other applications. Although this guitar can versatile, there is one model that is the most iconic and just beats everything out of the water.

     The Dreadnought guitar model guitar model is the most iconic instrument known. Pretty much every guitar player or musician has picked this guitar to be their main choice from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney and many more. This guitar can literally be played in any style of music. The sound can really shine when strummed or picked. This guitar model has rounded shoulders and 12 playable frets and has become synonymous with the very term ‘acoustic guitar’. The body length is 20 inches, depth of 4 7/8inches, and width of 15 5/8 inches. One sad story I have is that I used to have a playable Martin dreadnought, but the rosewood neck has split apart from the back of the neck.

0 Model

000 Model

Dreadnought

     

     These models are the most recognizable guitar shapes known to man but are not the only models that exist. There are hundreds of different guitar shapes that have different acoustical properties and I encourage everyone to go check out a music/guitar store and start jamming out on numerous guitars. Find the one that is just for you and your style of music!

Sound Theory - Martin D15m

C.F. Martin and X-Bracing

During the nineteenth century instruments have been increasing in size but has failed to bring quality sound and stability until C.F. Martin came along and changed all that forever.

One of the most innovative structural designs for the acoustic guitar was the X-Bracing. During the 1850’s, Martin had begun to feature a bracing that was never been seen before in acoustic instruments, and that was the X-Bracing design. The X-Bracing design was installed between the sound hole and the bridge. For those of you who don’t know what the sound hole or the bridge means, it is the hole that is iconic in the guitar world and the bridge is towards the bottom of the guitar that holds the strings. This is the area where there is extreme tension so Martin had to come up with a design that can offer excellent sound and durability. The X-bracing did just that. It provided strength and stability to the tops of the instrument.

Now, one of the biggest controversies in the guitar world is the question of who is the first person to invent the X-Bracing design. Between Martin, Schmidt & Maul, and Stumcke, all of these guitar makers had the X-bracing design. Although these guitar makers are all aware of each other, at one point in 1850, they all had X-bracing design in all of their guitars. This is when the argument of who invented the X-bracing started. Martin claims that they are the ones who invented the X-bracing, and I tend to believe them because Martin has documents stating that they started making X-bracing guitars and have been selling them longer than the other manufacturers, and this is all recorded and documented.

Source: Gura, Philip F. C.F. Martin & His Guitars, 1796-1873. Chapell Hill: University of North Carolina, 2003. Print.

X-Bracing Design

A Brief History of C.F. Martin and Co.

     To understand the acoustic guitar one most understand the origins of one of the most recognized and respected acoustical instruments that ever existed, the C.F. Martin guitars.

     Christian Friedrich Martin was the founder of C.F. Martin Co. in Mark Neunkirchen, Germany. At the age of 15, Christian left for Vienna, where he became an employee of Johann Stauffer, who was one of the most known guitar makers of the period. From there on he learned everything there is to know and in 1833 of November, C.F. Martin arrives in America and sets up his own guitar shop at 196 Hudson Street in New York City. When Christian moved to America he brought with him sketches, drawings, and specifications of Johann Stauffer’s guitars to form his own new custom guitars.

     One of the things that C.F. Martins claims for a long time is the question of who invented the X-braced guitar. One of the most innovative in the evolution of the guitar is the invention of the X-bracing, which allows the guitar to basically support and reinforce the soundboard and the back of the acoustic guitar so that the guitar doesn’t snap in place due to all the tension created by the strings being strummed. To support this claim, C.F. Martin has documents showing that between 1842 and 1843, they have created the first size 1 model, which has the X-bracing technology in the guitar.

     The invention of the X-bracing has revolutionized the way manufactures make guitars. The X-bracing technique requires fewer materials in the guitar in order for it to not break or create warping in the wood.

     Throughout this blog I will explain and demonstrate the kinds of equipment used to create these incredible instruments that are known for their excellence in sound and quality of work.