The Acoustic Bass Guitar is an incredible concept: a bass with the play-anywhere functionality of an acoustic guitar. Sadly, most of them fall short of expectations; they're never loud enough, and they're often prone to neck issues that cause buzzing and dead frets. But that's not the case with the BC-15E! Leave it to Martin to get the acoustic bass guitar right.
Soundwise, the key is combining a Jumbo body with a full 34" scale. Lots of acoustic bass guitars are made with shorter scales or with the bridge positioned farther towards the end block. While that might make the instrument seem easier to play, it absolutely crushes the tone and projection. Unlike the others, the USA-made BC-15E places the bridge in the proper spot to produce full, punchy tone. Plus, the long 34" scale has enough tension to pull on the top and give you plenty of volume to compete with other acoustic instruments.
As part of Martin's 15-Series, the BC-15E features all Mahogany construction, and the warm, rich sound of Mahogany is a great fit for the lower register of a bass. From there, it has a cutaway for easy access into the upper register, and there's even on-board Fishman electronics so you can plug it in and get woody, acoustic/almost-upright tone through an amp. Plus, the BC-15E is a proper Martin, so it's built to last. It's an instrument that will meet the demands of even the most aggressive players.
This 2004 Martin BC-15E is in nice shape for its age. It shows some minor signs of play and use, and since there is no binding to protect, there are some small bumps around the edges (see photos). But all-in-all, this BC-15E has a lot left in the tank. The neck is nice and straight, and the frets show minimal wear. It is currently set up with low action and super-smooth tapewound strings. It includes its original hardshell case, and it's everything you ask for from an acoustic bass guitar!