There is nothing quite like the sweet, woody sound of an all-mahogany guitar. The Martin 15-Series delivers all-mahogany construction in a satin finish, no-frills package. Despite the breadth of the line, there are many body sizes and options not available in the catalog. When you have as many body sizes and as many different series as Martin, it's simply impossible to build every possible permutation. Fortunately, the "Custom" designation allows dealers to special order the guitars that slip between the cracks. Although they're not given official model names, these Custom guitars are built on the same production line as the rest of the Martin 15-Series.
This Martin Custom was made in 2014, and it is a 12-fret 0-Size body with a cutaway, built to Style-15 specs with a Slotted Headstock and all-Mahogany construction. Based on the traditional Martin nomenclature, we'll call this guitar a "0C-15SM." A little bit of a mouthful, but in hand, it's an intriguing mix of specs that isn't offered in the Martin catalog.
The 0-size body is the smallest full-size guitar Martin makes. With a 24.9" scale length, the 12-fret design positions the bridge closer to the widest part of the top, encouraging more bass presence for a more-balanced sound. Add the cutaway and slotted headstock, and you've got a fingerstyle player's dream. What happens when it's all-mahogany? You get the rich, woody, old-time sound we love from Mahogany guitars. With Style-15 appointments, this Martin Custom is elegant but understated, and the Style-15 bracing under the hood delivers a balanced sound with a responsive feel.
This 2014 Martin Custom 0C-15SM shows some wear and signs of use (see photos). The worst is some play wear around the soundhole and some scuffs on the back. Because there is no binding on the 15-Series, there are also some minor bumps around the edges. With a fresh setup, this Martin plays really nicely, and it's lightweight, too—just under 4 lbs. The 1-3/4" nut width gives enough room for any playing style, and it feels appropriate for the 12-fret construction. The only 12-fret 0 case Martin offers is the high-end 500 Series from TKL, so this one includes a case that will set you back $500 on its own. The previous owner mounted an Oasis humidifier inside the case. Great Martin!