MARTIN CUSTOM 15

  • Martin Custom 15

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • acoustic guitars

Series name: 

Variant of: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1977 to 1995

Production of the CUSTOM 15 began in 1977 and ended in 1995. It was based on the 1934 herringbone D-28 (HD-28) model and one of the first Martin "reissues" of prewar designs. It has many of the features of that famous Martin "herringbone" HD-28 including: a square headstock, ivoriod bindings, the pre-war forward shifted X-brace pattern (from around 1990 onwards), a V-shaped neck profile, a tortoise colored pickguard and the diamond and squares fingerboard inlay pattern.

This model was available from 1977-1980 exclusively from the Mandolin Brothers shop (with 341 instruments made before 1980) but was more widely distrubuted from 1980 onwards. The "Cusom 15" name was used from 1980 onwards and possibly refers to the 15th custom design produced in 1980. This “Custom 15” model remained until 1995 when the name changed initially to HD-28VR and then to HD-28V.

Link: Mandolin brothers custom 15 story

Specifications (19)

Body

Body back materialrosewood body back
Body sides materialrosewood body sides
Body styledreadnought-size body
Body top materialspruce body top
Pickguard materialtortoiseshell pickguard
Soundholeround soundhole

Neck

Body fretNeck joins body at 14th fret
Neck profileV shaped neck
Neck width1.69 inches wide at nut
Number of frets20 fret
Tuner layoutthree-each-side

Hardware

Bridge pinswhite with black dot pins
Bridgeebony bridge

Fretboard

Fingerboard inlay materialpearl fingerboard inlay material
Fingerboard materialebony fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersslotted diamond fingerboard position markers, snowflake fingerboard position markers

General

Finish colorsnatural finish
Made inUSA
Number of strings6 strings

Prices (14)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1986$1800new
1991$2500wornEverything is original , has a Martin factory installed pickup .
1981$1250.00newCarla AmesCustom #434180
1992$1800.00new
1995$1850newDanny M
2015$2499goodSlim Chitlin1994 model no pickup..... needed a little neck fret/work
1996$1350.00new
2012$2770good
1977$2000excellent
1983$1300new
2018$2200excellentGreg G.1993 model in like new condition.
2005$1600excellentJS1993 Model was on consignment at Music Shop
2018$3695.00goodMartin Custom 15 with Waverly tuners and Slot Through Bone Saddle in good condition with original case.
1983£2000goodRoy RichardsSigned inside the sound hole by C.F.Martin IV

Reviews (3)

MARTIN CUSTOM 15 reviewed by 6L6

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I own a 1983 Custom 15 equipped with a K&K pickup. The guitar sounds fantastic both plugged and unplugged. Best of all for me is the strong V neck that fits my hand like a glove. I’ll be keeping this one all the way to my dirt nap.

MARTIN CUSTOM 15 reviewed by Old man

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
Wonderful guitar I have grown old with. This is a guitar you keep Had the neck adjusted by a pro and now it is easy-peezy to play lead down on the neck. Everyone who picks it up loves it. Had to go to 214ce series Taylor to beat it and that is only on sound not ease of playing.

MARTIN CUSTOM 15 reviewed by Bluegrass boy

1
Average: 1 (1 vote)
I own a 1993 Custom 15 I bought used from Elderly Instruments in 1995. The previous owner had replaced the original tuners with open back Waverlys. I play as many Martins as I am able and have the following observations. The indian rosewood on Custom 15s seems several grades above average. Though they are a "custom" item, the fit and finish are typical of the 85-97 period guitars. For example the ivoroid binding has been "pieced" right below the heelcap as though someone measured wrong but used the short piece anyway. In comparison, my 2008 Santa Cruz Tony Rice is flawless in workmanship. But the Martin has it all over the TR in sound. Granted, they are two different types of instruments, but they are intended to play the same types of music and the warmth of the Martin is beautiful, the TR has a little more balance across the strings, but if I was going to let one go, it would be the TR.

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