Thompson 00-14SMA

A no-frills 00 that meets high expectations.

November 13, 2024

Oregon-based Thompson Guitars has built its reputation around high-quality flattops inspired by classic vintage designs. Continuing a tradition started by the company’s late founder Preston Thompson, “inspired by” doesn’t necessarily mean only building exact copies, and many Thompsons combine features from different designs or introduce new ideas. However, Thompson does build instruments that are a near match to vintage models, and we recently had a chance to check out a guitar that closely resembles a vintage Martin 00-18. In this video, I demo this 00-14SMA in the Peghead Nation studio.

The 00-14SMA we received is based on the 14-fret version of the venerable Martin 00, which was originally introduced around 1934. A favorite with folk guitarists, the model’s balanced and rich tone has made it a popular choice in studio settings, and its short scale and compact dimensions make it “a player’s instrument.” Martin built many 00-18’s over the decades, and vintage instruments are widely available, but because the guitars were relatively inexpensive when new, many weren’t cared for as well as their fancier cousins, and as a result, it’s not unusual for old 00-18’s to be well-worn and/or in need of repairs. This makes the model an excellent candidate for a new interpretation, especially when approached as a high-end guitar, using top-shelf materials and the attention to detail that a small shop can deliver.

The 00-14SMA we checked out has sinker mahogany back and sides and an Adirondack spruce top. “Sinker” means that the mahogany logs from which the back and side sets were produced were reclaimed after having spent years, sometimes decades, submerged in rivers where they had been stuck after being logged. This means that the wood was already old when it was cut into sets. Being submerged also affects the structure of the wood in a way that, according to many builders, produces superior tonal qualities. The mahogany on this 00-14SMA is relatively plain in appearance, adding to the instrument’s utilitarian vibe. The guitar has standard style-18 appointments, including tortoise-style body binding, black-and-while purfling, a simple black-and-white rosette, and what Thompson calls “Old Style 18” abalone dot position markers in the ebony fingerboard. Naturally, the guitar’s craftsmanship, fit and finish, and overall execution meet the incredibly high standard that Thompson has established for itself.

While the guitar closely follows vintage specs in almost every area, there is one important distinction. While many older 00-18s have relatively narrow necks (about 1¹¹/₁₆ inches at the nut), for the 00-14SMA, Thompson chose a neck that measures 1¾ inches, combining it with string-spacing of 2⁵/₁₆ inches at the saddle. This makes the guitar much more fingerstyle-friendly than many vintage 00s, inviting a comparison to the feel of many OMs. For the neck profile, Thompson went with what it calls “Slight Soft C,” a shape somewhere between that of a “C” and “V,” as it still has a slight point at the center.

Because the 14-fret 00 is well-established, it’s impossible to play one without some expectations. Fortunately, the 00-14SMA delivers in a major way. It has the sweet, balanced tone the design is known for, and delivers it with focus and lovely overtones. The guitar’s dynamic range makes it suitable for a variety of playing styles, and while it is a fabulous fingerstyle instrument, it would be equally at home in accompanying or single-note roles.

Overall, the Thompson 00-14SMA is a wonderful interpretation of a classic design. It delivers in every aspect, meeting expectations on craftsmanship, appearance, and sound. And for players who like slightly wider string-spacing, the guitar is an improvement on most vintage examples.