NGD ~ 2022 Martin OM-28 Acoustic

bertie · January 2023

Mellish said:

But the OM-28 has shown me that an acoustic doesn't have to be big to be loud!

now, I dont want to sa......................................................

Mellish · January 2023

^^^ Oh I can see that.....

bertie · January 2023

Tannin · January 2023

Strewth! I slip out for ten minutes to see a man about a dog and when I get back @Melish has thrown away his Gibson and gone over to the other side!

What happened? An offer you couldn't refuse? Holy Vision on the Road to Damascus? Horse's head on the bed?

(OK, I'll read the thread and find out for myself. I'm sure all is explained. But I'm a bit shocked.)

PS: it will be a lovely guitar. I've never owned one but I played one extensively back in 2020 when I was buying my Messiah and liked it a lot. Agonised for ages over which one to buy, could have taken either home and been very happy either way. Probably, all things considered, my favourite Martin. Or maybe 2nd favourite after the HD-28. That little bit of extra scale length over the 000s provides tautness and tames the trademark Martin muddy bottom end to give the whole instrument balance. You will be very happy with it. Shame I'm not close enough to try out your Dove - I reckon I'd like it.

Mellish · January 2023

@Tannin ; a dread is getting a bit too bulky for me these days (shoulder ache from stretching) so I thought I'd go for a narrower waist to try to get around the problem, and it's worked.

bertie · January 2023

another one Ive converted to the dark side

DavidR · January 2023

fwiw, and I think I've said this already on FB, my 2018 OM28 Reimagined sounds very nice with Monels on. Depends on your taste @Mellish. Monels less bright more complex than any string with bronze in to my ears. Which aren't your ears!

Might be worth a try though.

Out of my little acoustic family of five, the OM28 comes second only to my Vintage V300MH which I just love. (So does my friend who I leant it to whilst he was temporarily guitarless and hasn't yet given it back).

Your/my OM28 pretty near the top end of perfect imho. And, as I have also said before, endlessly probably, good decision not to buy more expensive Martin OM's from their current stable. Will they one day make a better OM?, ever? Possibly and, again, depends on your individual taste in tone. But it won't be much better.

Have fun.

Mellish · January 2023

@DavidR ; thanks mate, I'll give monels a try.

If anyone had told me three weeks ago that an OM-28 could have more punch than a Dove dread, I'd have thought they didn't know what they were talking about.

It's strange, been gigging for over fifty years but, sometimes, I'm just a newbie.

thomasross20 · January 2023

It'll be the bracing (as I'm certain you know!).
L/jumbo/dread bass can sound soooo sweet and fat but OM is just so comfortable.
They scalloped the bracing on my OM40 (mimicking Martin) and I can definitely hear the increased bass.
You would have got extra points if you got the mahogany-backed one

Glad you are loving it!
No recording?

Mellish · January 2023

I'm loving it.

Tbh, there's a fair bit of tone locked in for playing to bring out. It's suiting my voice better, though, and I'd describe its tone right now as that early Bob Dylan guitar sound.

thomasross20 · January 2023

8) it's good you're out gigging it!
I've never gigged an acoustic. Solo and singing?

Mellish · January 2023

Yeah, solo mostly but sometimes accompany Mrs M's brother who wants to always do Tom Petty stuff *rolls eyes*

bluecat · January 2023

Do you add Gold Watch Blues and The Fairy storey of the Tangerine Puppet to your playlist?I reckon they would sound really nice on the new Martin.
Enjoy my friend.

thomasross20 · January 2023

Tom Petty rocks. That's cool.. do you have electrics, too?

Mellish · January 2023

No, I sometimes borrow a Strat if another guitarist will let me.

And for the record, nothing wrong with Tom Petty or his music. I was just mucking about.

slacker · January 2023

Mellish said:

Yeah, solo mostly but sometimes accompany Mrs M's brother who wants to always do Tom Petty stuff *rolls eyes*

He won't back down?

Mellish · January 2023

slacker said:

Mellish said:

Yeah, solo mostly but sometimes accompany Mrs M's brother who wants to always do Tom Petty stuff *rolls eyes*

He won't back down?

Interesting fella - Tom Petty, I mean, not my brother-in-law

bertie · January 2023

transpose some Tom onto acoustic. great option

Free Fallin' would go over a treat me and Mrs Bert have a go at it sometimes................. actually perhaps I should re-phrase that

Tannin · January 2023

Mellish said:

@Tannin ; a dread is getting a bit too bulky for me these days (shoulder ache from stretching) so I thought I'd go for a narrower waist to try to get around the problem, and it's worked.

I've said in the past that I don't really get this "not comfortable on a dred" thing. And - yep - that was in the past. Age catches up with all of us, and this last six months or so I have gradually started to notice that I'm sometimes not so comfortable sometimes playing my one and only dreadnought. That one always used to be my go-to practice guitar (and one to play for pleasure also) but these days I usually avoid picking it up first thing in the morning to be kind to my shoulder. And I tend to avoid at any time of day it if I'm expecting a solid session.

It's still a lovely guitar and these days I'm playing it later in the day when my bones have warmed up, and more for pleasure than for practice.

Honestly, I think the differences between dreads and concert/auditorium/000/OM bodies are way, way overstated. There are three significant differences between my dred and the smaller bodied instruments around the house (1) the cedar top makes more difference than anything else does, it's a different sound ands a different feel (2) the Queensland Maple back is not nearly the same thing as the various other backs in the household (rosewood, Blackwood, mahogany, Rock Maple and a couple of exotics) - it has a gentle, subtle sound and feel none of the others have. (3) The dreadnought body shape makes a difference too, but it is least important difference of the three.

TLDR: Play any shape you like. It really won't matter (except possibly to your elbow).

Tannin · January 2023

I agree with Mrs M's brother. Tom was da man.

Smellyfingers · January 2023

It sounds like it covers all the things people would want in an acoustic guitar,, comfortable shape top notch parts like schaller tuners and yes.., the 'and it's a Martin' cliche.

My question to @Mellish is assuming you tried them, how does the sound compare to Martin's mahagony models?

I have found RW a bit too bright sounding for my liking, but maybe that that's a bonus in a smaller guitar.

...If you ever need an emergency £2k injection please pm me. Lol

Mellish · January 2023

@Smellyfingers ;; there you've got me mate - didn't compare it to hog Martins.

But this OM-28 isn't bright, least not to my ears. Had it been, I would have put it back cos I went to the store looking for something that had plenty of bass and found it in this.

Re your offer: hmm

Mellish · January 2023

@Tannin ; to me this OM is much more comfortable AND no real loss of volume over a dread. Means I can play more often, for longer, which will make the OM less of a stranger, cos that's how I felt about the Dove. Great guitar, just didn't suit me for 2-hour gigs.

bluecat · January 2023

How about Gold Watch Blues and Tangerine Puppet my friend???
To add to your playlist,they would fit in well with what you already do.

Mellish · January 2023

@bluecat ; two new songs on me, me old mate.

I'll check 'em out. Cheers. Mostly I'm 60s protest songs with folk and a bit of pop thrown In. My favourite is Eve Of Destruction, a Barry McGuire hit back in the day.

Mellish · January 2023

Decided this guitar sounds fuller with the factory, plastic bridge pins.

Other things I like is that this guitar is amazingly light, easy to play and the tuners turn smoothly.

Hiscox do an OM/000 case (Pro ll, I believe) so that's a buy at some point. And I've an offer of a set of Martin Liquid Metal bridge pins @£40

bertie · January 2023

Mellish said:

Decided this guitar sounds fuller with the factory, plastic bridge pins.

Other things I like is that this guitar is amazingly light, easy to play and the tuners turn smoothly.

Hiscox do an OM/000 case (Pro ll, I believe) so that's a buy at some point. And I've an offer of a set of Martin Liquid Metal bridge pins @£40

get a proper old stylee luggage case

Mellish · January 2023

bertie said:

Mellish said:

Decided this guitar sounds fuller with the factory, plastic bridge pins.

Other things I like is that this guitar is amazingly light, easy to play and the tuners turn smoothly.

Hiscox do an OM/000 case (Pro ll, I believe) so that's a buy at some point. And I've an offer of a set of Martin Liquid Metal bridge pins @£40

get a proper old stylee luggage
case

Too late - Hiscox ordered

SteveF · January 2023

Keen to hear your thoughts on the Liquid Metal pins if you go that route.

Mellish · January 2023

@SteveF ; I probably WILL get them, and I'll include my findings in this thread.

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NGD ~ 2022 Martin OM-28 Acoustic

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