The Best OM/000 That You Have Played Is...?

Wazmeister · May 2016

I'll be heading down yonder to Coda on Monday to try out some nice acoustics (oh, and a couple of amps maybes)...

What should I try ?

What's the best OM/000 that you have played ?

Cash on hip and GAS in abundance, after a year of selling ...

earwighoney · May 2016

How much are you looking to spend?

What kind of OM/000 are you after?

Wazmeister · May 2016

@earwighoney - budget wise, I dunno... To be honest, I've sold a LOT of gear this year, and with a BIG birthday coming up, Ill probably spend what it takes...

As for model, I really don't know... played a couple of Collings lately (loved em), Martins and Lowdens...

Any thoughts ?

BigLicks67 · May 2016

I really like my OM18V, but if your budget is in Collings territory then try the Martin OM28V if you can find one.

Wazmeister · May 2016

@biglicks67 - hard to find it seems, but the OM28V is highly regarded

BigLicks67 · May 2016

I think they stopped making the vintage series guitars and replaced them with something like the Golden Era models. The vintage series are great guitars, though you have to be able to get on with the V shaped neck.

earwighoney · May 2016

So is the Collings price range the one which you are looking into?

Collings are great and I'd recommend a trip to Ivor Mairants in Central London to try what they have in stock and pick the one that speaks to the most. Ivor's have some other brands which I believe are worth checking out, including Bourgeois and Brook. The latter are UK based and IMO their prices are almost half of Collings etc but the build quality is up there with the best of them. They do custom orders without too much of a waiting list if you are looking for specific things be it neck profile, string spacing, woods.

Martin's line is a bit short on OM's aside from the Authentic Series (£5k and on), with the OM-21/28 (Indian Rosewood backs) and the SWOMT (Cherry back). They have a new series of 000-17's which look interesting.

Lowden don't really do an OM sized guitar, the F shape is closer to 16" at the lower bout and more of a Small Jumbo. I really like their F shaped models though, more specific in tonal voice than the Martins or Collings.

Wazmeister · May 2016

Interesting @earwighoney and thanks for th info mate.

The irony is that having tried some at Guitar Guitar recently, and having a big budget, the model that grabbed me was the new Martin 00017 Black Smoke...

Bloody loved it, even though tonally it was inferior...

earwighoney · May 2016

I'd say the best guitar to buy is the one which someone enjoys playing the most and would suggest if the 000-17 was the one you liked the most, it'd be the one I'd go for. IMO acoustic guitars are more prone to issues of comfort than electrics which I believe are more important than tonality.

If you can make a trip to Wunjo, they had a 1950's 000-18 which was amazing.

Wazmeister · May 2016

Wow, that 1950s one at Wunjo looks cool !

ArchtopDave · May 2016

I'm afraid you can't have my favourite OM. It's the one I made, so it's a one off (I did a Build Thread in the Making and Modding Section a couple of months ago). You could of course do likewise and make your own.

richardhomer · May 2016

Two - a sunburst Martin 00028V which belongs to a neighbour and a Santa Cruz. Both wiped the floor with any Collins I've ever played.

ICBM · May 2016

The best 'obtainable model' would be the Martin OM21 I owned.

I loved the way it sounded, but sadly I couldn't get on with the wider string spacing so I sold it to a friend who's a classical guitarist really - ideal.

The next best - possibly the best, but the strings were a bit old so it was hard to tell for sure - would be a 40s Martin OOO-28 which once belonged to Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline's guitarist (and who died in the same plane crash) - I think someone else on here has played it too.

Wazmeister · May 2016

@ICBM - wow mate, that's some providence on that 000-28 !

I wonder how good those new 00018 Authentic are ?

mgaw · May 2016

personally Warren i wouldnt just stick to those stores...go to the specialists North American Guitar co...or the Acoustic Music Co in London and Brighton respectively.....some amazing things being built nowadays....I wouldnt shell otu £5k plus on a Martin/Collings etc until i ahd tried out some of the smaller shops/single Luthier guitars....best Martin I played was an Eric Clapton with Brazilian Rosewood B and S ......what a tone....it was £5k at vintage and rare in Bath....should have bought it, had the cash as well, but hey ho....good luck with the hunt

mgaw · May 2016

oh i had a Martin OM 28v.....bought it blind of Ebay and it was a stunner......bought sold it to buy a Collings 0002H and then got a Collings DS2h.......i wouldnt buy a Collings again....even though they were perfectly built i have played better sounding and feeling guitars since, they are a bit stiff and stay that way IMO

richardhomer · May 2016

mgaw;1063993" said:
oh i had a Martin OM 28v.....bought it blind of Ebay and it was a stunner......bought sold it to buy a Collings 0002H and then got a Collings DS2h.......i wouldnt buy a Collings again....even though they were perfectly built i have played better sounding and feeling guitars since, they are a bit stiff and stay that way IMO

Exactly my feelings about Collings.

Genuinely don't get what all the fuss is about with them.

I've played loads of them over the years but never played one I would have actually wanted to own. A bit like a Lexus - everything's perfect - but in James May-speak - none have ever given me 'the fizz'.

earwighoney · May 2016

ICBM said:

The best 'obtainable model' would be the Martin OM21 I owned.

I loved the way it sounded, but sadly I couldn't get on with the wider string spacing so I sold it to a friend who's a classical guitarist really - ideal.

The next best - possibly the best, but the strings were a bit old so it was hard to tell for sure - would be a 40s Martin OOO-28 which once belonged to Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline's guitarist (and who died in the same plane crash) - I think someone else on here has played it too.

Which OM-21 did you have? I've heard the OM-21 Specials are supposed to be some of the better OM's Martin has made for a while.

The string spacing is a very important issue (as is scale, neck profile and so on). One man's comfortable guitar is someone else's nightmare instrument; I myself love acoustic guitars with huge necks and wide string spacing, while ICBM wasn't a fan.

KKJale · May 2016

I did the Collings thing for a while with an OM-1A, Adi top, sunburst, short scale. It was a killer guitar but ultimately I admired it more than I loved it.

The best modern OM I ever played was by Julius Borges. Just wow...

I think if I did go that size again, I'd try to get an old Martin. There are some steals out there. Someone I know just sold a delicious '53 000-18 for £3k. There's something there that I've never felt even with Santa Cruz and the like.

Mind you, Martin today still have the knack of making... well, Martins, if that doesn't sound stupid. I've always felt Collings deliver guitars that are reliably between 80 and 95 percent amazing, while Martin go from 60 percent to that all-important 96, 97, 98... if you can find The One.

ICBM · May 2016

earwighoney said:
Which OM-21 did you have? I've heard the OM-21 Specials are supposed to be some of the better OM's Martin has made for a while.

Whatever the standard model was when it first came out about 15 years ago or so. I didn't know they did other ones!

Wazmeister · May 2016

mgaw said:

oh i had a Martin OM 28v.....bought it blind of Ebay and it was a stunner......bought sold it to buy a Collings 0002H and then got a Collings DS2h.......i wouldnt buy a Collings again....even though they were perfectly built i have played better sounding and feeling guitars since, they are a bit stiff and stay that way IMO

Strange thing is, Ive never been a Martin fan - but had previously mainly played stock jumbos, and not much 'high end' stuff. Anyway, i played a couple of Collings recently and my first impressions were 'tight' and 'stiff'...

I stand to be corrected on this though...

This below sounds awesome;

Jez6345789 · May 2016

If you have a fair budget then for me the Acoustic music in Brighton was revelation having only really played electrics and thought Martin Acoustics were the bees knees. Still undecided but it opened my mind as to what was possible

mgaw · May 2016

looks and sounds great Warren and a good beard thrown in for good measure

crunchman · May 2016

BigLicks67 said:

I think they stopped making the vintage series guitars and replaced them with something like the Golden Era models. The vintage series are great guitars, though you have to be able to get on with the V shaped neck.

Some of those models are now available in the Marquis series. I know the HD28V is.

mgaw · May 2016

Bluesman1989 · May 2016

Lowden are in the process of making an FM model that's going to be their take on an OM. F body size, but the width is between the standard F and the Stage model. Might be worth waiting. OR I hear the next prototype is heading to Matchettsmusic...

Edit - Nick Benjamin has (or had as of last week) a couple of build slots left before he closes his list again. You'd be looking at around a year and a half wait, but would then own a Benjamin

Rocker · May 2016

Simple, buy the best guitar, the guitar that sounds best to you. Everyone has their favourites, their dream guitar. To hell with the cost, you get a lifetimes enjoyment and fun from this purchase. That makes it almost a no brainier. Enjoy your new guitar. And wishing you many years of great playing and music making....

crunchman · May 2016

Might be worth trying a one with a 12 fret body join. I played a 12 fret Santa Cruz OM years ago that was probably the best sounding acoustic I've ever played. It had a really wide neck which I didn't like but on sound I don't think I've ever heard anything better.

Gassage · May 2016

Waz

I have an 00028EC

It is sensational and a lovely size. DO check one out- the rosewood they use for the back is incredible.

Wazmeister · May 2016

@gassage - yep, I've played one before and loved it.

Wazmeister · May 2016

Coda Music tomorrow !

Well, on my 'like the looks and sound from YouTube' list, are the following;

- Martin Authentic OM18 - Martin EC 00028 - Martin 00017 Black Smoke - Collings OMs - Lowdens I played a Black Smoke recently, and bloody loved the 'feel' of it. The Lowden Pierre thingy was very impresive but maybe felt a big too big bodied.

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The Best OM/000 That You Have Played Is...?

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