Suggestions for OM-style guitars

JMS96

My birthday is coming up and having just sold a few things, I'm looking at options for an acoustic. Having just been dropped from my band, I'm playing more acoustic, which feels great and it's a bit like home for me. It needs to be a medium bodied rosewood guitar. I'm looking at 000-28 and OM-28 type guitars. It's a real dilemma because I like the shorter scale length for feel, but prefer the punchiness of the OM. I play a lot of finger style with flesh, not nail.

So what's out there? I'd like the idea of a Yamaha but not very familiar with the range. I like old school aesthetics, and looking second hand with a budget of around £2.5k max.

digitalkettle

Do you mind someone else’s initials across the 12th fret?

mo6020

I have an Atkin OM37 and it is magic. 

joeW

digitalkettle said:

Do you mind someone else’s initials across the 12th fret?

Or could get really lucky with the initials… 

TheBigDipper

In your budget, second hand...  

The Brook Taw I own is OM-ish for size, beat off every Martin OM I have tried and has a 630mm (24.8in) scale length. Brook also makes an OM replica (the Lamorna). My Taw is Bubinga with a spruce top. I preferred it to the Rosewood/Spruce model I also tried. 

This one looks like it's still for sale (no connection, I'd buy it myself if I wanted a second one). 

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/282786/fs-brook-taw-acoustic-guitar-om-size-european-spruce-waterfall-bubinga/p1

Atkin makes an OM guitar and the one I tried was lovely and also beat off every Martin OM I have tried, just like the Taw did. 

I have also played a Huss & Dalton OM that was very, very nice indeed, but new ones were outside my budget. 

All three were guitars that rewarded finger-style playing with a light touch - the guitars just sing out. The harder you played them, the worse they would sound. 

drofluf

How about a Furch?

something like this https://projectmusic.net/furch-vintage-1-om-sra-latest-version-43789-p.asp

Jimbro66

As an owner of an Atkin OM-28H Retrospective I'd certainly recommend looking out for a used Atkin, which should be comfortably within your budget.

Engraved initial jokes aside, @musicman100's Collings OM-2H could be an excellent buy, even if he upped the price. (See his thread).

earwighoney

JMS96 said:

My birthday is coming up and having just sold a few things, I'm looking at options for an acoustic. Having just been dropped from my band, I'm playing more acoustic, which feels great and it's a bit like home for me. It needs to be a medium bodied rosewood guitar. I'm looking at 000-28 and OM-28 type guitars. It's a real dilemma because I like the shorter scale length for feel, but prefer the punchiness of the OM. I play a lot of finger style with flesh, not nail.

So what's out there? I'd like the idea of a Yamaha but not very familiar with the range. I like old school aesthetics, and looking second hand with a budget of around £2.5k max.

FWIW, I would make a trip to London and try out a few shops, be it Maks or GuitarGuitar (or a few others if you have a car and time) and try out some of these guitars mentioned. 

I remember making a trip to some guitar shops with a friend of mine who is an incredible guitar player and we tried a number of different OM's in and around this price bracket there were a few brands that suited his playing style, a few others that suited mine, a few that sounded terrible in my hands, and one that suited both of our playing styles. 

IMO, I'd be reluctant to get a Martin second hand though, unless you really know what models/eras to go for. They've had some issues with the binding coming off and it can be quite an expensive repair.  But if you are after a OM and can wait, keep an eye out for the Martin OM-21 Special, they occasionally come up for sale and they are one of the better models they have made over the last 20 odd years. 

dunstanmus

Atkin 000 or OM strung with 11’s. 

JMS96

Ok thanks all. A lot of love for Atkin and there’s one I’ve spotted - a 000, rather than an OM. Could be an option. 

Revolutions

What’s the difference between the Atkin LG & OM guitars?

earwighoney

Revolutions said:

What’s the difference between the Atkin LG & OM guitars?

Two different body shapes.  In short the LG is originally Gibson design, a lower bout of 14.5" or so. The OM is about 15.25" at the lower bout and is originally a Martin design. 

Check out some YT videos if you can hear differences between the two types if you can. 

DavidR

Martin OM28 Standard
Yamaha FS or LS
Larrivee OM-03
Larrivee OMV44R Legacy
Bourgeois:Eastman Vintage Touchstone OM
Faith FG20 HCE Earth OM
Furch Vintage Pure SM (OM)
Fenech VT Sitka/Camphor Laurel OM
JWJ Standard Orchestra (OM)

Revolutions

earwighoney said:

Revolutions said:

What’s the difference between the Atkin LG & OM guitars?

Two different body shapes.  In short the LG is originally Gibson design, a lower bout of 14.5" or so. The OM is about 15.25" at the lower bout and is originally a Martin design. 

Check out some YT videos if you can hear differences between the two types if you can. 

Yeah, I know the two models but they’re pretty similar. Was surprised that Atkin do both. Good idea, will check out a video. Mak’s selection is always so tempting.

*edit* ok in about 20 seconds I now want to buy one of each. The darker sound of the LG is particularly lovely though… 

guitarjack66

So an OM is a longer scale length than a 000? Or is it vice versa? This is handy to know as I sold on one of these body sizes as it felt 'too big' for comfort.

digitalkettle

guitarjack66 said:

So an OM is a longer scale length than a 000? Or is it vice versa? This is handy to know as I sold on one of these body sizes as it felt 'too big' for comfort.

It's a body shape/size thing...not scale length. Edit: it depends

I just compared the Collings dimensions for OM and 000 and there's very little in it. OM looks 'right' to me...and I couldn't see one being too big for anyone.

drofluf

guitarjack66 said:

So an OM is a longer scale length than a 000? Or is it vice versa? This is handy to know as I sold on one of these body sizes as it felt 'too big' for comfort.

“Traditionally” an OM and a 000 have the same body size and differ in that the neck of the OM joins the body at the 14th fret compared to the 12th for a 000. 

Different builders will use different scale lengths and body sizes. 

earwighoney

digitalkettle said:

guitarjack66 said:

So an OM is a longer scale length than a 000? Or is it vice versa? This is handy to know as I sold on one of these body sizes as it felt 'too big' for comfort.

It's a body shape/size thing...not scale length.

I just compared the Collings dimensions for OM and 000 and there's very little in it. OM looks 'right' to me...and I couldn't see one being too big for anyone.

When it comes to Martin, the only difference between an OM-18 and 000-18 (14 fret) is the OM has a 24.5" scale, and the 000 will be 24.9". The 12 fret 000-18 usually has the same lower bout width as the other two but a narrower upper bout, and is usually long scale ie 25.4". 

There are exceptions though, eg the modern made 000-15's are usually long scale. 

IMO, it's often a naming issue more than anything else.  

thermionic

drofluf said:

guitarjack66 said:

So an OM is a longer scale length than a 000? Or is it vice versa? This is handy to know as I sold on one of these body sizes as it felt 'too big' for comfort.

“Traditionally” an OM and a 000 have the same body size and differ in that the neck of the OM joins the body at the 14th fret compared to the 12th for a 000. 

Different builders will use different scale lengths and body sizes. 

Many 000s have a 14th fret joint, the 12fth fretters generally have a slotted headstock and an elongated upper bout.

000 and OM are Martin designations, but they don’t stick to their own rules. I have a Martin 000-15M which has a 25.4” scale length, which makes it technically an OM (same size body). The 000-17M on the other hand, has the “correct” 24.9” scale lengrh.

jackio

It's out of your price range I know, but bear with me. I have a colllings om2h. i bought it new years ago. As a result of having such a great guitar, I played so so much more.

They are found 2nd hand. I cannot recommend one enough (though I accept there are other equally great suggestions above) but the principle is true. That said, you may be a way better guitarist then me and then this is just patronising drivel.

Greatape

Take a peek at the thermo cured top Eastmans.