Martin OM-28 Golden Era

[jmv]

Has anyone played one of these?? The seem like they'd be REALLY nice, with the brazilian rosewood and Adriondack spruce, and i've heard a few great things about them...

What can you guys tell me about the volume of an orchestra model guitar, versus the regular martin dreadnaught??

also, does anyone know the retail price?? It doesn't seem to be on martins website...

thanks!!

 

[sgstrat]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

I've never (yet) played an OM-28GE so I can't comment on it.

As a generalization, a dreadnought sized guitar will be somewhat louder with a stronger bass response while OM size guitars are known for having a "well balanced" sound. Dreadnoughts are typically favored by strummers and flat pickers while many fingerpickers prefer OM's because of their smaller size and a slighter wider string spacing at the nut and bridge, in addition to the difference in sound.

Please bear in mind that the above is an EXTREMELY gross generalization and can vary depending upon manufacturer, woods used, bracing and players' tastes. For more information you might want to check out the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum at http://p084.ezboard.com/btheunofficialmartinguitarforum

 

[jmv]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

Nice link, thanks!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

I have an OM-28 but mine has Indian rosewood back and sides.

I love it. Don't know what else to say. How many differant ways are there to say: plays great...sounds great!?!?

I had a chance to play 2 or 3 of them at the Old Time Pickin' Parlour in Old Town Arvada, Colorado. I liked them all but was undecided. The store's owner, Kit, mentioned that there was one more to try: the one he'd taken home for himself.

He was kind enough to bring it in and naturally, it was about 1 or 2% better than the other two.

So I bought it.

I love the smaller size of the OM guitars and if you get a good one they have just as much depth as the bigger bodied guitars and have deep solid balanced bass that's not boomy.

I love the way a good OM rings.

Clapton's Martin is basically a Martin OM.

The only OM I've played that I thought was a little better than mine was a Collings.

I think the Collings guitars are slightly nicer than the Martin...but it was $1000 more!

 

[jmv]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

Yeah, my teacher mentioned something about collings.

If i get a martin, i'd order it, which under any other circumstances i would not do, BUT, my great uncle is one of the head engineers or something, so he will play all the guitars of whatever model i could decide on (and afford, more importantly), and pick the best one for me. I'm really lucky in that... and he'd also be able to get me a discount, a certain percentage of the retail price, which is why i'm interested in that, and not the street price...

But thanks a bunch for the input lew, i really respect your opinion when it comes to tone!!

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

i am with lew about the smaller bodied martins, i just bought one a little over a week ago and i have to say in a room full of really expensive guitars the martin i bought had the most balanced tone of them all and it was just slightly quieter than the dreadnaughts i played that night. my guitar is a 000 body shape, but i do not know the differences from that and an OM model. Mine also has indian rosewood back and sides and since i love the tone i will suggest one with the rosewood. If you can get brazilian rosewood go for it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

Thanks guys! Volume wise, a good D-28 should have more bass and a bigger sound. For finger picking and songwritng, I'd rather play my OM-28. It even sounds great for slide. The 28 designation, BTW, refers to the decorations or appointments. A OM-28 has the same appointments (binding, etc.) as the D-28. The D means dreadnaught...the OM means Orchestra Model. Lew

 

[jmv]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

hmm... i wish they made an HOM-28, that'd rock... i really like the HD-28s, they're gorgeous guitars.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

They do. That's what my guitar is. The model is called a OM-28VR. It has scallopped braces and herringbone binding like a pre-WW2 D-28.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

hmm... i wish they made an HOM-28, that'd rock... i really like the HD-28s, they're gorgeous guitars.

They do..... Its made by Santa Cruz. The Sant Cruz guitar Co. makes some beautiful Martin style guitars. IMO the 3 best made guitar Companies now are Collings, Santa Cruz, and Goodall. Santa Cruz guitars uses a traditional dovetail neck joint Collings uses a bolt on design, similar to Taylor. Some people will believe this to be inferior. I am not one of them. I have played many Collings guitars and I own 2 Santa Cruz guitars. Both Collings and Santa Cruz are very High end guitars, and will usually command a higher price than Martins. When you make an investment of this size I believe you should be open minded and play everything available. I was considering The EC28, which is a 000 size. The basic difference between the OM and OOO is scale length. I bought the Santa Cruz because I was able to play it side by side, and I felt it sounded better, and played better. I would also recommend you look at the Martin OMV18. It is Mahogony back and side with a spruce top. Not as fany as the OM 28, but it is a really nice guitar. Very balanced, and for slide it is amazing. Slightly brighter than the OM28. It also has a Rosewood FB and bridge. Great guitars!!! Any of the guiitars you wind up with of these as well as the others recommended in the other posts are all great guitars. You really can't go wrong! Its just a matter of playing a lot of guitars and finding the one that is right for you.

 

[jmv]

Re: Martin OM-28 Golden Era

Yeah, i would be open to buying any sort of guitar, but as i said, martin is really the thing for me, because i can get an INCREDIBLE guitar straight from the factory, and at a good discount...

So lew, about your guitar... it has the herringbone inlay, but its got indian rosewood and sitka spruce, correct?? It'd be cool if they made one with herringbone, brazilian, and Adirondack. Oh well...