When did the modern OM shape originate?

[iim7V7IM7]

Bashkin


Fay


Kraut


Matsuda

[rogthefrog]

Originally Posted by BBWW

Better move fast I hear a golf course in Arizona is waiting for him…..

That's partly why I emailed him yesterday.

[Lacks Focus]

I know the Martin's not an OM, and the White isn't a custom build, but I thought this might be another worthwhile illustration of the similarities and differences discussed in this thread.

My '77 M-38 and '14 Andrew White EOS 1011:

[Howard Klepper]

I hope "OM" has not become synonymous with "14-fret body with 15" lower bout." But I may be too late.

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

I hope "OM" has not become synonymous with "14-fret body with 15" lower bout." But I may be too late.

The landslide that begins with a few grains of sand may have already started. But, like Xerox or Band-aids now being unanimous with their respective tasks, I guess it may be an eventuality. Come to think of it, that's what happened with the term dreadnought.

Edit for OP. I'm sorry for derailing, it was not my intention. Please accept my apologies.

[rogthefrog]

The OM misnomer has been addressed and corrected. Can we please stay on topic?

[Jim.S]

That upper bout shape has always reminded me of Steve Kleins guitars and I wonder if he was the influence.

Jim

[LouieAtienza]

I remember reading in Ervin`s book that he designed his guitars with rounded upper bouts because he didn`t like the look of some guitars with flat upper bouts that sunk in creating more of a carcdioid shape. The flatter upper bout makes it easier to fit the neck where a round upper bout requires the shoulders on the neck tenon to be sloped to fit the body contour. Maybe it's a carryover from the Spanish guitar? Somogyi started building Spanish guitars before steel strings, so perhaps :he carried over the aesthetic...

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by LouieAtienza

I remember reading in Ervin`s book that he designed his guitars with rounded upper bouts because he didn`t like the look of some guitars with flat upper bouts that sunk in creating more of a carcdioid shape. The flatter upper bout makes it easier to fit the neck where a round upper bout requires the shoulders on the neck tenon to be sloped to fit the body contour. Maybe it's a carryover from the Spanish guitar? Somogyi started building Spanish guitars before steel strings, so perhaps :he carried over the aesthetic...

The Martin 000/OM body is not flat at the top. What I see that distinguishes the bodies to which the OP refers from the Martin shape is a more angular shape at the wide part of the bouts.

[LouieAtienza]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

The Martin 000/OM body is not flat at the top. What I see that distinguishes the bodies to which the OP refers from the Martin shape is a more angular shape at the wide part of the bouts.

Yes, I do see that. I guess I should have said "flattish" as that's the overall look I see with Martin's upper bout at the heel area. Though I do see a "rounder" upper bout on [Martin's] 000 as opposed to the OM? On the examples above, it appears the Martin OM body was used as a starting point, then the shoulders sloped and curves blended in... Looks like a rounder lower bout as well... Either way I think all of them have pleasing lines and proportions.

[rogthefrog]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

The Martin 000/OM body is not flat at the top. What I see that distinguishes the bodies to which the OP refers from the Martin shape is a more angular shape at the wide part of the bouts.

That's exactly right.

From this thread, it sounds like Somogyi is a good place to start looking for older examples. I'll ask him about it when I go visit his shop.

Thanks everyone for the replies.