Best OM you've played

[Plethora]

Price range aside what is the best OM you've played .

And thoughts on astrand & bashkin guitars ? More specifically their OMs. For me they're both priced around the same and have great aesthetics to them . And any ideas when will bashkin open back up ?

[Tone Monster]

Martin OM 28 V

[M Sarad]

I have played three Martin OM 45s from 1930. One was stellar, the second very good, and the third, Bob Weir's, just so so.

Recently I played 4 Martin OMs: a 1930 OM 28, and OM 18s from 1933 and 1937. My favorite was a plain top from '33.

I have owned both a Santa Cruz OM18 and a Franklin OM 28, both exceptionally fine sounding.

Now I rely on my Merrill OM 28 and Brondel A2.

[andrewbenw]

That's really tough.

I'd give a slight edge to the SCGC OM/PWs that I've played.

But the Collings and Bourgeois OMs that I've played have been more than excellent. I've yet to play a Martin OM that really knocked my socks off, but it's fairly rare in my area to see Martin OMs of the higher end variety.

[rmyAddison]

I'm fortunate to own the very best OM's I have ever played, the final keepers of a 50 year playing journey, the winners of many A/B's, I am jealous of nothing but actual six fugure pre-wars.

However, "best" is absolutely nothing more than anyone's personal preferences, these are mine....

Martin OM-18 Authentic '33
2005 Martin OM-45 Tasmanian Blackwood (#23 of 29)
Martin CS OM-28 Alpine/Madagacar hot hide glue (#1 of the run)

A Mahogany, a "tweener wood", and a Rosewood

[rokdog49]

Martin OM H

[Nort]

The best OM I've ever played hands down was a Kirk Sand OM that he had at
his shop "The Guitar Shoppe" in Laguna Beach.

It had Brazilian Rosewood B&S, I think if memory serves the top was Engelmann
Spruce, fingerboard was Ebony and the bridge was Brazilian Rosewood.

I don't have a picture of it, I think it may be the OM Tommy Emmanual is playing at CAAS on youtube here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hGE8KypHE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYerZFj9vQQ


The second best OM I've ever played is this OM built by Tim Laughlin who used to work with Kirk, Tim's best known these days for his Ukulele's

It has Brazilian Rosewood B&S, Egelmann Spruce, Ebony fingerboard & bridge

here are some pics.

These "best" questions are always difficult. If you've played one or two of something, then maybe you can pick a favorite. If you've played hundreds over a period of years, it's tougher. I like to phrase it as "stand outs" rather than "bests".

That said, among all the prewar OM's I've played (OM-18's, OM-28's, and 2 of the 11 OM-45 Deluxes) a long scale '34 000-28 and a '33 OM-18 stand out. I include the long scale 000's because those transitional guitars are functionally identical to the '33 OM's except for the model name stamped on the neck block. I really like the slightly beefier '34 neck shape, which may sway my opinion some.

In modern guitars, I can think of a Merrill that I really liked and my Proulx OM/D is a swell guitar. It has a slightly wider waist and OM depth. It fits in an OM case, so I think it counts.

[Kerbie]

That's a tough call... so much depends on personal preference because there are so many lovely OMs out there.

I would have to go with a Collings OM1, standard depth. I like Mahogany and it would probably have to have a German top, but I could be happy with Sitka and Adi too. Hard to go wrong with an OM1 because they can do everything. Quite a versatile guitar.

[SprintBob]

The one I own, my Collings OM1AH. Of course it's the only OM I've ever owned and played but man is it a keeper.

[devellis]

I think the one that impressed me most was a Collings OM1A special light build. An incredibly responsive guitar with exquisite tone. A close second is the Martin OM-18A. The difference between the two is more one of type than of merit. A given player might prefer one or the other. Both are great guitars. I give the edge to the Collings largely because I had a chance to compare it head-to-head with a bunch of other OMs and have yet to find one that I prefer (including the Authentic). In the case of the Authentic, I didn't have a chance to compare it against as many other alternatives. It well might have beaten them if I had.

[Nctom]

I have played a few, none as exotic as some listed here, and my favorite is the
(relatively) cheap 2013 Martin OM-21 that is my keeper. It is understated, plain even, but so full of the right tone and volume that I'm amazed every time I pick it up.

[blindboyjimi]

My Franklin OM seen here with Al Pettaway:

and here with Clive Carroll:

[yoni]

My dads 1963 Guild F-30.

[llew]

Originally Posted by Tone Monster

Martin OM 28 V

For me in terms of "owning" it was (I should have kept it) this right here^^^^^