If a Waterloo and an OM-18 Authentic had a baby

[thumblead]

I have a Waterloo WL-14X and an OM-18 Authentic right now. They're both great guitars, but when I stop making music and start nitpicking about tone, I often wish for something in the sweet spot between them. The Waterloo is very big and rough sounding, while the OM-18 is smoother and more refined. They both project like the dickens, and they're both very responsive with their different voices. What guitar might be in that sweet spot between them that still projects and responds while being smoother than the Waterloo and grittier than the Martin?

[KFP55]

I just picked up a Collings OM1-TA that might fit the bill. I played both a WL-14 and an OM-18A in my search and landed here. Has a vintage tone but more refined. Super lightweight yet responsive and with the added thump of Adirondack. I simply can’t put it down...

[jjrpilot]

Maybe a Gibson American Eagle LG2.

Not as rough as the Waterloo but not as silky smooth like the Martin.

I had the opportunity to play several Waterloo’s recently and also I sold my Martin OMJM recently as well. The Gibson AE LG2 sits between them tonally to my ears. Has that nice “thump” that harkens back to those older days but still has some bite and growl that is missing from some Martins.

PS: the AE LG2 is around the same size and is super similar in weight to those Waterloos and is all solid construction

[ataylor]

Martin CEO-7?
Huss & Dalton Crossroads?
Fairbanks Nick Lucas?
Santa Cruz 1929 000?

Just some ideas.

[v32 finish]

Gibson. J45, Songwriter, J35.

I can imagine any of these hitting that sweet spot.

[thumblead]

I appreciate all these replies. They make me aware I should play more guitars every chance I get! I had a CEO-7 before, and although it sounded great it lost in A/B's against both the Waterloo and the Martin for different reasons. It definitely seemed closer to the OM-18A in tone although the CEO-7 had a darker voice and was less responsive.

Before I posted, I had been thinking that an L-00 body with different voicing might be the way to go. The H&D and LG-2 suggestions seem to be along those lines even if the LG is a slightly different body shape. I'm curious how rough or refined a hog/adi H&D with that body shape would sound.

The J-45 is an interesting candidate, too. I always like playing mahogany short-scales. If it's not the body shape or voicing, the scale length might be a way to get to that tone I'm looking for.

[BluesKing777]

Martin 000-17!

(I have the OM18A and Waterloo WL-14x too).


BluesKing777.

[Mr. Jelly]

I'd go with a Waterloo WL-S or a Waterloo WL-S Deluxe. Seriously check it out. It doesn't have the toughness you speak of. Instead of toughness I'd call it brash.

[Humbuster]

Martin OM18 Custom Shop (Adi top, adi braces, proprietary bracing, hide glue)
This box, "does it all" and does it well. My last and only Martin.

[devellis]

I have both the Waterloo Wl-14 and the Martin OM-18A, so I get what you're saying. Three options come to mind:

1. The already-mentioned Waterloo WL-S Deluxe. It's a very sweet guitar, although if anything I find it even smoother than the Authentic. But still, it does somehow capture a bit of both the guitars you mentioned. It's a 12-fret, though. So if you play a lot up the neck, you may run out of fingerboard.

2. Huss & Dalton Crossroads. This, to me, well may be smack-dab in the middle. It's smoother than the WL-14 with less twang but still has a very bluesy vibe. It's got some depth to it, with a nice bass for such a small guitar. Also, very comfortable to play.

3. Martin 00-18V. Although discontinued, these can still be found if you look. This is a very nice small-bodied guitar with a lot of versatility. It has the characteristic Martin tone but in a smaller package and with less thump (obviously) than a dread. Another small guitar that has more sound to it than its size would indicate.

These are all pretty different from one another but all, to a degree, split the difference between the cut of the WL-14 and the comparative lushness of the OM-18A. Each is a great guitar in its own right. All are a nice comfortable size but produce more tone than you'd expect. For what you describe, the Huss & Dalton Crossroads may fit the bill best but the other two also are worth considering.

[MHC]

The Huss and Dalton Crossroads is a good response, but the Huss and Dalton T0014 is also a possibility. It’s a traditional 00 size that will lean slightly more toward the OM smoothness than the Crossroad.

[rpatkin]

Collings OM 1 JL (Julian Lage signature) ... if you have the coin.