Want To Buy: 12 Fret OM/OOO Martin Style Guitar

stevecuss · #1 01-09-2020, 10:35 AM

Friends,

Anyone have a Martin 12 Fret, either OM, 000 or 0000 sized they are interested in selling?

I have $1600 - $2400 to spend, so I'm not in a position to get anything exotic or custom, but any 18 style, 21 or 28 style Martin or Martin style guitar, PM me.

thanks!

Silly Moustache · #2 01-09-2020, 10:41 AM

You don't get a 12 fret "OM" - different designs.

Might I suggest that you refine your selection?

You might find that a 00 will suit you and there is some great instruments coming out of Eastman currently.

stevecuss · #3 01-09-2020, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

You don't get a 12 fret "OM" - different designs.

Might I suggest that you refine your selection?

You might find that a 00 will suit you and there is some great instruments coming out of Eastman currently.

Thanks Silly, that's good to know on the OM.

I have tried several 00s in the past and all but one were a bit too boxy for my ear. The one that was glorious was an Aged Tone Bourgeois - above my pay scale.

I've always respected Eastman - owned a semi hollow once. I'll snoop them out.

DM3MD136 · #4 01-09-2020, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevecuss

Thanks Silly, that's good to know on the OM.

I have tried several 00s in the past and all but one were a bit too boxy for my ear. The one that was glorious was an Aged Tone Bourgeois - above my pay scale.

I've always respected Eastman - owned a semi hollow once. I'll snoop them out.

There's an Aged Tone OM on another forum, asking $2950 so there might be some wiggle room to get it a bit closer to your range. For what it's worth, I own a basically identical guitar and it's worth every penny and then some...

https://umgf.com/for-sale-aged-tone-...e-t203238.html

stevecuss · #5 01-09-2020, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DM3MD136

There's an Aged Tone OM on another forum, asking $2950 so there might be some wiggle room to get it a bit closer to your range. For what it's worth, I own a basically identical guitar and it's worth every penny and then some...

https://umgf.com/for-sale-aged-tone-...e-t203238.html

Brilliant, thanks

Silly Moustache · #6 01-09-2020, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevecuss

Thanks Silly, that's good to know on the OM.

I have tried several 00s in the past and all but one were a bit too boxy for my ear. The one that was glorious was an Aged Tone Bourgeois - above my pay scale.

I've always respected Eastman - owned a semi hollow once. I'll snoop them out.

hi, the OM is by definition - a 14 fret skinny necked re-incarnation of the old 000.

I have a Collings 0002h which is beautiful and being unable to source a Collings 00 - I recently bought a new Eastman E 20-P - which is effectively a Martin Size "0"

They also make a fine 00 model and based on the power and fullness of my "0" i think you might be surprised at the current Eastman product.
You describe 00 as "boxey" and I wonder whether you are even subconsciously comparing small body tone to Dreadnoughts.

You could also try to source a Blueridge BR371 or similar (I've seen some really nice ones), but frankly I think the Eastmans are superior.

I'm just uploading my review of my new Eastman which you might fnd interesting.

Regards

ol' Andy

stevecuss · #7 01-09-2020, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

hi, the OM is by definition - a 14 fret skinny necked re-incarnation of the old 000.

I have a Collings 0002h which is beautiful and being unable to source a Collings 00 - I recently bought a new Eastman E 20-P - which is effectively a Martin Size "0"

They also make a fine 00 model and based on the power and fullness of my "0" i think you might be surprised at the current Eastman product.
You describe 00 as "boxey" and I wonder whether you are even subconsciously comparing small body tone to Dreadnoughts.

You could also try to source a Blueridge BR371 or similar (I've seen some really nice ones), but frankly I think the Eastmans are superior.

I'm just uploading my review of my new Eastman which you might fnd interesting.

Regards

ol' Andy

Silly, I owned a 0002 Collings for a short while. It was utter magic.

I haven't played or owned a Dred in years. I have gotten pretty dialed in to what I love and what I don't. My largest guitar is a Mcilroy A which is sort of a grand OM, I suppose, but deeper. I love OM/000 sized guitars and while there are always exceptions, I generally find guitars smaller than that size to be not to my taste. Always fun to be wrong about these things, of course.

Silly Moustache · #8 01-09-2020, 11:57 AM

Have a look/listen to this :

skyblue314 · #9 01-09-2020, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DM3MD136

There's an Aged Tone OM on another forum, asking $2950 so there might be some wiggle room to get it a bit closer to your range. For what it's worth, I own a basically identical guitar and it's worth every penny and then some...

https://umgf.com/for-sale-aged-tone-...e-t203238.html

...that isn't a 12 fret though...

gandhi85 · #10 01-09-2020, 12:02 PM

sent you a pm

stevecuss · #11 01-09-2020, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Have a look/listen to this :

That's delightful! I'll snoop them out

stevecuss · #12 01-09-2020, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyblue314

...that isn't a 12 fret though...

Yep, but you had me at Aged Tone and Bourgeois

But its beyond my budget - I think I'll actually have to stay under $2000 and would stretch for the one off, but wouldn't want to waste that guy's time with a low ball offer - its already well priced, IMO.

Cameleye · #13 01-09-2020, 12:10 PM

Thanks, SM, very thorough review.
Will have to find one of these and give it a go.

gr81dorn · #14 01-09-2020, 01:19 PM

For what it's worth, Larrivee has made am OM 12 fret... Unlike the traditional 000 12 fret which elongates the upper bouts, the Larrivees had the exact same OM shape as the 14 fret version, just the bridge dropped back, neck joint a the 12th. It kinda looked weird, but also sounded incredible and was super nice....one of many things I should have never sold lol.

They've made many iterations...this one was particularly gorgeous and cool.

blindboyjimi · #15 01-09-2020, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

You don't get a 12 fret "OM" - different designs.

Might I suggest that you refine your selection?

You might find that a 00 will suit you and there is some great instruments coming out of Eastman currently.

I politely disagree. I’m a Martin collector, enthusiast, player, etc. I instantly get what you mean even though the definition may be not strict. There is a great Martin 000-18NB here on the forum. He’s only selling locally in LA but perhaps you can convince him to send it to Texas or take a weekend quickie vacation. His price is low enough to justify the trip. The Norman Blake’s have an “OM” body and a 12 fret neck. Some Eastman’s are made like that too I believe.

To be official, there is no such thing as an OM body size in Martin’s language, which is very difficult for non Martin geeks to understand. All Martin OMs are built with the 000-14 molds. There is a 000-12 mold and a 000-14 mold for the traditional models above the 16 series with a 15” lower bout. The bracing, scale length, woods and trim then designate the model. Look on any custom Martin OM build sheet and you will see the guitar built as a 000-14 with the OM bracing pattern and scale length. But that’s with Martin.

Collings, Bourgeois, many others offer short scale “OMs” to differentiate their 000s which are 12 fret while the OM is 14 fret. So long story, short asking for an OM 12 fretter would simply be asking for a 15” lower bout 000-14 shape body with a 12 fret neck and any scale length. Incidentally, the 000-18NB is 1 13/16” x 2 5/16” and 24.9” nominal scale. The 000-28NB and NBB were 1 13/16” x 2 3/8” and 24.9” scale. The necks are chunky but the tone is incredible. Best of luck.