OM Recommendations (w/clear, balanced tone for strumming)

[Wepeel]

Larrivee OM-09. Super balanced. Hard to describe, but just as much bass as the OM-28 but not woofy or boomy. Very controlled in how it hits and fades dynamically.

Maybe an OM-05 if rosewood is too jangly for your tastes.

[Trev's Dad]

Originally Posted by Pirate76

Try a Furch OM with an Alpine Spruce top and mahogany b/s.

I have been doing quite a bit of online research since I started this thread, and I think I am most impressed with the Furch Vintage 3 OM-SR. I have located one and I think I’m going to get it shipped out so I can demo it. And, what I’ve heard in videos this far, I think this might be the one!

[Pirate76]

Originally Posted by Trev's Dad

I have been doing quite a bit of online research since I started this thread, and I think I am most impressed with the Furch Vintage 3 OM-SR. I have located one and I think I’m going to get it shipped out so I can demo it. And, what I’ve heard in videos this far, I think this might be the one!

Yeah that one is killer. I prefer bell like tones of the Spruce/Rosewood combo as well but some prefer the woodiness of Mahogany.

You literally cannot go wrong with the Furtch. They have US builders taking notice. Plus they voice every top.

[Coler]

Originally Posted by Trev's Dad

Any particular builders or makers that I should consider for deep body?

Ciaran McNally's OMs are deeper in the body than "standard".

And are killer guitars.

[MissoulaFlood]

".......I have a brand new Martin 000-28 EC Signature…and I love the neck but the tone is “boxy” and compressed....


If you haven't already, you might just try a few different strings. Give them each a couple days to settle in. It's probably worth the effort since you otherwise like the guitar.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by bobster7

Collings meet your requirements very balanced, not at all compressed or boomy. The trebles are thick not jangly. Mahogany or Rosewood their signature balance and tone will be there.

I own a Collings OM1A with a custom, dread-depth body and it has no bass boominess at all. At least not to my ears. This has an Adirondack spruce top and mahogany OM body. Hopefully, you could find one of these to try out. Here is an original instrumental piece I made some years ago on my OM1ADB so you can hear what it sounds like.



- Glenn

[Coler]

Originally Posted by MissoulaFlood

".......I have a brand new Martin 000-28 EC Signature…and I love the neck but the tone is “boxy” and compressed....


If you haven't already, you might just try a few different strings. Give them each a couple days to settle in. It's probably worth the effort since you otherwise like the guitar.

Also it’s not going to sound like an OM, if that’s what is wanted you need an OM.

[kbraker]

I have a Guild OM120…. It’s all around good

[Koda]

Collings om1

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I own a Collings OM1A with a custom, dread-depth body and it has no bass boominess at all. At least not to my ears. This has an Adirondack spruce top and mahogany OM body. Hopefully, you could find one of these to try out. Here is an original instrumental piece I made some years ago on my OM1ADB so you can hear what it sounds like.



- Glenn

Wow Glenn! That sounded wonderful and your composition is superb!! Loved it sir!

[dilver]

Originally Posted by MissoulaFlood

".......I have a brand new Martin 000-28 EC Signature…and I love the neck but the tone is “boxy” and compressed....


If you haven't already, you might just try a few different strings. Give them each a couple days to settle in. It's probably worth the effort since you otherwise like the guitar.

I thought this was interesting as well… I played a Martin OM28V side by side with the 000-28EC and thought the same. It sounded small and compressed. I got the OM28V as it was way better. As a side note, it took a few years for it to open up even though it sounded great brand new.

[AcousticDreams]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Wow Glenn! That sounded wonderful and your composition is superb!! Loved it sir!

I will give this a big thumbs up too. Great playing and performance as always Glenn!

[TheMeanGreen]

I have a Yairi FYM60HD, and I can’t recommend it enough for some clear balanced strumming. The Adirondack top and the old growth Honduran mahogany are a heavenly match. With the deals you can find for a used one, I’m not sure there’s a better OM at the price point.

[nostatic]

If you like the Martin sound, then I'm going to third the OM-21 suggestion. Over the past two years I've had a couple of Furch OMs, couple of Taylors, OM-28e MD, 00-18 and another OM-21, and have auditioned Larivees. I always come back to Martin, and for whatever reason the OM-21 is the sweet spot for me.

Part of the issue with your 000-28 is likely the scale length but could just be that example. I find the longer scale on the OM takes to strumming better, but people have different definitions of strumming. A guy I play bass with beats the crap out of his acoustic, usually breaks at least one string a gig. I don't lean into it nearly as much, but there is a spectrum.

I also want as shallow a body as I can get away with to keep shoulder/elbow issues at a minimum so a deep body isn't a solution for me but totally YMMV.

[kbraker]

I’ve also heard that Martin OM 35s can be a magical best for some , though not very common.