Why is 000-15 not OM-15?

[jrs146]

Hi all,
I was looking at a 000-15 guitar the other day and realized it has a 25.4" scale length. Who does Martin refer to this as 000 rather than OM like they do on standard models?

[rmyAddison]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Hi all,
I was looking at a 000-15 guitar the other day and realized it has a 25.4" scale length. Who does Martin refer to this as 000 rather than OM like they do on standard models?

There is tons of overlap between the OM's and 000's, they have the same body size, but over the years there have been differences in nut width, bracing and scale length, 12 fret/14 fret, clear as mud to me and I have a bunch of OM/000/00s.

Pick a decade and the there will be differences, and exceptions. Recently I thought the "generalities" were standard OM's were full scale with 1-3/4" nuts, and 000's were short scale with 1-11/16"nuts, but that sure isn't written in stone.

Any more I just buy the ones that call me, whether OM or 000.......

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Hi all,
I was looking at a 000-15 guitar the other day and realized it has a 25.4" scale length. Who does Martin refer to this as 000 rather than OM like they do on standard models?

Best I can come with - Because.

Martin does what it does in its alpha-numeric soup bowl for jumbling and shaking out model numbers, and assigning them, before dragging them through a logic filter.

[Goat Mick]

No clue. I have an 000X1AE and an OMXAE and they both are 25.4". Doesn't really make sense especially in the same model class.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by rmyAddison

There is tons of overlap between the OM's and 000's, they have the same body size, but over the years there have been differences in nut width, bracing and scale length, 12 fret/14 fret, clear as mud to me and I have a bunch of OM/000/00s.



Pick a decade and the there will be differences, and exceptions. Recently I thought the "generalities" were standard OM's were full scale with 1-3/4" nuts, and 000's were short scale with 1-11/16"nuts, but that sure isn't written in stone.



Any more I just buy the ones that call me, whether OM or 000.......

Thanks for the explanation. I tried to make sense based on other specs like bracing, nut width etc. then I gave up!

Originally Posted by Pitar

Best I can come with - Because.



Martin does what it does in its alpha-numeric soup bowl for jumbling and shaking out model numbers, and assigning them, before dragging them through a logic filter.

Lol this seems to be the most accurate reason why!

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by Mick's Goat Whiskey Picks

No clue. I have an 000X1AE and an OMXAE and they both are 25.4". Doesn't really make sense especially in the same model class.

I just have to ask; why both?

I compared them on the Martin website and it looks like the only difference is scalloped vs non-scalloped bracing. How much difference in sound?

Difference between Martin 000 and OM

Short history...

until 1929 - 000 was 12 fret and long scale, 5/16" X-brace and 1/4" tone bars, 1 7/8" neck, 2 3/8" bridge spacing, bar frets

1929 - OM introduced as 14 fret and long scale, 5/16" X-brace and 1/4" tone bars, 1 3/4" neck, 2 3/8" bridge spacing, bar frets

1933 - 000 12 fret discontinued

1933 - OM discontinued

1934 - OM replaced by 14 fret 000, with transitional 000 the same as the last OM's

1934 - 14 fret 000 goes to short scale and gets T-bar with T-frets, 1 3/4" neck and 2 5/16" bridge spacing

1938 - 000 bracing moved rearward

1939 - 000 neck narrowed to 1 11/16" and 2 1/8" bridge spacing

1944 - 000 scalloped bracing dropped, and we're into postwar guitars....

Notice that the X-bracing was never 1/4" on OM's or 000 regardless of configuration. That was a postwar error (or choice) when the OM's were reintroduced in the 1970's.

If we exclude the below-Standard Series guitars, a modern OM has a long scale, 1 3/4" nut, 2 5/16" bridge, and 1/4" scalloped bracing. A modern 14 fret 000 is short scale, 1 11/16" nut, 2 1/8" bridge, 5/16" bracing either scalloped on straight. A modern 12 fret 000 is long scale, 1 3/4" nut, 2 5/16" bridge, 5/16" braces.

All Standard Series and above OM's are forward braced. Some 000's are forward braced, but standard production models and most others are rear braced.

The post-2014 000-18 is an exception. It uses a wider neck, but also 1/4" forward bracing. In that way it like an OM, but short scale.

There are numerous exceptions to those parameters in modern guitars, but this is a basic breakdown.

[HHP]

I think Martin has always reserved the OM designation for guitars with both longer scale and the 1 3/4 neck. They are a bit more free with the 000 designation.

[Goat Mick]

Originally Posted by lowrider

I just have to ask; why both?

I compared them on the Martin website and it looks like the only difference is scalloped vs non-scalloped bracing. How much difference in sound?

Well actually there's a ton of difference in sound but I really think it's because the OM is all HPL construction and the 000 is a solid spruce top with HPL back and sides. The OM does sound very good both amplified and acoustic but it's a different sound than the 000. The 000 is my go to gigging guitar and I like to just play it around the house unplugged. It's a great sounding guitar that has the 000 Martin tone. The OM is my guitar I use when the weather conditions aren't great. Last night for example I played an outdoor gig at a marina. It had been raining off and on all day, was very hot and humid at show time and that was the perfect guitar for the conditions.