$1000-$1500 OM/000

T268 · #1 06-27-2019, 12:12 PM

Hi all. I’m looking for something lighter than my Collings CJ with string to string balance, light weight, mini-dread of sorts. I prefer 25.5 scale. I’m not opposed to a 12 fret 000. The two that come to mind are the Larrivee Om-40r and the Breedlove Revival in rosewood. Any other suggestions? I have plenty of time to contemplate as the guitar fund is basically empty at the moment.

gr81dorn · #2 06-27-2019, 12:31 PM

000-15 is right in your price point, full scale and is as balanced as anything I've ever owned. Huge bang for the buck. Don't get scared off if you've never had all hog, it's a sweet, all around great sound IMHO.

Treenewt · #3 06-27-2019, 12:41 PM

Wholehearted Larrivee supporter here. I've owned the OM-40 and now own an OM-03. Fantastic instruments.

Lillis · #4 06-27-2019, 12:41 PM

As a new Breedlove owner I can say that my USA concert is fantastic. Especially the balanced tones. I’m sure you’d be pretty happy with either of those though.

Jaden · #5 06-27-2019, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

000-15 is right in your price point, full scale and is as balanced as anything I've ever owned. Huge bang for the buck. Don't get scared off if you've never had all hog, it's a sweet, all around great sound IMHO.

I’ll second this. In my opinion a good example of this guitar has more in common with spruce/rosewood of same body size for quick and precise response with sweet overtones rather than anything spruce/mahogany.

bufflehead · #6 06-27-2019, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

000-15 is right in your price point, full scale and is as balanced as anything I've ever owned. Huge bang for the buck. Don't get scared off if you've never had all hog, it's a sweet, all around great sound IMHO.

Since light weight is mentioned twice in the OP, that's all the more reason to try a 000-15m. They are crazy light.

jklotz · #7 06-27-2019, 01:29 PM

In that price range, I was going to suggest the Eastman e20-OM. Crazy good for the price, however, I don't know it is going to be lighter than the SC. If light weight is the thing here, the Martin is probably be the way to go.

llew · #8 06-27-2019, 01:35 PM

Larrivee L-03? That came to mind when I read your "mini-dread" comment. Might be worth a try? Or a 12 fret 000?

BoneDigger · #9 06-27-2019, 01:43 PM

Martin 000-15m would be my pick. Just got one myself. Phenomenal guitar!

Treenewt · #10 06-27-2019, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

Larrivee L-03? That came to mind when I read your "mini-dread" comment. Might be worth a try? Or a 12 fret 000/0000?

Good suggestion!

Steve DeRosa · #11 06-27-2019, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoneDigger

Martin 000-15m would be my pick. Just got one myself. Phenomenal guitar!

- and the -SM 12-fret version kicks it up four or five notches, closest you'll get to dreadnought tone/volume in a compact body IME...

Quebec Picker · #12 06-27-2019, 03:00 PM

Since many folks have recommended the 000-15, I'm going to throw a Guild OM-120 into the ring. Also an all-hog OM. Bit lower than your budget. I've had mine for a couple years and it continues to blow me away. Sounds and feels terrific.

Neil K Walk · #13 06-27-2019, 03:31 PM

From firsthand experience I can recommend the Larrivee OM-03R. The L-03 is another. Martin's 15 and 16 series are comparable (as I have also a D-16GT) but I feel that the Larrivees are superior in construction and materials. I've had about a decade to compare them.

Shadowfox · #14 06-27-2019, 03:58 PM

I've been very impressed with the Yamaha AC3/5 series in that price point. They can come in Hog or Rosewood.

llew · #15 06-27-2019, 06:20 PM

I know you're looking for something smaller than your CJ but thought I'd throw this in and hope I don't "muddy the water" too much by doing so?
I have an Alvarez MD60BG coming tomorrow from AMS in NJ. It's a 14 fret square shoulder dread with solid Sitka top and solid "African" Mahogany back & sides. It checks a lot of my boxes but the biggest one is the price...$600 ($700 with a LR Baggs Element VTC UST). So I'll see if it's worth keeping or send it back. Several people here on the forum have assured me it's a keeper. I hope so. Anyway...if you're interested here are the links to Alvarez and AMS:
https://www.alvarezguitars.com/guitar/md60bg/
https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALV-MD60BG-LIST

And a couple of YT links to hear the guitar in two different genres:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz-uwCqR6a0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85DXRMobim8

I realize it's a lot bigger than a 000/OM but thought it was maybe worth mentioning?