O, OO, OOO, OM guitars, what does it mean?

[Carruth]

Thankyou for that. So my dreadnaught feedsback more easily because it is bigger?

[kydave]

Originally Posted by Carruth

Thankyou for that. So my dreadnaught feedsback more easily because it is bigger?

Yep. Bigger vibrating surface to capture the ambient amplified sound and regurgitate it, which in turn feeds the feedback loop...

[AZLiberty]

Although somewhat old fashioned, lots of things are sized in this manner. For example, fishhooks and buckshot are sized the same way. So is wire or anything else that is "gaged".

A double-ought fishhook is smaller than a tripple-ought.
A double ought guitar (00) is smaller than a 000.

[joeguam]

Originally Posted by aw meyer

An OM has the same body size as a a 000, but normally has a 25.4 inch scale length, as opposed to the 000's 24.9 inch scale.

Just to share with the OP that it really all depends on the builder and the model, my Martin 000-15M has a 25.4" scale length and not a 24.9". However, the Martin 000-28 has a 24.9" scale. So it really all depends.

[mondial99]

people have posted about the difference between the Martin OM and 000 models, but what is the difference between the D-28e and the 000-28e or OM-28e? Also, has the HD series been discontinued for 2020. I don't see it on Martin's site.

[bufflehead]

The whole system is a bit fuzzy, probably because marketing personnel are dominating the conversations rather than luthiers. Originally, an 0 was considered larger than a parlor guitar. In current parlance, however, now that "parlor" is a sought-after commodity, 0s and sometimes even 00s are being marketed as parlor guitars.

When I attended the La Conner guitar festival last year I wanted to interview parlor guitars, just to see what the buzz was about. Amazing how many different-sized guitars were proffered under that label.

[merlin666]

I think the Martin size system is used a lot, but other manufacturers such as Taylor, Gibson, Guild, or Larrivee also have different sizes but may have different labels for them. Also the body shapes that go with the labels are not necessarily consistent for the brands. Is there a comparison chart for these main brands?

[Knollhaven]

Oops... zombie thread.

[UncleJesse]

Edit - I'm an idiot replying to a zombie thread.

[roylor4]

Six year old thread brought back to life.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by mondial99

people have posted about the difference between the Martin OM and 000 models, but what is the difference between the D-28e and the 000-28e or OM-28e? Also, has the HD series been discontinued for 2020. I don't see it on Martin's site.

Hi, the "standard" Martin system (mostly) has two parts . the 0,00,000, j or D indicates the body size as I detailed on this thread back in 2104 - 0= concert, 00 = grand concert, and the 000= auditorium. Note: these refer to the original 12fret "classical" like designs which were developed in the 1900s with the "giant" 000 (back then) introduce in 1902.

The OM = was a modified 000 with a reduced body length in order to have the longer, thinner 14 fret neck to the body join, introduced as a rhythm guitar for use in dance bands.(It was not a success).

The dreadnoughts came out in 1931 and were originally called d1 and d2.
and the numbers indicate the back and sides and also the trim used.

I have no wrking eight on this 'puter so I'll have to write it

Eighteen means mahogany back and sides and a faux tortoise or black trim.
21 means rosewood but with the plain trim as above
Twenty eight means rosewood with a white/black/white style trim,
35 means a rosewood three piece back,
41/42/45 are varying degrees of abalone trim.

So, twenty eight is a rosewood guitar and the prefix indicates the body size.

This might help :

[Dreadfulnaught]

Don’t listen to the previous replies, here is the true answer:

Many years ago in the Hippie era, an unnamed guitar manufacturer came under the influence of a new age guru, who convinced them that chanting over the wood used to make guitars would make them sound better, as the finished instruments would than be at harmony with the universe and would resonate more freely.
Monks were duly hired to chant over the wood. The guitars that were built were named for the chants that the monks used over that particular pile of wood: O, OO, OOO, and OM.

If you have read this far, you should go out immediately and buy one of these guitars. Because you will likely buy anything.

[swarfrat]

I thought it was more like you walk into a store and go. O. Ooo. Oooomm. Then when you see the one you really just have to take home you say "Hello!" (in Swahili) Jambo!