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#1
03-22-2022, 07:51 AM
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Acoustic OM for £500 - Alvarez MF60OM, Eastman E1OM, Martin 000x2e?
Hey everyone!
Looking for an OM style guitar with a budget of around £500 / 650$. I like Martin style guitars and spruce tops. I currently play a Sigma DMST which is a cheap D18 copy. Want to upgrade to something better and perhaps an OM body for more articulation as I'm playing more fingerpicking these days. I will eventually try them before buying, but I'm looking to narrow my search first. So far the guitars that have caught my eye were the Alvarez MF60OM (£400), the Eastman E1OM (£500) and Martin 000-X2E (£620). I've tried some OM Sigmas but was not impressed. Have you guys compared them side by side or do you recommend anything similar in this price range? Many Thanks! Last edited by Gwella; 03-22-2022 at 01:43 PM. 
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#2
03-22-2022, 08:09 AM
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I have an MF610 (the MF/GC version of the MF60OM) -- which I really like a lot -- but have not played the Eastman.
From what I've read and heard online, my best guess is that the Eastman may be a bit brighter and louder, but I honestly don't know. You may also want to consider Recording King - especially if you like bass and have no problem with buying used. I have two RK OMs - an ROS-10 & an RO-10. Both are spruce/mahiognay and offer a bit more bottom end than the Alvarez, although my MF610ESB is very-well balanced with great tone. I especially love the ROS-10 -- It's a short-scale gem. Good luck!
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#3
03-22-2022, 09:08 AM
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I had the Alvarez for a while and it was a really nice guitar but eventually decided it wasn’t for me and moved it on. Beware that it’s a short scale not a standard scale — so arguably more of a 000 than an OM. Anyways I learned from the experience that I really prefer standard scale.
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#4
03-22-2022, 09:12 AM
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In this price range you cant beat an Eastman E1om. All solid all hand built with scalloped bracing. Any other name on the headstock that guitar is over 800.
The E1om will be a touch brighter with a healthy mid range. Its going to have much better sustain and resonance. Alv in this price bracket is pretty meh. Nothing all that special.
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#5
03-22-2022, 09:34 AM
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It’s pretty simple really - get the one you like the best. Nothing else matters.
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#6
03-22-2022, 09:50 AM
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If you want a Martin, get a Martin. I know you said OM, but...
I would really recommend the ooo-10e (i have the old version the ooo-rs1). Yes its a bit plain and made in Mexico, but by Martin. It has a really great tone and playability is excellent. I can see a used one on reverb in the UK for £595. Also great is the Recording King RO-318 currently under £500 on Thomann
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-------------------------------------------------------------- Just Yamahas.... --------------------------------------------------------------
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#7
03-22-2022, 09:56 AM
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I just bought and sold an E1OM. I also owned two of the older E6OM models (AH6OME). I really liked the older models—not sure why I sold one of them—but the newer E1OM was way too bright for me. It also seemed more overbuilt than the earlier models.
__________________
Eastman: AC630 Super Jumbo (2019) Gibson: Eric Church Hummingbird Dark (2016), J-45 Standard (2013), Gibson L-00 (1930s) Guild: D-55 (1998) Martin: D-41 Reimagined (2019), 000-15SM (2018), OM-28 VTS Custom (2016), D-18 Golden Era (2014) Taylor: K24ce Builder’s Edition (2020), K14c Cedar (1999) Yamaha: CSF3M Parlor (2019)
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#8
03-22-2022, 10:58 AM
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Quote:
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#9
03-22-2022, 11:44 AM
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It seems the consensus here is that the E1OM is a bright guitar. If you want a more mellow sound try the E2OM with cedar top/sapele back and sides (all solid). All the reviews I have seen are really positive.
EDIT: Just saw you said you like spruce tops so you can take or leave my comment 
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#10
03-22-2022, 12:57 PM
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Forgot to mention - I've tried a Martin 000x1e which I liked.
It's discontinued now, not sure how different the new Martin 000x2e is. Has anyone tried it? Also, is the Alvarez MF60OM really an OM shape? Looks smaller, and I've read in different threads that it's more like a 00 instead.
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#11
03-22-2022, 01:38 PM
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Quote:
Alvarez: Body Width (mm) 390 Body Depth at Heel (mm) 96 Body Depth at Base (mm) 106 Martin OM: Body length: 19.3 inches/492.1mm Body width: 15 inches/381mm Body depth: 4.1 inches/ 104.8mm Martin 00 for comparison: Body length: 18.9 inches/479.4mm Body width: 14.3 inches/363.5mm Body depth: 4.13 inches/ 104.8mm
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#13
03-22-2022, 01:59 PM
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A couple of nice guitars you are considering.
There is likely variability from one sample to the other from each manufacturer just as variability auditioning each manufacturer's model to the others. Your preferences will decide which representative example from either manufacturer you enjoy most. I seem to recall the Alvarez Masterworks neck being similar to my Masterworks Elite. Thus, if you have neck profile preferences, there may be tangible differences between the two brands. My Alvarez Masterworks Elite has a much thinner neck in a performing artist type profile, and the nut string spacing (1-14/32") is a measure commonly found on 1-11/16" nut guitars. The Eastman should have a thicker neck with, I believe, the nut string spacing typically found on 1-3/4" nut guitars. This may or may not matter to you. Good luck in deciding. Best, Mac
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#15
03-22-2022, 02:02 PM
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Quote:
I don't think I have ever tried a short scale acoustic. The Martin OOOX1ae I tried was 25.4i although the new OOOX2E is 24.9i for some reason. What made you dislike it out of interest? Low tension?
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| Tags |
| alvarez, alvarez mf60om, eastman, eastman e1om |
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