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#1
11-02-2016, 04:12 PM
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Greetings and a moment of madness
Hello everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. Anyway, I wasn’t intending to buy another guitar. No really! I had just become curious after hearing discussions pertaining to the sonic qualities of smaller bodied guitars. It was a purely academic experiment on the historical significance of these more diminutive instruments. Uh, yea… that’s it. No intent at materialistic gratification whatsoever. Just to feel for myself what the brouhaha was all about…
Now there is something about being in a room with a gazillion dollars worth of high end American made guitars that makes you giddy and reverent at the same time. After playing several OOO and OM examples I noticed one particular guitar was noticeably different in color compared to anything else in the room. I delicately took it down and examined it, again just for informational purposes, and noticed that the strings were totally roached. As I already had it in my hands I figured I might as well sit down and give it a strum. My first reaction was that there was no way the sound I was hearing could possibly be coming from this little guitar, especially with the nasty #12’s that were on it. I was expecting a quaint folksy boxy sound but it filled the room with an acoustic sound unlike any dreadnaught I had ever heard. And it was LOUD! Startlingly so. Let me put it in automotive terms. If a Dxx were a big fat big block V8, this one was a screaming 15,000 RPM V6….. Even with the junk strings I was just having a ball playing this little guitar. The salesman returned a few moments later and told me that the guitar I was playing had been a special custom order that for some reason was rejected by the person who ordered it. As such it didn’t fit into any clear category as far as series. What it was, was a ten-year-old N.O.S. wide necked 14 fret OOO/OM body made of walnut. Being offered at store cost… It now has a new set of strings and a new home. So much for my purely academic experiment. Dean-Virginia-USA. A mile west of the crossroads and the old circus grounds. 
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#2
11-02-2016, 04:19 PM
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I'd prefer to think of that experience as a moment of clarity...
__________________
Rodger Knox, PE 1917 Martin 0-28 1956 Gibson J-50 et al
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#6
11-02-2016, 04:34 PM
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Welcome to the world of posting!
Really enjoyed the story--of course it would be really meaningful with a few pics of this sonic V6 Walnut anomaly....  Just sayin'!
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2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa)
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#8
11-04-2016, 04:43 PM
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Mmmmm, walnut! I too have become a big fan of walnut. Whenever I play my Larrivee LS made with Peruvian walnut I'm just blown away. I can't figure out why it hasn't made it into the upper tier of guitar tonewoods after all these years. As far as I'm concerned we can leave the tropical woods alone for a couple of hundred years and get behind our domestic walnuts. And too Black Locust is starting get the buzz from some pretty big name luthiers. I'd like to try a few guitars made of that too.
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#9
11-06-2016, 12:44 PM
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It's hard to tell what effect the back and side wood is having on the sound. It does seem to react to your playing technique differently than other guitars I have played, but it's also my first OOO/OM. Took some pix but am having trouble navigating the image hosting universe. Anybody want to assist me?
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1958 Gibson ES225T Gibson LP Classic Martin D41 Martin Custom OM42 Takamine C332 Prestige New York Special Fender Jazz bass USA
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#11
11-07-2016, 03:52 AM
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looks to me li9ke some sort of custom OM41/42 (?) Nothing wring with walnut for B&S.
I didn't get the comment about "roached" strings - looked it up - "Brushed upwards or forwards in a roll" - even more confused. If is has a short scale neck it is a 000, if standard scale - it is an OM THe 000 was classified as an "auditorium, in other words adequate for filling a medium /large theatre The OM was designed as a plectrum guitar in the rhythm section of an dance band. It should be loud/project enough for most purposes.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom!
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#12
11-07-2016, 04:55 PM
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Good Eye Mr. Moustache
Just had the lovely folks at Martin send me the specs.
a few entries: CUSTOM with CASE 533E Cabernet Instrument: MODEL:OM-42 Koa Body Size:000-14 Fret TOP:Italian Alpine Spruce TOP BRACES:Sitka/Scalloped 1/4'' PATTERN:OM #6A TOP BINDING:5/32" European Flamed Maple BACK:Solid Claro Walnut (Highly Figured) PURFLING:5/32" Flame Maple with D18 strips on each side SIDES:Solid Claro Walnut (Figured)
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1958 Gibson ES225T Gibson LP Classic Martin D41 Martin Custom OM42 Takamine C332 Prestige New York Special Fender Jazz bass USA
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#14
11-08-2016, 12:45 AM
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The Martin people said OM-42?
the 42 inlay should have pearl extending down and under the fretboard and where does the Koa come into play? It's very nice for sure but I'm second guessin' what the model is. Maybe a Custom Shop guitar?
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#15
11-08-2016, 02:16 AM
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The Martin Logo isn't the same either. I assume they based this instrument off the 42 but did a few bling things differently on this store ordered custom model. I'll screenshot the paperwork for you guys to peruse. As far as the guitar itself, it sounds and plays well beyond what I had expected. I'm not even feeling the buyers remorse thought i would! Now that's saying something.
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1958 Gibson ES225T Gibson LP Classic Martin D41 Martin Custom OM42 Takamine C332 Prestige New York Special Fender Jazz bass USA
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