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Off (Gibson) topic: 000s

Rambler

By Rambler
in Gibson Acoustic

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Rambler

Rambler

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Anyone on the board have experience Martin hog OM/000s (vs chance encounters, lol). Particulary with reference to slope jumbos, which im finding too wide for me to comfortabley handle. Id expect less bass, presence--but so much to not be comfortable singing over? Or playing in a small group with? Thanks, J

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Jayla

Jayla

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T'ain't a Martin, but it's based on a Martin OM design from the late-'20s--early-'30s -- I'm talking about Collings' OM guitars. Here's an all hog model on their website.

 

They produce a beautiful, rich sound, with presence and bass surprising in a (relatively) small guitar. If you're looking for a smaller guitar but don't want to give up too much in terms of depth of sound (=bass!), you owe it to yourself to check out the Collings OMs and 0-series guitars. They are fantastic.

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onewilyfool

onewilyfool

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I've got a nice little Morgan OM all hog. This guy used to work for Larrivee, so those of you with Larrivee's will see the lineage. This is one EXCEPTIONAL guitar....tone, tone, tone. Plays like butter.....if you get a chance Check out Morgan's, the shop makes maybe 120-160 guitars a year.....

 

IMGP0065.jpg

 

IMGP0061.jpg

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Hoyt

Hoyt

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I started off with a Martin D28.

 

But over the years, I've found myself doing more playing on the couch, so to speak. I downsized to Martin OMs and was pretty happy. I had a used OM21 that was great and relatively inexpensive, and an OM18GE which I traded for an OM18V. I liked them pretty much and would be fine if they had been the last guitar I could buy.

 

Ultimately, I sold them and got a new Gibson Blues King L-OO and am even happier. I think it sounds as good, maybe a bit better (although a bit different). But, with the neck, closer string spacing, and even slightly smaller body, it plays much better than the Martins. I'm quite happy with it. It has plenty of bass, and feels a bit sturdier/substantial than the Martins. If money were no factor, I'd like to have a Gibson Dove, or Hummingbird to get a little bigger sound at times when I feel like sitting or standing in a position where it's easy to handle the larger size.

 

Then again, I might stumble upon something else I like. But, I frequent music stores and play a bunch of guitars every month -- Martins, larger Gibsons, Godalls, Guilds, Taylors, Santa Cruz. etc. -- and have so far gone home and been happy with the Gibson.

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Jerry K

Jerry K

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I have an OM-21. This has long scale and a somewhat wider neck than the small-bodied Gibsons I have: a blues king, cj-165 and Nick Lucas Reissue. The closer martin model would be a triple-o. I have been meaning to go and play some of those. The OM-21 has magnificent sound but the wide neck and long scale make it harder for me to play than L-00 or CJ-165. The three are comparable in body size, the Gibsons if anything slightly smaller and more comfortable. In my book the small Gibsons coming out of Montana hold their own against OM/000 type guitars. Both makers are truly great, with different kind of sound.

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ballcorner

ballcorner

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I play my OM-21 every day. It is the best all-around guitar I own because I can play just about any style of music on it. There is no limit on the bass response, but it won't vibrate pictures off the wall like a D-28 can.

 

I find it very clean for solos, though up the neck it doesn't resonate quite the same way a dread will. The blend is really smooth and the overall tone coming out of the small body is quite impressive. I find the string separation on am OM-21 to be essentially perfect for my ears.

 

I also like the fact that percussive elements come straight out from this guitar - very good projection for anything from subtle to strong.

 

Here is a sample:

 

OM-21 with voice

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Rosewoody

Rosewoody

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jkinnima,

 

I have played the Martin OOO and OM hogs, and they sound nice indeed. Compared to a dread, there is less rumble, more projection. The OOO body is noted for balance, with a little more crispness than the bigger models. The shortened scale of the OOO and hog construction might take a little edge off and warm the sound up. I have a rosewood OM, and it is responsive almost to a fault; very unforgiving. It is making me a better player.

 

I think the OM, with longer scale, wider-at-the-nut, is a good finger picker, while the OOO is a better strummer.

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jeff5341

jeff5341

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I have a Martin 000-16GT that I play alot. It doesn't have quite as much rumble and volume as my Martin dred but it is closer than you would expect. It is a very comfortable guitar to play and for the money Martin did a really good job on this guitar.

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Taylor Player

Taylor Player

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A buddy of mine has the all hog 000-15 Martin and I love that little guitars tone. We did a duet at a wedding, me on my Taylor 612C and him on the Martin... Maple & Mahogany sound really good together!

 

If your looking for a smaller body guitar, don't overlook the X12 (GC) size Taylors. My 15 year old 612C resonates like no other little guitar I have ever played. If you can find one from the mid 1990's especially, you can't go wrong. Here is my Taylor next to my Gibson AJ so you can see the size difference. The Taylor is much "thinner" in size and very comfortable for noodling on the couch but it has volume, tone and the Maple tones I love.

 

SideBySide.jpg

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Hoss

Hoss

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I have a Martin OM18V. It's now my only Martin. Rarely played- sits in the closet in its case. I bought it new in 2002, and it's @ 10 years old.

The reason I don't play it- it's simply too loud, and doesn't work as well for the type of music that I now play. (I've tried tuning down- no dice.)

 

If you're into bare fingerstyle guitar, I can't imagine you'd have a problem with the OM. But the longer scale results in the typical Martin Sustain that goes on for two or three days. To my ears, if played hard you end up with a very muddy sound, unless maybe you use a flatpick for lead playing.

 

However, I can't bear to part with it. It's one of the best Martins I've played-- I sold my '52 D18 rather than this OM. Really a good vintage style sound. Anyway, you can still hear a chord I played on it last summer reverberating around in the closet...

 

Martin 000s- in my experience- can be pretty good. I do think it's a 'scale' thing.

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Guest

Guest

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I also have an OM-21, one of the "Specials" they introduced last year, with the herringbone rosette and back strip, and the pyramid bridge. It's a loud and articulate guitar, much more volume than I wuld have expected from a relatively thinner body, but there it is.

 

OM-21Spcrecline.jpg

 

With its 1.75" neck-at-nut width and low profile neck, it's playability is very good too.

 

I found the OM-21 Specials that I've A/B'd to be slightly louder than the OM-21s, and with better-defined bass response.

 

Fred

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Rambler

Rambler

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Thanks all, so far. " If you're looking for a smaller guitar but don't want to give up too much in terms of depth of sound (=bass!), you owe it to yourself to check out .. OMs"

That's been my way of thinking.

 

"I play my OM-21 every day. It is the best all-around guitar I own."

Ks- thanks for the clip. Fred, love the amberburst.

 

Hoyt, Not sure re the bubinga back but thanks for input

 

"If you're into bare fingerstyle guitar, I can't imagine you'd have a problem with the OM. But the longer scale results in the typical Martin Sustain that goes on for two or three days. However, I can't bear to part with it."

 

I do fingerstyle so appreciate hearing your experience. J

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