Jump to content
HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO ALL OUR HARMONY CENTRAL FORUMITES AND GUESTS!! ×

Does my OM-21 sound like it's full of socks?


Whalebot

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

Sorry if you were hoping for an MP3. I just have really poor bass response on my new OM-21. I also have a sinus infection, could be the issue. Any other OM Owners have bass response or general sound issues?

  • Members
Posted

Man, do I envy anyone who owns an OM-21. It's my next must-have git. Only problem is that I must-have the money... But one of the things I really love about that model is that, as OM's go, it has richer, sweeter bass than any other OM I've encountered. The several I've played, anyway. I am a bass freak. I mean I like too much bass.

Could be your sinuses. Or the strings. Or the socks. Or... man, I hate to think it, but not all OM-21's will sound exactly alike so maybe you did get a bass dud. But you haven't had it too long, have you? Can you A/B it with some other OM-21's?

  • Members
Posted

Here's the saga. Bought a D-16R, hurt my poor little fingers cause I play fingerstyle, not a good fit for me. SO I returned it and played some OM-21's a couple of 000-16GT's and the Om-28 Marquis. I loved the OM in the store, but I was all hyped up and it was a bit loud in there. I A/B'd it next to two others, chose mine and went home. I pulled her out of the case and it sounded different. Humidity? Were the strings always dead? I dunno. I'm changing them tonight. Long story short, I'm incredibly picky and I'm a flip-flopper, but I'm allowed to be for $1,500

  • Members
Posted

I've had my OM-21 for about a year now. It was sort of tight out of the store, and by January has started to resonate a lot better.

About three weeks ago, it discernibly changed in tone. Very resonant. The sweet spot seems to be at the 10th to 12th frets where note bends get a powerful edge to their sound, and you can really hear the guitar's wood affecting the resonance.

The bass notes only get a little better. You will always think they are lacking a little. But they will have great definition rather than sound muddy.

Keep playing the guitar, get a pro set up, and in a few years you will be very pleased with your purchase. OM-21s age extremely well, especially when you see one with an orange top and a lemon oil fretboard that looks nice and brown. Then when you play it, and all the strings work harmoniously together, it is magical and you can do no wrong.

Don't sweat the little details, just clean up your playing, and before you know it, your playing will make that guitar sing.

  • Members
Posted

Allright. Thanks all. Sounds better with a string change, SP Phospher lights. But it still needs to open up. I'm satisfied though. The guitar has some of the best definition and progection that I've experienced in my playing, if the bass thickens up a bit I'll be ecstatic, if it stays the same, I'll be happy.

  • Members
Posted

If you don't have a decent hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home, you should definitely buy one. It's possible that the difference in humidity between your home and where the guitar was before could be quite dramatic, which would account for the rapid change in tone. In the wintertime, with the heater running more frequently, the air can get quite dry.

  • Members
Posted

Whalebot, I went through a lot of string testing this first year and have decided upon Pyramid Light Phosphor Bronze which I suppose are the 98/2 alloy, rather than what I had been using early on of the 80/20 alloys. This took some of the edge off of my bass notes. I also ordered from Martin the Ebony/Pearl bridge pins, which add a lot of class, if nothing for sound, to the appearance.

I've got Petros Fingerboard Oil, a Kyser Lifeguard Humidifier (my luthier recommended I get a lot more humidity into the interior and my Planet Waves maybe wasn't cutting it), and a Tortis Pick (Style B Medium, unbeveled) coming in the mail from Maury's Music, expected tomorrow.

My rosewood fingerboard is streaked with light and dark areas from string wear pushing on the wood, and I want to even this appearance up for the first time with the Petros.

Had a crack on the back repaired Monday, most likely from some soft upholstery bump that I didn't realize, and it was repaired under the warranty since there was no evidence of mayhem by me. The luthier was very kind about this, since he'd never seen a crack stemming from a brace. Now my guitar has even more rosewood than when I first got it since the diamond cleat he inserted was made of rosewood. (maybe Brazillian!)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...