what makes an OM/OOO a fingerpickers dream?

[hanban]

Hi all.

 

Somthing I always wanted to know, since I dont own an OM/000 type guitar, Why are those body styles considered the best choise for fingerpickers, is it just because its more comfortable to hold? what is the difference in sound from a full sized body guitar?

 

im talking about 1000-2000$ price range if that counts for anything.

 

 

thanks

[desaljs]

hanban,

 

I think some of it has to do with the shape of the instrument and the balance of all the strings. The OM/OOO size are smaller bodies with tighter "waists", which affects the tone.

 

I also believe most of these have a 1 3/4 inch nut width, that the fingerstyle players seem to prefer.

 

They are more comfortable to hold for many people also.

[slider]

nut width and string spacing allows for fast clean picking.

tone is a differnet aspect.

 

my Martin DC16GTE is a pickers delight. and being full bodied it is aurally delightful.

 

[JasmineTea]

The main difference as I understand it, between OM and 000 is the fretboard width, at least this seems to be true with Martin. However, I was looking at Collings a while back and the fretboard width does'nt change the designation.

 

Anyhow, an OM makes a great fingerstyle guitar because the tone is (usualy) balanced better than most other body sizes, also the fretboard width is 1-3/4 witch gives a bit more room to maneuver.

 

With a 000, you have the same body size as OM, and 1-11/16 fretboard width. To make more room at the nut on my 000, I had a nut made that spreads the strings out wider. It's a cool idea for people with small hands.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by slider nut width and string spacing allows for fast clean picking. tone is a differnet aspect. my Martin DC16GTE is a pickers delight. and being full bodied it is aurally delightful.

I'm a 16-series fan. Micarta does'nt bother me.

[valleyguy]

 

I'm a 16-series fan. Micarta does'nt bother me.

 

 

The D16R (which I own) has a rosewood fetboard, but I also had no problem with micarta.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by valleyguy The D16R (which I own) has a rosewood fetboard, but I also had no problem with micarta.

Played one of those recently, sounded great.

[kwakatak]

It all depends on personal preference really. I play a lot of fingerstlye on my dread but I have tried several smaller bodies guitars and find them easier to play. I've like them all for different reasons:

 

Larriv

[riffmeister]

These guitars usually have less bass response than a larger guitar (like a dread), so you can get the trebles notes (which is where the melody usually is) to stand out a little easier. and with a smaller top it usually requires less input from your picking hand to get a good volume (more immediate response).

 

That said, I have a dread which I love alot, as much as my OM, for fingerstyle playing.

[Oldghm]

Not sure about all manufacturers, but a Martin 000 has a slightly shorter scale than the OM, which helps a little for small hands.

[guitarcapo]

Better projection. Smaller instruments do that. Ever notice how far a violin carries?

Also a quicker response which has a snappy feel to it that fingerpickers like. Less inertia to get the top moving....

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by Oldghm Not sure about all manufacturers, but a Martin 000 has a slightly shorter scale than the OM, which helps a little for small hands.

Martin 000-28, 000-18 and mabey one or two more have 24.9 scale, most all other OM and 000 have 25.4 scale, same as dreads.OMs

 

I think the EC models are short scale too. My Larrivee OM is 25.5

[hanban]

thanks for the input! I learned a thing or two in this thread.

 

From what I can tell , the really good OM guitars start from close to 2000$, I have yet to find a quality OM with indian rosewood back and sides, ebony board and a sitka spruce top for 1000+$

 

There's the martin 000-16 RGTE but that "black micarta" looks like monkey business..(?) (no offence all micarta owners, i really have no idea, it could be just as good as ebony but i need some feedback on it)

[egordon99]

Larrivee OM03R! Best OM under a grand!

All solid woods, rosewood B&S, sitka top, ebony bridge and finerboard, oh and it sounds good too!

 

 

 

Originally posted by hanban thanks for the input! I learned a thing or two in this thread. From what I can tell , the really good OM guitars start from close to 2000$, I have yet to find a quality OM with indian rosewood back and sides, ebony board and a sitka spruce top for 1000+$ There's the martin 000-16 RGTE but that "black micarta" looks like monkey business..(?) (no offence all micarta owners, i really have no idea, it could be just as good as ebony but i need some feedback on it)

 

[riffmeister]

 

Originally posted by hanban thanks for the input! I learned a thing or two in this thread. From what I can tell , the really good OM guitars start from close to 2000$, I have yet to find a quality OM with indian rosewood back and sides, ebony board and a sitka spruce top for 1000+$ There's the martin 000-16 RGTE but that "black micarta" looks like monkey business..(?) (no offence all micarta owners, i really have no idea, it could be just as good as ebony but i need some feedback on it)

 

 

these:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2385&item=7332773175&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

and Collings OM1's often go for under $2K on ebay.

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by riffmeister these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2385&item=7332773175&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW and Collings OM1's often go for under $2K on ebay.

That IS a good deal.

 

I've been looking at one of these lately, knock 35-40% off list.OM-21

[batotman]

I played a Larrivee OM-9 last week. It is AWESOME! My new stepmom owns it (but can't play and won't sell) so I'll be seeing it around....

[Fuzzbomb20]

Personally I love the sound of jumbo guitars for fingerpicking the depth of bass and smoothness of the treble make it sound like a full band, especially using open and altered tunings. A lot of may favourite players use them too- Don Ross, Eric Roche Thomas Leeb

[ksargent]

While I like small-bodied guitars - and I'm a fingerstyle player - there are many great fingerstyle players who preferred larger guitars - Michael Hedges and John Fahey (in his later years) preferred dreads. Rev. Gary Davis and dave Von Ronk - jumbos.

 

I also deviate from the norm on the 1.75" nut - I prefer the 1-11/16". There are no rules.

 

Ken

[hanban]

ill check out the larrivee, anyone have any good pics of that model?

 

and yes, some dreads can sound killer for fingerstyle , i just got a takamine nashville 360 (rosewood back and sides, bearclaw sitka spruce, ebony board) a few weeks ago, and its a really good picking guitar

 

how 'bout the great merle travis, played with a martin d-28:)

 

having said that, im really thinking of buying a nice om, maybe an 00028 or OM28v, they pop up alot on ebay.

[kwakatak]

FYI: Twelfth Fret in Ontario had Larriv

[fortunecookie]

In addition to what's already been posted here, OMs and 000s tend to be braced lighter than dreads which makes it easier to drive the top with the more subtle input from a fngerpicking style.