Solved Martin OM35

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danny.guitar

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Has anyone tried this guitar before?

I've been wanting to try one for awhile now but the 2 shops I've been to didn't carry it.

I was also wondering if there are any other guitars similar to it that I could try? Maybe ones with not such a high price tag?

And maybe even some sound clips that I can hear? To either this guitar or ones like it.

Any info about this guitar would help a lot.

Thanks.
 
Danny,

OM35 is a sweet guitar. I own an OM28V which is almost the same. the 35 has a 3 piece back and a narrower fingerboard and is a little cheaper than the 28v. If you want something similar to the 35 but cheaper - check out the OM21. Great rosewood and sitka OM guitar for that you can find for around $1000 or so.
Check out this sight:
http://www.umgf.com/

and keep and eye on buy and sell.

Martins are the Shit!

later
 
I know the 35 has a higher model number than the 28, but for what its worth, that doesn't put it any higher on the list quality wise. Just pointing it out if you are unaware.
Personally I have prefered every 28 model I have played over the 35 model counterpart. But to each his own. Just make sure you play both first.

EDIT
My bad. It doesn't look like Martin makes a plain OM28. I thought they did. Oh well. But the 28 vs 35 statement still stands.
 
The 35 denotes the 3-piece back and fingerboard binding.

I believe the top bracing is also different, possibly a bit heavier than on 28's.

My D-45L Custom has much narrower and heavily scallopped bracing compared to my D-35L.

Also, for whatever it's worth, seems like most of the 35 tops have tighter grain than 28's. I've seen plenty of 28's I would never consider just on the wide topgrain alone. Also plenty with varigated grain. I guess they have to use everything that will work.

And there's also jillions more 28's out there than 35's.

If you're doing fingerstyle or need a less boomy guitar I'm sure the OM35 or the OM28 would be excellent place to start.

The OM was the first flat-top steel string guitar. It was designed for a banjo player that wanted a guitar that could compete against the orchestras of the late 1920's. That's why the original OM's had banjo tuners. Also, planetary tuners of the day were a little higher quality than the butterbeans or whatever of that era.

I was >< that close to buying a Brazilian OM-42L Custom back in 1991 or so. Tobacco sunburst top with inlay, slab-sawn Brazilian back and sides. Vintage bracing, Style-45 snowflakes, planetary tuners---- the fuckin works. A 1930 OM knockoff all the way.

I think they wanted $3600 back then. It would have tapped me out at the time so I took a pass.

Another fuckup. :(

<slaps forehead>
 
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Check out the OM-21, great bang for the buck if you want a rosewood Martin OM. Also, Larrivee makes some killer OMs, OM03R and OM09 are nice examples of rosewood OMs.

if you can streeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch your budget a bit (:-) ), definetly check out a Santa Cruz OM/PW, that guitar is sweet!
 
I don't like the 35-series guitars. they're too bassy and the treble's wonky to my ears. but that's me.

FWIW, the 35 series was created in an effort to maximize the Brazillian Rosewood which was in dwindling supply.....it allowed them to use smaller pieces of wood in creating a back--hence the 3-piece back instead of a 2-piece.

IMO, the end result is a compromise in tone. but then again, the 35 series guitars certainly have their fans (like all things).

now, the OM body size, though......i really like. in fact, it's probably my favorite body size. it's the perfect balance between lows and highs. my next martin's gonna be an OM42.

hey Outlaws, Martin used to make an OM28V, which has the herringbone purfling and the "vintage style" V-shaped neck. i thought they still made one.


cheers,
wade
 
mrface2112 said:
hey Outlaws, Martin used to make an OM28V, which has the herringbone purfling and the "vintage style" V-shaped neck. i thought they still made one.
Click to expand...

They do. At least on their website. They just don't have a OM28 (sans the vintage "V"). But after looking at all the details that is basically a plain OM28....and a real 28 with the scalloped bracing. I was looking to find a less expensive model without the scalloped bracing for the "plain" 28 when I said that.
 
c7sus said:
I think they wanted $3600 back then. It would have tapped me out at the time so I took a pass.
Click to expand...
Say it ain't so! man, that would've been a beautiful guitar. and i shudder to think what it would sell for these days. :|


cheers,
wade
 
My 35 is more balanced across the spectrum than my 45. The 45 is a cannon on the bottom and really sizzles on top.

After about 5 years or so the top bellied just a bit. That's when it really opened up. It's been stable since then. It's 20 years old now and is a monster!
 
Outlaws said:
They do. At least on their website. They just don't have a OM28 (sans the vintage "V").
Click to expand...
ah, gotcha. i haven't really kept up with the current models in a while.

personally, i think the OM28V needs the V-shaped neck, as it's got the wider (adult width :D) fretboard, the V really helps prevent hand fatigue. especially with barre chords.


cheers,
wade
 
c7sus said:
My 35 is more balanced across the spectrum than my 45.
Click to expand...
iiiiiiiiiiinteresting. maybe i've always played new ones and they've not yet opened up. "closed" is definitely how i'd describe the 35's i've played.

c7sus said:
The 45 is a cannon on the bottom and really sizzles on top.
Click to expand...
i BET it does! my buddy's HD28V is a freaking CANNON too. and i bet all that pearl on the 45 accentuates the sizzly highs.

c7sus said:
After about 5 years or so the top bellied just a bit. That's when it really opened up. It's been stable since then. It's 20 years old now and is a monster!
Click to expand...
that makes a lot of sense. my D15 has only gotten better and better sounding over the last 6 years. it did the same thing--bellied a little bit and got better sounding. of course, that freaked me out a little bit and i rushed out for a Damp-It b/c it gets a little dry in the house.

that D15 is the most balanced, mellow, sweet sounding guitar i've ever played. it's not a cannon or loud like the rosewood/spruce ones tend to be, but the all-mahogany construction really accentuates the mids. it records beautifully--much better than the aforementioned HD28V......but maybe it was just me. ;-)


cheers,
wade
 
The OM-28V does have a V shaped neck, as do all the V and GE series. All non-signature OM's have an 1 3/4" nut width. I had an OM-21 Custom with a cedar top and ivoroid binding. It was beautiful and sounded like doo-doo-no headroom and no zing. The spruce topped versions I've played sound great. I'm not sure Martin knows what to make of cedar.

Perry Bechtel was the banjo player who inspired the OM, if anybody gives a crap.
 
Thanks. I couldn 't remember if Bechtel was the picker or the luthier. :D
 
Updating an old thread since it still pops up on Google search on Martin OM-35.

A long-time Martin player ('96 HD-40 Marty Stuart), I've had my '04 OM-35 just over a month, and it has exceeded my expectations in becoming my go-to guitar for performing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6akU_zTvhj0

Correction to this thread: the 35 series (both D and OM), not the 28s, have the lighter 1/4" bracing. By most reckoning that is what accounts for their distinctive and highly thought-of (on UMGF) tone.

Individual guitars do differ within a given series, and everyone of course has their own opinion. But the consensus view of the OM-35, as evidenced by a UMGF search, is that of a consistently and extraordinarily great-sounding guitar....a real gem in the Martin line-up for the relatively small numbers that were produced.
 
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