Upgrade Martin OMC-15ME to 000-18 or D-18?

[rabbuhl]

For recent gig my OMC-15ME plays and sound great. Will an upgrade to an 000-18 or D-18 make a big difference?

[PassingThru]

I do think either of the 18's would be a total sound upgrade.

[BlueStarfish]

IMHO — 18 series is not an upgrade to 15 series. Just as 28 series is not an upgrade to 18 series. They are completely different things, apples vs. oranges vs. bananas. Get an 18 series if you want one of course but it’s not “better” just different. Keep the 15 series!

Within the 18 series, 000-18 vs. D-18 are pretty different beasts. Both are classics and fabulous guitars, but the D18 would give you the classic spruce-hog dread to complement your hogtop OMC. That would be a pretty nice collection to have!

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by BlueStarfish

IMHO — 18 series is not an upgrade to 15 series. Just as 28 series is not an upgrade to 18 series. They are completely different things, apples vs. oranges vs. bananas. Get an 18 series if you want one of course but it’s not “better” just different. Keep the 15 series!

Within the 18 series, 000-18 vs. D-18 are pretty different beasts. Both are classics and fabulous guitars, but the D18 would give you the classic spruce-hog dread to complement your hogtop OMC. That would be a pretty nice collection to have!

Love my OMC-15ME especially for practicing at home. It's not going anywhere. I saw a used D-18 and am thinking that would be a good one to add.

[ritchie1]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

Love my OMC-15ME especially for practicing at home. It's not going anywhere. I saw a used D-18 and am thinking that would be a good one to add.

Go for it, the D18 from 2012 to present it’s a marvelous spruce/hog dread

[cliff_the_stiff]

D-18 is a great guitar in most versions.
I recently landed on a 07 GE that’s been pretty dang satisfying..

[Br1ck]

Guitars are a compromise. Change top wood and you will gain some things and lose some things. Better is a term to describe a subjective preference. Delightfully different is what I'd say, but only in the context of having both, not selling the 15.

[arwhite]

Well, you don't have to worry about the binding coming off the 15 so there is that.

Seriously though, I have both an OMC-15ME and a D18 and I would most likely sell the 18 before I sold the 15. That is a sweet OM.

[rollypolly]

To me the 15s are just a slightly warmer 18. With the 18 you’re getting the spruce so brighter, but not that much brighter especially the newer 18s with scalloped braces. To me those are already very warm sounding guitars.

[rabbuhl]

I wandered in to the local store.

I first tried out a 000-18. I then went back later and tried a second 000-18 and a D-18. Below is a picture of the second 000-18 and the D-18. The D-18 won the battle of the guitar for what I want next. It was better for strumming and for performing as a solo acoustic artist. I could tell the 000-18's just lacked the volume and punch of the D-18. Going from the OMC-15ME to a 000-18 would be just an upgrade of tone.

I loved that second 000-18, the way it looked, sound and played. The first 000-18 was also great even though the strings were a bit old. The D-18 was also great but was not quite good enough to buy.

My grade: 8.5 to the second 000-18, 8 to the first 000-18 and 7 for the D-18. My OMC-15ME is a 7.5. That particular D-18, although I liked the sound, just did not have the dark wood on the fretboard, and just did not blow me away like the second 000-18. I'll try a few more D-18s to see if it that particular one or just the way most D-18s play and sound.

[PassingThru]

Great choice. The D18 rocks.

[SFCRetired]

Of course I may be wrong but it seems to me when you plug in the guitar has less to do with sound than the electronics have. Depending of course what electronics you are using. If you're happy with the sound you have then why spend money?

This of course is assuming you are already playing a quality guitar, which you are. But yeah maybe I would upgrade to a 000-18. You can't beat a D18 with a K&K, but in your environment I may just stick to a 000 size.

If you really want to change things up and get a real versatile guitar go with a 0000 size.

I like my D16E but not that fond of the electronics in it, but I can usually get it dialed in adequately. Plugged in I prefer my D35.

[alien]

IMO, the D-18 and 000-18 are 2 of Martins best standard guitars. Martin hit a home run with both models. That said, within each model you can almost always run across one that just seems better, to you. And remember, the way it sounds right now will be the "worst" it will sound.

It is silly to compare these three guitars to each other. They are all different. Unplugged: 1) The OM & 000 will not be as loud as the dread. 2) The 000 is short scale, hence, slightly less volume. 3) The OM is all mahogany, a different tone altogether.

My 2 cents. Keep the OM-15ME, it's a wonderful fingerpicker. Look for a D-18 that bowls you over. You're welcome.

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by SFCRetired

Of course I may be wrong but it seems to me when you plug in the guitar has less to do with sound than the electronics have. Depending of course what electronics you are using. If you're happy with the sound you have then why spend money?

This of course is assuming you are already playing a quality guitar, which you are. But yeah maybe I would upgrade to a 000-18. You can't beat a D18 with a K&K, but in your environment I may just stick to a 000 size.

If you really want to change things up and get a real versatile guitar go with a 0000 size.

I like my D16E but not that fond of the electronics in it, but I can usually get it dialed in adequately. Plugged in I prefer my D35.

I had a last minute gig today. I took both my Taylor 214CE and my OMC-15ME. The Taylor just got restrung with phosphor bronze strings and the OMC-had old strings. At the venue, I plugged in the 214CE and it sound great. Same with the OMC-15ME so no need to upgrade it.

Originally Posted by alien

IMO, the D-18 and 000-18 are 2 of Martins best standard guitars. Martin hit a home run with both models. That said, within each model you can almost always run across one that just seems better, to you. And remember, the way it sounds right now will be the "worst" it will sound.

It is silly to compare these three guitars to each other. They are all different. Unplugged: 1) The OM & 000 will not be as loud as the dread. 2) The 000 is short scale, hence, slightly less volume. 3) The OM is all mahogany, a different tone altogether.

My 2 cents. Keep the OM-15ME, it's a wonderful fingerpicker. Look for a D-18 that bowls you over. You're welcome.

The 000-18 is a lovely guitar. I'm sure I'd love a D-18 but really prefer the size of the OM and 000 especially at home. For now I'll stick with the OMC-15ME and it should be good enough for my upcoming gigs.