Collings OM1C Vs Martin OM-28C Video comparison

[Groberts]

Here is a brief video I made today comparing my Collings OM1C (Sitka/Mahogany) to a Martin OM-28 Custom Cutaway (Sitka/Rosewood).

The Martin is a 2017 build and has Adirondack Golden Era bracing and 1/4" braces. I'm not sure if that thickness is standard on OM28's.

I am not sure what strings are on the Martin but they are new and sound really good. I'm gonna guess daddario based on my experience. .012-.053. The strings on the Collings are about 6 weeks old, Daddario EJ16 .012-.053.

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome. No right or wrong here. Both are excellent guitars and even though they are from different builders, I think they depict the tones I would normally associate with their respective tone woods. I.e. Mahogany versus Rosewood.

[Jimbo00]

They both sounded good, for some riffs the Mahogany seemed to sound better, for other, the Martin. I play a super shallow Lyrichord bowl of an Ovation Applause, Sitka Spruce top, Ovangkol neck & fretboard. It's gonna sound different in it's own voice just the same. Strings are D'Addario 12-53, tuned to Standard D.

[Biosphere]

Originally Posted by Groberts

The Martin is a 2017 build and has Adirondack Golden Era bracing and 1/4" braces. I'm not sure if that thickness is standard on OM28's.

It is and I found the Martin far more pleasing and with more HD. What are your thoughts in terms of which one you like more?

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by Biosphere

It is and I found the Martin far more pleasing and with more HD. What are your thoughts in terms of which one you like more?

Thanks for the confirmation. I just looked up the bracing size as well. Indeed they are 1/4" braces. The upgrade on this custom is that they are Adirondack braces. I don't believe that was standard on the OM-28.

Which do I like more? I have been a Collings fan boy for a long time and even owned an incredible OM1A several years ago. But I always wanted a cutaway. The OM1 I have now is absolutely stunning. I love the percussive midrange that is present but not overbearing. There is an overall sweet organic woodiness to the sound of a mahogany/sitka guitar that just rocks my world. So If I had to choose one, it would be the Collings OM1. But I just got this Martin OM-28 Custom cutaway yesterday and I need some time with it. I don't have a pickup in the Collings yet so the Martin OM-28 will see 5 gigs over the next 4 days in a row. (Doing a double header on Sunday)

The OM-28 Custom has a Fishman Aura VT Enhance PU and I have to say it sounds really good. It's time for the Martin OM-28 to show me how it will do at my solo shows. I'll report back. Having played at home, I am encouraged.

Here is an amplified demo I made at home. I think I had a little too much treble EQ on my amp and the EV Everse 8 Tweeter was aimed right at the Zoom Video cam mic. So the treble is a little sharper than it should be. Still, it sounds pretty impressive IMO through my Fishman Loudbox Artist/EV Everse 8 rig.

[Biosphere]

Very cool, hope the audience is blown away by your playing which is no doubt enhanced by the guitars!

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by Biosphere

Very cool, hope the audience is blown away by your playing which is no doubt enhanced by the guitars!

Thanks for the kind words.

[vintageom]

“Better" is definitely in the ear of the beholder.

I liked the warmth and blending of overtones on the Martin, but the mids are scooped as many EIR B/S guitars are.

I liked the elevated midrange, presence, clarity and note separation of the Collings. As said in a previous post above, the riffs also sounded better to me on the Collings.

Your overall take is mine. The Martin sounds like a classic Martin and the Collings sounds clean and pure and has more presence. The Martin has typical bass-bias and the Collings is more balanced across the tone registers. Some of the difference can be explained by the B&S woods.

If a person was a singer who uses the guitar with few or no fills and riffs or solos, the Martin works. If the player plays lots of riffs, fills and solos, I would choose the Collings as it can do it all. You did not demonstrate them strumming, but I wager the Martin would shine at it. In your hands and playing style, the Collings is a seriously excellent tool.

You have some great guitars and you are very worthy and deserving of them all with your musicality. I appreciate your work.

[Treenewt]

Gary, I always enjoy your videos. If I had to choose one, I'd go with the Collings, but that's likely due to my personal preference for mahogany. The Martin sounds great as well, but the mid-scoop always kinda bums me a bit. Wonderful guitars, both, and your playing is excellent, as per usual!

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Gary, I always enjoy your videos. If I had to choose one, I'd go with the Collings, but that's likely due to my personal preference for mahogany. The Martin sounds great as well, but the mid-scoop always kinda bums me a bit. Wonderful guitars, both, and your playing is excellent, as per usual!

Thanks Treemewt. If I had to pick one it would be the Collings OM1C also!

[Kh1967]

Great sounding OM’s…both of them. Choosing just one? I would also pick the Collings, but the Martin is no slouch.

The descriptions already used, are how I hear the two, with the Collings being more balanced and the Martin being more scooped. The mahogany vs rosewood stereotypes are very much in play, as well.

For a pair of OMs, I think this is one heck of a pair!

[sinistral]

As you noted in the video, the comparison is as much if not more a comparison between mahogany and rosewood as it is between Collings and Martin. I have a personal preference for mahogany as a tonewood over rosewood (e.g., six mahogany dreadnought variants vs. three rosewood, etc.), and I find that guitars with mahogany backs and sides tend to record better than guitars with rosewood backs and sides (or said another way, the mahogany-backed guitars are more forgiving to mic placement, room treatment, etc.). Rosewood-backed guitars can often sound muddier in a recording than they do in person.

All that to say, I preferred the sound of the Collings, but the OMC-28 was no slouch. It definitely had more of that natural rosewood “reverb.”

It’s interesting that Martin has made very few production OM-18s in their history. The longer scale than on a 000 really changes the character. I’m a big fan of the 000-18 as well, but I think the OM-18 is a nice bridge between the 000-18 and the D-18.

[keith.rogers]

Nice video/review/comparison - thanks!

I'd be happy with either or both - which, as noted by others, really show off both the tone woods and (IMO) the characteristics of the brands. (FD - my only [2] guitars are a mahogany and rosewood OM, so maybe a little biased, though neither a Collings or Martin!)

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by sinistral

As you noted in the video, the comparison is as much if not more a comparison between mahogany and rosewood as it is between Collings and Martin. I have a personal preference for mahogany as a tonewood over rosewood (e.g., six mahogany dreadnought variants vs. three rosewood, etc.), and I find that guitars with mahogany backs and sides tend to record better than guitars with rosewood backs and sides (or said another way, the mahogany-backed guitars are more forgiving to mic placement, room treatment, etc.). Rosewood-backed guitars can often sound muddier in a recording than they do in person.

All that to say, I preferred the sound of the Collings, but the OMC-28 was no slouch. It definitely had more of that natural rosewood “reverb.”

It’s interesting that Martin has made very few production OM-18s in their history. The longer scale than on a 000 really changes the character. I’m a big fan of the 000-18 as well, but I think the OM-18 is a nice bridge between the 000-18 and the D-18.

I was able to play an OM-18 and 000-18 back to back a few years back and I could not agree more. The long scale on the OM-18 gives it more of what I personally like. I do however admire 000-18's. They are great too. But I prefer the OM-18.

Thanks every one else for sharing your insight and thoughts. I agree this was as much a Mahogany versus Rosewood comparison as it is Collings OM (OM1C) versus Martin (OM-28C)

I am still have a trial return period with the Martin and I do prefer the Collings. I will be gigging the Martin 4 more times over the next 3 days. ( have 4 gigs) No pickup in the Collings OM1 yet so it stays home for now.

I gigged the Martin OM-28C last night but this was one of the loudest restaurant/bar venues I play. The crowd noise was almost giving me ear fatigue so it wasn't ideal to hear the Martin. Long story short, the Martin OM-28 sounds great but it is a bit lean and pristine for a loud room. My larger dreads got the job done better last night.

[nostatic]

The Collings has the typical articulation that some love (I do) and others don’t care for. Add in the dry mahogany thing and you’ve got a guitar that will give what it gets.

I had an OM-28e-MD for awhile and found the onboard Aura to sound quite good but it does have a fair amount of sheen. I tended to roll off a bit above 5k with that guitar.

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by nostatic

The Collings has the typical articulation that some love (I do) and others don’t care for. Add in the dry mahogany thing and you’ve got a guitar that will give what it gets.

I had an OM-28e-MD for awhile and found the onboard Aura to sound quite good but it does have a fair amount of sheen. I tended to roll off a bit above 5k with that guitar.

Hey Todd, always good to get your thoughts. I am in complete agreement with you. I agree the Aura has a lot of 'sheen'. It is surprisingly good in ways although I remember trying one many years ago and the battery life is like 27 hours if memory serves? And they die with no warning so I will have to commit to installing a new battery every 4 -5 gigs for good measure. This guitar is a 2017 Custom shop order so I imaging the Aura VT Enhance is from the same era I have experience with.