2005 Martin OMC Fingerstyle 1

The venerable Martin Guitar Company has enjoyed great success in recent years with their highly successful vintage guitar recreations such as the Golden Era and Authentic models. And then there's the OMC fingerstyle 1, a complete and total departure from the stereotypical Martin if there ever was one. From the mortise and tenon neck joint to the cutaway, to the combination of abalone, herringbone, and ivoroid design elements, to the integrated Fishman Ellipse Blender pickup, this is NOT your grandfather's Martin guitar. And you know what? I love it.

Where to start...how about the sound? The combination of Adirondack and spanish cedar yields a bright, crunchy, resonant tone that's great for the fingerstyle player. It's lively and resonant, and the cutaway, string spacing, and low oval neck profile yield excellent playability. The ubiquitous Martin bass response is present, but I'd say this model co-opts some of the tonal elements that have made Taylor guitars so popular with modern players. Big kudos to Martin for trying something different - I think they hit this one out of the park.

The particulars on this particular guitar: near mint condition, all original, and priced to sell quickly at 50% of list.