Everyone is aware of the fact that the guitars built by Martin are top-notch in quality and performance. They have been in business for almost two centuries now, and they have always stuck to their legacy.
You can really choose any of their guitars without compromising on any factor, thanks to a wide range of their inventory.
It’s not just the tunes and performance that the Martin guitars exceeded in but also in their durability and aesthetics.
Taking a look at their standard series of Martin acoustic guitars, OM21 and OM28 are highly sought-after guitar models that are often compared with each other because of their remarkable features.
In this article, we will discuss the individual features of these two models and compare them and see which one best suits your needs.
Martin OM-21 vs OM-28
| Features | OM-21 | OM-28 |
|---|---|---|
| Distinctive Feature | Rosette | Herringbone |
| Sound | Clean and airy | High mid-range |
| Tone | Characteristic Martin tone | Full and warm |
| Price | $3000 | $3399 |
Martin OM-21
Bring any model of Martin guitar; it will turn out to be an industry standard. It has led to Martin taking the top position in the acoustic word. The OM21 is one of the models that has added more grace to Martin guitars.
The OM21 was added as a stock model in 1992. It came after the fingerstyle players demanded a scalloped top bracing and wider nut width. However, it was free of costly decorative features that made it an affordable option.
It was 1994, two years after the introduction of OM21, that it had already become a top-selling dreadnought, and it had successfully appealed to a whole bunch of people.
Martin OM21 models of today feature ebony fingerboard and bridge, ageing toner and open geared butterbean tuners. They also installed a new performance neck that is super slim.
The back and side of this model are made with East Indian Rosewood. The appearance of the back in front is quite rich.
The setup in the ebony fingerboard is remarkable. Anyone can play this guitar with ease. The OM-21 model met the standards of Martin not only in its build quality but also in aesthetics. One cannot complain about anything.
It is the best product that could have come up. However, a few users have complained about the white discs and would like them to be replaced with plain black bridge pins.
Regardless of the tone delivered by this guitar and the high-quality material used in its construction does not fail to appeal to people.
For anyone who has used the Martin guitars in the past is going to love the classic feel that comes from the OM-21. The reason behind the immense fame and popularity of Martin guitars is that they have fantastic sounds.
As far as OM21 is concerned, there is familiar plumpness with its lower registers. The top end is rich with clarity. You are also going to be impressed with the exceptional separation throughout the tonal spectrum.
Martin OM-28
Starting with the build-up of the OM-28, Indian rosewood is used for the construction of the back and side. For the bracing, a Sitka proof top is used.
The fingerboard and bridge are made from ebony, just like with the OM21. The unique feature of OM21 is its select hardwood neck which is similar in appearance to mahogany.
The design of the OM28 is perfect, just like the classical Martin guitars. When compared with the rival Gibson, OM-28 surpasses in taste and subtlety.
The dapper ebony fingerboard and herringbone binding bring a significant enhancement to the curvy outline of this guitar.
It is much better than a whole lot of other Martin guitars because it doesn’t have their fake tan. Instead, it is more realistic. The tone of OM28 is focused, and it gives you exactly what you need.
The OM28 got the herringbone around the body. It has no body inlay. However, binding-wise, it has ivory, and the shell is the tortoise, and that’s the biggest aesthetic difference from the OM21 besides the rosette.
Martin has been bringing aesthetics and tone from its past from the guitars that were the golden era of the Martin. It has successfully utilised that grace in the 28.
The OM 28 is equipped with modern playability, classic design and tone vintage. The fretboard has slotted diamond abalone inlays.
The headstock is adorned with the old script-style Martin logo as well and then in the body, what you can’t see where some of the magic is happening is in the bracing, so the bracing is scalloped quarter inch bracing.
There has been a lot of work done on the neck. It is one of the most popular neck profiles from Martin. The neck is comfortable enough to fit in your hand. It also plays very well.
As far as the nut width is concerned, it is neither too narrow nor too wide. It’s perfect. It is great for recording and for single-note stuff. It is suitable enough for fingerstyle players.
OM28 successfully gives you the sound that you expect to hear when you think of Martin guitars.
In short, OM 28 is a beautifully balanced guitar with vintage aesthetics, tone and modern playability.
Comparison Between Martin OM21 And OM28
The 28 series of Martin has the same binding inlay and tuners, just like with the 21. The dots in the OM28 have abalone, snowfall diamonds and the snowflake.
Both OM21 and OM2have the same headstock and same bridge pins, and everything on the inside is also pretty much the same. As they are both OMs, it is clear that they have the same scale length, same nut, same neck curve and string spacing.
Most people cannot tell the difference whenever they play OM21 or OM28, but the herringbone of the 28 is preferable for many users. The same goes for the rosette of the 21.
If you are looking for a clean sound, it would be a wise choice to go with the 21. It is more airy and opened up versus the 28 being more mid-range. It also sounds thinner to your ear.
As far as the price tag is concerned, the OM28 is a little more expensive than the OM21. Talking about aesthetic preferences, OM21 wins the comparison. However, if you ask about the overall tone, OM28 gives a full and warm tone.
Not just that, its treble side is also sweeter than the O21. So it is better to save up some money and spend the extra hundred dollars for the 28. That being said, most people would love the OM21 if they didn’t have OM21 on hand for the comparison.
Conclusion
All in all, both the instruments are really nice. However, the OM28 has a rich tone, but either one would be a great tool to have in your kit.
In this lineup, there is something for everybody, so if you’re looking for a guitar, particularly something that you love the tone but you are not sure of which one, you can visit the Martin website and find all the related information on specs and pricing of these two.