Martin Om 42 Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

Absolutely amazing guitar. I had been shopping for a while, and tried an OM-21 in my local GC. The overtones, the warm tone, I just had to have it! Definitely a forever guitar and could not be happier. Get your hands on one of these!K

I really love this guitar! I purchased in a sunburst finish. There's nothing to dislike. Martin's come with the action a little high, this is to be expected. I took it to a tech to have the action lowered to my taste. Because it's plek'd from the factory, you can really get the action quite low. It's is now the best of my guitars. The sound is so balanced, it's beautiful to behold and to play. I never want to put it down. I've waited a bunch of years to commit…it is everything I wanted and imagined it could be. Martin standard series are all amazing. They Are the Martin sound defined, the reference point. They are not a cheap investment, but they are worth it. Whether you like a short scale hog (000-18), or a long scale Rosewood dread (D-28), you will not be disappointed. I love the long scale OM with rosewood. I wanted a sunburst with understated dark bindings to blend with the sunburst. This is my guitar…it is stellar in every respect. If you can acquire any model of the standard series of martins, you will be blessed with tone and beauty. It will be a lifetime guitar.GGC

I don’t like buying mid to high end guitars in the blind. Even if it’s a Martin, Collings, Taylor etc… but I was able to play 3 M36’s at a store in Nashville and they all sounded the same. I had to think about it because I have a Martin HD28 and it was very close. The thing about the M36 is that it having a OOOO (Jumbo) size body, I got bolder low ends. Finger style was easy and picking was bright and articulate. Problem solved not needing to bring more then one guitar to the recording studio and didn’t have to worry about gigging with it because of the affordability. American Musical Supply always makes it easy with the nice selection and 12 months interest free to get one. I installed (myself) a K&K pure mini pickup and this guitar sings. Thank AMS!T Galloway

This is my 4th Martin and I absolutely love my 000-42! I've owned an 000-EC for a few years and loved it too but needed to sell it for financial reasons and was looking for another 000. I wanted the same tone and playability without paying the overhead for a guitar from the custom shop, I found it. Most people think you're paying an upcharge for the ornamentation (the inlay's pretty phenomenal) but may not realize the wood is also much higher quality on the 42 which lends a crystal clear mid-tone and longer sustain than the 000-26. The 42 has a top with really narrow grain which gives it a creamy finish that looks and sounds exactly like Engelman spruce. I know they used the Engelman on the higher end Madagascar models that year so maybe I just got lucky. I've owned an Engelman top before and I'd swear the top on my 42 is Engelman spruce, it was an open box purchase from musicians friend and I couldn't be happier with the look, sound and purchase price. From the first time I played it, I fell in love with this guitar.Mike R

I have mixed feelings about this one. I decided to get something fancy for my sixtieth birthday; I usually just go for the sound. The 00042 is definitely ornamental. I can tell you what I like and dislike about it. What I like best is the neck. The neck is so perfect you can lower the action almost to touching the frets, and it doesn't buzz anywhere. It comes with a pretty case, not that plastic molded one that Martin seems to think is so great. The guitar is also beautiful, although the back of the D-35 is prettier. Where it falls short is this: it doesn't ring like the D-35, and it is very expensive. I bought my first D-35 in 1971 for 700, so it's hard to get used to these prices. I think the guitar industry is going a bit crazy. However, if you want a really ornamental guitar, the 000-42 is for you. It is nice. . . it is expensive, but it is nice…but it's expensive…but it IS nice.Guitar Buying Addict

It was a good guitar as thinking it. I thought that it was a guitar that represented Martin though I thought it was a little old. Because it is a peculiar sound, the sound of 42 is loved.hiroshi55su7366

This is a great guitar, and at the price point it brought it should be. In my opinion the tones on the 42s are above the standard series and the neck and body size make it very comfortable to play, really is hard to put down.er73ks2012

I am a petite female and love the size of this Martin Little! I had considered purchasing a baritone ukulele with 6 strings because I wanted a very small body. The Little is larger than a baritone uke but is still within the range of PERFECT and came with an acoustic/electric option so I can jam! I have larger guitars but this little gem is easy to travel with and durable with great sound! I purchased a tuner cause the pick up didn't come with one. Absolutely love the colors on the neck! So happy with my purchase!Chelley

I have had my Little Martin for a couple of years at this point and of the four guitars I own, this is the one that gets played the most. This is because due to the small size and very stable construction materials and techniques, it is always near by, ready to pick up and play at a moments notice. While I keep more expensive and delicate guitars in their hard cases with humidifiers to maintain homeostasis as much as possible, the Little Martin is quite at home on a Jamstand next to my desk. I do keep a Planet Waves humidifier between the strings, even when the LM is on the stand because I live in the NE USA where the winter air in my home is very dry due to forced hot air heating. Since the body of the guitar is the High Pressure Laminate (HPL), it appears to me unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity, but I have found that without the humidifier, the bracing seems to dry out more and the sound can become a little 'pingy'. In fact this was my first impression when I picked it up at the local GC after ordering online. If I had not been able to play one in-store previously, I would have been disappointed with the tone and probably returned it. Instead I put on a new set of strings and put the humidifier between the strings and kept it in the quality Martin gig bag that came with it. Within a week it was sounding much better, more like the one that I tried in-store previously. Since the GC stores have good humidity levels in the acoustic rooms, this is a good way to try out a new guitar (after making sure it is in tune). The only reason that I ordered online to pickup in store was that when I was ready to buy, my local GC did not have it in stock at the time.Ron the eternal guitar novice

Overall: I bought this guitar a little over a month ago. Guitar was in perfect playing condition right out of box. Usually first thing I do is change the strings as soon as I open. But I noticed they were very bright and had no sign of aging. Good thing I didn’t because the lifespan 2.0 strings it comes with are amazing. After 40 plus hours of playing strings still had no dirt or grime on them. I always thought all strings are the same. Probably got 3x the life out of these. So once I plugged it in I couldn’t believe how great it sounded. Every little note was so clear and it picks up all the little accents in my playing so well. You can really hear every note so clear. It is an expensive guitar but if you are a serious player and want the best you will not be disappointed with this guitar. The fishman pickup is great. So much tone. Unplugged sounds great too. Also I wasn’t crazy about how they put the electronics in sound hole. But now I kind of like it now they’re hidden and keeps it looking more natural. They’re in there pretty deep so you won’t hit them when playing. I am familiar with the Grover open back tuners also. They are great very smooth and hold in tune excellent. I must mention I chose this one for the neck profile also the modified low oval is easier on the hands then the performing artist neck. I got the low oval on my 00015M both are great guitars but I needed one with a cutaway and acoustic-electric.Anthony

I'm an amateur guitar player, but a lifetime musician (drummer)… been teaching myself guitar now for several months on a couple different low end guitars. I decided it was time to upgrade. After lots of research, I decide the Martin road series would be the best option for me. I was right… this guitar is amazing, I love the tone, the playability and the space on the fret board. I have little fat fingers and I need the space between the strings. The 1-3/4 nut allows good space for us fat finger dudes. Can't go wrong with the Martin… now I fully understand why Martin is one of the best… I won't be going away from Martin. Found my lifetime guitar!Eric

I'm a gigging musician with over 60 years on guitar. I play finger style mostly. I'm also a singer songwriter. I almost didn't even try this guy. Yes it's a model that's only sold by some retailers but it is still a Martin in every way. I ordered it shipped to store. When I went to pick it up, it was obviously a repack from a GC store and had a few nicks and dings and old nasty strings. The store had thrown a new set of strings in the box but didn't even wipe the guitar down before shipping. I almost refused it and left the store with bad feelings. Fortunately, my local GC offered to restring it and clean it up as a good faith gesture. I agreed to give it a try. Best decision I've made recently. It plays beautifully. Very balanced sound from low to high. Good factory setup with no buzzing anywhere, even when I dig in. Good response and feel from light and delicate finger style to hard strumming. This has become my #1 gigging guitar. The built in tuner and electronics work well and sound great with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Thank you GC for saving a sale and making me a happy old picker.Thomas

I decided to wait until the honeymoon period was over (4 mos) to write a review. I've now come to the realization that it's not going to end. I've been playing for about 50 years, and over the past 10 or so have thoroughly enjoyed splitting time between my Taylor and Washburn. No more! This Martin is easily the most amazing guitar I've ever played. The combination of sound, size, and playability make it very hard to put down. I've been primarily a flat picker all my life, but this guitar begs to be fingerpicked, and I'm happily obliging! Simply put, an outstanding instrument.Jeff

I have been wanting this model for a few years. I knew what I wanted from playing these in stores. I finally bought one from MF. When it arrived I unboxed it and opened the case. Wow these are beautiful guitars. As soon as I started playing I was disappointed. The guitar did not sound like the ones I had played in stores. This on had a muddy small sound. This is not what I expect from spruce and rosewood. Now I am out the shipping cost to return the item. I think I learned a few good lessons here. Always play the guitar you are buying in person. Each and every acoustic guitar has its own sound, no matter how well they are built.dillon

I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and have always loved the sound of Martin guitars. I prefer a "V" shaped neck which is rare these days. I decided to finally purchase a Martin, and decided on this model to get the modified "V" neck. The action and feel are outstanding, and the sound is everything I would expect from Martin. The details and finish are exceptional. I have several guitars, and this one just became my go to acoustic.Mike

Overall: My first thoughts when I took that first strum, was “Guy Clark.,” except I think that man made his own guitars. But if I can describe the first sound I heard or who, that’s what it was, Guy Clark designed this one. It is beautiful and played in tune out of the box. Now I’m just more of a collector than a player, but I some ESP’s, a Yamaha, Taylor 710e, Ovation, an Ibanez, and now this magical Martin D-15M StreetMaster Acoustic. Good luck putting it down before your fingers bleed. At this price point and much above this is a splendid guitar. I can’t wait to hear what it sounds like after it has hours and hours of use on it. Buy one they’ll take it back if you don’t like it, but somehow I don’t see you making that choice. If all the other Martins haven’t convinced you, this one will. If your budget isn’t as high, do yourself a favor and keep saving or pay as you go option.Richard

I literally walked around Sam Ash plucking low E strings listening for a deep rich sound. Martin seemed to have more than anyone else. I liked the look of the Mahogany top/back/sides/neck. The ripples of the grain add a beautiful touch to the color of the wood. The tone has totally warmed up more and grown deeper over the 10 or 11 months she's been home with me. I have the MFX740 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings (Martin strings, they call them Tommy's Choice) on there and it just gives this rich low rumble on the low E and the D strings that if I have my feet up on my desk I can feel on my desk. The ring out is intense and long on this baby. I have not had anyone pick up my Martin and NOT say how much they love the tone of her. I do love the look of no binding… but, I'm going to have to say I do have some dents on the sides where the bindings would be protecting. That said… I'm not sure I care at the same time I think I care. I think that means I want it to be perfect but I also am okay with her getting age marks just as long as it doesn't do some serious damage. I would buy another. I'd buy it for my Dad. I'd buy it for one of my kids if they'd play. If you pick this guitar up you'll probably end up taking it home. Comes with a beautiful martin case with green insides. Acoustic only, don't forget.BasPilot

I have somewhat passively searched for the holy grail of the acoustic/electric bass guitar for years. Most acoustic bass guitars available are less than $500 and sound horrible. I started researching again and found numerous reviews stating that the Martin is heads and shoulders above the rest. I was still hesitant since I didn't know where I could check one out first. I found one in McKinney, TX. I played it unplugged and plugged. I had found it. Since my local music store had recently become a Martin dealer, I was planning to have them order me one. I knew that Martin had recently discontinued production, but they offered to build one and would take about 3 months. I visited a Sam Ash store in Birmingham and another in the Dallas area. I purchased an $8 item and was mildly annoyed as the guy checking me out was asking for everything with the exception of my passport and birth certificate. Now, I'm glad I cooperated. I receive regular emails from Sam Ash. Late one night, I see that they were offering 48 months with no interest. I thought to myself, I wonder if they have a Martin bass. Low and behold, hallelujah, they had a limited stock and was on sale. Well, I applied for the credit and was approved, however, when I tried to check out, I didn't have my new account number. The next morning, I had an email from them announcing a Paul Ash sale. I called Sam Ash and explained my issue during checkout. I asked if there was an additional discount due the sale. He put me on hold for a while and came back and knocked another $70. Two days later, on a Saturday, Fedex delivered the latest addition to my bass family. Of course I would prefer it to be louder unplugged, but it's fine for sitting around playing. Plugged in, it sounds amazing. Too bad Martin discontinued it. I purchased a Thumby and mounted it on the edge of the sound hole. I love this bass and a big fan of Sam Ash.Jeff

If you want the ARCHETYPE, the inspiration, the BEST, Go for a Martin. I have a Gibson Original Jumbo 1934 reissue, that sound like heaven, the Martin is another animal, a perfect pair for my Gibson, I'm not a professional, I love blues and fingerpicking in my home with a cigar and a whiskey and my two acoustics and my OMI Dobro Lilly Of The Valley are a treasure for me! The martin have a striped ebony fingerboard and bridge (I like it but some maybe preffer a black one, well are not black), the sound is clear and a joy! The craftmanship is perfect, the case is very nice, the martin strings sound very good (I bought 3 sets of the same), the rosewood is very nice paired, and the top have a beautiful aged tone. This guitar will be with me all my life. About Guitar Center of Miami Mr Mario and Ignacio are nice people!Alejandro

I'm a new guitarist and consider myself very fortunate to be able to afford an instrument like this. I am nowhere near good enough (yet) to get the most out of this guitar, but I will say that even as a beginner (and long-time music lover) I can really hear the difference between this and lesser guitars, and playing on an instrument like this makes learning more rewarding, and dare I say easier. Anything I hear wrong is clearly my technique, which this guitar rewards when you get it right, and makes obvious when you miss. From simple cowboy chords to picked or fingered individual notes this guitar just has tone to die for. Hit an E minor, hard or soft, and each string resonates with depth, clarity and sustain. Playing this guitar is really a dream come true. Oh, I said I'm a beginner and that means that as I write this I've been playing guitar for all of five months. I'm 52-years-old and take weekly 30 minute lessons, have dabbled in online lessons and practice about 15 to 30 minutes on weekdays and about an hour or two on Saturdays and Sundays. I recently sang and played "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues for my family. Just me, my D-28 and beautiful, room-filling tone. There's nothing better.Andrew

Overall: Played one 10 or so years ago but didn’t get because of other obligations. Never forgot how it played and sounded! Finally got one and it is a truly excellent guitar. I have a Gibson CJ165EC, which I love, and the 000-15M is a totally different sound, which I wanted. Needed some Martin jangle! Out of the box fantastic. The mahogany tone is unmistakable and rich! Neck is a thin Martin neck, which I’m fine with. I’ve been playing for 53+ years so I kinda know what I’m talking about. Putting in a Fishman rate earth soundhole pickup and this will be my busking guitar! Really happy with the guitar and with zZounds. Delivery was fast and purchase was flawless. Highly recommend both the Martin 000-15M and zZounds!!Reverend

I ordered this online after discussing the purchase with Sam Ash Staff, it was in short supply, they scouted all Sam Ash Stores, they found one and it arrived two weeks early just after christmas. My wife loves it! It's her 2nd Martin Guitar and this one is her prize instrument. The staff at our local store were really helpful both with the Order process and preparing the the guitar upon arrival at the store. I asked about the 1st year instrument maintenance option and they were able to update our purchase to include that. The guitar sounds great, my wife loves playing it even though she is a novice. Totally satisfied with the instrument and the staff that helped obtain it. Thanks guys.Britinusa

I have wanted a triple-aught mahogany guitar. I preferred the Guild D20 dread to the Martin D15, but was open-minded about which 000 brand. Didn't like videos on Taylor and Alvarez all hog orchestra models and was very impressed with the Martin videos. So ordered this. Was also a big fan of Kenneth Pattengale and I'm With Her who use the 00-15 model. Let the box sit half a day. Upon opening it I was greeted by this amazing scent. The guitar came set up with low action, slightly detuned. The bridge and fretboard appeared to be stained morado (a very hard and valid wood, harder than rosewood but not quite as much as ebony). Tuners are Grover Statites. They are firm and perhaps a little too sensitive to sometimes dial in. The body was a gorgeous chocolate with amber-orange highlights. The guitar was immaculate. Martin Lifespan 2.0 PB 12-54 strings. It sounded really nice with the ebony pins which were fit absolutely perfectly. However, I had already purchased Blisstime unbleached bone pins which fit perfectly too. I got even more sustain and a more melodic tone, along with greater volume. This improved the strumming tone immensely. May switch to nickel-bronze 12-56 strings, but I will wait for now. The guitar is super-light and weird to hold after dreads. The tone is dark (as expected) but ringing. There is the hog compression, but I was amazed how great this sounded brand new. I did humidity it overnight. Intonation was spot on. The frets were dressed wonderfully with no protruding ends. No truss rod wrench, nor polishing cloth like with my DSS-17. The case had a small ding in the tolex which I was able to bond into place cleanly and disguise. The case is very nice, but without built-in humidification like my Guild. The tone is beautifully even and not bass-heavy like the D15. The treble keeps up with the expected mids. The end pin was not pushed in all the way by me as it was very tight. May opt to have that professionally assessed. I don't gig, so a pickup is not for me. I did get a tortoise pickguard. This is definitely a keeper which I will pamper.Tom

I've owned one of these for years. It doesn't hang well (neck dive), has the sound that you'd expect out of a shoebox sized cavity (no bass), and is over priced. The only reason for owning one of these is if you are severly cramped for space. Get a Baby Taylor, instead of this thing. They are close to the same price, the last time that I checked.Ken

When I first saw these in the CF Martin catalog, I thought how weird looking they were. When I asked at a local shop about them, I was told they would order one for me, but I would not like it! But I liked classical, nylon string guitars and I wanted to own something from CF Martin. Other than this, Martin GTR does not make anything else like that, unless they invented something since I quit looking. I was very fortunate to discover Musicians Friend, and they at one time had these with a passive pickup. These were on sale at a very good price! I ordered one, it arrived in very good shape, in very good time. I fell absolutely totally in love with it, weird shape and all. You could tell it was a Martin, it reeked quality. It's small, the tone is great, but the volume is not huge. Use it for travel, camping, hanging on the wall for odd moments of practice. It's not a case queen, fussy little guitar, but protect it from too much heat and moisture, it is made with wood and glue. With a pickup you could probably blow away a concert hall with it. Look in the sound hole, it will say where it was made there, and tell you to always use extra-lite nylon strings. No truss rod was standard for ages with nylon string guitars, the Backpacker does not have one. Most guitars eventually need the action adjusted to suit the player, including ones costing 10 to 20 times as much as this one. Mine came with a very nice strap and a special gig bag, both very useful. If this appeals to you, don't hesitate to give it a try. I've had mine for years and still love it. Check on you-tube.Still Learning

I have had mine for 10 years or more and enjoy it very much. It's not full body sound it's there to have something to practice and play when on holiday or outside on the deck enjoying a cold one. It doesn't take up much room when packing the car either And yes the one I have is an actual classical backpacker guitar that Martin made years ago. I use it with high tension strings DAddario Pro Arte at standard tuning and it holds up very good stays in tune never have a problem with it going outGerry

I was looking for a second acoustic so I didn't have to keep my D-35 out and exposed to the temperature and humidity fluctuations we get in the Northeast during the winter. I wanted a guitar with a similar profile that would feel like my D-35 (not a practice or parlor guitar). I randomly spotted this guitar and my first thought was "that's…. interesting." The design grew on me and as a history buff I couldn't help but think how cool it would be to have this guitar on my wall for decades. Out of the box, the guitar played horribly. The action was EXTREMELY high on it. The strings that came with it were utter trash. Luckily my friend works on guitars so I had him adjust the truss rod and put on 11 gauge Martin Silk and Steel folk guitar strings. The guitar sounds excellent now; not quite as loud and vibrant as much D-35 but given the price difference, it shouldn't! The look is even better in person than the pictures. This is clearly one of those "love it or hate it" guitar slash artwork situations. As much as I would love to give the guitar 5 stars (where it is currently for me) I have to knock it down to 4 simply because of how bad the truss rod and strings were out of the box. Without those adjustments and the string change, I would've been forced to send the guitar back unfortunately. However if you have the ability to make those changes (you may as well order strings when you order the guitar) AND you dig the look, buy this guitar with no hesitation. I can't imagine not having it now!NoCo Strummer

This guitar sounds so wonderful! Even being the less expensive one. It was an easy purchase. Sam Ash called me each w3eek before and after delivery. I would not hesitate to buy online from Sam Ash again!SAM

I play in a 60's tribute band and I thought this would be a great stage guitar for the show. I was VERY pleased to find out it actually is a very good guitar. I was worried the graphics would kill the tone but the material Martin came up with for the top actually sounds pretty good, plus the Fishman pickup makes it all the better for stage. I may get a sound hole plug to help with stage feedback but my only real wish is that the action was a little better. Its OK, but I prefer a little lower, so I think I'll be adjusting that. All-in-all worth the $600LW

This guitar has beautiful timbre colours and flavors. The VTS treatment makes it sound like it's been playing for 80 years. Beautiful bookmarked Rosewood back, Rosewood sides. Dovetail construction done by CNC machine makes a tighter fit than by hand. Quality wood is same as series 42. Save monies on no pick guard, no white binding, no hardshell case, Dovetail construction on CNC machine ( nodes are more superior), no white on heel bottom,no white strip on bottom where strap pin is at.John

Martin offering an Adirondack VTS top with beautiful rosewood back and sides for under 2k is the deal of a lifetime. You will not regret buying this guitar and I've honestly had trouble putting it down. I have a 00015m, a D18, the SC-13 special burst.. they're all great but this is the first review I've written if that tells you something.Spencer

So, this has always been a dream guitar for me. The weird thing is, I’ve actually owned one before but was not impressed with the sound. I had read in previous reviews that the 000-17’s have a cheap guitar sound, and when I owned the previous guitar I was in agreement with those reviews…so, sold it. However, a year later I played one at a local guitar shop and it punched me in the face!!! It was crunchy, punchy, resonant, and had some real cojones to it! I WAS LIKE “WHAT!!!” This ain’t the same guitar I remember, so, I ordered a new one online. When it arrived, my brand new 000-17 sounded just like my first one (Solid tone, but kinda lifeless). I was pretty let down. I was wondering what the deal was. What was so different between the two that I’ve owned, and the one I played at the shop?? So, before I just sold it AGAIN, I put some Martin Retro 13 gauge strings on it and ebony bridge pins on it and BOOOOM!! There it was!! That had to have been the difference between the two I owned and the punchy bad boy in the shop. This guitar is now the all around banger I hoped and heard it would be!! This guitar should be sold with 13 gauge retros on it, because as the reviews state it does sound slightly cheap with the 12’s. When you add the 13’s it’s like putting a set of nuts on it! This thing deserves an overall 5.0 rating, but I think people (Like I did) get rid of it or bash it before they find out what a beast this thing can be! If you are looking to buy one…DO IT!! Then, add 13 gauge Martin Retro strings (And bone bridge pins), and just wait for this bad boy to attack!! I seriously could go my whole life with this one guitar because of it’s character, voice, tone, punchiness, crunch, resonance, playability, craftsmanship, KILLER STYLE, and all around package!! Just ignore the negative reviews and listen to your boy… GET THIS GUITAR!!Zach Scoggins

I know this is alot of money to spend on a guitar. I am a working man too. I firmly believe this is the most money that a player should be spending on any guitar. I am a guitar PLAYER. I DONT buy guitars to hang on the wall so I can appreciate the gloss finish and drool over the pearl inlays. When I buy a guitar, I intend to play it until it is worn. I have done that with all of my acoustic and my electric guitars. If you are the kind of player who knows a few chords, and likes to sit down and strum a pretty guitar with figured inlays and flashy hardware, this guitar definitely is not the instrument for you. When you buy guitar, you can change every part on it, except the body and the neck. If you're going to buy a guitar with intent to change the neck and body, why not just buy a guitar with the neck and body you want, and change the hardware? If you are a player who is professional, serious, and wants to make a sound for yourself, well this guitar is the guitar for you. Yes, It DOES have the neck AND the body you want. The neck feels incredible. It is UNPARALLELED when it comes to feeling this guitar. Don't believe me? Find one and try playing it. It's like the Rickenbacker of acoustic instruments. The top of the guitar is the first thing that the sound bounces off of, and the shape and bracing in this acoustic allows for the hardwood of the spruce to do its job; to vibrate and give the guitar an excellent punch, and to twang and crunch when picking each string individually. It is an unbeatable sound from the first strum, but the real treat is the resonation. The sides of a guitar are where the it's sound rings after strumming. When you let this guitar ring, it gets a deep, rich, and woody sound from the mahogany sides. Somehow, this guitar is both punchy and gives a solid chimey crunch, but also resonates warmly with a full, rich, and deep sound. I have played and owned MANY guitars, but this one takes the cake. It is the best acoustic I have ever played.Marty

My first gut reaction to this guitar was repulsion. To be fair, I unboxed it in very unflattering light. It was strung with Retro monel strings which I personally do not like at all. I looked at the flat, Whiskey Sunset finish. All splochy and just cringe I wanted to yeet the damned thing. I strummed it twice and put it back in the case.

Two weeks later, one morning I tried it again. I sat in great morning sunlight and noticed it was a guitar going for a totally different vibe than anything else out there. And once I understood what it was it made sense. And I began falling in love with this thing.

Construction is perfect. Materials are top shelf. My top is heavily bear clawed as well as figured. Growth rings are parallel and very tight. Super high quality wood, actually. The neck is one piece mahogany, not glued up. The neck wood is also perfectly quarter sawn. The fret oard wood, though an uncommon rosewood has the basic density and pore structure of ebony, ut us a uniform dark cocoa brown color. Mine looke l8ke brown ebony. And it takes a polish like ebony will. You just dont find this wood quality on guitars at this pricepoint. The wood is as good as in my Larrivee LV03, which is a lot higher end guitar that has similar build quality

The guitar is incredibly light, weighing about 35% less than the Larrivee. It is lightly braced. The top is very "live." Doesnt take much wake it and it is very dynamically responsive. As a result, the guitar has a sort of "reverb" to its tone. It is actually the top being so live that open strings ring very easily. Gives the guitar a different vibe thats really cool. It's a subtle thing and would only matter for fingerstyle.

In fact I see this as exclusively a fingerstyle guitar. This is THE guitar to buy for fingerstyle Delta Blues. Detune it and it sounds greasy, growly, and downright nasty. It's sick. Nothing else I own is even close for this genre. The tone is very mid forward. Very warm. Not a lot of top end detail. Soft attack. Bass is tight and focused, but not overpowering. Perfect for pedaled bass notes. This is one of the fattest sounding gits I've heard heard. In electric guitar world its a Strat or P90, neck pickup position, tone rolled back a bit.

I would highly recommend the 000-17 for fingerstyle playing where dynamically responsive, mid forward, aggressive, warm fat tone is wanted. But the guitar isn't a good choice if you aren't a Bluesman. Flatpicking on the 000-17 sounds like poo tbh. You arent going to like it for strumming Kumbayah.

The 000-17 perfect for Blues. And thats great because thats what I wanted it for.Ken Smith

After playing guitar for almost 50 years, I finally obtained a job that afforded me the opportunity to purchase, what has turned out to be, the best sounding guitar I've owned. She is so responsive to how you play, dig in for more volume, ease up for someone else's lead.. she does not disappoint. I'm in awe every time I play it. Even my picking buddies are blow away by her. Saddle was a little high, but after a good set up, she plays like she sounds…beautiful.Paul

The box arrived that was originally sealed with big copper staples by Martin. I carefully opened the box, removed the case with guitar. I open the case not knowing what to expect as it was bought sight unseen. I open the case and was immediately hit with the smell of rosewood while my eyes gazed upon a gorgeous flawless work of art. I removed the guitar, tuned it up and was swept away with the huge, harmonically-rich tone. The action was absolutely perfect out of the case (low). It was so comfortable to play I thought the strings were light gauge 11's, but a micrometer confirmed they were medium 13's. The only thing I will swap out is the bridge pins and end piece. They are plastic. I will replace them with bone or titanium. If you do the same, make sure that the taper is 5 degrees, size 2A. This is not my first Martin. I've had a D-28 and D-35S. The last time I owned one was in 1985. The great quality is still the same. What a great guitar from a great company!Mike McLenison

In 1974 a friend of mine got a '65 Brazilian rosewood HD-35 for Christmas. I have wanted one ever since. I have played for 50 years and owned many fine instruments, all the names you know. IMHO this is the BEST acoustic guitar made by anyone! It's drop-dead beautiful, sounds extremely deep and rich, plays like butter, and being all-solid-wood, ages very well. Truthfully it is also a source of great pride of ownership, always recognized by those who are "in the know" about fine guitars. It IS expensive (and how!) but worth every penny. I suggest waiting for the 48-month, no-interest financing.Clint C.

I have been really enjoying the OMJM. It actually feels quite similar to a shorter scale guitar, as the neck is so good. only you can properly strum it like a dreadnought if you want to, it feels great having the power and versatility to do so on a smaller bodied guitar. The neck plays great also for the bluesier things too. The sound of it is fantastic, so articulate, and it records so well, you literally don’t have to eq it in anyway, it is so balanced whereby no bass notes/treble notes over power the others even when fingerpicking. very inspiring instrumentReviewed by Project Music custom

I think this is a great guitar. It is a very specific guitar, though. Martin makes nothing else like this. It has a very similar body to the OM-28 and Clapton models, but the neck really sets the guitar apart. The lower profile neck makes it almost play like an electric guitar. I wasn't going exactly for the John Mayer tone, in buying this guitar, but it definitely factored into the purchase. What really sets the guitar apart are the specs. I loved the OM-28 V, and even liked the tone in that guitar a tiny bit more than in the OMJM, because it has a different type of bracing, but I went with the OMJM because the neck, because I couldn't live with the v neck, and the difference in tone is really negligible. I got this guitar as an impusle purchase. I was looking for guitars from the $1,000-$1,500 price range. I figured, though that in that range, especially with Martins and Taylors, I would not have ended up completely satisfied. I saw no point in buying a guitar in that range, especially, as it would be something I could see myself getting rid of after a handful of years. So, I ended up taking a risk with the OMJM and it really paid off. Everyhting quality wise that I was hoping for, and I can see myself keeping this guitar indefinitely. Moreover, just playing the guitar has inspired me and allowed me to reach a new level of playing. It is almost as if my job is to just release songs from this guitar, and they just write themselves. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend investing in this guitar. I can only look forward to it becoming more beautiful with age. The guitar comes with Martin's thinline + pickup system. I actually prefer this system for its simplicity. Though you cannot have complete tone control, all you have to do is plug and play. I have only had enough time to play one show with it, and I plugged it straight into the PA system. I was very surprised at how great the guitar sounded through the system, and found that the pickups reproduced a very accurate and clear tone. In purchasing this guitar, I was looking at a players' series model with the aurora system. Though the guitars do not compare, I was less inclined to purchase one of the players series. Though the features are great on that system, I was most nervous about out of warranty repairs. Though the thinline system in the OMJM is simple by comparrison to Taylor's ES, or the Aurora system, it won't be a huge cost to replace down the road if things go wrong with it. I also enjoy the system because the OMJM retains the look of a true acoustic, and the only thing that gives it away is the jack incorprated into the strap button. The quality on this guitar is up there with the best guitars I have ever played. Though the guitar looks stellar in pictures, you really have to see the guitar in person to appreciate the workmanship. Furthermore, the inlays and bindings are very tastefully done. They are not too flashy, and when included with the vintage toner and open gear tuners, they really make for a rich looking guitar. The guitar looks especially great in the case, as the maroon liner really complements the vintage toner and finish. The finish upon receiving the guitar was flawless and the aroma of the rosewood sides and spruce top really hit you when you first open the case. I have had the guitar for a couple of months now and that smell is still one of my favorite qualities of the guitar. Even the small things, like the pickguard which was perfectly flawlessly polished and was of a much higher quality than the printed tortoise shell pickguards of other similarly priced guitars. In terms of tone, I don't think anything beats this guitar. I am partial to rosewoods, but this guitar really sings, given that it is a narrower and smaller body. This guitar plays everything well from strumming to fingerstyle. I love how not only is the guitar loud and warm, but it gives more of a raw, masculine tone. I think a lot of people feel that you are paying for the name with this guitar, but it is based off of the OM-28 vintage, and that guitar is $3100 dollars. With the OMJM, you get not only the pickup system installed, but also higher quality inlays in the bridge pins and the paua rosette lining the soundhole. Is it worth the $200 dollar premium? More or less, yes. I was a little disappointed with the case. The black layer began to peel less than a month into owning the guitar. Also, the locking latch keeps jamming and when it pops out, the top slams back down. I don't think it is bad, but just another annoying thing. Aesthetically, it is a great case, but it has not up to the standards I was hoping for. Also, not a big fan of the "JMC" embroidered on it. Always face questions about whose initials they are.Mdn25

I both strum and fingerpick and this guitar just sings. It wasn't so out of the box, terrible action! A trip to my luthier friend and she came alive! Delivery was a bit late and nerve racking but all was good when i first opened the case… wow what a gorgeous sight and that smell… wow!David

Just fantastic Well, how do I make this clear. First of all, an acoustic guitar is really just a mirror made out of wood;l in other words, whatever you can do, IT will do. I've been playing almost 30 years and can tell you that learning to play steel-string is an EVOLUTION. An evolution of your taste, your ability, but also it's a continued undestanding of what makes a guitar sing: Voicings and strings. Without all these things you cannot evolve. What a martin brings to the table (ESP the D-45) is the vehicle to make these expressions in my opoinion. For example, I play the same thing on 2 guitars and one of them is a D-45 — THAT is where we should begin the review, a comparison to a baseline variable. I've owned both old klunkers and nice steel string guitars. But it wasn't until late '07 that I had the dough to lay down on a Marty. I went with a D-42 for econ reasons (about 3400.00 at that time). She was a beut' … However, a few years later I went into the shop and test drove a new D-4 and let me tell you there was just NO comparison there…. NONE. The D-45, when put together correctly and set to go is about as close to driving a Ferarri Enzo as a working-class guitarist can ever get. She was so fast, and so bright, big, and loud it was jaw-dropping — not only for me, but for several others in the sound room, no kindding. I decided right then and there I would lay down the money to get her. And only this particular one, too. Each one is different. YOU MUST SHOP and COMPARE. This is the nicest guitar I've ever played in my life….. Endless enjoyment is hard to put a price on.Jon Mould

I also own a Gibson J-200, and the feel of this guitar is just so different and special. It plays so much easily and without effort. Having said that, I'm still playing with strings and determining which works best for me, but regardless of what I've used so far, I have not been disappointed. On top of the amazing sound, it is probably the most beautiful piece of art that I have ever seen. Not only does it sound better than probably any other acoustic you will get your hands on, but it will also leave you with a sense of pride that you own a work of art that will stand the test of time as you pass it down generation to generation.P-Dogg

I own two other Martins (1970 D12-35 and1971 D42) both of which have aged beautifully and sound incredible. Both guitars needed to be set up, as back then out of the box from Martin high actions seemed to be the norm. Took a Martin factory tour in PA a few years ago and was floored by a demo stock D28. I've wanted one ever since. Walked into a Guitar Center while in NJ on a whim (alone, wife would have dragged me off) and tried various D28's, and even a D45. When I got to the D28 MD, well, it was all over. Haggled over price, then purchased it – this was back in Feb 2020, pre-Covid. Loved it out of the box. Pleke'd for perfect action, (absolutely no setup needed), beautifully appointed and incredible clear and distinctive bass, treble mid-range, whether finger picked (using finger picks or just fingers) or picking. It's now August, 6 months later, and…the sound is still a jaw-dropper every time I play. If you want a premium sounding player, that is also visually satisfying without being ostentatious, and your budget can permit, this is the one.Steven

The Martin "Special OM-28 VTS" guitar is outstanding in every way. WOW! It arrived with a perfect set-up. Its case is also a small upgrade over Martin 15 and 17 series' wood covered cases, and good enough. I contacted Martin about the VTS top on the guitar before buying. I wanted to know that if after torrefaction the top was going to continue to age, albeit much more slowly that new wood? My question was answered promptly by a customer service employee at Martin who said he asked my question to Martin's head of Instrument Design. The answer was yes, the VTS top will continue to age, very slowly. So, it is not a dead top. Derek was my sales associate and he could not have been more kind and patient. After all, buying a higher-end Martin isn't cheap. My guitar is labeled "Special" on its wooden serial number plate and not "Custom." The sales tags say "Custom." Guitar Center/Musicians Friend ordered 100 a of these exact guitars as a "Custom" order from Martin. It sold out and ordered more. The extras, mine included are called "Custom." I knew this before I made my purchase. My "Special OM-28 VTS" guitar is of heirloom quality.Chris

I wanted a rosewood 000 or OM. Almost brought a used omjm a couple different times. MF has had some smoking sales lately and I missed a couple good deals because I didn't pull the trigger. When this beacame part of the FALL sale knowing the omjm and 000-28ec is based on this basic model and this model had VTS, I just did it, tossed aside self control, took the heavyest one they had and here it is. After a few self tweaks to the truss rod, lowering the saddle a couple mm, like tone wowsville, this sounds as loud and has as much bass response as my HD-28e retro. Even my wife noticed. You know how wives are, they let us have multiple guitars so we don't get multiple girl friends, and she noticed how good this sounded over an HD28e retro, an 000-18e retro, a gpcpa1 big leaf maple custom shop, a 000-15m, she never knows what I am playing until this guitar. Now if she knows and hears the difference imagine how much I and you will notice how fripping sweet this guitar sounds and plays. This sounds incredibly good and should be added to your arsenal of guitars. The neck is like butter. Adding Fishman AG series passive piezo for electronics. My top has red streaks going through it, says sitka but I've only seen Engleman red spruce like that. The VTS is amazing, Better get one of these before none are left! I think I got the next to last one.OttoMatick

It was a good guitar as thinking it. I thought that it was a guitar that represented Martin though I thought it was a little old. Because it is a peculiar sound, the sound of 42 is loved.hiroshi55su7366

This is a great guitar, and at the price point it brought it should be. In my opinion the tones on the 42s are above the standard series and the neck and body size make it very comfortable to play, really is hard to put down.er73ks2012

I have been really enjoying the OMJM. It actually feels quite similar to a shorter scale guitar, as the neck is so good. only you can properly strum it like a dreadnought if you want to, it feels great having the power and versatility to do so on a smaller bodied guitar. The neck plays great also for the bluesier things too. The sound of it is fantastic, so articulate, and it records so well, you literally don’t have to eq it in anyway, it is so balanced whereby no bass notes/treble notes over power the others even when fingerpicking. very inspiring instrumentReviewed by Project Music custom

I think this is a great guitar. It is a very specific guitar, though. Martin makes nothing else like this. It has a very similar body to the OM-28 and Clapton models, but the neck really sets the guitar apart. The lower profile neck makes it almost play like an electric guitar. I wasn't going exactly for the John Mayer tone, in buying this guitar, but it definitely factored into the purchase. What really sets the guitar apart are the specs. I loved the OM-28 V, and even liked the tone in that guitar a tiny bit more than in the OMJM, because it has a different type of bracing, but I went with the OMJM because the neck, because I couldn't live with the v neck, and the difference in tone is really negligible. I got this guitar as an impusle purchase. I was looking for guitars from the $1,000-$1,500 price range. I figured, though that in that range, especially with Martins and Taylors, I would not have ended up completely satisfied. I saw no point in buying a guitar in that range, especially, as it would be something I could see myself getting rid of after a handful of years. So, I ended up taking a risk with the OMJM and it really paid off. Everyhting quality wise that I was hoping for, and I can see myself keeping this guitar indefinitely. Moreover, just playing the guitar has inspired me and allowed me to reach a new level of playing. It is almost as if my job is to just release songs from this guitar, and they just write themselves. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend investing in this guitar. I can only look forward to it becoming more beautiful with age. The guitar comes with Martin's thinline + pickup system. I actually prefer this system for its simplicity. Though you cannot have complete tone control, all you have to do is plug and play. I have only had enough time to play one show with it, and I plugged it straight into the PA system. I was very surprised at how great the guitar sounded through the system, and found that the pickups reproduced a very accurate and clear tone. In purchasing this guitar, I was looking at a players' series model with the aurora system. Though the guitars do not compare, I was less inclined to purchase one of the players series. Though the features are great on that system, I was most nervous about out of warranty repairs. Though the thinline system in the OMJM is simple by comparrison to Taylor's ES, or the Aurora system, it won't be a huge cost to replace down the road if things go wrong with it. I also enjoy the system because the OMJM retains the look of a true acoustic, and the only thing that gives it away is the jack incorprated into the strap button. The quality on this guitar is up there with the best guitars I have ever played. Though the guitar looks stellar in pictures, you really have to see the guitar in person to appreciate the workmanship. Furthermore, the inlays and bindings are very tastefully done. They are not too flashy, and when included with the vintage toner and open gear tuners, they really make for a rich looking guitar. The guitar looks especially great in the case, as the maroon liner really complements the vintage toner and finish. The finish upon receiving the guitar was flawless and the aroma of the rosewood sides and spruce top really hit you when you first open the case. I have had the guitar for a couple of months now and that smell is still one of my favorite qualities of the guitar. Even the small things, like the pickguard which was perfectly flawlessly polished and was of a much higher quality than the printed tortoise shell pickguards of other similarly priced guitars. In terms of tone, I don't think anything beats this guitar. I am partial to rosewoods, but this guitar really sings, given that it is a narrower and smaller body. This guitar plays everything well from strumming to fingerstyle. I love how not only is the guitar loud and warm, but it gives more of a raw, masculine tone. I think a lot of people feel that you are paying for the name with this guitar, but it is based off of the OM-28 vintage, and that guitar is $3100 dollars. With the OMJM, you get not only the pickup system installed, but also higher quality inlays in the bridge pins and the paua rosette lining the soundhole. Is it worth the $200 dollar premium? More or less, yes. I was a little disappointed with the case. The black layer began to peel less than a month into owning the guitar. Also, the locking latch keeps jamming and when it pops out, the top slams back down. I don't think it is bad, but just another annoying thing. Aesthetically, it is a great case, but it has not up to the standards I was hoping for. Also, not a big fan of the "JMC" embroidered on it. Always face questions about whose initials they are.Mdn25

I both strum and fingerpick and this guitar just sings. It wasn't so out of the box, terrible action! A trip to my luthier friend and she came alive! Delivery was a bit late and nerve racking but all was good when i first opened the case… wow what a gorgeous sight and that smell… wow!David