Martin Guitar OM-28

Classic Orchestra Model for Balanced Versatility

The Martin OM-28 is a revered acoustic guitar from the Orchestra Model (OM) series, handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania since the 1930s. Renowned for its balanced tone and comfortable playability, it’s a favorite of fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and artists like John Mayer and Jason Isbell across Australia. Featuring a solid Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides, the OM-28 delivers articulate clarity and rich harmonics, making it ideal for folk, blues, and acoustic pop.

Exceptional Sound Quality

The OM-28’s scalloped X-bracing and premium tonewoods create a versatile, expressive voice:

• Body: Orchestra Model (000-14 fret) with a solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner) for bright, clear projection and dynamic response, paired with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for warm mids and resonant lows. The smaller OM body offers a more focused, articulate tone compared to dreadnoughts, with excellent note separation for fingerpicking.
• Tone: Balanced and nuanced with crisp highs, rich mids, and controlled bass, perfect for fingerstyle, flatpicking, and studio recording. The scalloped bracing enhances volume and tonal complexity, offering a refined sound that shines in intimate settings.
• Neck: Select hardwood with a modified low oval profile and high-performance taper for comfortable playability. The East Indian rosewood fingerboard has a 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, and Style 28 diamond/square inlays for smooth fretting.
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood with a drop-in bone saddle for precise intonation and enhanced sustain.
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with butterbean buttons for reliable tuning and vintage aesthetics.
• Strings: Light-gauge phosphor bronze (e.g., Martin Authentic Acoustic SP) for balanced tone and ease of play.

A 2025 Premier Guitar review praises the OM-28 as “a fingerstyle dream,” noting its “articulate, bell-like clarity and rich rosewood warmth.” Users on The Acoustic Guitar Forum call it “the perfect balance of volume and nuance,” with one stating, “The 2025 OM-28 feels more open than older models, with tighter bass and sparkling highs.”

Durable and Timeless Design

• Finish: Hand-rubbed gloss nitrocellulose with aging toner on the top for a vintage patina.
• Aesthetics: Style 28 appointments include herringbone trim, multi-stripe rosette, and diamond/square inlays for elegant, classic styling.
• Build Quality: Solid woods with a dovetail neck joint for optimal vibration transfer, bone nut/saddle, and premium craftsmanship for lifelong durability. Weighing approximately 4–4.5 lbs, it’s lightweight and comfortable for extended play.

Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the OM-28 is built to last generations. Prices range from $2,999–$3,299 USD (AUD 4,500–4,950) as of September 2025, available at AudioShop Australia with fast delivery.

Key Performance Features

• Body: Orchestra Model (000-14 fret), solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner), solid East Indian rosewood back/sides
• Neck: Select hardwood, modified low oval profile, high-performance taper
• Fingerboard: East Indian rosewood, 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, Style 28 diamond/square inlays
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood, drop-in bone saddle
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with butterbean buttons
• Bracing: Standard X, scalloped, forward-shifted
• Nut/Saddle: Bone
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Notes

• No Electronics: Pure acoustic; for amplified use, consider the OM-28E variant with Fishman electronics.
• Setup Recommendation: Professional setup advised to optimize action and intonation for fingerstyle precision. Use light-gauge strings (e.g., 11–52) for balanced projection. Pair with Rode PodMic and RØDECaster Pro II for recording demos.
• Care Instructions: Store in a hardshell case (~$200–$300 AUD) to protect the nitro finish; maintain humidity (45–55% RH) to prevent cracking.
• Warranty: Register at martinguitar.com for support; verify purchase from authorized retailers like AudioShop Australia.
• Community Feedback: The Acoustic Guitar Forum users praise its “bell-like clarity” and “perfect size for fingerstyle,” noting the 2025 model’s “more open tone” compared to earlier versions. Sweetwater reviews highlight its “rich rosewood warmth” and “playability for all styles.”

Why Choose AudioShop Australia

• 100% genuine Martin products with manufacturer warranty
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• Trusted by guitarists and performers at AudioShop Australia