Collings OM2H vs Martin 00028EC
Robin Coleman
I need opinions comparing Collings OM2H vs. Martin 00028EC
BobApplg8
>I need opinions comparing Collings OM2H vs. Martin 00028EC
Robin,
My background is 30+ yrs as a semi pro player with a strong emphasis on
fingerpicking styles of playing. I was a MArtin dealer for years and have
owned a lot of Martins and been generally very happy with both the workmanship
and the sound quality of the Martin instruments. Up until about two years ago
I had played mostly Martins (000, OM, J and D series) plus a Taylor, Guild and
Larivee. The best of these was the SOM-45 which was made during the Martin
strike in the late 70's, which I still own.
However, I played a Collings Clarence White model a few years back which
literally took my breath away. It took me a few years to save the money and
find one (very difficult as only one person sells them nationally). Two years
ago I found the one for me, a CW28 in Brazilian Rosewood with Adirondak spruce
top. After playing that guitar I found an OM Collings, same woods.
When I compared the Collings OM (brand new, new strings, same action setup
etc..) to my Martin OM the clarity and bell like harmonics of the Collings made
it sound as though the Martin was filled with rags. This was comparing a
guitar which had been played a lot and was past the point of significant break
in type of tone changes to a one week old never played instrument. That the
Collings would even be in a similar league as the SOM45 was amazing to all who
heard the test. I have showed the Collings to many of my guitar buddies who
loved the SOM45 until they heard it side by side with the Collings.
All that said, I don't think you can go wrong with either guitar. I just think
you should seriously consider a Collings OM as a worthy rival to the Martin
which they are so closely patterned after. I honestly don't know how Bill
Collings makes a new instrument sound as good as he does, but I am sure glad he
does. As fond as I am of Martin guitars, and I do think they are the best high
volume instrument producer, I sometimes wonder if we would all be experiencing
this wonderful quality revival that is occuring with Martin if it was not for
the small builders like Collings who developed guitars a few years back that
were significantly better than the new Martins of the time. Just a thought.
Happy Playing,
Bob Applegate
Philip Wheelock
In article <355CB080...@earthlink.net>, Robin Coleman
<rgusc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> I need opinions comparing Collings OM2H vs. Martin 00028EC
I was at my usual local music store yesterday; they have a Collings OM2H,
a Martin OM28VR and a Martin OOO28EC. That particular 000 didn't stand up
to the other two, and has been for sale there for four or five months. The
other two were sensational and the choice would be hard to make, although
I seemed to like the OM28VR a little bit more.
Philip
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Mike Matthews
I had a simular experience with a Collings OM-3 and a Martin Perry Bechtel
OM-28 GOM. I had played the Martin for around three years so it was well
broken in. I was very happy with it. Then on a whim at my local shop(they
stuck it under my nose) I played the Collings. I couldn't believe what I
was hearing and returned again after going home to confirm my opinion and
finally bringing in the Martin to AB the two of them side by side. The
Collings was a degree of magnitude better in sound and construction
quality!! The Martin sounded dull and felt crude by comparison. The
Collings also came standard with a compensated bone saddle and a bone nut,
had string relief cuts in the bridge and ebony bridge and end pins. No
corners cut here. The attention to detail in what was essentially the same
price range has made me wonder what Martin is thinking. Also the Martin
top began to distort and sink almost from the first month I owned it while
the Collings shows every sign of being a very long lasting and structurally
sound instrument for myself and whoever ends up with it when I die. My
shop now has a new Collings program. For 10 bucks a month they won't show
me any more Collings.( I think my wife is paying the money) Just to tweak
the story a little more, I had always thought that Martins were the
absolute best there was or ever could be since I was a boy so this isn't
just a frivolous comparison. I still like Martins. I own an OM-21 that
goes everywhere with me but the Collings(and all the ones I have tried) is
vastly better. I'm twice blessed because my local dealer has 10 Collings
at all times and about 30 Martins (not including the Vintage room) and the
Collings are allways better sounding than any of the Martins right out of
the box. I guess I'm just trying to say that I don't think this is a
special case, they really are exceptional instruments. I'm still trying to
sell the OM-28 so I had a friend over this evening and we tried both
instruments and the difference is actually shocking. Play the Martin-you
get one sound-and it's a good sound. Play the Collings and you lose a
Martin sale STAT. Nobody else is going to play my Collings until I sell
that Martin. ($2800.00 if anyone is interested)
Mike Matthews
mer...@pop.dakotacom.net