2018 Martin 000-28 and OM-28 Acoustic Guitar Comparison

How's 2018 going so far? Well, that's for another day. However, let's talk about something we all love, Martin guitars! Our own Chris McKee is going to discuss the differences between two of Martin's more popular models: the 000-28 and the OM-28. While they don't appear to be too different, subtle changes in bracing and scale length change the timbre and other aspects of the instruments. So without further ado, take the video for a spin, an let us know what you think. Play A Note, Change Your Life!
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[@BrianWMay]

Beautifully and clearly explained. I've owned my 000-28 for over ten years and it's a beautiful instrument, I don't think you can go wrong.

[@oneamongall8861]

I bought a used OM 28v five years ago and the minute I pulled it out of the case it transformed me.The comfort of the smaller body and the richness of the overtones make me smile even today. Hard to put down.

[@artgallery743]

000-28 4:54 OM28 6:31 The shorter scale would make the stretch of complex chords easier as the frets are slightly closer together. When having to stretch your fingers, then having to be able to hold the string down so it rings through clearly is often a challenge.

[@eurly93]

except also way less space to place your fingers

[@midnight4109]

@@eurly93 Easier to make chords because the frets are closer together but not the strings.

[@sanddab]

I just bought the 000-28 and I absolutely love it.

[@whayneneal]

I've played one nearly 20 years. It is a dear old friend. Enjoy it!

[@sierinlang]

000's are great.. i got a d28 and my dad got the 000-13... even though that guitar is half the price of mine i love it just as i love the d28..

[@iridge1]

To my ears the OM has more of what I feel Martin is famous for, great deep tone and power all over the neck.

[@maplebones]

They're more famous for being overpriced, and both these guitars check that box.

[@wideningcarrot6]

@@maplebonesstop being poor?

[@MADRE-GUY]

It’s so nice to see someone do a comparison correctly same thing same thing same thing. Well done. I’ll be coming back for more.

[@austingal9869]

Chris, great explanation. The 000 for me, but both were exceptional. One of these days, I’ll drive to SA and talk to you about finding the right guitar. Thanks for your reviews.

[@texhaines9957]

4 years later, still good advice.

[@nodismattoleari7272]

Also 5 years 😊

[@marcrichardson8011]

Great video. 000 for me.

[@smallbuj7605]

Marc Richardson Same here. I feel like the triple 0 has THE sound an acoustic guitar should have.

[@el34glo59]

​@@smallbuj7605 👍👍

[@alexmontalvolarealtor]

that was an excellent explanation!! I truly appreciate this video!

[@piper5johnny]

This was excellent! Professor Chris never missed a beat and explained the differences with superb clarity. The OM won for me but both are beautiful instruments. Many thanks for this clip!

[@poguie]

Great explanation and playing Chris... one of these days I'll come from Sydney, Australia and talk to you about finding the right guitar! I used to own a Martin 0028 Eric Clapton model and regret letting it go, we bought a vintage lounge suite with the money so at least I'm sitting on it every night!! Nice work though... thank you.

[@jukkahoppania3847]

Just ordered OM 28 from our local store. That sounds so incredible. I’ve had D-18 ten years go but i sold it… Can’t wait to get my hands on that beautiful guitar and sense the senct of genuine wooden quality instrument! ❤️

[@rayagnew8840]

Thank you -- great comparison and really fine education on the differences between the 000 and OM. And the recordings are really helpful. Well done!

[@WhiteFlowerrr]

Thank you for explaining the differences, what that actually means for the sound and how it works scientifically. I’d like to see more videos like this. 😁

[@supersalopian8530]

000 sounded a bit muddy to me. OM was still warm but not too much so, plus it has that wonderful clarity. Definately the OM for me in this comparison.

[@guyincognito320]

Use Tusq on a 000. So you get the easier playing but retain the aggressive sound, stronger highs.

[@maplebones]

There is as much difference between 2 OM's or 2 000's as there is between a random OM and an 000. If you find a good one of either, buy it. If you find a dog, leave it in the shop.

[@paulspitale1585]

Chris, You are so very competent in your explanation of these beautiful Martin Guitars. Both these instruments have unique qualities that you, explained so very well. One of these days I will play good enough to own one for sure... I so enjoy your guitar playing & commentary .........

[@GabrieleSantoro]

This could be the best comparison video 000-OM on KZbin. He explains perfectly the differences and the audio clip show them, at last!, clearly. (Me, I am for the 000)

[@davidpomella1265]

Best explanation ever heard, clear and concise....everyone can understand this

[@jasonrambler4353]

You are an excellent communicator!!! Thank you for this great work!

[@kennybluet5527]

Great review and nice playing.Appreciate these videos

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

Nice review and performance!! I love my OM-28 standard made in around 2013. At that time I tried 000-28 as well as OM-28. As Chris mentioned, 000-28 is reimagined so that a present 000-28 is different tone. I wanna try it.

[@bobcabo4509]

I have five 000's and one OM. They really all sound a little different because of the wood used, but I did like the projection of the OM here.

[@artgallery743]

This is a good review, concise description and playing demonstration and minor mistake at 4:39 where he is holding the 000 but mixes up what he says. The improvement on neck, high performance neck taper 2-1/8" at 12th fret 2-5/32" at bridge at least on dreadnoughts referred to the P in model number such as for example the D-28MP or HD-28MP models which instead of the standard 1-11/16" nut width have 1-3/4" which I like. The 000-28 also used to be differentiated by narrower 1-11/16" nut width without scalloped bracing. You would have to find an older discontinued 000-28 for 1-11/16" nut width (but didn't have scalloped bracing) or the also discontinued 000-28H for 1-11/16" nut width and the scalloped 5/16" bracing.

[@benfranklin3638]

I went looking for an acoustic around 2015 and tried many at Sweetwater (I use to live close). With my smaller hands and preference for blues , I thought I'd go with a 000 size, I tried many different 000 models, and none had the tone I was looking for, then I started looking into OM models and they really resonated with me (no pun intended). I ended up getting an OM-JM and am still happy with the decision many years later. The neck was a really good fit for my hands.

[@Ian10111]

You can’t beat that amazing martin tone! Awesome review chis! Can’t wait to come visit the store! Texas proud 😄🤘🎸

[@DavidGriffis]

Great explanation. The 000 sound warmer for sure and the OM chimes more as you explained. I got a 000-13e and shaved off half the price.

[@wlskyrme2193]

Thanks Chris, Love the reviews yall do. from U.K.

[@tjcolatrella943]

Very Informative well done!

[@Baci302]

The OOO reminds me very much of Clive Gregson's sound in his acoustic sets with Christine Collister. I always wondered why some acoustics were easier to play. Now I know why. Thanks!

[@dougalmuir]

Hi Chris, I recently bought a new 000-28 and since then I have been looking at the difference between the OM and the 000 series. Thanks a lot, your video has been great to really understand both bracing and scale. Cheers! - oh and yeah - it's gorgeously warm in tone.

[@Captain_Nightspore]

Great explanation, thank you.

[@kenbina]

I'm almost certain you got something in reverse order @ 4:40. I thought the Guitar in your lap 000-28 has the warmer tone. Good review though. Very informative. 👍😃

[@markarita3]

Yeah, I caught that too. At 3:09 he says the 000 has the warmer sound, but then at 4:47 he points to OM and says "that one has warmer tone".

[@Nickreds20]

Yes! Make up your mind, man hahahaha.

[@el34glo59]

000 sounded beautiful. Throw an Addy top on there, thinned, and you're really in business. 000-28 Custom Authentic 1937 for instance

[@gijsbertuslaurensvandevooren]

Om for me, although I like the idea of less tension.

[@maplebones]

If you want less tension, tune it down a half tone. I like it down a whole tone.

[@tonyz8929]

Absolutely great call comparison!

[@twareProductions]

The OM's sound just has the depth that I really like. While I strum and play with my thumb, the wider neck at the nut is a nice feel actually. I have no issues with bending strings on the OM either... plus I love the look of the tear drop pick-guard.

[@DevvDogg68]

I have never once noticed the pickguard difference until now 😅

[@el34glo59]

Might as well go dread if you're going full scale

[@dougfitch3649]

You put out the best videos of this kind.

[@VVIan-cn5cs]

5:13 vs 6:51 for fingerstyle

[@peterbonanno846]

0M-28 is simply the most beautiful sounding guitar.

[@Andy-M.1833]

Love your channel and your explanations. 👍

[@corcaccia]

For me, the primary reason to go to the 000 is the bendability of the short scale while fingerstyling bendy blues licks. Bending the strings is a joy on the shortscale 000, while the stiffer long scale OM has much more thrust as you play along with banjos and mandolins, or the dreadnoughts so often preferred by most teenage boys (and lots of older teenagers, too). The ergonomics of playing long sets take a toll on singers that are smaller than Dave Matthews, and the smaller Martins, like Joan Baez's 0-45 are ergonomically better suited for her posture and frame. Most of the OMs I've seen have a 1 11/16th nut, while the traditional Martin 000 has the 1 3/4 nut, preferred by fingerstyle artists like Eric Clapton.

[@el34glo59]

Exactly. Also a good 000 can sound just as good, while being more bendable. Just try a 000-28 Custom Authentic 1937

[@jasonshrestha]

5:00 5:12 6:37 6:50

[@Le_Comte_De_Toulouse]

We can hear clearly the tone difference and the 000 and the OM sound absolutely beautiful ! It is just a matter of taste actually.

[@davidhale1568]

40 years ago just after I made my first guitar I visited a local guitar shop and asked the guy if I could try one of the shorter scale guitars. He promptly told me that if the scale was shorter than twenty five and a half then it wasn't a guitar and wouldn't work ha ha. I knew I'd be wasting my time putting him right.....I digress the 000 sounds more personal.

[@maurocasanova9929]

Many difference ….om 28 is brighter than 000! Your video is very clear. I bought an Om yesterday and i’m very happy because I wanted a Martin with a bright tone and I had to choose between these two guitars

[@aliceverheij]

What a great review!

[@boilermaker222]

So informative. Thanks very much

[@FrugalInventor]

000-28 5:13 OM-28 6:51

[@2121toso]

Very nice and clear explanation

[@azcharlie2009]

Your playing makes any guitar sound great!

[@dustinadair7893]

Where your picking makes one of the biggest tonal differences people don’t often pay attention to when comparing guitars.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Scale length is a big deal, but I think the bracing difference is a way bigger deal. When the d-35 first came out, the only difference between them that mattered was the 1/4” bracing on the d-35. People insist the three piece back makes the d-35 bassier. No way. It’s the bracing. The three piece back has incredibly negligible impact. 1/16” difference is a big difference or a d-35 wouldn’t have sounded any different. But it did.

[@buskingbetty7135]

Love the demo tunes you play. :-) Like both guitars.

[@kwaktak]

Wow. I had no idea that a rosewood 000 could sound so warm. I’ve owned a long scale rosewood/sitka OM from another maker (Larrivee) and can confirm that this size body can project very well but lack the ability to be overdriven and requires a lighter touch on the right hand while having a king fu grip on the left. I also get the impression that the shorter scale length is easier on the fingers.

[@chrisnorawitchayakul3332]

Love them both.

[@iAmWorldsDestroyerOfDeath]

Couldn’t hear the difference on my 2005 iPhone speakers. Must sound the same in person.

[@HailRider]

Discussing Martin Guitars wearing a Fender Shirt ;-) Love it! For me, I found the OM had a warmer and more even tone. Both a very nice sounding. I primarily play Fender and Taylor. Love the explaination. I learned something.

[@mr.bumble8400]

Both guitars sure are good to hear

[@billberge1080]

Picked up a OM-28 custom modern deluxe, about two years ago. When I leave the house for a small trip, I have my dog, phone wallet and you guessed it, my OM-28. Next step it to get the Dread not version. Best time to see it, is in the morning, I do about two hours/day on it with Elixer Light strings, (tried the MARTINS BTW). Very comfortable to play, action, tone, resonance is amazing. Slim neck by the nut but, takes a capo well.

[@livingadreamlife1428]

Both are outstanding. I prefer the OM.

[@artgallery743]

1/16" is not a small difference in bracing, that is 20% more wood.

[@jamesluther3506]

I like the short scale length of the 000-28. It just makes the guitar easier to play.

[@guyincognito320]

To me the most important factor is playability, and tone is secondary to that. I don't value a guitar based on how pretty an open chord sounds. It may be stiffer than I like to work with and it may require high action to sound like that. A shorter scale is also warmer but a Tusq saddle offsets that.

[@G_Demolished]

You can recreate the short scale length by tuning down a half step and putting a capo on the first fret. There is no such way to recreate the long scale.

[@terrytaillard4588]

Both beautiful sounding instruments. Unfortunately, none of my local guitar shops have either one in stock much less both to get an in-store comparison.

[@theMarhaenist]

The most selling point aspect is on the wetness of the output sound. Martin is forever winner. Nothing matches. Insane.

[@TheJiminiflix]

I have a 000-16GT and love it but as this video shows the OM range has a longer neck and I think that more richer sound. I would like the OM-28V personally. I cannot speak more highly for Martin, their guitars are special and make a sound that is alive and another reason why they prove their worth is they dont go out of tune as easily even from temperature changes. The wood they use is why I would choose another Martin.

[@KateLynnBeatty]

You can always tell an "OM" guitar from a distance by the smaller pick-guard....it meats the sound hole at a point mid-"hole where the "000" meats the sound hole next to the end of the fret board

[@krustybuzzard2477]

Layton Beatty i have a 57 d28. That i inherited from my dad.it suprises me after looking at the different mods lately how different they are.

[@knightman_cometh]

Meets

[@el34glo59]

They're completely different pick gaurds. OM has a tear drop. 000 regular shape like a dread. I never liked OM pick gaurds, but hey, they're pick-guards. No big deal.

[@PS-hu1yv]

Fantastic video

[@anyday82]

000-28: 5:12 vs OM-28: 6:51

[@emilloffler1216]

Had I seen this demo before I bought my Martin OM28V I would have definitely rather bought the Martin 00028. For the warmer sound and better bass response. Consequently I traded my OM28V for a HD28 with some cash I paid in. The bass response is decidely better, but I would still like to own a 00028 if ever I could afford one.

[@ElMcMeen1a]

Excellent job!!

[@ennob1]

nice vid. yeah, the OM takes it for me

[@garychen483]

I’d prefer OM28 because of its uneasiness on the fretting hand that would simply get your fretting hand better exercised.

[@donnareedfan]

Excellent comparison ... tough choice.

[@TheBoomtown4]

I bought the om-28 because of the beautiful chime and the the balance of the guitar on every string. Once I played it I couldn’t not buy it, even though I couldn’t afford it. It’s like a harp, magic. There is a feeling with the longer scale length that nobody talks about however, yeah it’s got more string tension but to me it feels a somehow slinkier to compensate as the bridge and nut are farther apart. You can feel that longer scale length adding ease to vibrato for example. Amazing guitar. Comfortable to play as well. Literally makes you better.

[@el34glo59]

I've never heard someone call an OM slinkier than a 000

[@TheBoomtown4]

@@el34glo59 more string tension but longer scale length, has a different feel. I can feel the longer scale length when doing vibrato.

[@nicolen.9642]

Mmmm...subtle differences...is my ear scalloped X braced or equipped with longer scaling...? Dunno but your playing is real sweet on those great guitars...👍

[@TheBeeges]

thank you so much for not making this about your guitar playing and just trying to showcase the difference in guitar tones

[@Nickreds20]

Hey, good comparison! But at the beggining you said the 000 has warmer sound but later you said the OM has warmer sound, Im kind of confused a bit, lol. My understanding is that the 000 has warmer sound cause of the shorter scale length and the OM is brighter and maybe a bit louder.

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

This guy nailed it!

[@lw216316]

Went to a couple of Martin dealers today (Dec 3 2022) - selection of new guitars limited due to covid, used guitars non-existent. - first played a 00-18 then a 000 that was also mahagony - the shop had no rosewood for the 00 or 000. - definitely liked the 000 better. They did have an om-28 and I much preferred its sound to the 000 mahogany. The om-28 was slightly more difficult to get barre chords but acceptable. I went to another store and they had a 000-28 Clapton (but not a standard). It had the mod-V neck and I did not care for it. I like to finger pick and the mod-oval was more comfortable to me. Then I compared the 000-28 to an om-28 but it was not a fair fight. One of the guitars had bad strings on it. So I have made some progress in my selection but not there yet. Maybe when the supply is better I will get to compare a standard 000-28 with an om-28 and they both have good strings. I like the feel of the short scale - easier to play , especially to make barre chords - but I like the greater volume and richness of the long scale.

[@secretcombos]

Early in the video you said the 000 has 5/16" bracing to the OM's 4/16" bracing, but later you state the 000 bracing is thinner. 5/16" is thicker than 4/16". I'm confused. Which guitar has which bracing?

[@youroldshopteacher1691]

Excellent and very informative! His first description is the correct one.

[@el34glo59]

Idk. I'd go 000. That 000 sounded absolutely beautiful to me.

[@afshinPROF]

brilliant explication.....

[@johnoffutt898]

I like the OM-28 much better. The flavors and colours are much more clearer. And the notes blend together very nicely. I need to save my monies so I can buy one.

[@MackDaddyVic]

The OM-28 is the winner to my ears. Both great sounding guitars but the OM-28 is just better.

[@1olddoggie]

Another great video! My next guitar I will buy from you!

[@1olddoggie]

Some how I missed this video. I hear the difference and love them both. I have fairly small hands. I wonder if the shorter scale length is noticeable or more comfortable with the shorter scale length.

[@planb9453]

Is shorter scale lenght bether for small hands?

[@stanrubin9409]

Great comparison. OM for me.

[@titusrider7948]

You should pull this video or edit it. In beginning you say 000 has 5/16 bracing and OM has 4/16, then at time 4:40 while holding 000 you say it has thinner bracing ?? The other major point, the neck widths are different. The 000 is 1-11/16 and the OM is 1-3/4

[@-Atmos1]

The OM-28 has a purer tonal quality . Both are beautiful guitars , good video .

[@vickyhendricks5357]

Thanks. I want another OM with puckup

[@reinaldoreyes5631]

Both sound wonderful, as my hd 35 also does.

[@Tzadeck]

I'm finally planning to buy a Martin... why oh why can't I afford both a D28 and a OM-28? Haha

[@patrickd1805]

ill take the 000 and change out the pick guard to the teardrop om

[@-R3DB4R0N-]

What's the name of the song which is played in the comparison? Can anyone tell me and/or give me a link? Would be really appreciated! 🙂🙋‍♂️

[@paulofcpoli]

i prefer the OM

[@orwhat24]

Both are Martin’s so.... Just got 2017 OM 28 and compared it to my very similarly sized 00-18 from 1969. Both are Martin’s so...

[@DanielLDees]

000 sounds rounder and louder.

[@dandunning7731]

Frustrates me that the cheapest OM you can get is in the Standard Series.

[@ConnorJMC41]

You could possibly get the OM GPCPA4

[@LennyBonapart]

OM28 is a bit more boomy, that's it?