Ahhhhhh OM-03MT

[thistle]

I am finding this to be my all-time favourite guitar.

My Martin OM-15 was a lovely guitar but not an all-rounder.  I haven't regretted selling it one bit, especially as it enabled me to buy an OM-03MT.

The OM-03MT doesn't have quite the same smokiness and sparkly trebles of the OM-03R but it seems to do everything very, very well - fingerstyle, strumming, open tunings... I can't believe the sustain! 

Mine was NOS but I was wondering how they sound when they have matured a bit more? Can anyone who has had one for a few years tell me the difference in sound from new?

I am getting to know my OM-03R so it'is getting more playing time at the moment (and I enjoy every minute!)  but this morning I went back for a couple of hours on the OM-03MT, and it was like sinking into an old, comfy leather chair. Ahhhhhhh! Love it!

[Denis]

I am finding this to be my all-time favourite guitar.

My Martin OM-15 was a lovely guitar but not an all-rounder.  I haven't regretted selling it one bit, especially as it enabled me to buy an OM-03MT.

The OM-03MT doesn't have quite the same smokiness and sparkly trebles of the OM-03R but it seems to do everything very, very well - fingerstyle, strumming, open tunings... I can't believe the sustain! 

Mine was NOS but I was wondering how they sound when they have matured a bit more? Can anyone who has had one for a few years tell me the difference in sound from new?

I am getting to know my OM-03R so it'is getting more playing time at the moment (and I enjoy every minute!)  but this morning I went back for a couple of hours on the OM-03MT, and it was like sinking into an old, worn leather chair. Ahhhhhhh! Love it!

Larrivee, as you know by now, does mahogany very, very well.  Sitka topped mahogany guitars like my L-03 or an L-05...etc are some of the best in their catalog.  Larrivee also does all mahogany better than anyone else.  The Martin 15 series is very nice. I too used to own an OM-15 which had a great feel and sound but Larrivee's all hog guitars are truly special.  Like you OM-03MT, my little all mahogany parlor has way more sustain than it should and has a sweetness that you just don't find with a spruce top.  Not better but it is different and quite unique.  You're in good company when it comes to the MT Larrivees.  Many forum members have one and will never sell them.

[thistle]

How different in sound are the 12-fret forum guitars from my OM-03MT? Every time I see one I drool! 

Not that I need one. But it's good to know these things....

[kwakatak]

Judging by your sig, I see that you have quite a stable. I've often wondered how the OM-03MT would compliment the OM-03R. Visually, they look like they'd compliment each other well - or as I like to put it "make good bookends" but to the ears I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity. All I could find around here locally was the OM-03R (which had me hooked) and various other 03 and 03R's - including a NOS mahogany/spruce L-03 which also called my name but was "blocked" by my budgetary constraints.

As for Martin 15 series, I've tried a few here and there (including the OMC-15E which might have been similar to your OM-15) but have not seen the much-fabled 000-15S. I hear that that model is something special, but I've since been distracted by the siren call of the HD-35! 

Ah, me. Envying another man's guitars is bad enough (and should be a sin) but throw in some high-priced GAS (I'm lusting for 2 guitars that would total over $3K USD) and I think I'm in real trouble here! 

[jeremy3220]

Mine was NOS but I was wondering how they sound when they have matured a bit more? Can anyone who has had one for a few years tell me the difference in sound from new?

I've had mine for over two years now. It's hard to make a comparison since it has been 2 years since I heard it when it was new, but I think it has opened up. I believe it sounds more open and airy, and that the frequency range has broadened. The string separation has improved so that I now longer feel I need new strings on it. It's as if it sounded slightly compressed when it was new compared to what it is now.

I've often wondered how the OM-03MT would compliment the OM-03R.

I've owned both at the same time before. To be honest I wasn't a big fan of the OM-03R, it wasn't what I wanted in a spruce/rosewood OM.
I also had an L-03 at the time and I felt that the L-03 strummed better than the OM-03R and that the OM-03MT could do everything the OM-03R could do. The OM-03R and the MT are different flavors but are very similar. The OM-03R of course sounds like rosewood and has a smoother rounder sound but the sustain on my two were about the same, the MT actually sounded better up the neck. They both fall at the same point in the darkness scale, the hog top gave it a darkness similar to the OM03R. The MT also adds bass so the bass was about the same.

So normally when you think of going from spruce/hog to spruce/rose , the MT adds a lot of those characteristics, at least in Larrivee OMs. So they sounded similar but the MT had more of a fundamental sound and the R had more overtones and sparkle. I ended up realizing all my guitars sounded too much alike and sold all but the OM-03MT and got a different brand to compliment it.

[prof_stack]

I ended up realizing all my guitars sounded too much alike and sold all but the OM-03MT and got a different brand to compliment it.

That's a great way to see it.  Besides the fact that a lot of us have more guitars than we need, having different brands does diversify our portfolios. 
Hmm, I wonder about a Gibson or Guild or Breedlove or Ryan or ...   

[SteveO]

1st of All,  let me say 

Then I have to add  on the MT's

I love my L-05 which is not labeled MT....
But in fact is all Mahogany

I believe this one was built before the MT labels where put on the guitars

[Blue in VT]

FYI no where on my hog top label does it say MT...infact it is labeled "OM-05MH"  with mahogany top in small print below that...how about you all.

I really can't wait to hear what my MT sounds like in 5 or 10 years....it sounds so nice now its hard to believe that it can get much better...but everyone keeps telling me it will get better...

I truely love the tone of these guitars...warm....clear...well separated and just great for the blues!!

Enjoy that MT thistle!!



Blue

[dberch]

Yep.  Larrivee hog tops are the bomb.    Had my OM-05MT for two years now and it has become my go-to guitar.  Love it!

See my website for pics.  It's on almost every page, and on half the tracks on my new CD.   

I think the bass has got a bit louder and more tight, which I reall like. Or it could just be my playing style has changed as I've grown to know the guitar....  Either way it's a keeper for shore.

David

[rrgguitarman]

Yep.  Hog tops are the bomb.

I can't imagine this little guitar getting any sweeter...

[jeremy3220]

FYI no where on my hog top label does it say MT...infact it is labeled "OM-05MH"  with mahogany top in small print below that...how about you all.

Mine just says 'OM-03'

[Denis]

Mine just says 'OM-03'

My parlor just says Parlor Guitar ...but it's an all hog...

[bluesman67]

Mine just says 'OM-03'

I think they should say OM-03HT for HOG TOP.