OM Strummers Anyone?

SMixon · June 30, 2009, 02:47:31 PM

What's up guys and gals. I have a question for you all. How many of you OM lovers actually strum your OM's on a regular basis. I have always been a Dread Guy but after my brief OM encounter I came to love the body, but I needed more UMPH from the strum so I got rid of it for another Dread. What are your thoughts about OM's and strumming, string gauges etc...
In the near future I may move to go back to an OM but I want something I can bang on. I really like the ergonomics of OM's. I'm not sold on the asthetics of the L series yet, but they are growing on me mind you. Thanks in advance for all of your advice and information.

MIX

bluesman67 · June 30, 2009, 04:04:40 PM

Sounds like you really want the L!

I've had 2 Larrivee OM's, an OM-03R and my 12-fret hogtop. Both handle strumming well. They can be over powered, there just isn't a big enough air volume to get that dread power, the L gets you closer. I only have my hogtop now and I play everything with it. Light and moderate strumming sound terrific, heavy sounds good too but not as good as an L or D would. OMs have a more focused tone than the L or the D.

lone eskimo · June 30, 2009, 04:10:50 PM

I have a Larrivee 0M-03 and it handles strumming pretty well. It's not the unflinching monster that my Guild D40C is or my Martin D28 but it's not wimpy either. There's a guy on the Acoustic Guitar Forum who has several Larrivee OM's and talks at length about the misconseption of OM's being only for fingerpickers etc... They often fit into a group setting better because you don't have the heavy bass scenario and it sits in the mix nice because of the balance. Some OM's ( the Martin OM-28V comes to mind) are little cannons and can out strum some dreads but most of the time it is what it is... I bring both a dread and my OM to my solo gigs but either can cut it in a mixed setting.

Mike

SMixon · June 30, 2009, 04:19:52 PM

Hmmm. I have begun to like the L series a little better since I first started paying them attention. The OM I let go of sounded good through the sound system when EQ'd right in a band setting. I think Rosewood would probably fit my heart a little better. I'm not knocking Hog at all. My Dread is HOG back and sides but I think Rosewood might fit what I need in an OM. But I'm always open.

SMixon · June 30, 2009, 04:24:47 PM

What do you guys think about Medium gauge strings on a larrivee OM?

jeremy3220 · June 30, 2009, 04:38:11 PM

The Larrivee OM's are not what I look for in a struming/flatpicking guitar. They lack the balance of bass to treble I want when I use a pick. SCGC and Martin both make OM's more inline with what I think a flatpicked guitar should sound like. Nothing beats a good dread though.

The last time I put mediums on my OM it sounded constipated. Don't get me wrong it was louder but the airy highs that give it character were muted. It's just something you have to try yourself though.

BenF · June 30, 2009, 04:42:53 PM

Quote from: jeremy3220 on June 30, 2009, 04:38:11 PM
The last time I put mediums on my OM it sounded constipated.

From all the millions of arguments about how to 'describe' tone in words, that is the single best statement I have read.

SMixon · June 30, 2009, 04:44:57 PM

That's pretty funny!

unclrob · June 30, 2009, 04:55:26 PM

Due to a bad right shoulder I have been playing my OM03PA which for those that don't know is a 12 fret maple body nad it does just fine with medium string and strumming.I play at home with a friend who plays my J05 and as stated doesn't have the bass of the J it holds its own.

jeremy3220 · June 30, 2009, 04:58:20 PM

Quote from: BenF on June 30, 2009, 04:42:53 PM
From all the millions of arguments about how to 'describe' tone in words, that is the single best statement I have read.

Thank you Sir

fongie · June 30, 2009, 05:49:06 PM

SMixon, I think a L body or a Dred, would be your best option as a strummer, but then again most OM owners on this forum would swear black and blue that their OM is fantastic on strummin'. I dissagree, I am an OM owner myself, and a L owner as well and I find my L's sounds better in strummin'
cheers
fongie

es-335 · June 30, 2009, 06:52:36 PM

OM is the only... multi trick pony...

dcarey · June 30, 2009, 06:56:36 PM

Always!...When I've got one!
Right now, I'm OM-less but as soon as I get the cash, I'll have another.

Dan

BenF · June 30, 2009, 06:59:27 PM

Mine strums away very nicely, but that is with fingers and nails only. I got rid of my dread mainly because I hate using a pick, and it was a waste of a big guitar.

obe-wan · June 30, 2009, 07:13:22 PM

I use my OM for strumming regularly, but Im a pretty tame strummer. I agree with your view that Rosewwod OMs make better strummers than Mahogany, they seem to have a fuller, smoother sound. (OK my sound description wasnt as good as Jeremy's).

Having said that, If I was predominantly a strummer Id go for an L every time. A Rosewood one.

Cheers, Scott.

bluesman67 · June 30, 2009, 09:50:55 PM

Quote from: fongie on June 30, 2009, 05:49:06 PM
SMixon, I think a L body or a Dred, would be your best option as a strummer, but then again most OM owners on this forum would swear black and blue that their OM is fantastic on strummin'. I dissagree, I am an OM owner myself, and a L owner as well and I find my L's sounds better in strummin'
cheers
fongie

Any OM owner is out of their mind if they think one is a fantastic strummer, that's just silly. They are good, they don't sound bad, but an L sounds better and a D sounds better.

unclrob · June 30, 2009, 10:20:13 PM

"Any OM owner is out of their mind if they think one is a fantastic strummer, that's just silly. They are good, they don't sound bad, but an L sounds better and a D sounds better."by Bluesman67

Thems fightin words batman a JUMBO blows them all away............

bluesman67 · June 30, 2009, 10:52:05 PM

Quote from: unclrob on June 30, 2009, 10:20:13 PM
"Any OM owner is out of their mind if they think one is a fantastic strummer, that's just silly. They are good, they don't sound bad, but an L sounds better and a D sounds better."by Bluesman67

Thems fightin words batman a JUMBO blows them all away............

Touche!

Zohn · July 01, 2009, 12:33:54 AM

John Mayer strums his OM just fine, with specific reference to the track "Daughters".

SMixon · July 01, 2009, 07:47:57 AM

I have noticed on the "Where the Light is DVD" with John Mayer that he does strum his OM quite a bit as well as the Martin Dread he had in the mix too.

Also Mayer has his OM going through a good System. How do you guys feel about OM's strummed when they are EQ'd through a sound system with a band?

OM Strummers Anyone?

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