Introduction
The Martin OME Cherry is an acoustic-electric guitar model that was produced by C.F. Martin & Co. for a limited number of years in the early 2000s. First introduced in 2003, it was discontinued by 2007, making it a short-lived model in Martin’s 120+ year history. However, the OME Cherry gained a reputation as a highly desirable orchestra model acoustic, known for its rich, balanced tone and high-end appointments.
This acoustic-electric guitar features a 000-14 fret Orchestra body shape with solid FSC-certified woods, including a Sitka spruce top and cherry back and sides. The "OME" in the name stands for Orchestra Model Electronics, indicating the built-in Fishman electronics that make this an acoustic-electric suitable for both studio work and live performance.
Though no longer in production, the OME Cherry is still sought after by Martin fans and collectors, as well as fingerstyle players looking for a full-sounding orchestra model with excellent electronics. Its discontinued status means it can be hard to find on the used market, often fetching premium prices due to high demand.
Specifications
The Martin OME Cherry features an orchestra model (OM) body shape and size. This is a mid-sized body style, slightly larger than a 000 but more compact than a dreadnought. The orchestra model provides a balanced tone and comfortable feel.
Specifically, the OME Cherry has the following body specifications:
- Length: 14-3/8 inches
- Width: 15 inches
- Depth: 4-5/8 inches
For the tonewoods, this guitar utilizes a solid Sitka spruce top. Sitka spruce is a popular acoustic guitar top wood prized for its strength, lightness and balanced tone.
The back and sides are made from solid cherry, which gives the instrument its signature look and sound. Cherry is known for its warm, focused midrange and rich overtones.
Other woods include mahogany for the neck, ebony for the fingerboard and bridge, and herringbone pearl inlays in the top. The use of all solid tonewoods and premium appointments contributes to the exceptional sound of this guitar.
Tonewoods
The OME Cherry features premium solid tonewoods, including a Sitka spruce top and cherry back and sides. Sitka spruce is a popular top wood prized for its strength, lightness, and balanced tone. It produces excellent clarity, articulation, and dynamic range. The cherry back and sides offer a rich, warm, and resonant tone. Cherry is known for its vibrant and responsive bass, pronounced midrange, and crisp trebles. It pairs nicely with the Sitka spruce top to create a guitar with excellent projection, sustain, and balanced tone across the frequency range. The cherry’s visual appeal is also a nice bonus, with an attractive reddish-brown color and striking grain patterns. Many players favor cherry over rosewood for its slightly brighter and more open sound. Overall, the tonewood combination gives the OME Cherry a versatile voice that works well for various styles of playing.
Neck
The Martin OME Cherry features a high performance taper neck with a modified low oval profile. This neck shape is designed to be comfortable and fast playing, while still retaining the feel of a traditional acoustic guitar neck.
The taper refers to the gradual change in thickness from the thicker nut width down to the slimmer profile by the body joint. This provides stability and rigidity up top, while allowing great access to the higher frets due to the slimmer profile near the body.
The modified low oval shape helps to contour the neck for comfort, while keeping a rounded profile that fits nicely in the hand. Low oval necks have a flatter feel compared to more rounded vintage style necks, making them popular with many modern players.
The combination of the high performance taper and modified low oval profile makes this an excellent playing neck that will appeal to a wide variety of acoustic guitarists. It’s built for speed and comfort, while still retaining an organic feel. The smooth satin finish on the back of the Martin OME Cherry’s neck also increases playability by allowing the hand to glide effortlessly up and down the fretboard during solos or chord changes.
Overall, the neck is one of the major highlights on the OME Cherry model. It balances modern playability with vintage acoustic feel masterfully.
Electronics
The Martin OME Cherry is equipped with Fishman electronics, featuring their F1 Analog onboard preamp system. This gives the guitar excellent plugged-in capabilities for live playing or recording situations.
The preamp system includes an integrated tuner that can be easily accessed while on stage by pressing a discreet button located on the side of the guitar. There are also volume and tone controls, allowing the player to shape their amplified tone to fit the venue or mix.
The Fishman preamp has a very natural and transparent sound when plugged in. It accurately captures the nuances of the OME Cherry’s all-solid wood construction without coloring the tone too much. The preamp is powered by a 9V battery, so no cables or external packs are required.
Overall the electronics package on the OME Cherry provides stage-ready versatility, while still retaining the core acoustic sound of this fantastic orchestra model when unplugged. The Fishman preamp gives players the flexibility to easily amplify their sound, with intuitive onboard controls right at their fingertips.
Sound
The Martin OME Cherry produces a bright, balanced tone that faithfully represents the acoustic properties of its all-solid wood construction. When played unplugged, the guitar projects clearly and resonates with a sweet, singing voice.
The responsive Sitka spruce top is nicely matched tonally with the cherry back and sides, which add warmth and richness to the sound. There is excellent balance across the tonal spectrum, with sparkling highs, pronounced midrange, and tight low end.
Plugged in, the OME Cherry maintains its acoustic character thanks to the Fishman F1 Analog preamp system. The guitar has enough natural volume to hold its own when amplified, without sounding thin or quacky. The tone remains clear and balanced through the PA or acoustic amplifier.
The orchestra body size seems perfectly suited to the OME Cherry’s musical voice. It has enough punch and volume for stage use but also an intimate, nuanced sound perfect for fingerstyle playing and recording. Overall, the guitar offers exceptional acoustic tone and balances electric amplification with ease.
Playability
The Martin OME Cherry acoustic-electric guitar is renowned for its comfortable feel and smooth playability. The modified low oval neck has a silky satin finish that allows for fluid movement up and down the fingerboard. Many players find the high performance taper provides excellent access to higher frets while retaining thickness and stability in lower positions.
The slightly wider 1 3/4" nut width provides enough room for intricate fingerstyle playing while not being overly large for strummers. The action is set low and buzz-free from the factory, optimized for playing right out of the case. The ebony fingerboard has a pleasingly slick feel, allowing for speedy runs and precise chord changes.
Overall, the OME Cherry excels as an easy playing guitar suitable for intricate fingerpicking and fast soloing. The neck shape, fingerboard wood, and expert setup from Martin’s American workshops result in an acoustic that feels like an extension of your hands. For players prioritizing comfort and playability, the OME Cherry delivers in spades.
Sustainability
The OME Cherry’s commitment to sustainability is one of its major selling points. This guitar features multiple tonewoods that are FSC certified, meaning the materials were sourced from responsibly managed forests.
FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, and FSC certification is one of the best ways to ensure wood comes from legal and ethical sources. The OME Cherry has an FSC certified Sitka spruce top, cherry back and sides, and mahogany neck.
Martin has been a leader in using FSC certified woods and promoting sustainable forestry practices. They were one of the first major acoustic guitar manufacturers to heavily utilize FSC certified tonewoods.
Buying a guitar built with FSC certified wood is an easy way for environmentally-minded musicians to vote with their wallet. Opting for sustainable materials reduces deforestation and protects sensitive forest ecosystems.
The OME Cherry’s use of FSC certified spruce, cherry, mahogany, and other woods makes it a great choice for players who value responsible sourcing and want to support ethical forestry standards. Its sustainability gives it an important edge over non-certified acoustic guitars.
Conclusion
The Martin OME Cherry is a special acoustic-electric guitar that deserves its reputation as a highly-sought after model, even though it has been discontinued. With its orchestra body size, solid FSC-certified tonewoods, and Fishman electronics, it delivers the exquisite craftsmanship and musicality that Martin aficionados have come to expect.
The cherry back and sides provide a rich, warm, balanced tone that complements fingerstyle playing extremely well. Paired with the solid Sitka spruce top, this guitar is very responsive and projects beautifully. The modified low oval neck has a comfortable feel that makes playing for long periods a breeze. Plugged in, the OME Cherry reproduces the guitar’s natural sound accurately thanks to the Fishman preamp system.
For players looking for a high-end, orchestra-sized acoustic with all solid woods and top-notch electronics in an eco-friendly package, the OME Cherry is a superb choice. The only downside is that it can be difficult to find used since it’s been discontinued. However, it’s absolutely worth seeking out for those enamored by the Martin brand and sound. Most owners tend to hang onto their OME Cherrys once acquired due to the exceptional build quality, tone, and playability.
Alternatives
Martin offers several other acoustic-electric guitars that can serve as alternatives to the OME Cherry model for players looking for similar features and sound.
Other Similar Martin Models
Martin 000-15M – This 000 size acoustic-electric model also has a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The smaller body produces a focused, balanced tone perfect for fingerstyle playing. It comes equipped with Fishman MX electronics.
Martin D-15M – The D-15M dreadnought acoustic-electric combines a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It produces the booming projection dreadnoughts are known for, amplified by the Fishman MX system.
Martin 000X1AE – An affordable option, the 000X1AE has a solid spruce top with mahogany high-pressure laminate (HPL) back and sides. The acoustic-electric Fishman Sonitone electronics provide plugged-in versatility.
Martin GPC-13E – This grand performance cutaway model features an Sitka spruce top with East Indian rosewood back and sides. The acoustic-electric electronics are the Fishman Matrix VT Enhance system.
Martin 00LX1E – The 00LX1E Little Martin travel-sized guitar has a solid spruce top with mahogany HPL back and sides. The compact body is easy to transport and sounds full, especially amplified through the Fishman Isys-T pickup.
While not identical matches, these Martin acoustic-electrics offer similar tonewood combinations and electronics as the OME Cherry in different body shapes and configurations. They provide comparable sound, playability, and amplified versatility.