Introduced in 1929, the Orchestra Model was the first Martin guitar shape designed from the ground up for steel-string playing. When the arrival of the dreadnought in the mid-’30s revolutionized both the Martin company and the modern acoustic guitar, OMs became less common as players chose louder, bolder guitars that could sing over other instruments. But in recent years, the Orchestra Model has made a remarkable comeback in large part because of its even, balanced tone and smooth projection. Plus, the smaller body is way more comfortable in your hands and on your lap. The OM will take you wherever you need to go.
The OM-21 rolled out in 1992, and this Standard Series model features an OM body constructed of a Sitka Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back and sides. The simple Style-21 appointments provide understated elegance, and they keep your investment in the quality and the integrity of the build instead of flashy details.
This 2019 Martin OM-21 produces crisp, clear tone that is rich and refined. It remains nicely balanced across the register, and it has a quick, responsive feel that follows the nuances of your picking attack. Notes flourish with a light touch, but it still handles a heavy picking hand. The wide dynamic range lends a lot of versatility. Plus, the OM body is comfortable body and easy to manage.
The previous owner swapped out the original tuners for open-back Gotoh machines with black buttons. The saddle was also upgraded to a hand-polished unbleached bone saddle, and the original plastic bridge pins have been replaced with elegant vintage bone pins with abalone dot inlays. These are nice-looking upgrades that improve the tone and tuning stability, and they also allow for inviting low action.
This 2019 Martin OM-21 has been played, but it has not been treated carelessly. The bass edge of the lower bout shows some discoloration, and the back of the neck has been rubbed to a shiny polish. Most offensive is some string winder wear to the headstock edges. But there are no bumps, bruises, or signs of mishandling, the frets are pristine, and the playability is excellent. All in all, this is a fantastic-sounding Orchestra Model with some nice upgrades! Original hardshell case included.
