Martin Special Edition OMJM John Mayer Signature Orchestra Model Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

I both strum and fingerpick and this guitar just sings. It wasn't so out of the box, terrible action! A trip to my luthier friend and she came alive! Delivery was a bit late and nerve racking but all was good when i first opened the case… wow what a gorgeous sight and that smell… wow!

I purchased an OMJM from Guitar Center a few weeks ago, kept it for a week and then returned it, it was a dud, no way around it. I tried another OMJM at another shop in Nashville and it was also a dud. They both sounded very flat and dry. I was reading some other reviews on this guitar and saw that a few other folks played some bad ones and then found some good ones, so I decided to take one more try with this guitar. I purchased another one and it came it today -- very happy to report that this guitar is an absolute beauty, exactly what I've been looking for. Super rich tones, beautiful complexity in the higher notes that separates it from the pack of "standard" sounding acoustics. I'm extremely glad I gave the OMJM one more shot. Do yourself a favor a play a number of them before pulling the trigger. Finding the right one is totally worth it, as the Engelmann spruce top wood is pretty rare among Martin OMs, but man is it wonderful. Just a quick backstory, over the last 2 months I've probably played around 15 Martins (a few dreads but mostly OMs).. I played 2 000-28's, 2 000-28EC's, 2 OMJM's, 3 OM-28's (ended up purchasing the best sounding OM-28 out of the bunch), and then decided to give the OMJM one more try when I couldn't get the beautiful complex tones out of a standard OM-28. This OMJM just ended my hunt. So happy I gave it one more try.

I love fingerpicking and most of the songs I love to play are John Mayer songs, very beautiful fingerpicking. I was super excited about the OMJM (knowing that's not the same guitar Mayer plays). I was after something with a rich beautiful tone. I purchased an OMJM from GC. After playing it for a little over a week I realized I was trying to convince myself to love it, I just couldn't. A family member told me that the guitar sounded dead, they were spot on, and that was after I put new Martin strings on. I checked out another OMJM at a higher-end local guitar shop, same deal, the guitar sounded dead. I played a 000-28EC and the OMJM did not even come close. The EC Signature model was beautiful sounding. Do not buy an OMJM without playing it. Two stars for inconsistency at this price point. Sounds like there are some good ones out there, but need to hunt for them.

Play with friends

I've owned played my 000-28EC for 20 years, along a Martin TSH (Thomas Humphrey classical) and a Collings OM-1SB, plus Gibson ES-165 and Ibanez PM-100 electric/acoustic arch tops, and a custom G&L Legacy. The OMJM is a fine addition to my choir of bold, unique voices, and sounds special plugged in, too!

I've wanted this model for over 15 yrs! It is just the one guitar for me. This was hard to find in good condition. GC does not have new ones currently they are all open box or display. Some are behind glass like the one I found. Pay a grand more to have Martin build to order or pay a grand less and find a gently used one at GC. If you don't mind scuffs or scratches then it can be easy to get this but for the price you can't compromise. Take the time to look it over. Overall I'm beyond thrilled I have this guitar but I have read a lot of reviews about how they can sound different muddled water logged mud stick or something but I think it's the strings since they are left out to be played who knows how old the strings are and usually you can tell by the look of them and I could see the erosion on the strings so for sure I'll change them but these things look at as you play it before you buy.