The C. F. Martin Orchestra Model Guitar
The 1930 Martin OM-28 and OM-45 DeLuxe
Until 1929, Martin guitars had necks with 12 frets clear of the body.
In 1929, the Carl Fischer stores special ordered a tenor guitar called the Carl Fischer Model with a shortened upper bout to allow greater access to 14 frets clear of the body.
Later in 1929, Perry Bechtel of the Cable Piano Company requested a fourteen fret clear six string guitar, and the Orchestra Model was born. The OM-28 was soon followed by the OM-18 and the OM-18P Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930. In 1931 Martin added a handful of plectrum guitars in the C-1 and C-2 round hole archtop styles. By the end of 1931, Martin had built it's last Plectrum Guitar.
By 1930, the Carl Fisher Model had become the standard 0-18T. By 1934, what was formerly known as the OM-18 and OM-28 had become the standard Martin 000-18 and 000-28.
The 12 Fret 1928 000-28 and early 1930 OM-28
OM-28, OM-18P and 0-18T
C.F. Martin 1930 000-28 Orchestra Model
Beautiful condition early OM. From the second batch of five - made in January of 1930.
One of the handful of original OMs built with a pyramid bridge, teardrop pickguard, and banjo style tuners.
Besides the original example, built for Perry Bechtel, this in the only other example known to have a 1 13/16" wide neck.
An historically important transitional guitar combining old world craftsmanship with the sound and playablility of a modern 14 fret long scale guitar. Recently brought to absolute optimum playing condition by OM specialist T.J. Thompson, including reset neck, dressed frets, new reproduction pyramid bridge, and new tuners with aged buttons to save old tuners. The vintage tuners and original pyramid bridge in fine shape are in the case. TJ says this is about the nicest OM he's seen.
Serial number 40932
This guitar, built in January, 1930, was listed as a 000-28/OM Orchestra Model
The first couple of individual examples of 1929 were listed in the records as 000-28 Perry Bechtel
followed by a small batch listed as 000-28S Perry Bechtel Model
(likely the first and last instance where the "S", then used to indicate "Special", as in "Special Order", but later used to indicate a "Standard" 12 fret vs. a 14 fret,
signified that this was a 14, not a 12 fret!)
a batch listed as 000-28P Perry Bechtel, (the first 14 fret Plectrum)
and then 000-28 O.M. Perry Bechtel Model
Then mine, the first of 1930, is listed as 000-28 O.M. Orchestra Model
followed by the first non-tenor 14 fret 18's, logged as 000-18 O.M.
and 000-28 O.M. O Model
and finally quite a few batches listed alternately as 000-28 O.M. or 000-18 O.M. or O Model 000-28 or O Model 000-18
It wasn't until March, when the first two OM-45 were built that Martin dropped the "000" from the name and called them OM/45 and then OM/28.
But even after this, Martin made a batch of Plectrum Guitars, 000-18 O.M. Plectrum
As you can see, the name was a moving target, evolving with every batch. We used to think there was something special about the 1929 "Prototypes", but the OM was constantly evolving through it's first year or so,
These were a 000 size guitar, and "Orchestra Model" was the designation for the new 14 fret body shape. In fact, the first D-28's with 14 fret necks were listed in the catalogue as D-28 Orchestra Models. So they were recognized as being different from the beginning, the only significant change being a shortening of the name from "000-28 Perry Bechtel" to "000-28 O.M." to "OM-28".
1930 Martin OM-45 DeLuxe
Serial # 44070
Priced at $225 at it's introduction in 1930, the OM-45 DeLuxe was Martin's most expensive production guitar, a step above the Style 45, with inlaid pickguard and bridge, and engraved gold tuners with pearl buttons. Martin carefully selected finer woods and other materials for their highest quality guitars. The quality of materials, with perfectly consistent matching pieces of pearl throughout, is higher on this guitar than on any other Style 42 or 45 I have seen, from the 19th or 20th Century.
The first example, purchased used by Roy Rogers for $30 during the Depression, had a somewhat different design on the pickguard.
The DeLuxe was discontinued within a year, after a handful of individual examples and three batches of three, due to Martin's inability to source the extra parts.
This example is one of five known to exist today.
The OM-45, with it's solid headstock, initiated a slightly simpler torch design than was seen on previous Style 45 Martin headstocks.
earlymartin.com
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