Martin Dread or OM body size?

Just wondered how many prefer the smaller OM size vs the dreadnought? I tend to go with the OM, just so forward sounding and comfy.

I own a Martin Dread, which I love, but it often feels too big. I'd like to try an OM for a few weeks, but I'm sure then I'd have to explain the purchase of yet another guitar.

I have a dread and a "00", the small bodies are my favorites (OM, 00, 000).

Hi,

I sold my OM (not Martin) last night and have a Martin 00-18V and HD-28 as my keepers.

Sometimes I think the right slight cutaway OM like a Bourgeois with Adirondack or Sitka instead of the standard Englemann would be the ultimate acoustic.

I do not play finger style exclusively and maybe that's why I find I'm not giving up the HD-28 and the 00-18V is the guitar equiv. of comfort food. The 00 can me amazingly loud and the short scale gives it nice comfort.

There was moment of sadness letting my nice OM go, but there's no way I can part with the two I have. It is especially nice having that bold dread in a crowd and so sweet to have that small 00 at other times.

The 00-18 has its roots in the late 1800s and the HD's style came along in the early 1930s so I think I didn't need to waste this time and disk space to explain why they're my keepers.

;)

I play mostly Bluegrass type stuff on my acoustic, so I pretty much need my Martin dreadnaught. However, I wouldn't mind having a smaller Martin acoustic. Call me a guitar snob or whatever, but I prefer the Martin sound.

I like the smaller bodies, I have a 00-15 and a 000-15S. I play finger style, never use a pick the dreads are just too much guitar for me.

I have a 000 size currently and prefer it to the big D. Martin dreads are wonderful and have their place but the 000 Mahogany is doing the job just fine.

I have a 000 size currently and prefer it to the big D. Martin dreads are wonderful and have their place but the 000 -18MC is doing the job just fine. I like the shorter scale of a 000 as compared to a OM.My D size guitar right now is a Gibson AJ reissue.

From time to time I wish the nutwidth and profile were ever so slightly smaller,
but I have an Martin OM21 and highly recommend trying one out.
It features scalloped bracing and solid woods; to my ears warm, full and hummy overtones. Smack a single string lick with a pick and it has good definition, fingers produce blossomy bass nots and rich harmonics.

The model has a slight love/hate following, some including me consider it a real bargain in the line.

I play mostly Bluegrass type stuff on my acoustic, so I pretty much need my Martin dreadnaught. However, I wouldn't mind having a smaller Martin acoustic. Call me a guitar snob or whatever, but I prefer the Martin sound.

+1 on everything you said! I would also like a smaller Martin to fool around with sometimes. They are more comfortable to play but I need the big sound of my HD-28.

My first Martin was a 000-15 that I sold last year. I miss it´s comfortable bodysize and if I would buy another Martin I would go for a 000-28 or something. I love the smell of rosewood! :mrgreen:

I went through a similar quandary two-three years ago, and there for awhile I thought I'd have to ditch my Martin D-16GT for an orchestra model. They are very, very comfortable, and the sound is so direct, punchy and balanced. I own a 1966 Gibson B-25, which is kind of in the line of the old L series Gibsons. It's a great little guitar -- perfect for blues and what little finger picking I do. However, when I decided to "trade up" on the D-!6, I gravitated toward the HD-28 and the D-35 as opposed to the orchestra size. I think this has to do with a couple of things: I started on a dreadnought, so it's in a lot of ways the most natural-feeling guitar for me, despite its huge size; and also, I just adore that large, chiming sound of the dread. In the end, I went with the D-35 because it spoke most directly to me. And the more I play it, the more it feels like my dream guitar. I know, I know! We all say that...until we test drive yet another one down the line. But I can't fathom the thought of letting go of this one. I suspect down the road I'll probably start looking at the OM or the OOO-28...you know, just for something a little different.

I have a Martin Dread and a Martin OM.

I play mostly fingerstyle and I like the wide nut on the OM...the wider string spacing over the sound hole makes my right hand feel smarter. The Body size is very comfy.

I love playing old Neil Young or CSN songs on the dread but the OM is my favorite. I have a Taylor, Larrivee and Rainsong OOO also. I love that size.