Review: '13 Collings OM2H

[Scratch]

This thread responds to Ridgemont's request for more information concerning the Collings OM2H

Where purchased: Hill Country Guitars, Wimberly, TX.

The deal: Listed for 3465; closed the deal at 3365 plus tax. The purchase included trading my 2003 Gibson J45R Custom for which I received $2400.

Why?: As a singer/songwriter guy,I wanted a rosewood OM body guitar as a comfortable alternative to the dreadnaught Gibson.Long time forum members may recall my arthritic shoulder problems as related to dreadnaught and larger body guitars.Although Gibson takes a lot of heat for inconsistency, this one was special. I'll probably fondly remember it as the one that got away. I also wanted to add a Texas crafted guitar and the Collings is highly thought of in Texas singer/songwriter circles. When I tried it out, I knew why.

Looks: Just like my other OM body guitar. Nothing blingy about it; it is considered a pre war Martin OM28-V clone.

Specs: Sitka Spruce top (an engleman top is available for another $100, but I'm a Sitka guy); East Indian rosewood back & sides; Herringbone trim/backstrip; pre-war scalloped bracing; tortoise-style pickguard; Hi gloss lacquer finish; Mahogany neck; ivory fingerboard; 20 frets; modified V neck profile; 251/2" scale; ebony pins; 1 11/16" string spacing; 16:1 Waverly tuners.

Other guitars considered: Guild F-30 was my original choice, but I wanted pre-war scalloped bracing which IMO makes a significant difference in terms of projection and sustain. The Martin rosewood OM-28V was not in stock.
Comfort: Rates a 10. OM body guitars are so nicely suited to singer/songwriter(s)

Bass: Give it an 8. I miss the Gibson J45 thump, but didn't expect to find it in an OM style guitar. The pre-war bracing lends to more low end, but the Santa Cruz OM/PW has more low-end performance.

Mids and Highs: A 10. This is where it shines. Balance and sustain are incredible.

Thoughts: Perfectly suited to fingerstyle players and the pre-war bracing augments strumming/flatpicking projection.

 

[Ridgemont]

Thanks Ken. Is the nut width really 1&11/16"? On an OM? Is that special or standard? Also, did you get to decide between this and any other OM in the store? Did they have a SC OM/PW?

I am always curious to hear people's assessment between the Martin inspired designs from boutiques and how they compare to the equivalent Martin. I would love to compare your two to my short scale Martin 000s. We need to get together one of these days. Maybe when it is not 104 outside.

 

[Scratch]

Agreed on getting together to do some picking, Jonathan!

1 11/16 is the standard spacing for the OM2H. They also had one with 1 3/4" spacing, but this one just spoke to me... Oddly, the Collings braces measured 1 1/8" from the bottom of the soundhole compared to 1" on the OM/PW.

They did not have an OM/PW in stock. I'd have a hard time selecting between this and the SCGC if I had to keep just one.

BTW; Hill Country Guitars just moved the main store from Wimberley to Austin. The Wimberley 'Rock House' will have a smaller inventory of Collings guitars and they are adding the Eastman lineup.

No end in sight to this heatwave. I'm ready for some late October weather!

 

[Ridgemont]

Interesting on the placement of the X-brace. Many Martin pre-war OMs measure 1&3/16" from the soundhole and is still the same today. The only outlier is the discontinued OM18V which is 1&1/16". Maybe that is why the OMPW has such a bass response.

Too bad you couldn't try out an OM28V for comparison. I have played some and they are quite nice but very much on the rosewood side in terms of meatiness. Not airy like mahogany. Interesting side note, Frosty sold a Collings short scale OM to finance an OM28V and now spends time over on UMGF.

I am glad to hear Hill Country Guitars is moving to Austin. Quincy's Guitars closed a while back and was the main place for very high end guitars. Granted, Guitar Resurrection is a SCGC and PRS Acoustic dealer and Fiddler's Green has a stock of National and Huss and Dalton along with Collings mandolins. The funny thing is that while Austin is a very big music town, we do not really have a good Martin dealer. Maybe Hill Country will fill the void….along with a very much needed supply of Collings.