C. F. Martin OM-28 VTS Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2016)

C. F. Martin  OM-28 VTS Flat Top Acoustic Guitar  (2016)
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Item # 8414
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C. F. Martin OM-28 VTS Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2016), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 1996068, natural lacquer finish, Indian rosewood back, sides and neck, Sitka spruce top; ebony fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

This OM-28 VTS is a modern recreation of the iconic early 1930s OM-28, one of the most revered of the company's signature designs. Basically a 000-sized body with a longer scale neck, the OM is generally considered the finest fingerstyle guitar ever made; ironic, as it was originally designed for "Orchestra" use with a pick!

This guitar is a 2016 model built using Martin's new Vintage Tone System (VTS), a unique recipe based on the "historic torrefaction" system. Martin claims that VTS "acts much like a time machine that can target certain time periods and age the top/braces to that era. This focused method allows Martin to recreate not only the pleasing visual aesthetics of a vintage guitar, but also the special tones previously reserved for vintage instruments."

"Further, Martin Guitar’s Research and Development team rediscovered a process used in the early 1900s to final dress the lacquer by hand. The end result is a warm glow appearance that is as enticing to the eye as it is to the touch. The Vintage Gloss finish leaves the guitar with a satin appearance, far from the appearance of a satin spray."

This OM-28 certainly looks lovely, slightly ambered without the overly shiny patina typical of many recently made instruments. The Sitka spruce top has some nice random spots of bearclaw figure, while the Indian rosewood back and sides have a very well-defined straight and even grain. It sounds as it should with strong mellow bass, clear mids, and singing highs. A fine example of the continuing excellence of the classics from Nazareth PA.
 
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

Very clean overall, showing few signs of use except some rather inexplicable very thin scratches on the upper part of back. Other than this, the guitar basically presents as new. Plays very well with a robust sound that's just starting to really bloom. Includes the original Martin tagged HSC. Excellent + Condition.