A Golden Era Classic with Modern Stage-Ready Electronics
If you've spent any time around acoustic players, you've probably heard someone reference the OM-28. Since 1930, Martin's Orchestra Model has earned its reputation as the Swiss Army knife of acoustic guitars — comfortable enough for hours of fingerpicking, punchy enough to hold its own in a full band mix, and balanced across the entire frequency spectrum. The OM-28E takes that heritage and adds the LR Baggs Anthem electronics system, so you can take that organic Martin tone from your living room to the stage without compromise.
This Standard Series model reflects Martin's 2025 refresh, which brings Golden Era appointments into conversation with thoughtful modern upgrades. You get the visual hallmarks — bold herringbone purfling, antique white binding, abalone diamond and squares inlays — alongside practical updates like a slimmer beveled fingerboard edge, a redesigned heel, and GE scalloped bracing that opens up the top for more sustain and harmonic complexity. It's a guitar that looks like it belongs in a vintage collection but plays like it was built for you.
Whether you're a fingerstylist who needs clarity and note separation or a rhythm player who wants projection and punch, the OM-28E's Auditorium body and 25.4-inch scale deliver. The longer scale adds a bit more string tension compared to Martin's 000 models, which translates to brighter trebles, tighter bass response, and a slight edge in volume. Pair that with the versatility of the LR Baggs Anthem system, and you've got a guitar that works for folk gigs, singer-songwriter sessions, bluegrass jams, and everything in between.
Solid Tonewoods and Golden Era Bracing
The OM-28E is built with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides — a combination Martin has relied on for decades because it just works. Sitka spruce offers a wide dynamic range and responds well to both light fingerpicking and aggressive flatpicking, while the rosewood adds warmth, depth, and a rich midrange that fills out the overall voice. The top is finished with an aging toner and gloss finish, giving it that slightly amber look you'd find on a well-loved vintage instrument.
Under the top, Martin uses Golden Era scalloped X-bracing. Scalloping removes material from the braces in a way that allows the top to vibrate more freely, which means more volume, sustain, and harmonic overtones. It's a technique borrowed from Martin's pre-war guitars, and it's one of the reasons this guitar sounds open and alive right out of the case. The result is a voice that's articulate enough for intricate fingerstyle work but full-bodied enough to support vocal accompaniment.
The neck is made from select hardwood with a satin finish and features Martin's GE Modified Low Oval profile. It's substantial enough to feel secure in your hand but slim enough to move around comfortably, even during extended playing sessions. The high-performance taper means the fingerboard narrows slightly as you move up the neck, making barre chords and upper-fret work less of a reach. The ebony fingerboard is smooth and fast, and the 1 3/4-inch nut width provides comfortable spacing for fingerstyle players without feeling cramped for those who strum.
LR Baggs Anthem Electronics
The LR Baggs Anthem system is one of the most respected acoustic pickup systems available, and for good reason. It combines an undersaddle Element pickup with a condenser microphone mounted inside the guitar, giving you the punch and clarity of a piezo with the natural airiness of a mic. You can blend the two sources to taste using the onboard controls, which are mounted on a convenient plate at the base of the guitar along with the battery compartment — no more fishing around inside the soundhole to swap out a dead 9-volt.
The Anthem system is transparent enough that you can plug straight into a PA or recording interface and get a sound that's recognizably you and recognizably this guitar. The microphone circuit includes automatic feedback suppression, so you can push the volume on stage without worrying about howling. Whether you're recording, playing a coffeehouse gig, or running through a full PA system, the OM-28E delivers a plugged-in tone that stays true to its acoustic voice.
Style 28 Appointments and Playability Details
Visually, the OM-28E honors Martin's Style 28 tradition. The bold herringbone top inlay is a Style 28 signature, as is the multi-stripe rosette and the subtle black purfling stripe on the back. The antique white binding frames the body and provides a classic contrast against the natural rosewood. The ebony bridge uses a drop-in compensated bone saddle for easy setup adjustments, and the bone bridge pins have faux tortoise dots. The faux tortoise pickguard protects the top without covering up too much of that spruce.
The headstock features Martin's script logo in the old style, and the nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs are smooth and stable. The dovetail neck joint is traditional Martin construction — glued, not bolted — which contributes to resonance and sustain by allowing vibration to transfer cleanly between the neck and body. String spacing at the saddle is 2 5/32 inches, which strikes a good balance between comfort and clarity. The 16-inch fingerboard radius is flat enough for chording but curved enough to feel natural under your fingers.
Product Features:
- Solid Sitka spruce top with aging toner and gloss finish for warm, balanced tone with vintage aesthetics
- Solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for rich midrange and full-bodied resonance
- Golden Era scalloped X-bracing for enhanced sustain, volume, and harmonic complexity
- LR Baggs Anthem electronics with undersaddle pickup and condenser mic for transparent plugged-in tone
- Auditorium (OM) body size with 25.4-inch scale length for projection, clarity, and tonal balance
- GE Modified Low Oval neck profile with high-performance taper for comfortable playability across the fretboard
- Ebony fingerboard and bridge with bone nut and compensated bone saddle for smooth feel and accurate intonation
- Bold herringbone purfling, antique white binding, and abalone diamond and squares inlays for classic Style 28 appointments
- Nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs for smooth, stable tuning
- Convenient endpin-mounted electronics plate with battery compartment for easy access
Brand: Martin
Model: OM-28E Standard Series
SKU: 10Y25OM28ELRB
Condition: New
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