OM1

Orchestra Model Acoustic Guitar

OM1

Orchestra Model Acoustic Guitar

Top Sitka spruce
Back & Sides Honduran mahogany
Neck Honduran mahogany
Body Binding Tortoise with b/w/b/w top purfling
Fingerboard Binding None
Peghead Binding None
Bridge Ebony belly-style with 2 3/16" spacing
Fingerboard Ebony with MOP short dots
Fingerboard Radius 14" - 26" compound
Bridge Pins/End Pin Ebony with MOP dot
Nut Bone, 1 11/16"
Saddle Bone, drop-in
Neck Profile Modified V
Peghead Profile Square
Neck Joint Mortise & tenon hybrid
Truss Rod Fully adjustable
Frets Medium 18% nickel-silver
Peghead Veneer Ebony with MOP Collings logo
Tuners Nickel Waverly
Backstrip 1-style (Walnut)
Rosette b/w Purfling
Scale Length 25 1/2"
Brace Material Sitka spruce
Brace Pattern Pre-war scalloped X-brace
Body Finish High gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck Finish High gloss polyester resin
Pickguard Tortoise
Strings D'Addario EJ-16 (.012"- .053")
Case Deluxe hardshell case

‘OM’ stands for “Orchestra Model,” but 80 years after this body shape was first designed it has become the most popular 14-fret model with fingerstyle guitar soloists who choose to play on steel strings. Yet flatpickers also find it appealing, and when the graceful cutaway is added these OMs are often used by lead players who routinely explore all 20 frets much as they would on an electric guitar. The compact shape makes the Collings OM equally easy to handle onstage or when sitting on the couch, and the relatively shallow body – barely over 4 inches deep – results in a balanced tone and immediate response.

OM1 vs OM2H vs OM3

While all three models share the same body dimensions, key differences are outlined below.

  • Our 1-style (OM1) features Honduran mahogany back and sides with tortoise body binding and butt wedge, b/w/b/w top purfling, a walnut backstrip, dot fingerboard inlays, and a simpler 1-style rosette.
  • Our 2-style (OM2H) features East Indian rosewood back and sides with ivoroid body binding and butt wedge, herringbone top purfling, a “zipper” backstrip, diamonds and squares fingerboard inlays, and a more intricate 2-style rosette.
  • Our 3-style (OM3) features East Indian rosewood back and sides with ivoroid body/fingerboard/peghead binding and butt wedge, no herringbone top purfling, a “chevron” backstrip, no fingerboard inlays, and an abalone rosette.

Standard (OM1) vs Traditional (OM1 T)

While both models share the same body dimensions, key differences are outlined below.

  • Our standard series instruments (non-T) offer the classic Collings voice, which features shimmery highs, a punchy midrange, a tight and clean low end, and maximum headroom with a quick response.  The standard neck profile is our Modified V with 1 11/16″ nut width and 2 3/16″ string spacing.  Standard instruments also offer a wider range of custom options than Traditionals.
  • Our Traditional series instruments (T) offer a slightly looser, more “broken in” feel and tone, featuring a rounder high end and fuller low midrange, along with our Traditional aesthetic appointments, such as gold MOP inlays and custom wood purflings and rosette.  Traditional models also feature an ultra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer body finish, no tongue brace, and a unique neck construction designed to complement the looser feel and voicing, along with our Traditional neck carve.  Due to the vintage-inspired vision for these guitars, Traditional instruments are offered with limited custom options.

Custom Options

Top Options

  • Old-Growth Sitka spruce
  • Torrefied Sitka spruce
  • Adirondack spruce
  • European spruce
  • Engelmann spruce
  • Honduran mahogany

Back & Sides Options

  • East Indian rosewood
  • Walnut
  • Wenge
  • Maple
  • Koa
  • Cocobolo

Peghead Inlay Options

  • Torch
  • Flowerpot
  • Vine
  • Flourish
  • Rose
  • Modern Diamond

Fingerboard Inlay Options

  • Diamonds & squares (long or short)
  • 42-style snowflakes
  • 45-style snowflakes
  • Tree of Life
  • Mom inlays
  • Modern diamonds
  • No fingerboard inlays

Binding Options

  • Peghead binding
  • Fingerboard binding
  • Ivoroid binding
  • Maple binding
  • Koa binding
  • Rosewood binding

Trim Options

  • Herringbone trim
  • Rope purfling
  • 2-style backstrip
  • 3-style backstrip
  • Abalone rosette
  • 41-style abalone top border
  • 42-style abalone top border

Finish Options

  • Sunburst top
  • Full-body sunburst
  • Western Shaded top
  • Walnut stain
  • Doghair finish
  • Jet Black finish
  • Satin neck finish
  • Dark Vintage sunburst

Design Options

  • Adirondack braces
  • No tongue brace
  • Cutaway (Venetian)
  • Deep body
  • Left-handed

Scale Length & Nut Width Options

  • Short Scale length (24 7/8")
  • 1 3/4" nut width
  • 1 23/32" nut width

Neck / Profile Options

  • Vintage Now (includes 1 3/4" nut & 2 5/16" string spacing)
  • Vintage (includes 1 3/4" nut & 2 3/8" string spacing)

Bridge & Saddle Options

  • Cutthrough saddle
  • Pyramid bridge

Pickguard Options

  • Dalmatian
  • Tigerstripe
  • Pearloid
  • Ivoroid

Tuner Options

  • Gold Waverly
  • Ivoroid tuner buttons
  • Ebony tuner buttons

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