Heritage Series OM

AN IDEAL TONAL BALANCE

The OM or 'Orchestral Model' was first introduced by C.F. Martin, and is a versatile instrument that appeals to both fingerstyle players and flatpickers. It's the third largest 14 fret body size in the 0/00/000-OM/JOM-GA progression and features a 25.5” long scale neck. Our Heritage Series OM gives a nod to tradition while incorporating modern nuances.

A MODERN CLASSIC

The Sitka spruce top bracing contributes to a vintage, airy sound. The modern belly bridge, featuring subtly rounded corners and bone bridge pins, enhances both resonance and comfort. Complementing this is the genuine Honduran mahogany neck, designed with a comfortable profile and extended scale length for a seamless playing experience.

Playability is prioritized in the WG-OM, offering a thinner ebony fingerboard with beveled edges and refined string spacing to maximize comfort. Elegant details, such as the pearl inlay, open gear tuners, and vintage-inspired volute transition, elevate its visual appeal, making the guitar as striking in design as it is in performance. Whether on stage or in a more intimate setting, the Whitney Guitars Heritage OM delivers a balanced and dynamic sound accompanied by a classic, vintage vibe that sets it apart from the ordinary.

HERITAGE SERIES OM

Nearly relegated to the history books, the OM began a slow resurgence in the mid 1980s and is now one of the most popular acoustic guitar models worldwide.

The Whitney Heritage Series OM has a 14 fret neck connection, and a smaller body than a dreadnought. This Whitney design is recognized for its responsive playability and for producing balanced crystal clear notes from one end of the scale to other. Unlike a dreadnought, the bass register does not dominate and this instrument is sure to be a favorite with fingerstyle soloists while also at perfect fit for a wide range of playing styles.

Tailor your Whitney Guitar to your exact specifications. Beyond the base price shown, a range of upgrades allows for complete personalization, including:

Soundboard

For those seeking a superior soundboard, we offer options beyond the standard Spruce or Western Red Cedar. Consider the premium qualities of Bear-claw Spruce, Torrefied Spruce, or Sinker Redwood, among other select choices.

Back and Sides

We offer a premium palette of back and side woods for your Model No. 1, including the classic Indian Rosewood, visually stunning Flamed Walnut, tonally versatile Santos Rosewood (Pau Ferro), and brilliant Flamed Maple. For those seeking the extraordinary, explore our collection of rare and exotic options, such as the captivating Ziricote and the highly prized Brazilian Palisander, among others.

Finish

Enhance your guitar's natural resonance and tactile connection with a hand-rubbed oil finish. This meticulous, hand-applied technique creates an exceptionally thin layer, allowing the wood to breathe and vibrate freely, resulting in a warm, nuanced tone and a remarkably organic feel.

Pickups

We offer a range of premium acoustic guitar pickups, ensuring your instrument's voice is faithfully amplified. Explore the warm, natural sound of Fishman, the articulate clarity of LR Baggs, the robust power of K&K Sound, and the tailored brilliance of Seymour Duncan, each chosen to preserve the essence of your acoustic tone.

Case

Each Whitney Guitar is shipped in a high-quality, form-fitted hardshell case, included in the base price. For those seeking the ultimate in guitar protection, we offer upgrade options. You can choose between the renowned Hiscox cases, known for their exceptional impact resistance, or the premium Vicenut OM cases, celebrated for their luxurious build and tailored fit.

Customize your new Heritage Series OM by clicking the'Build Your Guitar' button, below.

Solid Back & Sides:

The Heritage Series OM is crafted with solid tone woods, a deliberate choice to unlock the instrument's full sonic potential. Solid woods resonate with exceptional depth and freedom, directly enhancing the guitar's rich tone, extended sustain, and powerful projection. Each carefully selected wood species contributes its unique sonic signature, shaping the warmth, brightness, and harmonic complexity of the OM's voice. Furthermore, these solid woods age beautifully, their tonal character maturing and deepening over time, ensuring the Heritage Series OM not only sounds exceptional today but will continue to evolve and enrich your playing experience for generations.

Bolt-on Neck Connection:

The Heritage Series OM features a bolt-on mortise and tenon neck joint, a modern innovation offering significant advantages. This design ensures a precise, stable neck-to-body connection, maximizing energy transfer and enhancing sustain. Unlike traditional set necks, it allows for easy neck angle adjustments or resets, simplifying maintenance and extending the instrument's lifespan. This robust joint contributes to a clear, focused tone, ensuring the Heritage Series OM delivers consistent performance and exceptional playability for years to come.

Carbon Fibre Neck Reinforcement:

The essential function of a neck is to provide stability. It must exhibit the required stiffness and maintain its dimensions when faced with variations in temperature and humidity. For this reason, I reinforce every neck with carbon fibre.

Base price: $7500 CDN
Price excludes shipping, applicable taxes and insurance.

Specs included in the base price.

Build Your Guitar!

TESTIMONIALS

SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL...

FROM THE VERY FIRST NOTE, THE VOLUME WAS QUITE AMAZING AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE NOTES, TOO, IS SUPERB. IT IS SIMPLY A DELIGHTFUL AND IMMENSELY ENJOYABLE GUITAR TO PLAY.

MARK ANDERSON / MISSISSAUGA ONT. CANADA

~Player of our Modèle Vagabond Selmer-Maccaferri -style guitar.

HERITAGE OM GALLERY

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Whitney Guitars Chechen OM - Headstock Front

Whitney Guitars Chechen OM - Headstock Rear

Whitney Guitars - Orchestral Model Acoustic Guitar

SPECS & DIMENSIONS

Adhesives	Titebond 1
Back & Sides	Indian Rosewood, Flamed Walnut, Pau Ferro, Flamed Maple, etc.
Binding	Ebony, maple, walnut, etc.
Body Length	495.3 mm / 19.15″
Bracing	Quarter-sawn Spruce
Bridge	Rosewood or ebony
Case	Standard hardshell case included (upgrade options available)
Depth at End	101.1 mm / 4″
Depth at Neck	85 mm / 3.35″
End-graft	Inlaid strip with purfling to match binding
Fingerboard	Ebony or Rosewood
Finish	Water-based high gloss lacquer, satin lacquer or hand-rubbed oil
Frets	Medium/Medium 18% Nickel Silver
Head Veneer	Ebony or Rosewood; MW logo engraved
Headstock	Solid or slotted
Liners	Kerfed
Lower Bout	393.7 mm / 15.5″
Neck	Honduran Mahogany
Neck Join	14th fret
Neck Profile	Modern 'C' profile
Neck Reinforcement	Carbon fibre
Number of Frets	20
Nut	Bone
Nut Width	44.45 mm / 1.75"
Overall Length	1016 mm / 40″
Pattern	Modern 'X' brace
Rosette	Traditional purfling design against exotic or domestic wood motif
Scale Length	25.4"
Soundboard	High-grade spruce or cedar (other options available)
Strings	Elixir 12-53
Truss Rod	Dual action
Tuners	Schaller GrandTune or Gotoh
Upper Bout	288.8 mm / 11.37″
Waist	234.44 mm / 9.23″
Width at Body Connect	54.61 mm / 2.15"

SOUNDBOARD OPTIONS

The soundboard is the soul of an acoustic guitar, and spruce, particularly Sitka, is a highly favoured material due to its exceptional acoustic properties. However, exploring other softwood options can allow guitarists to fine-tune their instrument's tone and aesthetic to their specific preferences. To the right are some standard soundboard options included in our base pricing.

Sitka Spruce

BACK & SIDE OPTIONS

While the soundboard primarily generates a guitar's sound, the back and sides are crucial for shaping its tonal character and providing structural integrity. They influence how sound waves reflect and resonate within the instrument, contributing to its overall warmth, brightness, and sustain, while also offering the necessary support to withstand string tension and maintain the guitar's shape, ultimately impacting both the sonic and aesthetic qualities of the instrument.

Cocobolo

TUNING MACHINE OPTIONS

Every Whitney Gypsy Guitar model features the Schaller GrandTune machine heads, a meticulously crafted, open-gear tuning machine, blending timeless vintage aesthetics with unparalleled tuning accuracy and a remarkably smooth, luxurious feel. To the right you'll find but a few combinations to suit your desired aesthetic.

Schaller Grand Tune - Black with Snakewood Buttons

Schaller Grand Tune | Black w/ Snakewood Buttons

NECK OPTIONS

Neck woods in acoustic guitars are vital for both playability and tone. Mahogany delivers warmth and midrange focus, while maple adds brightness and clarity. Stability, determined by wood density and grain, ensures proper intonation. Though less common, woods like cedar or walnut offer unique tones. Ultimately, neck wood influences resonance, sustain, and how vibrations transfer, impacting the guitar's overall feel.

Honduran Mahogany

FINISH OPTIONS

Lacquer and hand-rubbed oil finishes present distinct choices for acoustic guitar finishing. Lacquer provides a modern, durable finish, emphasizing clarity and brightness with a protective layer that allows the wood's natural resonance to shine. A hand-rubbed oil finish, applied with care, creates a thin, open-pore layer that accentuates the wood's natural beauty and warmth. It prioritizes a natural aesthetic and a nuanced, organic tone, though it offers less robust protection than lacquer. Lacquer is chosen for its protective qualities and clarity, while a hand-rubbed oil finish is favoured for its natural aesthetics and tonal richness.

Whitney Guitars - Model No.1 OM _ Back Detail, Indian Rosewood

Water-based Lacquer | High Gloss Finish

PICKUP OPTIONS

We provide a carefully selected range of premium acoustic pickups, ensuring your instrument's voice is amplified with exceptional fidelity. Experience the natural warmth of Fishman, the refined articulation of LR Baggs, the robust power of K&K Sound, and the tailored brilliance of Seymour Duncan, each chosen to faithfully reproduce the essence of your acoustic sound.

L.R. Baggs - Anthem Series

Commission your own Whitney Guitar.

INSPIRED?

GET STARTED

HANDMADE IN CANADA

Crafted and voiced in our Canadian workshop, we produce uniquely designed heirloom steel-string acoustic guitars and Gypsy Jazz guitars, each made with meticulous attention to detail.