Model No.1

MODEL NO. 1

AN OM MODEL INSPIRED BY TRADITION

Whitney Guitars is dedicated to crafting exceptional instruments, with each of our Model No. 1 guitars meticulously voiced for a dynamic range that responds the player's nuanced touch. Our reimagining of the traditional OM (Orchestral Model) guitar delivers both power and presence, enabling effortless projection when needed. With outstanding note separation and balance, this guitars offer exceptional comfort, making it a perfect choice for both composing and recording projects. Experience the artistry and passion behind every Whitney guitar, designed to elevate your musical journey.

LEGACY, REIMAGINED.

My Model No. 1 pays homage to tradition while incorporating modern design aesthetics and enhanced features. With newly developed structured sides that maximize soundboard efficiency, this instrument delivers a well-balanced and articulate voice. Experience a tonal palette that includes a rich, mellow bass, strong sustain, and sparkling trebles that elevate your musical expression. This guitar is a perfect blend of heritage and innovation, designed for today’s discerning player.

Introduced by C.F. Martin, the OM, or 'Orchestral Model', stands as a testament to versatile design, captivating both fingerstyle and flatpicking guitarists.

Positioned as the third largest 14-fret body size within the 0/00/000-OM/JOM-GA progression, it boasts a 25.5-inch long scale neck, contributing to its distinct tonal character. After a near-miss with obscurity, the OM experienced a remarkable resurgence in the mid-1980s, propelling it to become one of the most beloved acoustic guitar models globally.

My Model No. 1 represents a modern interpretation of this iconic instrument. In its creation, I've sought to honour the OM's rich heritage while incorporating several contemporary design and structural enhancements. These include a meticulously reimagined body shape, structured sides designed to optimize resonance and stability, and a fully removable (yet hidden) bolted neck joint, often referred to as a 'bolt-on-bolt-off' connection.

This fusion of classic inspiration and modern innovation allows the Model No. 1 to deliver the OM's renowned versatility with added refinements for today's player.

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 Model No. 1 by clicking the'Build Your Guitar' button, below.

Structured Sides:By utilizing 'structured sides'—a three-layer laminate with a strategically kerfed core—I achieve unparalleled stability and weight reduction. This design allows for a more efficient load distribution, liberating the soundboard from excessive stress. This freedom enables me to incorporate lighter soundboards, unlocking the guitar's full sonic potential and yielding a more vibrant, responsive instrument.

Bolt-on-Bolt-off Neck Connection:

This innovative bolt-on neck connection, departing from traditional dovetail or mortise-and-tenon methods, achieves an exceptionally precise and tight wood-to-wood interface.

Further, it enhances structural stability by directly integrating the fingerboard extension with the upper transverse brace, creating a cohesive and unified design.

Unlike conventional joints, which can be prone to warping, misalignment, and neck angle shifts requiring complex resets, this bolt-on technique minimizes these issues, offering a straightforward neck reset if ever necessary.

Carbon Fibre Neck Reinforcement:

The neck's fundamental function is to provide dimensional stability, resisting deformation under varying environmental conditions and string tension. To achieve this, I incorporate carbon fibre reinforcements into every neck. Carbon fibre's high modulus of elasticity and low coefficient of thermal expansion provide superior resistance to bending and warping, ensuring long-term neck stability and optimal playability.

Base price: $9500 USD

Price excludes shipping, applicable taxes and insurance.

Specs included in the base price.

Build Your Guitar!

TESTIMONIALS

AN ABSOLUTE GEM...

EVERY NOTE SINGS WITH CLARITY, AND THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE GUITAR MAKES IT A DREAM TO PLAY. WHETHER YOU'RE STRUMMING CHORDS OR DIVING INTO FAST INTRICATE LEADS, THE PLAYABILITY OF THIS INSTRUMENT IS FLAWLESS.

DAVID JARRETT / PENNSYLVANIA, USA
~Proud owner of two Modèle Vagabond and one Modèle Nomade Guitars.

MODEL NO. 1

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

SPECS & DIMENSIONS

Adhesives	Titebond 1
Back and sides	Indian Rosewood, Flamed Walnut, Pau Ferro, Flamed Maple, etc.
Binding	Ebony, maple, walnut, etc.
Body Length	491.65 mm / 19.35″
Bracing	Quarter-sawn Spruce
Bridge	Rosewood or ebony
Case	Standard hardshell case included (upgrade options available)
Depth at End	112 mm / 4.4″
Depth at Neck	88 mm / 3.46″
End-graft	Inlaid strip with purfling
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; MW logo engraved
Headstock	Solid
Liners	Kerfed mahogany inner core
Lower Bout	368.3 mm / 14.5″
Neck	Honduran Mahogany
Neck Join	14th fret
Neck Profile	Modern 'C' profile
Neck Reinforcement	Carbon fibre
Number of Frets	20
Nut	Bone
Nut Width	454.5mm / 1.75"
Overall Length	1021.40 mm / 40.21″
Pattern	Modern 'X' brace
Rosette	Exotic woods with abalone and purfling
Scale Length	25.4"
Soundboard	High-grade spruce or cedar (other options available)
Strings	Elixir 12-53
Truss Rod	Dual action
Tuners	Schaller, Gotoh 510
Upper Bout	277.6 mm / 10.93″
Waist	230.82 mm / 9.09″
Width at Body Connect	54.5 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

Each Whitney Steel-string Guitar is equipped with either the Schaller GrandTune or the renowned Gotoh 510 machine heads. Gotoh 510s, like the GrandTunes, are celebrated for their exceptional precision and smooth operation, offering a 21:1 gear ratio for incredibly fine tuning adjustments. Both options feature meticulously crafted designs that blend classic vintage aesthetics with modern tuning stability. To the right, explore a selection of combinations to match your desired visual style.

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.

Fishmann - Power Tap Series

Commission your own Whitney Guitar.

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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.