OM3

Overview

OM3 '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 balanced tone and an immediate response.

Hand Voiced

From the starting point of the wood's density and rigidity, each acoustic guitar top is hand selected, evaluated, and graduated to its own unique thickness; maximizing the tonal potential of each top.

Premium Tonewoods

Each Collings acoustic guitar, from our most affordable model to the highest end, are built with the finest tonewoods available. Each wood is acquired, acclimated, and hand selected by master luthiers here at our shop who pick each component with the whole tonality of the end instrument in mind.

Playability

A combination of exacting PLEK machine leveling and hand fret dressing ensures consistently excellent playability and a silky fret feel.

Finish

By meticulously hand-sanding between coats, our nitrocellulose lacquer finishes measure between .005” and .007” in final thickness, maximizing acoustic response while providing excellent protection and aesthetics.

Precision Tuning

Premium Waverly open-gear tuners offer exceptional tuning stability and smooth reliable operation with a vintage aesthetic.

Premium Tonewoods

Sitka spruce paired with an Indian rosewood back and sides is a perennially popular combination with rich overtones and a powerful bass response.

Make It Your Own

With a wide variety of custom inlays, nut widths, neck profiles, and tone wood options; a Collings instrument can be configured to perfectly match your playing style and aesthetic preference.

Appointments

A fully bound neck and peghead, as well as an abalone rosette and gold hardware make 3-style acoustics our most fully appointed base model.

TopSitka spruce
Back & SidesE. Indian rosewood
NeckHonduran mahogany
Body BindingIvoroid with b/w/b/w/b purfling
Fingerboard Binding.060" ivoroid
Peghead Binding.100" ivoroid with b/w purfling
BridgeEbony belly-style with 2 3/16" spacing
FingerboardEbony with no inlay
Fingerboard Radius14" - 26" compound
Bridge Pins/End PinEbony with abalone dot
NutBone, 1 11/16"
SaddleBone, drop-in
Neck ProfileModified V
Peghead ProfileSquare with volute
Neck JointMortise & tenon hybrid
Truss RodFully adjustable
FretsMedium 18% nickel-silver
Peghead VeneerStained Exotic Ebony with MOP Collings logo
TunersGold Waverly
Backstrip3-style (Chevron)
RosetteAbalone
Scale Length25 1/2"
Brace MaterialSitka spruce
Brace PatternPre-war scalloped X-brace
Body FinishHigh gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck FinishHigh gloss polyester resin
PickguardTortoise
StringsD'Addario EJ-16 (.012"- .053")
CaseDeluxe hardshell case
Neck Profile Diagram

*Actual measurements may vary slightly due to hand-sanding and finishing variables.

Body Length19 1/4"
Body Depth4"
Lower Bout Width15"
Total Length39 3/4”

Custom Options

  • Sitka Spruce (standard)
  • Torrefied Sitka Spruce
  • Adirondack Spruce
  • Torrefied Adirondack Spruce
  • European Spruce
  • Engelmann Spruce
  • Honduran Mahogany Top
  • Koa Top
  • Honduran Mahogany

    Honduran mahogany is an exceptional tonewood that produces a punchy front-end attack and articulate nuanced tone. Compared to East Indian rosewood, which offers a deep, resonant sound, Honduran mahogany produces a dryer, more fundamental tone with a quick and accurate response.

  • Wenge
  • Walnut
  • European Maple

    European maple is a beautiful figured wood that offers excellent projection and focus, which made it the tonewood of choice for many luthiers before the days of amplification. It's still a very valid tonewood today, and despite the misconception that maple guitars are overly bright, properly selected maple sets can produce deep, full sound with excellent articulation and clarity.

  • Koa

    With its vibrant amber color and striking figure, Koa is a wonderful tonewood that has been used for stringed instruments for generations. Tonally, Koa finds a pleasing balance between warmth and clarity with a bright front-end attack and warm undertones, making it an ideal choice for fingerstyle and chord melodies.

  • Adirondack Braces
  • No Tongue Brace
  • Cutaway
  • Deep Body
  • Left-handed