2014 MJ Franks OMS 14-Fret, 25.4" Scale, 1-11/16" Nut, Adirondack, EIR Natural, Excellent, Original
Michael Franks is a real renaissance man. He is a skilled engineer, wood craftsman, pilot, outdoorsman, antique instrument restorer, in-lay artist, luthier and family man. He builds just ten or so guitars annually at his shop in Michigan. While this is only my second MJ Franks-built guitar, I am already a great fan of his work and invest in his instruments whenever the (rare) opportunity knocks.
The guitar offered here is a MJ Franks Legend Series OMS built in 2014. This is 000/OM-sized, 14-fret guitar, once which is modeled after a pre-war Martin OM. This incredible guitar has: a master-grade Adirondack Spruce top; hand-scalloped Adirondack bracing; beautifully straight-grained East Indian Rosewood back and sides; a Martin 45-style Abalone rosette; a zig zag back strip; ivoroid binding on the body, fretboard and headstock; herringbone purfling; a 25.4" string scale; 1-11/16" bone nut; an Ebony belly bridge with 2-1/8" string spacing; a Curly Mahogany neck with a very soft modified V neck and depth measurements of .84" at the first fret and .92" at the twelfth; a 14-fret Ebony fretboard with 12" radius and Abalone inlays; a Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay and MOP MJ Franks logo inlay; nickel Waverly tuners; an LR Baggs Lyric pickup system; lovely bone bridge pins; and is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer.
The attention to detail shown in this guitar is simply amazing. As Michael intended, it will remind you of a Martin OM-42, but it doesn't have the manufactured feel or tone of a modern-era Martin - it is of higher build quality and the tone is much more organic. Listen to the brief sound sample provided provided. The output is impressive and the tone quite balanced with nice overtones evident.
This guitar is in in excellent minus condition, with just a few tiny flaws (see photos), including a very shallow rub on the top below the bridge, another near the G-tuner on the headstock and a sliver of an impression on the back of the neck which you cannot feel when playing. These flaws are of little consequence visually and of no consequence performance-wise and the frets are in marvelous condition. It comes with it's similarly nice TKL Geib-style case.
If an ultra-high quality, hand-made OM at a great price is something that appeals to you, then this magnificent MJ Franks deserves careful consideration. Make this fine instrument yours. You will be very glad you did!
Capital Guitars
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