2006 MJ Franks OMS Adirondack, Brazilian Natural
Let me say this right up front; if you are looking for a top quality, Martin-style traditional OM, you cannot do much better than the guitar offered here (IMHO). Offered is this superb OMS built by Michael J. Franks in 2006.
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. This is my third MJ Franks-built guitar and I am a huge fan of his work and invest in his instruments whenever the (rare) opportunity presents itself.
This is 000/OM-sized, 14-fret guitar, one which is modeled after a pre-war Martin OM. This incredible guitar has: a master-grade Adirondack Spruce top; hand-scalloped Adirondack bracing; Brazilian Rosewood back and sides of a quality no longer available; a Martin 28-style rosette; a zig zag back strip; ivoroid binding on the body, fretboard and headstock; herringbone purfling; a 25.4" string scale; 1-3/4" bone nut; an Ebony belly bridge with 2-1/8" string spacing; a Mahogany neck with a Low Oval shape and depth measurements of .80" at the first fret and .90" 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 with Ivoroid buttons; lovely bone bridge and end pins; and is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer.
The attention to detail shown in this guitar is simply amazing. It will remind you of a Martin OM-28, 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, the tone quite balanced with nice overtones and the sustain is amazing!
This one-owner guitar has seen only limited play as the original owner was afraid to play it. As a result, it remains in fantastic condition, with just a few tiny shirt button marks (see photo), where your chest meets the back of the guitar. These imperfections are only evident upon very close inspection from an indirect angle and under intense lighting. The frets are in fabulous condition as well (see photo). It comes with it's similarly nice TKL Geib-style case.
The original owner paid $7,200 for this instrument back in 2006. Michael doesn't offer Brazilian Rosewood any longer, but the price of a comparable guitar would surely exceed $10K if commissioned today making this superbly-maintained example an acoustic bargain! If an ultra-high quality, hand-made OM at a great price is something that appeals to you, then this magnificent MJ Franks OMS deserves your careful consideration. Make this fine instrument yours. You will be very glad you did!
Capital Guitars
Capital Guitars accepts payment via PayPal, credit cars via PayPal, wire transfer, or via bank check. Guitars ship only after payment clears. See something you wish to purchase? To pay via Paypal, just click the 'Buy Now' button, or send an email to capitalguitars@gmail.com indicating the guitar you wish to purchase, where you live (for calculating the shipping cost and NYS sales tax if applicable) and confirm the email address you use for Paypal. We will send you a Paypal invoice referencing the specific guitar being purchased. Just follow the prompts in the Paypal email to pay for your guitar. Once we receive your cleared payment we will contact you with tracking information and a paid invoice. That is all there is to it! Shipments to locations within the State of New York are subject to imposition of applicable New York Sales taxes. Trade proposals involving quality gear are welcomed! Email me a pic or two of your proposed trade and a brief description of its condition and we will let you know what we can allow you in trade. We also do LAYAWAYS! All layaways require a non-refundable up-front payment equal to 20% of the purchase price. Your deposit holds the guitar for you, with 60 days to pay the balance. Contact us via email for more details.
Shipping to Continental US addresses is via FedEx Ground, with flat rate shipping of $60 to Eastern time zones, $70 Central and $80 Mountain/Pacific. Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is $100. A phone number at the shipping destination is required. Other shipping services, including express services and international shipping are available at our discretion, just contact us for a quote.
Refunds of the original purchase price less shipping and a 10% restocking fee may be requested within 48 hours of delivery. Exchanges within one (1) week of the original date of purchase may be made for an item of equal or greater value at the discretion of Capital Guitars. Where permitted herein, items must be promptly returned at the buyer's expense, in the same condition as received with all accessories and paperwork included. Sale items, purchases that are made via layaway, those involving trades and/or international shipping are considered final except upon an error by and at the discretion of Capital Guitars. All deposits are non-returnable. Our apologies, but we are a very small operation and returns are extremely time consuming and costly.