Custom Shop Build Overview

The Martin Custom Shop OMC-18 Style White is a striking Custom Shop interpretation of the classic mahogany Orchestra Model — blending traditional Martin tone with bold visual design and modern stage-friendly versatility.

This guitar follows the familiar OM-18 formula with a solid spruce top paired with genuine mahogany back and sides, delivering the focused clarity and woody midrange that have made mahogany Martins a cornerstone of acoustic music for generations. The OM body size offers exceptional balance and articulation, making it a favorite among fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and recording musicians.

Unlike traditional OM-18 models, this Custom Shop build features a distinctive cutaway body design and a bold full-body white finish that immediately sets the instrument apart visually while maintaining Martin’s classic tonal foundation.

Why the OM-18 Platform Works So Well

The OM body size is prized for its balanced response and clarity across the entire frequency range. When combined with the classic spruce and mahogany tonewood pairing, the guitar produces a voice that is articulate, focused, and highly responsive.

Clear, balanced tonal response across the fretboard
Strong midrange presence ideal for fingerstyle
Tight bass that stays controlled in recording environments
Excellent note separation for complex acoustic arrangements

This tonal profile makes the OM platform one of the most versatile body styles in Martin’s lineup.

Custom Shop Design Details

This instrument was created by the Martin Custom Shop to showcase unique visual and design elements beyond standard production models. The guitar features distinctive concave diamond rosette detailing and eye-catching scalloped diamond fingerboard inlays with red stone and mother-of-pearl borders, originally inspired by the 2014 CS-00S-14 design.

The striking full white gloss finish gives the instrument a dramatic stage presence while maintaining Martin’s traditional craftsmanship and build quality.

Notably, this guitar is built without factory electronics, allowing players to install their preferred pickup system if amplification is desired.

Playability & Feel

The comfortable Modified Low Oval neck profile paired with a 1 3/4" nut width offers modern playability with generous string spacing for fingerstyle techniques. The ebony fingerboard and bridge contribute to strong note definition and durability, while bone nut and saddle components help maximize sustain and tonal transfer.

The cutaway body design also provides easy access to higher frets, making the guitar equally suitable for modern acoustic styles and lead playing.