Given the situation for which it was originally designed, the 'OM' model does not have a large soundbox. In fact, none of the early 'modern' guitar models are large by today's standards. Despite its smaller soundbox, the Rathbone No.2 OM model guitar still plays like a modern guitar. This is because the neck meets the soundbox at the 14th fret instead of the usual 12th fret for an OM model guitar. When this 'long' scale was first used, it was considered to produce a disproportionately powerful and dynamic sound. The strings are under higher tension on this scale, which provides a better response and more 'punch'.

Solid Sitka Spruce Top

Sitka spruce is one of the most traditional woods used to make guitar tops. This is thanks to its tight grain pattern, which offers high stiffness and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Thanks to these characteristics, spruce provides a very wide dynamic range, offering the right sensitivity for subtler fingerpicking to the power needed for more powerful strumming. Whatever dynamics you are looking for, a top made of spruce provides a rich sound with many harmonics. On top of that, a top made of spruce wood works very well with almost all the woods used for the sides and back of a guitar. At the bottom of the description you will find a short summary of the tonal characteristics of spruce combined with the most commonly used woods.

The use of a solid piece of wood to make a guitar top has many advantages. Most of the advantages are for the sound, but in other areas as well, a solid piece of wood offers advantages over a piece of laminated wood. Compared to laminate, solid wood has a fuller, richer sound regardless of what kind of wood it is made of. It also provides a more powerful sound with more volume and longer sustain (how long a note rings out). In addition to these direct advantages in sound quality, the use of solid wood to make a guitar top has another major advantage for sound quality, and that is that a guitar made with solid pieces of wood only gets better and sounds better as it is played and ages. Apart from the advantages in sound quality, solid wood has a few more advantages. For one, a guitar made of solid wood generally looks more beautiful and makes every guitar unique, as no two pieces of wood are the same. Even more importantly, solid wood is easier to repair should a problem ever arise. Wood fibers in solid wood are easier to glue than the fibers in laminated wood, which generally leads to a better end result.

Bocote Sides and Back

Bocote is considered an exotic wood and has both the tonal character and the appearance to earn this name. It is a wood with high density and stability, good sustain, and very good resonance. All this creates a warm and powerful tonal character. It is a beautiful wood for the sides and back of an acoustic guitar, and not just because of its appearance.

Bone Saddles

Bridge saddles and/or bone combs have a much higher density and therefore retain better tonal properties. Thus, a saddle or comb made of bone produces a brighter sound with more resonance and a better attack. A bridge saddle and/or bone comb really brings a guitar to life.

'Double top'

The top of the No.5 by Rathbone is constructed as a double top. This means that the top of this guitar consists of three layers: the two outermost layers are made of solid Sitka spruce, with a layer of woven carbon fiber sandwiched between them. This results in a top that is simultaneously stiffer and more flexible, making it easier to set in motion and allowing it to resonate more freely. This benefits both the playability and the sound of the guitar.

Solid Spruce Top

Spruce is one of the most traditional woods used to make guitar tops. This is thanks to its tight grain pattern, which offers high stiffness and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Thanks to these characteristics, spruce provides a very wide dynamic range, offering the right sensitivity for more subtle fingerpicking to the power needed for more aggressive strumming. Whatever dynamics you are looking for, a top made of spruce provides a rich sound with plenty of harmonics. Furthermore, a top made of spruce works very well with almost all the woods used for the sides and back of a guitar. At the bottom of the description, you will find a brief summary of the tonal characteristics of spruce combined with the most commonly used woods.

Using a solid piece of wood to make a guitar top has many advantages. Most of the advantages are for the sound, but in other areas as well, a solid piece of wood offers advantages over a piece of laminated wood. Compared to laminate, solid wood has a fuller, richer sound regardless of what kind of wood it is made of. It also produces a more powerful sound with more volume and longer sustain (how long a note rings out). In addition to these direct benefits in sound quality, using solid wood to make a guitar top has another major advantage for sound quality: a guitar made with solid pieces of wood only gets better and sounds better as it is played and ages. Beyond the benefits in sound quality, solid wood has a few more advantages. For one, a guitar made of solid wood generally looks more beautiful and makes every guitar unique, as no two pieces of wood are the same. More importantly, solid wood is easier to repair should a problem ever occur. The wood fibers in solid wood are easier to glue than the fibers in laminated wood, which generally leads to a better end result.

Mahogany Sides and Back

Mahogany has long been a very popular wood for the sides and backs of acoustic guitars. With its warm, rounded bass sound, it provides a foundation for any musical style to reach the listener. The midrange is very strong and sounds full, while the highs sound delicate and very pleasant.

Bone Nuts

Bridge nuts and/or bone combs have a much higher density and therefore retain better tonal properties. This means that a nut or comb made of bone produces a brighter sound with more resonance and a better attack. A bone bridge nut and/or comb really brings a guitar to life.