The Rathbone R2SB orchestra model (OM) acoustic guitar is a true powerhouse. With its solid Englemann spruce top and beautiful Bocote back and sides, this guitar has a beautifully clear and open tone. The tonal characteristics of Bocote are similar to those of maple, exceptionally linear in projection and clarity.

Given the situation for which it was originally designed, the OM model does not have a large sound box. In fact, none of the early "modern" guitar models are large by today's standards. Despite its smaller sound box, the Rathbone No. 2 OM model guitar plays like a modern guitar, because the neck meets the sound box at the 14th fret, rather than 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 better response and more punch.

Solid Sitka Spruce top

Sitka spruce is one of the most traditional woods used for guitar tops. This is due to its stiffness and ideal strength-to-weight ratio. Thanks to these characteristics, Sitka spruce offers a very dynamic sensitivity and a rich tone with many harmonic overtones. This makes it exceptionally well-suited to both powerful strumming and delicate fingerpicking.

Bocote side and back

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

Bone saddles

Bone saddles and/or nut are much denser and therefore retain better tonal qualities. A bone saddle or nut produces a brighter sound with more resonance and a better attack. A bone saddle and/or nut truly brings a guitar to life.