Each year at the NAMM show, we collaborate with the Martin Custom Shop to select tone woods and create exclusive guitar designs for Telluride Music Co. Each TMC Exclusive is a one-of-a-kind custom guitar that can only be found at 8,750 ft elevation. Infused with the spirit of Telluride and crafted by the skilled artisans at the Martin Custom Shop, these guitars transcend the ordinary.
On an Orchestra Model, Cocobolo provides warmth and richness, amid shimmering clarity. It doesn't hurt that it's also easy on the eyes—beautiful red/orange coloring with elaborate grain patterns. We went into the 2024 NAMM Show with a Cocobolo OM in mind, and we found the perfect Cocobolo set while digging through the stacks with the Martin Custom Shop. When selecting tone woods, we're not just looking for unique grain—we look for evenness in color and a strong book match. This guitar turned out better than we could've imagined!
From there, we ordered this Custom Shop OM with a VTS Sitka Spruce Top. "VTS" is Martin's take on "Torrefied" Sitka Spruce. This has become one of our favorite upgrades because it gives a new guitar the seasoned, broken-in richness of a well-loved vintage relic. As you put a VTS top through the paces for years and years, it'll only sound better and more refined. We went a step further with scalloped, 1/4" Adirondack Spruce braces.
While the Custom Shop lets you get as fancy as you want, we intentionally avoided pearl to show off the natural beauty of Cocobolo. This OM has understated Style-28 details that are all wood—Maple biding with wood purling, a Maple-fiber Herringbone rosette, Maple end piece, and a wood-fiber back strip.
This Custom Shop OM-28 produces a full, balanced sound with quick response. Complex—yet focused—overtones, and crystal clear sound that never gets mushy. This is a versatile guitar that will shine in every setting.
Check out this video to see us select the wood:
Here is the spec sheet as listed in the included Custom Shop Handbook:
- Serial Number: 2866701
- Back/Sides Material: Cocobolo
- Binding Material: European Flamed Maple
- Bracing: Adirondack Spruce, Scalloped, 1/4"
- Bridge Pins: Liquid Medal - Bone with Red Dot
- Bridge Material: Black Ebony
- Bridge Style: Modern Belly
- Adhesive: Modern Adhesive
- Electronics: None
- Fingerboard Inlay: Golden Era Diamon and Squares Short with Regular Abalone
- Spacing: 1-3/4" x 2-1/8" x 2-5/32"
- Fingerboard Material: Black Ebony
- Finish Package: Gloss Body w/ Satin Neck
- Headplate: Decal: Old Style Gold
- Neck Profile: Modified Low Oval
- Nut Material: Bone
- Rosette Style: Style-28 Back Maple Fiber Antique White
- Scale Length: 25.4"
- Top Material: Sitka Spruce - VTS Premium
- Top Color: Clear