Guitars with funny soundholes

Kevin Holmes · From: Lower Paxton, PA USA

I wanted to ask if anybody knew who was making those acoustics that seem real popular with the country folks these days.

But then I started thinking, that over the years many manufacturers have changed the soundhole.

Ovals like Macaferri (sp?) or Gianini. Some makers have tried triangles. Ovation still make those ugly things that started out as thier Adamas line in the seventies.

It probably doesn't make any difference anyway, especially for acoustic-electrics.

Buy the way, does anyone know who make those acoustics with the funny soundholes that are popular in Nashville these days?

--Kevin

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

This it?

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=series&sid=63

Kevin Holmes · From: Lower Paxton, PA USA

Nope, the one that I'm thinking of is shaped like a D, but off center, so that it's in the upper bout.

I'm going to head over to CMT.com, and look at some pictures to see if I can find some of it.

Like I said, they seem to be real popular with the country pickers these days.

--Kevin

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Probably McPherson - http://mcphersonguitars.com/ - I saw a display in the Nashville airport for these, but I believe they're made in Wisconsin.

I got one of these in a trade about 15 years ago - Taj Mahal was using one at the time. It didn't work for what I was doing. It had kind of a nasally sound that was pretty cool for blues, but I wanted to be able to get a classic Martin or Gibson dreadnaught sound and it didn't have it. But they may have changed significantly since then. My sense is that they're well-made guitars.

Kevin Holmes · From: Lower Paxton, PA USA

Thanks, Dave. That's it!

--Kevin

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I took these backstage at a Trace Atkins concert,Not sure of the brand?
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

I saw a weird one in the museum across the street from the GOO,Was Jimmy Rodgers guitar,it had a round sound hole AND F holes,Can't remember if it was a Martin or not,maybe one of you will know.DYK?BC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

In a sigh o' the times narcissistic "improvement", there's at least one acoustic out there that has a "sound port" on the side pointing at the player's head, and no outward-facing sound hole out all. Listeners - bah, who needs 'em.... Evil or Very Mad

Scott Shipley · From: The Ozark Mountains

Charles,
Gibson produced the HG series from 1929 until 1933. They had an internal soundwell, with a round hole and four f-holes. They were aimed at the Hawaiian guitar market.
Interesting to note that this model was the beginning of the jumbo line of guitars, the J-45, J-200, etc.

_________________
Scott Shipley Facebook

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Thanks for the info Scott,You mentioned the J-45,That's my alltime favorite guitar. DYK?BC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Sometimes I wish those cheaper plywood upright basses had a hole on the players side.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Bo,you must not be able to wait for break time to go to the head,or is it something more sinister ? DYK?BC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Charlie... you are a real commodian!! Laughing

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Stu,

I believe those are McPherson guitars. First they look just like the McPherson in the post above yours, and I have never seen another brand that has the sound hole located in that position and thet shape. Very expensive and great sounding guitars. The one's I saw were in the $5000 range.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Yeah, Stu - those are definitely McPherson guitars - I can pretty much make out the name on the headstock of the one on the left.

BTW - I didn't mean anything negative about these guitars when I said mine didn't work for me. It played very nicely and had a particular sound - just not the one I wanted. If you go to their website and listen to the song samples they have there (from McPherson players), I'd say - "Yup, that's pretty much what mine sounded like."

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Ricky Skaggs has one of the MacPherson guitars which actually has a B-Bender installed in it. He plays it live when he does some of his old country hits with his bluegrass band..... It's probably a bender made by Joe Glaser as that's what he used in his electric guitar(s).........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Richard and Dave,thanks for the guitar I.D.An interesting thing during a ballad at the Trace Atkins concert I heard some really nice finger picking I went behind the stage from one end to the other and nobody in the band was playing the part?My guess is the parts were pre-recorded? Winking

_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

The McPherson's are being seen by me quite a bit. The first time I saw them was a Soundstage show with Peter Cetera and Amy Grant. Peter's guitar players used them and so did Amy. Dave is right, they do have a certain sound. They sounded great with those 2. I think I still prefer Martin and Taylor.

I also saw the Soundstage show with Martina McBride, and the female back up singer who played mandolin, I think fiddle, and acoustic, played one I believe.