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NGD: McPherson Sable Gold Honeycomb + Review
Okay so I've been holding out on you guys (especially Dave!) as I received this guitar on April 16 so I had it for just over a week now. The honeymoon period is over but I wanted to put it through all possible paces, especially before doing a review.
I was surprised that it only took 6 days to come from the U.S. to Northern Canada with all the 'stuff' going on in the world and I was shocked when I got home from work the day it arrived to be greeted by 3 excited kids telling me they think a guitar came. I let the kids rip the box apart and the series of 'shockers' started. The first was the case. The case is a GWW, a brand of case I'm not familiar with but it's a very stunning case. A little heavier than the Hiscox cases that my Emeralds came with but very cool indeed. The next shocker was the actual honeycomb weave on the guitar. I admit seeing the guitar in pics and videos on the internet didn't wow me but in person it's absolutely stunning. No bubbles to be found whatsoever. The overall fit and finish on the guitar is quite remarkable. My next shocker was the material on the back and sides of the guitar. There's some sort of coating (I have no idea what it is) and it makes the guitar stay in your lap. As a 'squirmy' person this is an added bonus as I had no idea it was on there. I also tested playing standing up and found the same thing, The guitar doesn't move! Inside the case was a nice plethora of trinkets: a McPherson strap, a pack of picks, another saddle, and a feedback buster. The feedback buster to me was a really nice addition for those of us who play out and might end up using it. I think I might send Emerald an email and give them the suggestion as well. And now the most important parts, at least for me, the tone and playability. The neck really does feel like a Taylor neck. It's fast and sleek and the guitar came setup with really low action and no buzzing at all. It plays really well up and down the fretboard. Regarding tone, there's really no better way I can say this and I know some of you don't like the reference but it really does sound like a wood guitar! They did an awesome job voicing this instrument. I never played a McPherson wood guitar, never even seen one in person but according to the videos I've watched it does have that unmistakable McPherson sound along with a bit of Composite Acoustics growl that I heard in a GX model. I've been doing extensive A/B'ing the Sable against my other guitars during the last week and it holds up well to any of them. In fact I find it hard to put the guitar down it's exactly what I was looking for tone wise. The guitar shipped with Elixir 80/20 strings so those strings are my reference on this guitar. I tried D'addario nickel bronze and the guitar currently has Elixir phosphor bronze on it and either alloy works well though I do feel the 80/20 is probably the better match and I'll most likely revert back to those later on. The LR Baggs element (my most hated UST) is supposedly voiced for the Sable and upon plugging in I was greeted with.........the same crappy element sound which I was expecting. I pulled out the pickup system and replaced it with a Schatten HFN and the HFN sounds great in this guitar. I've done a few 'in house' concerts the last couple of nights and I'm very pleased with how it amplifies and this will take over as my main gigging guitar without question. Well I rambled on enough I think for a first post. I'll end with, this guitar exceeded all my expectations and I'm very thankful to add it to my current lineup. Here's a few pics: [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] |
#2
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Any pics and/or impressions of the cantilevered neck?
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Eastman T186MX Yamaha LL16D Dauphin DS-30 Fender Baja Telecaster |
#3
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[IMG][/IMG]
Nice question. The cantilevered neck is a great design and Matt McPherson certainly deserves credit for that and I absolutely love it. If you touch the soundboard after strumming a chord you can really tell it makes a difference. My opinion also, there's no way that neck is moving. It has the perfect amount of relief from the factory. |
#4
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Great job on the review there Luva, I suspect the question is coming, so I will go ahead and ask it, what are your thoughts when compared to the X20 ?
Thanks!
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John |
#5
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Excellent review GuitarLuva. Congratulations on a fine guitar. Also, I want to compliment you on the photos. The lighting shows off the honeycomb very well. With all you said about the sound and playability, the coolest thing is that it will never change. Worry-free music making for lifetimes to come.
Tony
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“The guitar is a wonderful thing which is understood by few.” — Franz Schubert "Alexa, where's my stuff?" - Anxiously waiting... |
#6
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Very nice review! Very cool looking guitar. I would like to see a nylon version (in my dreams).
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#7
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Quote:
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Thanks Evan and hey ya just never know what plans they have in store! |
#8
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Quote:
Tony
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“The guitar is a wonderful thing which is understood by few.” — Franz Schubert "Alexa, where's my stuff?" - Anxiously waiting... |
#9
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Great write up..I love my Sable... and now I gotta do what you did with the pickup.
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YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#10
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Quote:
Thanks Mr. K. To reiterate I think the HFN sounds great in the Sable. I put an ebony shim in there to compensate for the height of the element+elastomer until I get a new saddle. I was talking to Justin from McPherson and had him so intrigued about the HFN that he wanted me to send the guitar to them and they would fit a new saddle for free just so they could hear it. A nice gesture but that means I would be without the guitar for far too long! I promised him that I would do a short demo in the future and share it. I also promised people on here long ago that I would do an X20 vs X30 video so I will still do that one first whenever I get around to it. |
#11
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Very nice! Something special about these guitars.
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2020 Yamaha LL56 Custom 2021 Boucher SG-51-BMV 2020 RainSong CO-WS1000N2 2019 PRS Silver Sky |
#12
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Mine should be here Monday. Honeycomb w/gold except I had them change out element for anthem Sl as well as black buttons on the tuners.
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McPherson Sable PRS Studio Tom Anderson Icon T Helix |
#13
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Agreed. Can't believe this one fell under my radar for so long.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm enjoying mine. The Anthem SL is definitely better than the element for sure, though, it still uses the element which IME inhibits a little volume and tone. |
#14
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Did you try an IR with the factory Element before installing the HFN?
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jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator .wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE My duo's website and my email... [email protected] Jon Fields |
#15
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Congrats Luva, I really enjoy my “base” model Sable and know you will too. Looks great with the weave and as said above, nice photo’s.
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Dave McPherson Sable, Blackbird Lucky 13, Rainsong OM1000. Various wood, mostly Taylors |