The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 03-25-2023, 01:09 PM
willnorvell willnorvell is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 175
Default Help Me ID This Guitar - Don Ferguson (Maker)?

I found this guitar in a pawn shop today. It was priced so insanely, that I had to grab it. Now my curiosity is killing me. Here are pics, and the label that was loose inside the body. It's made well (has finish issues), and is obviously built with quality stuff (Koa b/s).

Can anyone help me here? I'd love any info on this beauty!






Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-25-2023, 02:22 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chugiak, Alaska
Posts: 31,164
Default

I’ve never heard of him before. There are lots of people handbuilding guitars who only make a few, and I suspect that this falls into that category.

Congratulations on a nice find.


Wade Hampton Miller
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-25-2023, 03:35 PM
Monty Christo Monty Christo is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 591
Default

There's a luthier named Dow Ferguson in Temple, Texas...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-25-2023, 04:21 PM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Granby, CT
Posts: 2,913
Default

Well, you're not playing a label, but a guitar. Enjoy it!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-25-2023, 05:04 PM
willnorvell willnorvell is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 175
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Monty Christo View Post
There's a luthier named Dow Ferguson in Temple, Texas...
Checked with Dow. It's not him. He just does repairs, does not build.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-25-2023, 05:18 PM
Athens Athens is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tellico Village, TN
Posts: 1,878
Default Mystery guitar

Uh, why does Ren Ferguson come to mind? Wouldn’t THAT be a hoot?
__________________
1995 Taylor 412
1995 Taylor 612C Custom, Spruce over Flamed Maple
1997 Taylor 710
1968 Aria 6815 12 String, bought new
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-25-2023, 06:34 PM
kbraker's Avatar
kbraker kbraker is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: findlay ohio
Posts: 860
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
I’ve never heard of him before. There are lots of people handbuilding guitars who only make a few, and I suspect that this falls into that category.



Congratulations on a nice find.





Wade Hampton Miller


I have a guit like that. It’s definitively one of the best I’ve ever played hands down….
__________________
Chupacabra OM-18
Guild OM-120 w/ aftermarket JourneyTek pickup
Fender RW Flea Jazz
Squier Sonic Pbass
Acoustic 30 watt Bass Amp
Ampeg 20watt bass amp
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-25-2023, 06:41 PM
foxo foxo is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,958
Default

With handwriting like that I'm guessing he was a medical doctor who buiilt guitars on the side.

Lovely find!
__________________
Martin 000-15m with Baggs Anthem SL
My latest album: Repentance

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-26-2023, 01:20 AM
steve gray steve gray is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Nantes
Posts: 17
Default

There is a B.A Ferguson guitars in Texas. Could be the place?! If it’s not the one then I’d go with the doctor / luthier thread. Either way it looks great. Enjoy 👍
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-26-2023, 05:44 AM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mohawk Valley
Posts: 8,709
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by foxo View Post
With handwriting like that I'm guessing he was a medical doctor who buiilt guitars on the side.

Lovely find!
Same thing occurred to me. But really the writing looks like a very old person with tremor issues. But if that was the case, how could he build so nicely? It looks great.

The finish issues look like common crazing to me. All that means is that there has been temperature shock in its life. And that it probably has a nitro finish, which, 20 years ago, was widely considered the best you could get.
__________________
The Bard Rocks

Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle
Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale
Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk
Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany
Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle
MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood
Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany
Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber
'31 National Duolian
+ many other stringed instruments.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-26-2023, 04:31 PM
willnorvell willnorvell is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 175
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks View Post
Same thing occurred to me. But really the writing looks like a very old person with tremor issues. But if that was the case, how could he build so nicely? It looks great.

The finish issues look like common crazing to me. All that means is that there has been temperature shock in its life. And that it probably has a nitro finish, which, 20 years ago, was widely considered the best you could get.
The old person is what my guess was. Looks like my grandmother's handwriting her last years.

This guitar had VERY good intention and pre-planning. The glue is rough, and there are some definite ways to see that this would be an early build if it was someone who kept making guitars after this one. It plays nice, but has some fret buzz in a few places. The main flaw is that the tuning pegs aren't perfectly aligned. It seems to stay in tune and sounds good though! Even has a Highlander IP-1 pickup.

Last edited by willnorvell; 03-26-2023 at 04:38 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-27-2023, 12:04 PM
willnorvell willnorvell is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 175
Default

Still looking for info.....
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-27-2023, 08:22 PM
Slimt Slimt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 321
Default

Kind of curious. When guitars like this are questioned Which I think is really cool. Could there be some sort of Library here as a tool for others to view in case they have one similar. IDing guitars is hard. But it could bring valued info from another instrument of the same.

To the OP. Have you mirrored inside the top for a signature? Look at the braces as well. Ive seen a few signed on those as well.
__________________
1946 D-18
1956 D-28
Santa Cruz VA
Gibson SJ200
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-27-2023, 08:45 PM
Slimt Slimt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 321
Default

On another note. Check with the Luthiers Guild someone might recognize the Label. It looks like a Nicely built guitar. Love the tortoise binding.
__________________
1946 D-18
1956 D-28
Santa Cruz VA
Gibson SJ200
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-01-2023, 08:05 PM
willnorvell willnorvell is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 175
Default

Still no luck finding info. Called everyone I can think to call.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=