Ho hum...

[tbeltrans]

Since I don't get to go to NAMM like kramster always does, I decided to treat myself to a new McPherson Sable with the gold frets and gold Schaller tuners and the honeycomb top.

A fine excuse for a fine guitar.

So now I am well stocked with carbon fiber instruments: 3 pre-Peavey Cargos, 2 McPherson Touring - both with the full gold package and honeycomb top, and one McPherson Sable with full gold package and honeycomb top.

Guess I don't need to go to NAMM.

Tony

[Barb1]

Hi Tony,
Enjoy your new Sable and the rest of the cf guitars!
Barb

[steelvibe]

Although hard to judge through YouTube videos, the Sable is one of the best sounding cF guitars I've heard. You don't see them pop up for sale very often and can clearly see the quality of the design in them. McPherson makes top notch stuff no doubt!

Congrats!!

[kramster]

Nice buy big guy!!!

[tbeltrans]

Though I have no idea if this is true...

The sales guy said he had toured the McPherson factory and was told that they only make about 500 of the carbon fiber series per year. Also, I don't know if he meant 500 Sable and 500 Touring, or 500 total. What I do know is that the Sable I got today is the first I have seen with the full gold package. I have seen one or two with gold tuners, but nickel frets. I wanted the whole package, so I held out until today.

I have seen pictures of the new "basket weave" tops, and I must say that my preference is still for the honeycomb. Maybe others like the basket weave better. Something for everybody, so that is a good thing.

Anyway, maybe somebody here can verify the numbers??

My nephew is into bow hunting, and he told me that McPherson makes the finest carbon fiber bows in the world. If that is true, then we would expect the same for carbon fiber guitars.

My collection feels complete - until the next one. :0

The McPherson factory is about a two hour drive from me. Maybe this spring or summer I can go visit. Having three McPhersons should qualify me as a customer, though all three together still don't add up to the cost of one wood model.

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Barb1

Hi Tony,
Enjoy your new Sable and the rest of the cf guitars!
Barb

Thanks Barb. It will be quite easy to comply.

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by steelvibe

Although hard to judge through YouTube videos, the Sable is one of the best sounding cF guitars I've heard. You don't see them pop up for sale very often and can clearly see the quality of the design in them. McPherson makes top notch stuff no doubt!

Congrats!!

That could very well be true. I have yet to hear/play an Emerald, but I think that will be happening before long since there is a guy around this forum who lives in the metro area and we will eventually be getting together. He wants to try my McPhersons and I want to try his X20. I think we will both be impressed.

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by kramster

Nice buy big guy!!!

Thanks kramster. We may have to have an arms race agreement so we don't go crazy trying to outdo each other's McPherson collections.

Tony

[Captain Jim]

Congrats, Tony - good that you were able to "hold out" until you could get exactly what you want! Your collection sounds like historical timeline of CA and McPherson CF. Probably goes without saying, but I will say it: got photos?

[Frettingflyer]

Congrats Tony, I have only had mine a couple months, but it is a fantastic guitar, as you know. Enjoy.

[kramster]

Sure wish there was a photo of said guitar... just wish in’.

[tbeltrans]

Regarding photos, these McPhersons all look the same, so I could post a link to most any site that has one on display. I think a more fitting NGD post, particularly for a mass produced guitar, would be a video with actual playing an actual song, and an explanation of why this particular guitar was purchased. It would probably also be much more helpful to those still looking at possibly purchasing that same model. However, that will take more time to put together.

Tony

[kramster]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Regarding photos, these McPhersons all look the same, so I could post a link to most any site that has one on display. I think a more fitting NGD post, particularly for a mass produced guitar, would be a video with actual playing an actual song, and an explanation of why this particular guitar was purchased. It would probably also be much more helpful to those still looking at possibly purchasing that same model. However, that will take more time to put together.

Tony

Ok you got out of it..I’ll just look at mine ... I really like the gold and honey comb on my touring... kinda wish Sable matched...

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by kramster

Ok you got out of it..I’ll just look at mine ... I really like the gold and honey comb on my touring... kinda wish Sable matched...

I thought you had a Sable with the gold package?!? I will try getting up a video of my Sable soon. Time is the primary issue.

Having just restrung my Sable with the same type of strings I use on my Taylor (the same as what their factory puts on the K14ce), I am pretty much convinced that the Sable is a carbon fiber version of Taylor as far as the neck is concerned. To me, that is a good thing, since playability is an important issue.

The strings are Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanoweb HD Light (53 through 13), so that the bass strings are light gauge and the top strings are medium. This makes barre'ing chords easier, while providing a full sound in the highs. The Sable has plenty of bass response, so I don't notice any bass lacking with these. The part number is 16182, in case anybody else wishes to try these.

I don't know how many Sable and/or Touring owners there are around here, but it seems a good idea for those with similar guitars to exchange these kinds of information as we experiment with getting the most sound and playability from our guitars. Taylor is all about playability, so trying their choice in strings just makes sense to me, especially since the Sable/Touring necks are so much like what Taylor does.

Tony

[steelvibe]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

The strings are Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanoweb HD Light (53 through 13), so that the bass strings are light gauge and the top strings are medium. This makes barre'ing chords easier, while providing a full sound in the highs. The Sable has plenty of bass response, so I don't notice any bass lacking with these. The part number is 16182, in case anybody else wishes to try these.


Tony

Thanks Tony, and I agree. I've tried all of Elixir's offerings and like the HD lights best. Having said that, I've found that of all the coated variety (which make sense on a CF guitar) I like the new D'addario XT quite a lot. I wish they offered a set with a 13 and 17 but they don't so I buy them separately- that is how much more I like the feel and tone of beefed up trebles on my CF.