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NGD: McPherson Sable Honeycomb and review
I have been deciding between an Emerald and a McPherson for some time.
I finally was able to obtain a McPherson: It currently has some medium/light 80/20 bronze nanowebs. My review Acoustic tone It has a great unplugged tone. It is very woody-sounding compared to other carbon fiber guitars. I've played Rainsongs, Composite Acoustics, and a few others. It's not as boxy or mid-rangey as the others I have played. I think the tone is more balanced. Bell-like highs, and a surprisingly decent amount of bass. The upper-mids are very compressed when the guitar is strummed hard. It becomes kind of chimey, but it doesn't get very loud. It is a new sound/feeling, but I find it very pleasant. I compared it with an Eastman E10OM (Adi/Hog). The volume of the McPherson was about 75% of the Eastman. I strummed my Eastman hard, in comparison to the McPherson, it felt like the guitar was being obnoxious with the way the mids would just project. Build Quality/Finish The Sable is very well built. You can tell they are very serious about their quality control. It feels very solid in the hands. I was surprised at how heavy the guitar was, the weight is similar to a wooden guitar. The back/sides seem unfinished and has a rough texture, it almost feels like an Ovation. I wish the rest of it was like the neck, more satin and smooth. It is very easy to play, and comfortable to hold. The cutaway is very nice to have. The Schaller tuners are nice, but I wish it came with Gotoh 510s. The guitar stays in tune well. Electronics The Sable comes equipped with an LR Baggs Element that is custom EQ'd for the Sable. It has a volume and tone wheel. The tone wheel has a center detent, which I'm assuming is for 0 cut/boost. You can turn it either up or down to add or roll off treble. Just from my ear, I estimate the tone wheel value might be centered around 4 khz. I was able to achieve my favorite sound with the wheel just slightly above the center. The pickup is VERY hot compared to my Anthem I have in another guitar. The sound isn't terrible, but is not a good representation of the acoustic tone. Being a piezo, it has some quack and boxiness. I imagine it would be great in a live band setting, as it would cut through. I plan to install an Anthem SL in it today, and will post an update in a few weeks when I get to try it out with that pickup. Feel free to ask any questions about the guitar. |
#2
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Looks great! I've always thought the honeycomb is classy. Looks like you got the EVO frets?
I'm curious how much relief they build into these things. The lack of a truss rod scared me and ultimately turned me to Emerald/Rainsong instead of McP or Composite Acoustics.
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enough instruments to be mediocre at all of them |
#3
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It was actually shipped with the strings fully tuned. I guess only a CF guitar could handle that kind of tension and movement. |
#4
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Nice buy!!..was just playing my ( not as fancy plain ole ) Sable yesterday...when I was younger... a great guitar.
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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 |
#5
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How would you compare the volume of the Sable to other guitars?
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#6
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Right up there I guess.. sounds loud enough to me for just playing around the house a s I do with all my guitars...
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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 |
#7
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I installed some Elixir PB mediums on the guitar last night, as well as an LR Baggs Anthem SL.
I like the tone much more now! It is more balanced, not overly bright, and more woody sounding. The Anthem SL sounds great as always. I also modified a D'addario NS soundhole tuner by cutting off the lip and used adhesive to mount it in the soundhole. Very stealthy install, and none of the components can be seen from the front. |
#8
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Oh that looks cool. Congratulations and thanks for the info... |
#9
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I wouldn't ask Kramster, of all the time I've been in this section, I don't think I have ever seen Kramster spared even the tiniest critique on his carbon fiber babies.
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Keystone Mod D - German/ABW Doerr Mod D - Swiss/BRW Benavides D - Torrefied Adi/Madi RW Lindsay Marcus D - Sitka/Madi RW Gone But Not Forgotten Tom Sands Model S (Crystal) - Italian/Fiddleback Hog |
#10
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True, there is that
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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 |
#11
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Congratulations on the new guitar and very nice detailed description.
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#12
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Very cool.............
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |