Guitars with funny soundholes

Kevin Holmes · Post by **Kevin Holmes** » 20 Jun 2009 6:10 am

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 (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 20 Jun 2009 6:31 am

This it?

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

Kevin Holmes · Post by **Kevin Holmes** » 20 Jun 2009 7:16 am

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

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 20 Jun 2009 7:56 am

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 · Post by **Kevin Holmes** » 20 Jun 2009 8:06 am

Thanks, Dave. That's it!

--Kevin

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 20 Jun 2009 8:30 am

I took these backstage at a Trace Atkins concert,Not sure of the brand?

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jun 2009 9:04 am

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Jun 2009 10:02 am

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.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Jun 2009 10:16 am

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....

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 20 Jun 2009 12:01 pm

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.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Jun 2009 4:51 pm

Thanks for the info Scott,You mentioned the J-45,That's my alltime favorite guitar. DYK?BC.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 20 Jun 2009 5:53 pm

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

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Jun 2009 9:26 pm

Bo,you must not be able to wait for break time to go to the head,or is it something more sinister ? DYK?BC.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 21 Jun 2009 7:59 am

Charlie... you are a real commodian!!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 21 Jun 2009 11:22 am

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.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 21 Jun 2009 12:32 pm

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 R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 22 Jun 2009 2:48 am

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.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 22 Jun 2009 8:46 am

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?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Jun 2009 9:07 pm

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.

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Guitars with funny soundholes

Guitars with funny soundholes

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