NGD: Pono OO-30V Cedar/Rosewood

[acousticjazz]

Happy Saturday evening AGF'ers! I've had this new Pono OO for about a week now, and I'm just getting into picking it for an extend time this weekend - totally loving it! My first impressions of the guitar- I really like wood choices John and crew chose for this one, it's a stunning OO. I also really like the cedar/rosewood combo, it's my first small body with a cedar top over rosewood back and sides, and I really love it for fingerpicking or solo leads with a pick. I'm going to work on bonding with the guitar tonight in tandem with some pizza and a Deschutes Mirror Pond pale ale, but I'll post a bunch of pic's below in the meantime

[acousticjazz]

[Lee Callicutt]

Sweet! Love the grain on that cedar soundboard.

[BrunoBlack]

Pono makes some beautiful guitars. Enjoy that one.

[TrapperB]

Sorry, made where?

[briluster]

Based on your signature and your new acquisition I assume you're a Pono fan, huh?

Does Pono have something of a "signature tone"? Is it more modern than vintage, heavy or light on overtones, or does it all change from one guitar to another? Your collection looks incredible.

[TokyoNeko]

Pono doesn't make Rosewood guitars anymore, so that should be a keeper. The OOs are great; I own one myself and can testify to its quality.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by TrapperB

Sorry, made where?

Indonesia.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by briluster

Based on your signature and your new acquisition I assume you're a Pono fan, huh?

Does Pono have something of a "signature tone"? Is it more modern than vintage, heavy or light on overtones, or does it all change from one guitar to another? Your collection looks incredible.

My Pono SS Dread in Sitka and mahogany has it a very distinct voice, I think all Ponos do and they don't sound like anything else I have heard or played.
The build is very light compared to most guitars.
Mine has a dry, bright voicing with nice overtones and it projects very well.
As far as whether Pono's sound Vintage or Modern, I would say neither.

[ifret]

Its beautiful. A real nice collection too!

How do you like your Pono UL-40SP - Englemann/Ebony? I sent a message to Pono here on the forum and never heard back. I'm a fingerpicker. Would live to try one out. Can you even get them anymore?

[TokyoNeko]

Originally Posted by frets4fun

I sent a message to Pono here on the forum and never heard back.

You should send an email. That would get a much faster response.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by briluster

Does Pono have something of a "signature tone"? Is it more modern than vintage, heavy or light on overtones, or does it all change from one guitar to another?

I had a Spruce/Rosewood parlor at one time and I thought it leaned towards a more modern sound. Very close to Breedlove.

[acousticjazz]

Originally Posted by briluster

Based on your signature and your new acquisition I assume you're a Pono fan, huh?

Does Pono have something of a "signature tone"? Is it more modern than vintage, heavy or light on overtones, or does it all change from one guitar to another? Your collection looks incredible.

Briluster- Pono's definitely have a signature tone, but I would agree with others here that they don't necessarily sound like Martins, Gibsons, Taylors or Guilds. I would say in general they sound more modern than traditional, and as far as overtones - that depends on the wood combo. The mahogany models I have are really woody/warm sounding, the rosewoods are very lush/bell like and the ebonies are somewhere in between but very defined.

I love having the picking variety, though I've been playing for just over 20 years, I'm still figuring out what body sizes, 12 or 14 fret, scale lengths, etc. that I like. So having this particular selection of great guitars is quite fun. I've been restringing all of the ladies this weekend, and going all phosphor bronze (tried some aluminum bronze on a couple previously which I liked), and setting up a couple in various tunings though mostly standard.

Thanks for your comment!

[acousticjazz]

Originally Posted by TokyoNeko

You should send an email. That would get a much faster response.

As Tokyo said, I would just contact Pono directly. You'll probably get John or maybe Daniel, and they will answer your questions for you.

[JonHBone]

I love that wood combo...although I've only owned it in nylon string (cordoba). I bet it sounds lush. Congrats. I've never played a pono before...sure looks pretty.