Ferndale Guitar

Amigo · December 2022

I had an hour to spare today in town and I stopped by at PMT. I am vaguley considering a 0/00/000/P guitar, small, for finger picking and blues. I tried Martins and Yamahas that were available, but I was astonished by the Ferndale P3-E Parlor. It sounded better, fuller, clearer, than any of the others, who were much more expensive. It is the first 12-fret guitar I ever tried, so it may be that. It is this one:
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/ferndale-p3-e-parlor-electro-acoustic-guitar-mahogany
Mahogany top and laminated sapele back and sides, I was taken aback by it, so much so that I was nearly ready to buy it on the spot, but I thought I'd enquire here to get people's opinions as to why did it sound so good. I seem to favour rosewood, but this guitar sounded just like I would have expected, if it were with rosewood. Go figure!

thermionic · December 2022

I’m disappointed that they’re not made in the Rhondda.

TheMadMick · December 2022

The problem with cheap guitars is mainly they are not consistent (neither are some more expensive guitars). If you come across a good un - buy it and be thankful.

I have to say that the main problem I have with 12 fretters if there isn't enough fretboard real estate. But that's just me.

guitarjack66 · December 2022

From a purely personal perspective I would say 'buy it' and forget about the name on the headstock.

Mellish · December 2022

So what's the problem @OP?

If *you* like it, that's all that matters, isn't it? You obviously wanted to buy it. Never mind what *we* think, though thanks for asking. Ask yourself how you'd feel if you didn't buy it and go with that.

bertie · December 2022

Amigo said:

but I thought I'd enquire here to get people's opinions as to why did it sound so good.

it matters no a jot.

Trust your ears - you touched it, you played it, you like it, you buy it

/thread

thermionic · December 2022

The Ferndale trade mark (for guitars) is owned by PMT’s parent company.

Amigo · December 2022

I suppose my question was why did a mahogany/sapele parlour guitar sound as much as a sitka/rosewood, and better than 000 of better fame? 12-frets?

bertie · December 2022

Amigo said:

I suppose my question was why did a mahogany/sapele parlour guitar sound as much as a sitka/rosewood, and better than 000 of better fame? 12-frets?

better is always subjective !! the answer is different woods sound different, different wood combinations sound different and solid woods usually are different to laminate and some woods take to being laminated better than others

there is no golden ticket answer - Ive got an all solid cedar on hog parlor that sounds very much fuller than two solid spruce on lam rosewood OMs Id had - sounds fuller than the all solid Faith Mercury Id had before that........ and Id had a Tanglewood Java parlor thingy that's spruce on laminated and very pretty god knows and it was awfully thin and tinny

DavidR · January 2023

Another vote for small mahogany acoustics! I know I keep banging on about my Vintage V300MH but give it a whirl too if you spot one @Amigo ; Workround for comments about the Ferndale being a 12 fretter too.

As @TheMadMick has said, individual examples of guitars can vary and I may have just hit on a good one, but I've had as much fun out of this honest little OO sized instrument as any I have ever bought. And its such good value.

Vintage V300mh Guitar Outfit Mahogany | PMT Online

Why do small low price point mahogany instruments sound so good atm? No idea. Tone subjective and individual taste in tone vary too but I rather suspect the Chinese manufacturers have just hit on a winning combination of woods, manufacturing and incorporation of what players want. The Chinese have been making stringed instruments an awfully long time!

Like the open head stock on the Ferndale btw. Very fashionable just now.

thomasross20 · January 2023

Is there a misconception here that rosewood is the better tonewood? I hope it stays that way because mahogany is the real star for me and is also cheaper. Mahogany for the win every time.

bertie · January 2023

thomasross20 said:

Is there a misconception here that rosewood is the better tonewood? I hope it stays that way because mahogany is the real star for me and is also cheaper. Mahogany for the win every time.

no its just different, but happens to be more expensive so the perception is "better"

the only "better" is that probably more people prefer "its tonal characteristics and aesthetics" over Hog ?

thomasross20 · January 2023

Definitely everybody has their own preference, no one truth else would be a boring world

bertie · January 2023

IME I have found that for parlors cedar tops work much better, particularly on mahogany, much more than spruce tops - much fuller/richer

best parlor Ive ever played//heard was cedar on koa

thomasross20 · January 2023

I've also heard that specific combination is meant to be great

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