Any Pono Players?

Started by jpmist, May 18, 2016, 09:03:51 AM

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Some guys on another forum were trying to get a "forum" guitar together with Pono and one link led to another and I discovered hidden deep in their website that Pono offers something extremely similar to a OOV which I've been dying to get a hold of.

Pono only offers their guitars direct to the seller, so no chance of playing one. The AcousticForum guys seem to like 'em, but one always loves the guitar they just bought.

Anybody here ever play one?

:donut2 :coffee :donut
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

Cheked out their website. The guitars look well built and sound okay - but they need better recordings to really hear what they sound like: their demoes have too much top end and don't give a good reflection of the bass (I'm assuming).

The only question is, are you willing to take a gamble - not on buying one and having it be a decent guitar, but the gamble (to me) would be resale value if and when you want to sell.
2021 C-03R TE left-handed
Larrivee owner since 1992

I owned one...  very well built...  not too flashy....  a little on the trebley side but I had a small one....  I think you could get the sound you want with the right strings.... 

John, the owner is easy to talk with....  very good /easy company to work with...  they ship to you via air...  included with purchase price....   they will allow you to return if you're not happy.... 

Wildwood Guitars  in Ohio does a lot of custom Larrivee's    have you asked them about your OOV ???????   Bob

Thanks guys for weighting in, thought I'd get lucky.

Pono will accept the guitar back if I don't like it, so I'm only gambling the same as I would from any retailer. I can't even find Larrivees to buy in Atlanta, so I'm resigned to that return shipping fee whoever I buy from.

What I've read so far on Pono I like. They make a point of putting the thinnest layer of finish they can, which I agree with, biflex trussrod, use solid woods, don't darkstain their mahogany, & have a lot of experience with the Asian craftsmen who make their ukes. If it's not well made I won't keep it and having a bridge lift and frets pop up can happen with any manufacturer.

I don't mind a "bit on the trebley side" my hearing is shot so I need the extra treble. I know enough to be able to tweak the action where I want it as I did on my Larrivees. The thing is I've gone thru 3 Taylor 12 frets all of which I let go, and it seems no one else makes a short scale, OO, cutaway and that's what I've locked on. I love the shape and playability of my OOV hogtop and I'm playing a lot with a capo so the Pono would really check off all the boxes for me.

I check Wildwood's site often for their custom models as well as other dealers, but having already experienced waiting endlessly for a Larrivee custom order I've ruled that out, sadly. I'm emailing Pono back a load of questions, will keep y'all posted.
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

JP...  There build quality will not disappoint you....  I think you will be very pleased.

You give them a call...  they are about 8 hrs behind us time wise....   EST

They should be open right now.

What woods are you looking at????

Bob

The mini parlors are a temptation.

Ed

May or may not be relevant here, but my Pono tenor ukulele (solid mahogany) is excellent. I am so happy with it, I have no desire to own another uke.
Larrivée Limited Edition Rosewood Parlor (2003)
plus various other acoustic guitars and one ukulele

I got some pictures of the OP 20 model I had my eye on. The mahogany looks the same color as Larrivee's, nice detailing around the cutaway and the paddlehead looks nice too.



Where I'm stuck is the size of the OP model which is too close to that of Larrivee's Parlor size. The Larrivee OO is 10" upper bout, 14" lower, 4" depth, the Larrivee Parlor is 13.25", 9.5" & 3 7/8" and the Pono OP20 is somewhere in the middle at 13.5" 9.5" 3.5-4.25" which is uncomfortably shy of Larrivee's OO size. It is a shorter scale which should give it a bit more growl, but that's just a guess.

I could be completely wrong, but IMHO there's quite a falloff of bass and midrange tone from the Larrivee OO to the Parlor and since Pono has no audio samples of this guitar anywhere it seems I can't pull the trigger on the OP 20 . . .

Thanks for your replies – GAS pains are a b*tch. . .  :?
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

I saw any "porno" players and I was wondering, "Who's going to admit to that on a public forum?"  :roll


Thanks Bob, he's been in touch. I asked for a sound clip, so it could happen!
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

I have a Pono 00-20, no cutaway and an OP-30 DC--with a cutaway.  I much prefer the tone of the the 00 to the parlor.  Such was true with Larrivees, too, when I compared the 00 to the parlor.  So it just may be that my ears only want to go so small in any make or model.  There's a boxiness to the parlor which I find disappointing...even if one should expect it from the size.

When I compare the Larrivee OO-05 to the Pono 00-20, both mahogany b/s, the Larrivee wins in richness and resonance, but the Pono is still a pleasure to play and I'm happy to have bought it.  I haven't measured the Pono string spacing, but it feels wider than Larrivee's--or it's a function of the neck itself, but the grip just feels a bit bigger on the Pono.

I agree that Ponos are well-built, and both of mine are very pretty guitars.  But if you're wondering whether Pono's parlor size might sound closer to a 00, then I'd forewarn that it doesn't.  It sounds like a parlor.


I have a Pono 00-20, no cutaway and an OP-30 DC--with a cutaway.  I much prefer the tone of the the 00 to the parlor.  Such was true with Larrivees, too, when I compared the 00 to the parlor.  So it just may be that my ears only want to go so small in any make or model.  There's a boxiness to the parlor which I find disappointing...even if one should expect it from the size.

I played a Larrivee parlor once and I was really surprised at the boxy tone it had, I couldn't really warm up to it.

When I compare the Larrivee OO-05 to the Pono 00-20, both mahogany b/s, the Larrivee wins in richness and resonance, but the Pono is still a pleasure to play and I'm happy to have bought it.  I haven't measured the Pono string spacing, but it feels wider than Larrivee's--or it's a function of the neck itself, but the grip just feels a bit bigger on the Pono.

I was told the OP-20 had 2 1/4" spacing, the Pono OO's are 2 5/16"

I agree that Ponos are well-built, and both of mine are very pretty guitars.  But if you're wondering whether Pono's parlor size might sound closer to a 00, then I'd forewarn that it doesn't.  It sounds like a parlor.

Thanks for weighing in on that and I appreciate your confirming my hunch, especially from a fellow OO-05 owner. John from Pono said as much, that there's some bass missing from the Pono OP. It's only about 1/2" difference in width from the Larivee OO, but the depth of the body is a bit shallower.
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

I've just ordered a Pono D12-20 -- a 12 fret, slothead, 12 string dreadnaught with mahogany back and sides.  Because I like the looks of my L03-Z, I ordered the Pono in matte.  (No upcharge for gloss, but I think fine wood shows best in a matte finish.  For context, I don't like white bindings or gold tuners.)  The guitar is expected to ship in August or September.  John, at Pono, was very easy to work with.  I'll post pics and comments after a couple of weeks with it.   :donut :donut :coffee
L-03Z
Pono OO-40VS
Teton STS105NT (beach guitar)
2 (and counting) home-made guitars

Please do, would be interested in hearing how it went for you and how well Pono hits it's delivery promise.

Thanks :thumb
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

JP,
I have a Pono 000DC--a triple 0 with cedar top and acacia koa b&s, w/cutaway. It has the RW trim on fretboard, body, as with fretboard itself and bridge. As most everyone will tell you, John the owner is very easy to work with--a stellar person. I jumped on the Pono bandwagon 2 yrs. ago and yes, had some trepidation about buying un-played. The deal John gave me, along with the return offer, alleviated the hesitation and I am very pleased; the craftsmanship is excellent, and it plays very well with the shorter scale. A beautiful piece of cedar for the top. I have found GHS Vintage Bronze strings give it the sound I'm looking for, and this is the guitar I keep in standard tuning these days. I did change the tuners to gold Gotohs (with ebony knobs--the gold along with the koa and cedar just make it "my pretty"!), and I think I had a hand in John changing his factory tuners to Grover, as I wrote him about the shortcomings of the generic open-back tuners he was using...and shortly thereafter noticed he had gone to Grovers.
I'm guessing you won't be displeased if you go Pono.

I just took a look at Pono's site. Never heard of them until this thread. That's a very nice looking product line with very reasonable prices. Not a player of steel string guitars anymore, I looked at the nylon cross-over guitar he offers. Wish there was a way to play one. I'm hamstrung into playing before I buy. It's my rule, no exceptions. I wish the guy success. Thanks for putting up the link and, to the OP, good luck.

Sorry, thought you said porno.  Never mind.

Would love to try one.  They look great and have been getting lots of consistently great reviews.  Interesting configuration options at a great price point.  No need for bad puns with these guys.
Larrivee L-03R
Martin D-16GT
Norman B-15

I just received my new Pono yesterday.  Though I initially ordered a D12-20, I changed to order (don't ask why) to a OO-40VS -- a OO-sized 6-string with spruce top, ebony back and sides, slotted headstock, 12 fret neck, and 24.75" scale.  It was shipped (2 day air) 3 working days after the order.  It's beautifully made: good craftsmanship, gorgeous wood, excellent finish.  And well set up.

The sound has a definite character.  Compared to my L-03Z, it's both louder (!!!) and has more mid-low emphasis (though maybe not as much deep bass).  It has tremendous sustain; so much more than the Larrivee that it can get muddy with my fingerpicking.  I'll need to adjust my playing for that.  Overall, it makes the Larrivee sound delicate in comparison.  I'm surprised.  I'll be trying other strings in the coming weeks.

L-03Z
Pono OO-40VS
Teton STS105NT (beach guitar)
2 (and counting) home-made guitars

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