Ben Morgan-Brown samples a guitar from one of the new generation of luthiers.
At a certain stage in your development as a player, a handmade, specialist built guitar can have a lot of appeal. Once you’re clear of the learning stage and have started to form your own opinions about the woods, build, style, feel and sound that you like, getting them all into one guitar that is just right for you can make a lot of sense. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either because there is a new generation of up and coming makers keen to make their mark, so you have a lot of choice today. Bristol’s Tom Waghorn is a good case in point.
Tom has been making guitars for about 20 years and has established a strong reputation for both his electric and acoustic instruments. The Hydra we borrowed for our review, is typical of the stylish and beautifully made instruments he offers. It’s quite a small bodied guitar made from some high quality woods, including a European spruce top (Tom prefers the sound of the European variety, apparently) which he carves thinner than those found on most modern acoustics, which possibly accounts for the lively and responsive sound you can hear in Ben’s review. Various back and side woods are offered, our sample coming with well figured flamed maple, which matched the flame maple of the quarter sawn neck. The fretboard was ebony, as was the bridge and ebony is also used for the body binding. As you can see, these are high quality woods, especially taking the price into account, and they have clearly been expertly put together. The 12th fret inlay contrasts with the very traditional sunburst finish, making the guitar quite distinctive. On that point, Waghorn offers a range of finish styles and colours, so in addition to the choice of woods used, you can specify this guitar exactly as you would want it.
As Ben demonstrates, the Hydra performed very well, proving itself probably most suited to a solo performer but being very versatile, expressive and responsive to playing technique. As we always say, play the video through your best speakers or headphones to hear this very compelling instrument at its best!
If you are looking for an instrument that is outside the run of factory made guitars, however good they may be, this could be a very good place to start your search.
Waghorn Hydra (as reviewed) £2,750
AR Reviews are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment. To get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform make sure you listen on good quality speakers or headphones!
Specifications
Waghorn Hydra
Model: Hydra
Construction: Acoustic
Range: 6 string
Dexterity: Right-Handed
Scale: 630mm
Headstock shape: arched
Neck construction: 3 piece
Main neck woods: Flamed maple
Soundboard: European spruce, plain
Back and sides wood: Flamed maple
Soundhole purfling/rosette: Herringbone with BWB (black/white/black) lines
Soundboard purfling: BWB
Body binding: Ebony
Neck head binding: None
Fingerboard wood: Ebony
Bridge wood: Ebony
Headstock face wood: Ebony
Case: Hiscox case, extra
