This guitar was a custom build for Guitarist magazine, and featured in issue 497 May 2023, it got a 6 page spread, with a score of 9 out 10
The brief was to create a classic feeling guitar around our Cholla offset design, that combined the best of classic guitars of the past. working with them closely, through out the specification and build process we ended up with a lovely looking and sounding guitar.
The body is a chambered Sapele with an Ash and Ebony racing stripe, that has been combined with a subtly flamed Ash top with a cherry burst and cream binding. Continuing on to the neck, we opted for a contrast to the body, with a flamed maple with a beautiful quilted Sapele and ebony center stripe matched with a lovely Indian Rosewood fretboard in 25.5” scale length with medium jumbo Jescar Evo Gold frets. This combination of woods works really well, with the brightness of the Ash and Maple complimenting the warmth of the Sapele giving a balanced but rich tone to the guitar.
On the hardware front, the guitar has a nickel Goldo Les Trem, along with a Schaller Roller bridge, to give the trem a super smooth action, and super stability when paired with Spurzel locking tuners at the other end of the strings.
The pickups were supplied by Sunbear pickups and we have their Grizzly BearTron in the Bridge and a standard BearTron in the Neck. They have super clarity and definition, with a more sparkly tone than the classic Humbucker, however they are also more than able to handle a bit of dirt to provide those classic rock tones.
Carrying on with the electrics, it is loaded with 4 CTS 500k pots and Mallory yellow caps in a classic no frills LP style configuration, that are wired up with vintage braided cable.
The final finishing touches are the custom made brass Maybury Guitars truss rod cover and neck plate, and the brass pickup rings and Jack Socket.
We believe the guitar hit the mark, its got a very classic feel to it, with a Les Paul feel and weight in a more comfortable format, with that classic fender 25.5” neck and of course those wonderful Gretsch style Filtertrons from Sunbear