Guitar Anorak's Pages
Fret-King Black Label Elise GG
Thursday, January 12, 2012
"I love playing both acoustic and electric guitar, and my Black Label Elise GG model brings together the best of both acoustic and electric worlds.
I loved the whole process of working with Trev Wilkinson to design a guitar for my needs, and it looks like we’ve given birth to a classic and innovative design which will find favour with discerning players looking for the ultimate semi-acoustic hybrid guitar."
Winter NAMM 2012 sees Fret-King, in particular, take a step forward, says JHS’ Dennis Drumm.
“Fret-King Black Label is proving the point that the Brits can outclass the world with innovation and meaningful guitar design. It includes things we’ve never done before, including signature guitars.
Fret-King’s about intelligent innovation for players with independent minds.
We don’t sell history and nostalgia, or build in the cost of massive marketing budgets to our pricing. Fret-King is about dissolving myths, breaking through the smoke and mirrors, stripping away the black magic, and using our skill, knowledge and experience honestly. Black Label is real affordable boutique excellence, sets a very high bar and makes a massive value statement,”
The Elise GG is capable of articulating Gordon’s unique mix of acoustic and electric playing with an incredible tonal palette. The neck-mounted P90 and vintage voiced bridge humbucker provide traditional semi-acoustic guitar voicings, but with additional breadth, complexity and versatility.
With comfortable familiarity, yet distinctive and forward-thinking design, the GG is vibrant, light, well balanced, and a joy to play.
The direct mounted tune-o-matic ‘Acoustibridge’™ piezo system faithfully reproduces the sonorous pure acoustic tones of the tuned, chambered, mahogany body.
All pickups are able to be used separately, or blended in almost limitless combinations to create a spectacular range of sounds from ‘50s rock, to sparkling acoustic, using traditional passive tone controls, and an active three-band EQ.
The ‘cool-as’ single sided black faced headstock, metal tulip tuner buttons, double carved maple cap, and flame top add style and luxury.
Sure to introduce yet another generation to Gordon’s incredible talents, the GG will also inspire the creativity of many another guitarist.
Fret King website
Specifiations:
Body: solid mahogany chambered body with double carved solid maple cap and figured flamed maple top.
Neck: Mahogany.
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12" radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots.
Scale: 24.75"/628mm.
Nut: Graphite.
Pickup: Wilkinson WVC humbucker with solid nickel cover and backing plate, Wilkinson WP90, Wilkinson designed tune-o-matic piezo saddles.
Controls: separate magnetic and piezo volumes, passive magnetic tone, three band active for piezo circuit, three way toggle for magnetic pickups, and three way mini-toggle to select piezo/piezo, piezo/magnetic and magnetic/magnetic only.
Hardware: direct mounted tune-o-matic style with stop tailpiece.
Tuners: Wilkinson WJ01.
Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.
The guitar has already had a glowing review in the Feb 2012 edition of Guitarist, click the link at the bottom of the page to read.
Update July 2012
What an amazing review for my Fret King GG electric!
Jazzwise - August 2012 edition carries a review by David Gallant of my new Fret King GG electric guitar describing it as 'as close as it gets to the ultimate electric instrument' !!
Click the PDF icon at the bottom of this page to read it for yourself.