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Published on 12/07/11 at 11:43SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION: Set-neck
BODY: Mahogany
TOP: Flame maple cap
NECK: Mahogany
FRETBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 22 medium jumbo
SCALE: 24-3/4”
BINDING: 5-ply white & black
INLAY: Abalone block
BRIDGE: TonePros Locking Tuneamatic style
TUNERS: Grover
PICKUPS: Rockfield SWC - direct mounted
ELECTRONICS: 1 tone, 1 volume, 1 three-way toggle, coil tapped
STRINGS: D’ Addario
HARDWARE: Chrome
UTILIZATION
The Patriot Custom is a refreshing take on a Gibson-style instrument. This guitar offers many of the amenities that a Les Paul would have: Mahogany body and set in neck, 22 frets, 24 3/4" scale, 2 humbuckers, 3 on a side headstock, tuneamatic-style bridge, arched maple top with binding...the list goes on. The shape of the guitar is similar to a Les Paul, but still distinctive enough to be its own thing. The craftsmanship is good for the price point, and the guitar plays very well, with the fret work being very neatly done. The wood selection and binding are shockingly great for this price point, comparable to a PRS that is 6 or 7 times as much!
SOUNDS
The Rockfield pickups surprised me. I was expecting them to sound rather cheap, yet they yielded a tonal definition reminiscent of some of the more expensive pickup models from Seymour Duncan. The neck pickup was super buttery - smooth and with a nice vocal quality that would not sound out of place in a Slash guitar solo. The bridge pickup offered worlds of clarity, and it was on the aggressive side, yet not overpoweringly loud. Also, the coil taps allowed me to split the signal and get some neat Telecaster-ish tones, which is a definite plus.
OVERALL OPINION
This is a very solid guitar in its class that I would recommend to anyone that likes the Gibson vibe, yet wants to be a bit different. The Patriot Custom is also one of the most convincingly "budget boutique" axes I've yet seen. Kudos to the Michael Kelly company.
CONSTRUCTION: Set-neck
BODY: Mahogany
TOP: Flame maple cap
NECK: Mahogany
FRETBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 22 medium jumbo
SCALE: 24-3/4”
BINDING: 5-ply white & black
INLAY: Abalone block
BRIDGE: TonePros Locking Tuneamatic style
TUNERS: Grover
PICKUPS: Rockfield SWC - direct mounted
ELECTRONICS: 1 tone, 1 volume, 1 three-way toggle, coil tapped
STRINGS: D’ Addario
HARDWARE: Chrome
UTILIZATION
The Patriot Custom is a refreshing take on a Gibson-style instrument. This guitar offers many of the amenities that a Les Paul would have: Mahogany body and set in neck, 22 frets, 24 3/4" scale, 2 humbuckers, 3 on a side headstock, tuneamatic-style bridge, arched maple top with binding...the list goes on. The shape of the guitar is similar to a Les Paul, but still distinctive enough to be its own thing. The craftsmanship is good for the price point, and the guitar plays very well, with the fret work being very neatly done. The wood selection and binding are shockingly great for this price point, comparable to a PRS that is 6 or 7 times as much!
SOUNDS
The Rockfield pickups surprised me. I was expecting them to sound rather cheap, yet they yielded a tonal definition reminiscent of some of the more expensive pickup models from Seymour Duncan. The neck pickup was super buttery - smooth and with a nice vocal quality that would not sound out of place in a Slash guitar solo. The bridge pickup offered worlds of clarity, and it was on the aggressive side, yet not overpoweringly loud. Also, the coil taps allowed me to split the signal and get some neat Telecaster-ish tones, which is a definite plus.
OVERALL OPINION
This is a very solid guitar in its class that I would recommend to anyone that likes the Gibson vibe, yet wants to be a bit different. The Patriot Custom is also one of the most convincingly "budget boutique" axes I've yet seen. Kudos to the Michael Kelly company.