Why? Because every time I satisfy my GAS, they come out with new stuff that gets me GAS-ing all over again, dammit! 🙂 Here I was innocently reading my e-mail this morning when I got Prestige’s latest newsletter that said they were about to release a line of acoustic guitars! Knowing the fantastic stuff they produce, and given that they didn’t release anything more than announcement that they were releasing a new line, I had to give them a call to get more information. I shouldn’t’ve done that. I’m now GAS-ing so damn bad that it’s killing me!
But I got the scoop on these guitars, and before you start thinking, “Yeah, here we go, another import guitar… How good could it be?” Well, let me just say that a major publication already reviewed it and gave their top-of-the-line model a very – excuse the pun – prestigious award. And after I heard the details of these guitars, it’s not a surprise that even before their official release, they already won an award. So here’s at least some preliminary information that I found out…
They will have three guitars in various price ranges. I didn’t get model names, but I did get the makes of each model:
- The top-of-the-line model has a koa body and koa top
- The intermediate features a rosewood body and Adirondack spruce top
- The lowest tier (and only by materials) features a mahogany body and Adirondack spruce top
Though not set, the guitars will range in price from about $1000 to $2100 street, so even the lowest-tier model isn’t anything to shake a stick at; and before you balk at the price, there’s a good reason for the pricing. Prestige didn’t skimp on the features that all three models share:
- Adirondack spruce X-bracing designed in partnership with Balaz Prohaszka, a well-known European luthier
- 12″ radius
- 25.35″ scale length
- 1 3/4″ nut width
- D-shape neck
- Split Bridge Saddles
- Bone nut, Bone Saddles
- Ebony Fingerboard, Ebony Bridge, Ebony Bridge Pins, Ebony Strap Pin.
- Ebony Headstock face
- Satin Mahogany Neck, Laser Etched Logo and Serial Number behind the headstock.
- Beveled Cutaway with Paduck inlay, Mother of Pearl Logo, Mother of
- Pearl Eclipse Fingerboard Inlay, Abalone Rosette
- Gotoh 501 21:1 Tuners with Ebony Buttons.
- Paduck/Abalone Body Binding, Paduck/Maple fingerboard binding.
An option for each guitar is the Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend pickup system. This is a very non-invasive soundhole pickup system that combines an undersaddle pickup with a gooseneck condenser mic. I’ve heard one of these installed in a Taylor acoustic, and it sounds marvelous!
So the pricing is really a reflection in the difference in tone woods used; otherwise, they’re all the same. That is incredibly COOL!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t have pictures, so here are a couple of the Koa/Koa model. These aren’t the pro pics as you can see the reflections of background objects – that’s how glossy the bodies are! Freakin’ awesome!!!
These are serious guitars, folks. Can’t you just DIG that beveled cutaway? Damn! I dig little things like that, and the outer bracing is absolutely superb! And another nice touch is the satin finish on the neck. I always prefer that because it allows me to polish it with my own body oils after time. For me, the ebony fretboard is a HUGE selling item! There is absolutely nothing like the feel of ebony; it’s smooth as silk and feels so nice to the touch!
I can’t wait to get a demo into my studio to give it a whirl! I TOTALLY DIG the Koa/Koa! Now do you see why I hate Prestige Guitars?!!! 🙂
For more information, please go to the Prestige Guitar web site!
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