McIntyre Guitars

Submitted by Kevin Lindsay (Strat)

Summary (out of 10)
Features 10
Sound 10
Action, Fit, & Finish 10
Reliability/Durability 10
Customer Support 10
Overall Rating 10

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Price Paid: 1,400 (UK Sterling)

Features: 10
This guitar was custom ordered and built in 2000 by Chris McIntyre based in London, England.

Based on the famous "Strat" design, the body is smaller than a Fender with a deeper cutaway and body chamfering. The controls feature a master volume and tone (acting on neck and middle pickups only - as per standard Strat) and a 5-way blade selector switch.

The pickups used are Kinman AVn-Blues and the tremolo system is a Wilkinson unit licenced by Gotoh. These units are passive and are completely silent in operation even under stage lighting.

The body wood is lightweight Swamp Ash (1-piece) and is finished in "baby blue" with a grey pearloid scrathplate fitted.

The neck is shaped from flamed maple with a separate birds-eye maple fingerboard. The fingerboard wood is over 150 years old and was sourced from the floor of an alter in a monastery!! The 24 frets fitted are absolutely perfect with perfect profiling and no choking off whatsoever. The dot markers on the face are abalone and the side dots are black. The side dots are in fact LED's and glow bright blue when activated by a tiny toggle switch on the guitar scratchplate.

The tuners used are Sperzel chrome satin locking units with graduated capstans thereby eliminating the need for string trees. The nut is made of Graphtec to allow for divebombing tremolo use with no tuning problems.

Scale length is standard Fender Strat length (25 1/2") for an instantly familiar feel.

The guitar came with a moulded hardshell flight case.

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Sound: 10
If you want to hear the perfect Strat sound, then this guitar has it. Everyone who has played it (including some of THE major names in the UK scene) have been raving about it. There is no noise from the Kinman units even when exposed to stage lighting or studio monitors and PC's.

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Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
This guitar was an absolute dream to play from the first instance I picked it up. The great thing about Chris is that all of his guitars are made specifically to order. Therefore, you can be sure that what you want and need is exactly what you'll get!!

I have been over this guitar with a fine tooth comb and there are absolutely NO flaws or anythoing which shows less than 100% meticulous attention to detail.

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Reliability/Durability: 10
Everything about this guitar seems solid and looks like it would withstand years of abuse on the road. I have only had it for a couple of months, but so far, no problems at all.

My brother Ronald also has a McIntyre custom and has used it on numerous International tours, gigs and sessions. He has never had any problems with the instrument. Indeed, he has never used any of his Fenders since getting the McIntyre.

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Customer Support: 10
Chris is always a phone call away and would bend over backwards to assist in any way possible. This is because he views his instruments as his best advertising. If they are right, then anyone trying them out can't help but be impressed. This results in word of mouth recommendations - the best you can get as there is no major manufacturer pushing a mass produced item at the public.

In fact, Chris has now become one of my closest friends over the years I have known him and utilised his services.

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Overall Rating: 10
This guitar has to be the best value guitar I have EVER encountered. It's not cheap, but it's still less expensive than a top of the line production Fender, let alone a Custom Shop model.

As Chris goes through your exact requirements prior to construction, you can be sure that plenty of consideration is given to hardware, dimensions and finish prior to construction commencing.

If it was stolen then I would be heartbroken - I would have no hesitation in having Chris making me another guitar (I have actually recently ordered a Les Paul style unit from him which will be with me in the near future).

Chris is quite possibly the most underrated luthier in the world at present. Given the right exposure, he will have his name on the tip of the tongues of those "in the know".

Check him out if you are looking at having a custom guitar built. The instrument you get will never let you down and will end up being something you'll want to pass on to you kids (only when you can't play anymore and you're sure that the recipient will be appreciative enough to merit it!!)

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