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Features 10
Sound 10
Action, Fit, & Finish 10
Reliability/Durability 10
Customer Support 10
Overall Rating 10
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Price Paid: UK Sterling £2,010
Year made : 1999 in London, England by Christopher McIntyre, who in conjuction
with Martin Petersen, builds the world renowned Sei Basses and now branching
out into custom built guitars (both electric and acoustic) for discerning
one-off customers. The guitar has 21 frets as this was the neck length
I had spent many years getting used to and felt most comfortable with.
The guitar is of Strat shape with a though neck of two pieces of flamed
maple sandwicj#hing a central stringer of ash (used for strength). The
guitar features a specified combination of two EMG -SA single coils and
an EMG-89 in the bridge position. Additionally, there is a piezo equipped
ABM through body strung fixed bridge to offer some acoustic type sounds
to blend with the electric pickups (although this was never intended to
replicate an acoustic guitar due to the lack of suitable resonance resulting
from the lack of a suitable soundboard). The neck has a wonderful birds
eye maple fingerboard bound with flamed maple and has red LED side dot
position markers actived by a mini toggle switch. The body has ash wings
and has a full front facing of flamed/quilted/burr poplar (this instrument
was reviewed in the European magazine Guitarist and was given a first
class review in which the reviewer who wasn't afan of fancy woods guitars
gave it an incredible thumbs up. The tuners are Sperzel graduated capstan
locking tuiners negating the need for friction inducing and unsightly
string trees. The scale length is standard Fender scale and the frets
were 2.2mm extra hard fretwire. There was a fully fitted McIntyre Guitars
hard shell case included. The strap buttons are Schaller Straploks. All
hardware is gold plated.
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The sound is quite incredible. There is such a variety of wonderful tonbes
available that I haven't used any of my Les Pauls of vintage Starts on
any recent sessions I've been involved in. The ability to mix in the acouistic
sound gives it an extra edge which has had the recording engineers singing
its praises and asking who made the instrument. Additionally, the fact
the it is the easiest to play instrument I have ever encountered makes
it a privelege to own. I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deville, a Marshall
stack and also a Line 6 POD for recording. The EMG's have a noise free
sound making it perfect for studio or live use. The sound is full with
crystal clarity but doesnt sound in the least bit starile. I cannot praise
this guitar highly enough. Chris makes guitars you thought you'd only
ever be able to dream of!!
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The guitar is the best set up instrument I have EVER encountered (and
believe me I've played hundreds if not thousands!). The woodworking is
simply stunning - no one can offer anything but praise for the workmanship
and the sound.
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This guitar has already been used on over a hundred gigs and has never
ceased to provide more than I could have expected. I know this sounds
really sycophantic, but it really is without parallel.
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Chris is avialble whenever I need advice or assistance. The guitar is
so well made from the start that I have not experienced any faults (although
Chris has phoned me numerous times to verify that everything is still
okay with the instrument and to obtain my feedback regarding its performance).
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I have been playing for twenty two years of my current thirty three and
also own two Les Pauls, a Rickenbacker 12, Epiphone Casino, Gibson ES-335,
Dobro, Takamine acoustic, ES-295, Fender Stratocaster, various slide guitars
and a number of amplifiers. If this instrument was stolen or lost I'd
track it to the ends of the earth!!! I love absolutely everything about
it, I cannot rate it highly enough - ten out of ten is not enough!!
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