niKita
Classic
balanced in both sitting and standing positions.
Strung up with a set of Thomastik-Infeld Power
Brights (.010–.050), the guitar exhibits a prominent acoustic voice with a diversified frequency
response from its combination of tone woods,
giving the guitar a voice as unique as its design.
Notes have ample bloom with a certain degree
of immediacy that is likely contributed to by the
25. 5" scale in conjunction with an ebony fingerboard. The neck has a comfortable, two-degree
pitch that feels quite Gibson-esque and the fretwork is well executed.
Plugged into amps from Carr, Fender and
TomasZewicZ, the Classic offers up an array of
usable tones that are diverse enough to handle
rock, blues and jazz applications. The guitar
has excellent clarity and note separation, and
it sits well in the mix, particularly in the lower
mids. It also has a singing quality whereby single
line notes simply hang for as long as you need
them—a great attribute for a blues guitar. The
humbucker combinations had a great blend
of fatness and quack. While not as clear as a
single-coil combination, they offer up an added
harmonic complexity that gave the guitar more
of an acoustic quality, perfect for fingerpicking.
While I am a fan of Fralin PAFs for their ability to
deliver classic humbucking tones with the right
amount of airiness and bite, the High Ouput
model in the middle position was a personal
favorite. Its position and design gave it a thick,
gritty quality that had more of a fundamental
emphasis than the PAFs, making it a good
choice for harder, classic rock-applications.
The Final Mojo
The Classic stands out as a top-notch guitar
that solidly delivers in both the tone and looks
departments. At a price of just under $10,000,
one would need to recognize that a substantial
portion of its value is derived from the degree
of time and craftsmanship embodied in this
handcrafted instrument. That said, with its
broad tonal offerings and meticulous craftsmanship, it is an instrument worthy of consideration
amongst guitarists who can appreciate fine art
and fine tone in a single offering.
Rating:
you share an equal appreciation for
fine woods, handcraftsmanship
and tone.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you don’t highly value a premium
handcrafted instrument.
nikita Guitars (available direct only)
MSRP $9989 (as tested)
nikitaguitars.com
or use a mobile
device to read
this QR code
to hear sound
samples of the
Nikita Classic
in action at premierguitar.com
