Rating:
Buy If...
you’re looking to get a wide range of
useable tones in a single, extremely
playable, collector-grade guitar.
Skip If...
you’re either exclusively a Tele
or Strat player.
Knaggs Guitars
Chesapeake series
Electric Choptank (Tier 3)
Street $2900 with hardshell case
knaggsguitars.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio examples of the guitar at
CLICKHere…
inlay work, neck joint, body binding, and
nitro finish were all perfectly done, too.
Right out of the box, the Kenai felt just
right, with a totally agreeable action. Its
neck, based on Gibson’s famously hefty
1959 profile, felt authentic—unlike many
of the exaggeratedly large necks claimed to
be inspired by ’59s that are so popular these
days. Although I am accustomed to slimmer necks, I had no difficulty adjusting to
the Kenai—I was able to play for a stretch
without developing any fretting-hand
fatigue. And the 22 medium-sized frets
were ideal for bends and legato effects.
Well balanced between neck and body,
our Kenai was a joy to hold. Thanks to the
weight saved in the body contouring, at
8. 75 pounds our Kenai was pretty light for
a guitar of mahogany and maple construction. And I was able to play it standing for
a good while without feeling overburdened.
Like the Choptank, the Kenai was fun to
play without amplification. Unplugged,
it’s a bit louder than the average solidbody,
with a thick, crisp tone and a short natural
reverb—a good indication that the guitar
would really come alive when plugged in.
The Kenai was decked out with Seymour
Duncan Seth Lover neck and bridge humbuckers, with Volume and Tone controls
for each pickup and a 3-way toggle switch.
Plugged into the Pro Junior, the guitar
sounded remarkably old-school, with PAF-like warmth and tons of body and sustain
for both lead and rhythm riffing. On any
pickup setting, the guitar sounded vivid
and detailed, with complex overtones.
And it proved super-responsive to picking
nuance and dynamics.
The Verdict
Borrowing elements from Fender and Gibson,
Knaggs has created a new line of superbly built
electric guitars that are both familiar and fresh.
The Choptank combines the best elements of
Fender’s Telecaster and Stratocaster in a highly
playable and fine-sounding instrument that
boasts a distinctive appearance thanks to its
updated contours and wooden pickguard.
The Gibson-inspired Kenai provides a
richly detailed, classic PAF sound in a comfortable modern package. Deluxe touches like
maple body binding and an ebony headstock
overlay lend the Kenai a touch of exclusivity.
Both guitars are refreshing takes on classic electrics, impressive both sonically and
aesthetically, and totally gig-worthy instruments that will most likely get even better
with age. Call ’em keepers!
premierguitar.com/mar2011
Rating:
Buy If...
you love Les Pauls, but want
a more updated axe with a
luxurious appearance.
Skip If...
you think little of electric guitar
design after 1959.
Knaggs Guitars
Influence series
Electric Kenai (Tier 2)
Street $5500 with hardshell case
knaggsguitars.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio examples of the guitar at
ClickHere…
