Fret-KIng Full Line Brochure Summer 2013

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B L A C K G R E E N S T V D I O

F X 2013

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At Fret-King® we have a saying...

“Knowledge is Power.”

What does this mean?

Decades of listening to guitar players’ needs has taught us that while we have some great ideas, it is your goals which must be ours too!

Black Label

With a design team led by the legendary Trev Wilkinson, the father of Fret-King, we use our knowledge positively; we have a determination to produce guitars with flair, and creative innovations that give you an amazing, tactile and emotional guitar playing experience.

Our love for what we do means that we create with a passion.

Trev Wilkinson's decades of guitar building expertise and unrivalled guitar hardware and pickup know-how mean that we can go where other guitar makers don’t, using innovative, meticulous construction methods and premium materials and components throughout the whole Black Label building and finishing process.

We embrace obsession, follow our hearts, not our heads, and revel in detail to make Fret-King guitars stand apart, consistently outclass the established benchmarks, yet be comfortable, friendly and familiar.

Our passion for thinking outside the usual constraints, while keeping a close eye on the styling cues we are all comfortable with, and the classic tones we all enjoy produces guitars you’ll feel you’ve played all your life.

Our vision is to inspire you.

There are standards to be acknowledged, surpassed and improved upon.

Fret-King meets these three tasks head on.

The result, Fret-King Black Label™ – the newest member of the Fret-King family.

Eclat Standard

Corona SP

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Country Squire Semitone

Country Squire Classic

Country Squire Semitone De Luxe

Country Squire Semitone Special

Super-matic

Super-hybrid

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Part of the Black Label design brief was to actually listen to pro players, and to work with them to create their ideal guitar.

We've worked with a number of hugely experienced players to do this. Most recently, UK blues sensation Danny Bryant and former Michael Jackson guitarist Gregg Wright have worked with us to create their own Black Label models.

They join Jerry Donahue, Dave ‘Bucket’ Colwell, Gordon Giltrap, John Verity and Geoff Whitehorn – all players who have definitely paid their dues and reflect a huge variety of styles – in receiving the honour. As well as being great players, they all know a thing or two about guitars, and have collaborated with us to create a series of artist-inspired guitars featuring attributes that all players will find valuable, useful, and above all, musical.

Because you deserve the best, with no compromise, Black Label takes a fresh view of how to build in real custom shop high end features, the benefits they bring, and the advantages you get from instruments designed to be professional working tools.

Eclat faces up squarely to the acknowledged benchmark. With peerless classic looks, enhanced ergonomics and its sophisticated tonal palette, the Eclat is many guitars rolled in to one.

Country Squire, a magical fusion of the familiar, with contemporary, yet subtle dynamic improvements, and tone circuitry which takes this familiar body style into new territory while sticking like glue to its heart and soul.

Ventura, with its breathtaking, standout looks, captures – then transcends – the classic tones of those time honoured ‘bolt-neck’ classics, factoring in maximum performance and high excitement along with an unbeatable all-round level of versatility.

Elise, a body style debuting with the new Fret-King Black Label, nods towards a guitar heritage that spans all musical styles. The Elise features a chambered mahogany body, solid maple cap, and Fret-King’s signature ‘Vari-Coil’™ tone circuitry a for breath-taking breadth of tone.

Corona, a ‘moniker’ associated with high end, UK-built Fret-King guitars for two decades, recognises the roots of the double cut, as refined by Fret-King.

The Black Label Corona blends masterbuilt qualities, classic and contemporary tone, great feel, and, of course, that Wilkinson trademark, a vibrato with unrivalled return to pitch whether you play like your guitar is in the shadows or covered in criss-cross black tape.

Super-hybrid illustrates Trev’s radical/sensible/useable ethic; 24 frets and sharp cutaways for speed-driven shredding, hard tail for ultimate tonal coupling, Hum/Single/Hum and ‘Vari-coil’™ for a million tones. Oh, want to play acoustic too? No problem, just kick in the ‘Acoustibridge’™ for a journey from ‘...the driest levée’...’ to the ‘...dark side...’ in the spin of a knob.

Super-matic, a unique juxtaposition of classic design, feel and tones, with the show-stopping Trev Wilkinson-masterminded ATD self-tuning bridge added as standard.

Perception; a bass for real bass players and a name synonymous with benchmark bass quality. The all new Black Label Perception four and five string basses have those Fret-King bass hallmarks; unshakeable journeyman bass player feel, perfect balance, high access necks, comfortcontoured body and distinctive, instantly recognisable, rock solid tone.

Fret-King Black Label; moving forward in the footsteps of history.

Esprit's striking asymmetric aesthetics, unrivalled sonic options and performance-led features add up to a statement of style with individuality and attitude to spare.

Luxury luggage is one of life’s pleasures; the designer carry bag which comes with every Fret-King Black Label guitar is no exception.

The elements and travails of life are shrugged off by the hi-denier, water resistant rip stop fabric, and heavy duty zipped closure.

Elegant, and bespoke to each body shape, with suede and leather external details, the super padded, snug fitting ‘teddy bear’ interior cossets your Fret-King, with zipped external storage space and accessory pockets to keep damaging objects away from your guitar.

On the move, you’ll find an integral luggage hanger for easy storage, twin heavily padded ergonomically designed shoulder straps, with hideaway flap, for easy portability, and if you’re hand carrying, the soft touch, suede handle cover makes carrying your guitar a breeze.

Elise

Esprit I

Ventura

Perception 4-string Bass

Esprit V

Esprit III

Esprit I Bass

Perception 5-string Bass

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"I have been playing Fret-King guitars at every live show and recording session since I acquired my first Corona SP 60 back in 2005.

To have my own DBR model in the Fret-King Black Label range is a dream come true and for me a huge honour! I believe Fret-King guitars are the finest instruments one can find anywhere and at any price. The FKV6DBR incorporates aspects of every great usable sound I have ever wanted.

From crystal clear single coils to a full-on screaming humbucker, from a fat vintage-sounding P90 to a country-style twang, this guitar really does it all and with class. It feels and plays like a dream.

Trev Wilkinson has created the guitar I always dreamed of someday finding."!"

t n a ry B y

FKV6DBR Candy Apple Blue

Black Label Corona ‘DBR’

A giant of the modern blues world, Danny Bryant has evolved from teenage guitar prodigy into one of the most respected and admired players around, sharing stages with legends like Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy, Joe Cocker and Mick Taylor.

With a handful of masterful studio albums and a pair of monstrous recorded live shows behind him, Danny's upward career trajectory is gathering pace all the time – a fact to which Blues albums charts and wowed crowds all over Europe can well attest.

n n Da

A deeply emotional and a startlingly powerful player, Danny's been a Fret-King fanatic since his early days, with Trev Wilkinson personally making him a number of Green Label Coronas that have become his main stage guitars. Now, Danny and Trev have worked together to give Danny his first ever artist instrument, the Fret-King Black Label Corona 'DBR'.

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The Black Label Corona 'DBR' takes the exquisite features of Danny's Green Label guitars and morphs them into a professional quality package that is within the reach of all guitar players. The 'DBR' features the double cutaway Corona body – made of three-piece American alder and finished in a resplendent Candy Apple Blue – coupled to a satin finish hard maple neck with 22 medium jumbo frets. Completing the sophisticated looks are a mint green pickguard and aged white knobs alongside chrome hardware.

The slanted neck humbucker is, in fact, a pair of Fret-King single coils melded together, and the bridge-mounted Fret-King P90 is stacked. Both pickups can are routed through the unique Fret-King Vari-coil control, allowing them to be wound back to absolutely authentic single coil tones. Add this to the sweet sounding Fret-King WHS single coil in the middle, and you've got a guitar that can do absolute justice – Corona DBR specification: Body: American alder. Neck: hard maple bolt-on. Fingerboard: maple, 22 medium jumbo frets, black dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ05 E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WVCSB vibrato. Pickups: Fret-King humbucker (N), single coil (M), stacked humbucker (N). Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 5-way selector. Hardware: chrome.

Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FKV6GWR Vintage White/Red Japanese Flag

“The GWR is without a doubt the very best guitar I've owned or played. The sound, look and feel of it is absolutely killer! What a tone! These specs are just everything I would want to see on a guitar to suit how I play and what I play. I'm really happy and proud to represent Fret-King, and I appreciate them giving me the chance to have a signature guitar. These days, when I go in to do a show or session, I feel as if I'm carrying a secret weapon…”

ight r W g g Gre Black Label Corona ‘GWR’ He's shared the bill with countless blues legends, played guitar for Michael Jackson and Mick Fleetwood on their tours and albums, and now long-time Fret-King fan Gregg Wright brings his signature blues rock sound to guitarists everywhere with the Fret-King Black Label Corona 'GWR' artist model.

Over his many years at the top of the industry, Gregg has become a revered session guitarist, winning numerous awards, and he's also made waves with his own band, culminating in him being known as the undisputed King of the Rockin’ Blues!

A left-handed player, who (somewhat unusually) plays a regular right-hand guitar totally ‘upside down’, Gregg has always hankered after the now long-lost guitar he played in the '80s while touring with Michael Jackson – a guitar built by what in the eighties was possibly the most sought after 'guitar hero' custom brand; I guess we all know which one...

While talking with long term friend Trev Wilkinson about creating the 'GWR' artist model, this 'lost guitar' was featuring highly in the conversation, especially the feel of the neck, with its classic eighties shallow profile and flat 17” radius fingerboard – the 'holy grail' for many famous 'gunslinger' guitarists. The extensive Wilkinson 'museum' has an original sample of this very same neck, and it was used as the pattern to create Gregg’s preferred profile.

The Corona 'GWR' builds on the standard Black Label Corona's classic foundations, combining high-end building techniques, premium materials, player-friendly innovations and classic vintage tones with the usual Fret-King twist of delivering more than its stunning looks suggest.

With an American alder body, maple neck and fingerboard, the Corona 'GWR' is tradition embodied – and a whole lot more. Featuring a high access heel design for easy access to the upper frets and with an extended tenon neck/body join for outstanding stability and sonic coupling, the 'GWR' is a strikingly individual thoroughbred.

The bridge-mounted Fret-King P90 is stacked, and routed through our Vari-coil control, allowing the pickup to be wound back to absolutely authentic bridge single coil.

With tradition infusing the rest of the pickup and control layout, the 'GWR' will give you all the tone you need to do justice to its effortlessly classic vibe and your music.

Discover your inner Bluesman with the Fret-King Black Label Corona 'GWR'.

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Corona GWR specification: Body: American alder. Neck: maple bolt-on. Fingerboard: maple, 17” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, black dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ07 E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WVC vibrato. Pickups: 2 x Fret-King WHS single coils, 1 x WP90. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 5-way selector. Hardware: black. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

Photo of Gregg Wright by William Hines Photography

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“I'm extremely proud to have a Fret-King with my name on it.

The GW plays great, looks great, feels great, stays in tune, and the natural sustain is superb.”

FKV6GW Vintage White

W f f o e G

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n r o iteh

Black Label Corona ‘GW’

With a career spanning over four decades, Geoff has featured in iconic, seminal rock bands like Crawler, where he filled the shoes of the incomparable Paul Kossoff, he's been the long-time guitar sound of Roger Chapman's band, and featured as Procol Harum's lead guitarist since 1991. An in-demand and tasteful player, Geoff's also worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney, Bad Company, The Who, Kevin Ayers, Elkie Brooks, Manfred Mann, Billy Ocean, and many others, so if anyone needed a versatile, consistently high-performing guitar that cuts through the mix, it's Geoff Whitehorn.

The GW Corona is a thoughtful take on a classic, but with an edge, and, like Geoff's playing, is precise, melodic and articulate.

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Sonically, with the somewhat unorthodox pickup combination of a P90 in the neck position, a throaty single coil in the middle, and a roaring Wilkinson Prizefighter™ humbucker in the bridge position, the GW covers an immense range of fundamental tones.

With a control layout orthodox in appearance, but more comprehensive than meets the eye, the GW has master tone for the neck and middle pickups, and separate tone control for the bridge humbucker.

Add to this a push-push switch on the neck/middle pickup tone control which switches the neck and bridge pickup together, as well as a second push-push switch on the bridge pickup tone control which taps the Prizefighter to single coil and, as Geoff says, "if you can't find the sound you want with this guitar, maybe it doesn't exist."

Corona GW specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder body. Neck: Canadian hard rock maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm.

Nut: graphite. Pickups: Fret-King humbucker WP90B, WHS vintage voiced single coil and WHHBCa Prizefighter. Controls: volume, two push-push tone, and five way lever switch. Hardware: Wilkinson WV6 bridge and WJ07 E-Z Lok tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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“It’s the sound I’ve had in my head all these years.”

FKV6JV Original Vintage Burst

Black Label Corona ‘JV’ A stalwart of the British blues rock scene for more than 40 years, John Verity cut his teeth touring the US back in the 60s and 70s and sharing stages with legendary acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Canned Heat and Janis Joplin.

John Ver ity

By the time he was 23, John had released his first solo album, The John Verity Band, before being asked to front the classic UK rock outfit Argent.

After Argent, John put together Phoenix with Jim Rodford and Bob Henrit (of Argent and Kinks fame, among others). Decades spent as a session man or producer for the likes of Motörhead, Saxon, Ringo Starr, Russ Ballard, BowWowWow, Keith Emerson, Mike Rutherford, The Searchers, and many more have given him a discerning ear for the killer tone.

John's current band features members of The Kinks, The Shadows and Wishbone Ash. They tour the UK and Europe constantly, playing some of John's favourite blues material, some of which features on his 2012 release It's A Mean Old Scene.

A tone hound, perfectionist, and experienced player, John has embedded in his very soul the ultimate tone for the classic, double cut 3 single coil pickup guitar. His knowledge and Trev Wilkinson's expertise have created the Fret-King Black Label Corona JV, John’s ultimate personal guitar.

With a two piece centre-joined American alder body coupled to a Canadian hard rock maple neck and fingerboard, the tonal heart of the JV is a balanced, calibrated set of three custom-wound, vintage voiced, single coil alnico V pickups wound to an authentic Trev Wilkinson recipe.

As ever, there’s the Fret-King twist; the Power-coil™, eliminating hi-gain noise, making the pickups just that bit hotter, even with the power backed off, and maintaining that all-important single coil tone.

The Wilkinson WVP vibrato system, with its heat-treated solid steel saddles, steel block and E-Z Lok locking machineheads, ensures pitch stability and rock solid tuning.

In Original Classic Burst finish, with gold hardware and parchment scratchplate, the Fret-King JV looks as good as it sounds!

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As John himself says: "It's the sound I've had in my head all these years – the best guitar I’ve ever played!"

Corona JV specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder. Neck: hard maple. Fingerboard: maple, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, abalone dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Pickups: Fret-King WVS60 single coils and hum cancelling single coil. Controls: volume & 2 tone, 5 way lever switch. Hardware: Wilkinson WV9SB bridge and WJ07 EZ Lok tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FKV1DC Original Classic Burst

"The way the Eclat DBC guitar rings, even acoustically, is just incredible.

I love P90 pickups – and I have done ever since I saw Steve Marriott and Mick Ralphs using them – so the Wilkinson W90B is the business. The thumb scoop is a great idea too, and it allows me easy access to those high frets, even when the guitar is slung really low.

The DBC is exactly what it says it is – a pure rock 'n' roll guitar, and I’m pure rock 'n' roll; I love it!"

v a D

Bu ‘ e

’ t e ck

ll e w Col

Black Label Eclat ‘DBC’ A hard working and hard playing rock guitar-meister, Bucket’s talents have seen him playing to thousands of fans across the globe in his tenures with Paul Rodgers’ Bad Company, and working with the likes of Humble Pie. A songwriter of note too, his tracks have been covered by no less than the likes of Iron Maiden, and his Bucket & Co. project cooperated with the likes of Steve Conte, Edwin McCain, Danny Bowes, Spike from The Quireboys, Jaz Lochrie and Adrian Smith.

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The DBC is a no-fuss rock machine inspired by a workhorse instrument Bucket has played for years.

With its no-nonsense single Wilkinson W90 ‘Dog ear’ pickup, wrapover combined bridge/tailpiece and its innovative thumb-scoop for great upper fret access, the DBC is a one-stop attitude machine.

Strap it on, feel the culmination of 50 years of guitar history rolled in to one and enjoy monster tone, monster fun and all out rock ‘n’ roll.

Eclat DBC Specification. Body: two-piece, centre-jointed mahogany. Neck: mahogany. Fingerboard: rosewood, 12” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 24.75”/628mm. Nut: graphite. Pickup: Fret-King WP90. Controls: volume, tone. Bridge: direct mounted wrapover tailpiece/bridge. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ15. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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"I love playing both acoustic and electric guitar, and my Black Label Elise GG model brings together the best of both acoustic and electric worlds. I loved the whole process of working with Trev Wilkinson to design a guitar for my needs, and it looks like we’ve given birth to a classic and innovative design which will find favour with discerning players looking for the ultimate semi-acoustic hybrid guitar.”

FKV3GG Cherry Red

trap l i G n o Gord Black Label Elise ‘GG’ Gordon is a contemporary of great players like Bert Jansch, John Renbourne, Mike Oldfield, and John Etheridge. Throughout a career as a guitarist and composer which has crossed and combined styles and genres, spanned five decades, and over forty albums, Gordon has cooperated with the glitterati of the guitar world.

The Elise GG is capable of articulating Gordon’s unique mix of acoustic and electric playing with an incredible tonal palette. The neck-mounted P90 and vintage voiced bridge humbucker provide traditional semi-acoustic guitar voicings, but with additional breadth, complexity and versatility.

With comfortable familiarity, yet distinctive and forward-thinking design, the GG is vibrant, light, well balanced, and a joy to play.

The direct mounted tune-o-matic Acoustibridge piezo system faithfully reproduces the sonorous pure acoustic tones of the tuned, chambered, mahogany body.

All pickups are able to be used separately, or blended in almost limitless combinations to create a spectacular range of sounds from ‘50s rock, to sparkling acoustic, using traditional passive tone controls, and an active three-band EQ. The cool-as single sided black faced headstock, metal tulip tuner buttons, double carved maple cap, and flame top add style and luxury.

Sure to introduce yet another generation to Gordon’s incredible talents, the GG will also inspire the creativity of many another guitarist.

Elise GG specification. Body: solid mahogany chambered body with double carved solid maple cap and figured flamed maple top. Neck: mahogany. Fingerboard: rosewood, 12” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 24.75”/628mm. Nut: graphite. Pickups: Fret-King WVC humbucker with solid nickel cover and backing plate, WP90, Fret-King designed tune-o-matic piezo saddles. Controls: separate magnetic and piezo volumes, passive magnetic tone, three band active for piezo circuit, three way toggle for magnetic pickups, and three way mini-toggle to select piezo/piezo, piezo/magnetic and magnetic/magnetic only. Hardware: direct mounted tune-o-matic style with stop tailpiece and Wilkinson WJ01 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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JD Pickup Selections “My JD cranks out five of the blazingest tones associated with the three most popular solid body guitars ever.

Decades of tone in one guitar!

ONE: This neck pickup yields the rich, sparkling tone of the traditional three-pickup guitar. The result: that unmistakable single-coil sound that echoes the soaring, majestic blues tones of the '60s and '70s.

TWO: The neck pickup (now with a special cap engaged) affords this position a special tonal quality you would ordinarily expect to hear from a full-body jazz guitar! Engage an overdrive and you capture that classic late '60s ‘Woman Tone’.

FKBKJD Natural

THREE: The neck and bridge pickups are in a customised parallel wiring, producing an enhanced, more contemporary version of the customary middle position timbre on the classic two-pickup guitar.

FOUR

: By combining both pickups with a capacitor and resistor in a controlled degree of reversed phase, this position offers the popular ‘in-between quack tone’ found in this position on three-pickup guitars.

FIVE: This is an updated stock-style bridge pickup with symmetrically staggered polepieces for great string balance and a special wind for increased sustain. It captures that amazing gutsy lead sound found on the very best of those traditional two-pickup guitars!

Of all the special guitar projects I’ve ever been involved with in my quest for the perfect guitar, the JD beats them all – at any price, it’s the best, and the most affordable…

I couldn’t be happier!”

‘F

n i -K t e r

FKJDOCB Original Classic Burst

’ D J g‘

Fret-King ‘JD’

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Jerry Donahue, doyen of the string benders, and founder member – with Will Ray and John Jorgensen – of the legendary Hellecasters, is a player whose outstanding talents have seen him feature with artists as diverse as Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Robert Plant, Elton John, The Proclaimers, Johnny Hallyday, George Harrison, Cliff Richard, Chris Rea, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Hank Marvin, Roy Orbison, Nanci Griffith, The Beach Boys and The Yardbirds.

Jerry knows a thing or two about tone, and when the opportunity to cooperate with Fret-King and Trev Wilkinson to create a guitar he could be 100% happy with arose, the gauntlet was thrown down.

With its single coil pickups custom wound to Jerry’s exact recipe, and five way switch wired and tuned to his specification, the JD meets his vision of a single guitar which really can sound like all of the most instantly recognisable solid-body sounds of the last 50 years.

Country twang, to rich, dark midnite jazz chords, to that elusive ‘in-between quack-tone’ in just the flick of a switch, and more, it’s all there in spades.

JD specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder with bound ash top. Neck: custom profiled Canadian hard rock maple. Fingerboard: maple, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, black dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Pickups: custom designed Fret-King WJDTn/WJDTb single coils. Controls: volume & tone, custom wired 5 way lever switch. Hardware: Wilkinson WTBS bridge and WJ05 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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Black Label Country Squire The Fret-King Country Squire is a subtly and sensitively reworked timeless classic.

Built from the timbers which we’ve all come to accept as classic tonewoods, the Country Squire uses traditional two-piece centre-jointed American alder body, Canadian hard rock maple neck and rosewood fingerboard to create a solid platform.

Continuing the legacy with well-considered design features, the Country Squire has a gently offset body with sculpted heel and slim horn, providing terrific balance, enhanced upper fret access, and an extended tenon neck/body join for outstanding sonic coupling, and solid stability.

Unique pickup and control configurations allow for the tonal character, which is the heart and soul of this style of guitar, to be the bedrock of all Country Squire models, complemented by a myriad of additional and eminently useable tones.

Lee Hodgson

FKV2BS Country Squire Butterscotch

Players like Fret-King because we give more than is expected, and the Country Squire De-Luxe and Semitone are no exception.

Improving upon classics is tricky, but with the Black Label Country Squires, Trev just may have done it!

y r t n u o C e r i u q S

FKV2VW Country Squire Vintage White

Country Squire Classic Design details are important, and we like to do it all right; the beautiful Country Squire Classic’s first impression belies its versatility.

It’s got all the ‘classic’ tones – plus the staggered pole piece humbucker has a secret! The dual concentric tone/Vari-coil control pot rolls the Wilkinson 3+3 neck humbucker down to neck single coil.

Now, flick the selector switch down to the flat pole piece bridge pickup, and the Vari-coil will take you from authentic vintage '52 ‘Nashville Snap’ to a creamy, focused single coil sound with enhanced mids and increased power.

The Wilkinson WTB bridge features a ‘cold rolled’ original vintage spec stamped steel baseplate, which surrounds and enhances the magnetic field of the alnico V loaded bridge pickup.

Adjustable, pre-intonated barrel style natural brass saddles ensure authentic tone and spot-on tuning. Two strings per saddle solidly anchor the saddles to the bridge baseplate, ensuring the maximum mechanical coupling so crucial to giving you all the power you need..

Country Squire Classic specification. Body: American alder. Neck: maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WTB. Pickups: Fret-King nickel covered humbucker WHHB3+3 (N), tapped single coil alnico WVOBT (B). Controls: volume & tone/Vari-coil dual concentric knob, 3-way lever. Hardware: chrome.

Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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y r t n u o C e r i u q S

FKV2HOCB Country Squire Semitone Original Classic Burst

Design details are important, and we like to do it all right; the beautiful Country Squire Semitone’s first impression belies its versatility.

FKV2HBK Country Squire Semitone Black

The Semitone is built from the timbers we’ve all come to accept as the tonewoods of choice for the style; the two-piece centre-jointed American alder body with alder top and the Canadian hard rock maple neck and rosewood fingerboard provide a solid platform for superior tone and performance.

The gently offset body, with sculpted heel and slim horn, provides terrific balance and enhanced upper fret access. The extended tenon neck/body join ensures stability, and couples outstandingly well to the chambered semi-acoustic body, adding an airy lightness to the feel and voice of this great guitar, and enhancing familiar tone with an acoustic quality which only makes the whole superbly versatile.

e n to i m e S

Black Label Country Squire Semitone

The 'chopped' Wilkinson WTB 'cold rolled' original vintage spec stamped steel bridge features two strings per saddle, solidly anchoring the saddles to the bridge baseplate, ensuring the maximum mechanical coupling so crucial to giving you all the power you need.

Adjustable, pre-intonated barrel style natural brass saddles ensure authentic tone and spot-on intonation.

Pickup and control configurations unique to Fret-King allow for the intrinsic character of all Country Squire models to be complemented by a myriad of additional and eminently useable tones.

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It’s got all the ‘classic’ tones – plus the Fret-King 3+3 neck humbucker has hidden powers! The dual concentric tone/Vari-coil control pot to rolls the humbuckers progressively down to single coil. Flick the selector switch down to the bridge position for the open coil topless WHHB, roll the tone forward and you're straight into searing bridge single coil. Another smooth move with the Vari-coil – roll that neck-side coil in, and it’s ‘hello Mr Kossoff’! Flick to the neck, back off the tone, and be instant Mr Mellow!

The Fret-King philosophy of innovating to ‘give more than is expected’ is something that players tell us they love; the Semitone is a great example of the philosophy, and the Black Label Country Squire Semitone takes huge, sensible steps forward!

Country Squire Semitone specification. Body: semi acoustic chambered centre-jointed 2pc American alder with tortoiseshell binding. Neck: maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5” /648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WTB. Pickups: Fret-King nickel covered humbucker WHHB3+3 (N), humbucker WHHB (B). Controls: volume & tone/Vari-coil dual concentric knob, 3-way lever. Hardware: chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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Versatility, a key part of the Fret-King philosophy of doing it all right, is built into the Country Squire Semitone De Luxe, which is a true journeyman players’ instrument; comfortable, capable, and complete.

FKV22HB Country Squire Semitone Honeyburst

Constructed from the tonewoods of choice for the style; the two-piece centre-jointed American alder body with alder top, Canadian hard rock maple neck and rosewood fingerboard create a solid platform for superior tone and performance.

The extended tenon neck/body join and chambered semi-acoustic body couple outstandingly well to add an airy lightness to the feel and voice of this great guitar, and the gently offset body, with sculpted heel and slim horn, provides terrific balance and enhanced upper fret access.

FKV22TR Country Squire Semitone Thru Red

The unique and eclectic pickup configuration provides for a depth of tonal possibilities approached by few other guitars.

The breadth of control over the pickups, courtesy of FretKing’s Vari-coil control, offers players an almost limitless range of benchmark tones.

Semitone De Luxe

Black Label Country Squire Semitone De Luxe The De Luxe has a secret! The Wilkinson Vari-coil, set in a dual concentric pot with the tone control, allows either the bridge-mounted WHHB or the neck mounted WDG Focusfield™ humbucker to roll smoothly and progressively to single coil.

Flick the ergonomically positioned selector switch down to the bridge position, roll the Varicoil back, roll the tone on and it’s direct to classic single coil bridge tone, in a ‘three single coil classic’.

Roll the Vari-coil forward, and the Hotbucker leaps to life. Click up one for a beefed up classic ‘out of phase’ tone position. Click up to the Focusfield, roll the tone back, crank up the gain and you find ‘woman tone’ waiting for you!

The Country Squire Semitone De Luxe features the unique Wilkinson WVT bridge.

This twin post, hybrid ‘wave’ vibrato features a heat treated steel baseplate with two strings per brass saddle to solidly anchor the saddles to the bridge baseplate, ensuring the maximum mechanical coupling so crucial to giving you all the tone and power you need. The Wilkinson staggered post height E-Z Lok tuners, stagger drilled steel block and adjustable, pre-intonated barrel style natural brass saddles ensure spot-on intonation and tuning, with superb return to zero, whatever the whammying.

Thoughtful innovation – another Fret-King attribute – pervades the exceptionally playable and supremely useful Semitone De Luxe.

Country Squire Semitone De Luxe specification. Body: semi acoustic chambered centre jointed 2pc American alder with tortoiseshell binding. Neck: maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5” /648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WVT vibrato bridge. Pickups: Fret-King WDG mini humbucker (N), WHS single coils (M), WHHB humbucker (B).

Controls: volume & tone/Vari-coil dual concentric knob, 5-way lever. Hardware: chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

B L A C K

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:18 Page 15

y r t n u o C e r i u q S

FKV21SAGB Country Squire Semitone Special Ash Green Burst

n o t i m e S

eS

l a i pec

Black Label Country Squire Semitone Special

At Fret-King, we love to listen to what guitarists want. After all, it’s them we’re creating guitars for.

The Semitone Special is the result of one of those conversations.

Constructed from the tonewoods of choice – two-piece centre-jointed American alder body with alder top, Canadian hard rock maple neck and maple fingerboard – the Special has a solid platform for superior tone and performance.

The extended tenon neck/body join and chambered semi-acoustic body couple outstandingly well to add an airy lightness to the feel and voice of this great guitar, while the gently offset body, with sculpted heel and slim horn, provides terrific balance and enhanced upper fret access.

The Wilkinson WTB bridge features a stamped cold roll steel baseplate which surrounds and enhances the magnetic field of the alnico V loaded bridge pickup.

B L A C K

Adjustable, pre-intonated barrel style natural brass saddles ensure authentic tone and spot-on tuning. Two strings per saddle solidly anchor the saddles to the bridge baseplate, ensuring the maximum mechanical coupling so crucial to giving you all the power you need.

The flat pole piece WVOTB bridge pickup offers authentic vintage '52 'Nashville Snap', and all the classic 'out of phase' sounds are there at the flick of a switch. The Wilkinson Vari-coil control adds so much to the Special, that in just a couple of deft moves, switching between the WVOBT, the classic voiced middle single coil, and staggered pole piece neck humbucker, you can move seamlessly between mellow full-bodied jazz to a creamy, focused bridge single coil sound with enhanced mids and increased power.

The Country Squire Special exemplifies the creative edge which is part of the DNA of all Fret-King guitars.

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Country Squire Semitone Special specification: Body: 2pc American alder. Neck: maple bolt-on. Fingerboard: maple, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, black dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ07. Bridge: Wilkinson WTB. Pickups: 1 x Fret-King WVC 3+3 humbucker (N), WHS single coil (M), WVOBT single coil alnico (B). Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 5-way selector. Hardware: Chrome.

Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:18 Page 16

FKV6SPOCB Original Classic Burst

FKV6SPBK Black

FKV6SPFR Firenze Red

Corona

Black Label Corona SP The Corona SP is a tour de force, combining high-end building techniques, premium materials, player-friendly innovations and classic vintage tones with the usual Fret-King twist of delivering more than looks suggest.

Trev’s decades of hands-on experience with designing guitars and hardware have always had a focus on perfecting the vibrato bridge.

The Wilkinson WV6SB ‘Five plus One’ knife edge bridge has little touches like a delrin bushed, adjustable tension and height arm, which makes it so easy to use. The tempered steel base plate, steel tone block, and vintage spec bent steel saddles provide superior tone. The stagger drilled tone block and Wilkinson E-Z Lok staggered post height tuners need no string tree and guarantee the best return to zero you’ll find.

The bridge mounted Fret-King P90 is stacked, and routed through a Vari-coil control, allowing the pickup to be wound back to absolutely authentic bridge single coil. With tradition infusing the rest of the pickup and control layout the Corona will give you all the tone you need to do justice to its effortlessly classic vibe and your music.

With a two-piece centre-jointed American alder body, Canadian hard rock maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, the Corona is tradition embodied.

Featuring a sculpted heel design for easy access to the upper frets, and with an extended tenon neck/body join for outstanding stability and sonic coupling, the Corona SP is the journeyman player’s best friend.

Corona specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder body. Neck: Canadian hard rock maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm Nut: graphite.

Pickups: Fret-King stacked humbucker WP90SKb and two WHS vintage voiced single coils. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil and five way lever switch. Hardware: Wilkinson WV6SB bridge and WJ07 E-Z Lok tuners.

Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

B L A C K

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:19 Page 17

FBSMBK Super-matic Gloss Black

FBSMOCB Super-matic Original Classic Burst

S

m r e p u

c i t a

Black Label Super-matic

Built with all the hallmark Fret-King style and attributes, the Super-matic is loaded with the Wilkinson ATD self-tuning bridge, which has been under development by Trev and his team over many years. The ATD bridge is a super low profile, real time electro-mechanical device utilising ultra hi-tech micro gearboxes, with a micro hex pickup, controls small enough not to notice, and an intuitive one touch button controlling all the functions and features of this truly incredible device.

Invisibly incorporating the microprocessor control circuitry, the ATD bridge allows the player, with just one touch of the function button to automatically tune the Super-matic to standard E-tuning.

Tuning status is confirmed in the hi-visibility display, designed to be viewed whilst playing, and overall tuning is assured with the built in chromatic tuner.

B L A C K

Press the function button again, strum, and let the ATD change the guitars tuning from standard E to open G, or change to DADGAD, then to open D - all in the space of just a few seconds, or recalibrate to five additional 'user created' tuning presets in just a few seconds more.

The Super-matic features a Hum-Single-Hum pickup configuration, with Fret-King WHHBZ33 offset pole piece ‘Zebra’ humbuckers, wound to a very authentic recipe and a WHSM ‘vintage voiced’ single coil middle pickup.

The combination of carefully voiced and balanced pickups, and the signature Wilkinson 'Vari-coil’ control, (which allows either of the humbuckers to be progressively wound down to single coil), creates an instrument with an exceptionally versatile palette of sounds capable of literally any musical style. Supplied with Fret-King hardshell case.

Super-matic specification: Body: American alder. Neck: Hard rock maple set neck. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 24 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson.

Bridge: Wilkinson ATD HT440 with micro hex magnetic sensor. Pickups: 2 x Fret-King zebra humbuckers, 1 x single coil. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil (humbuckers), 5-way selector. Hardware: Chrome.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:19 Page 18

FKV6HYOCB Original Classic Burst

FKV6HYBK Black

Super-hybrid

Acoustic-electric excellence.

Black Label Super-hybrid The forward-thinking, unique design of the Super-hybrid offers a massive spectrum of sounds and this beautiful solid body electric/acoustic hybrid design gives the player a range of tones from super saturated overdrive for scorching rock solos and speed driven shredding, to chunky rhythm chords, to the classic out of phase sounds, and all the way to delicate acoustic voices for picking, and strumming, all with the flick of a switch and the spin of a knob.

The split coil humbuckers and centre single coil pickups, supplemented by the piezo loaded Wilkinson Acoustibridge incorporated into a custom designed direct coupled bridge, provide truly inspiring tonal possibilities.

With volume, tone and coil-tap controls for the magnetic pickups, and separate volume control and user configurable three-band active EQ for the piezo system, controllability is excellent, making the Super-hybrid one of the most useable and versatile guitars ever created.

B L A C K

Traditionally constructed from two pieces of American alder, centre-jointed, and with tight edge radii, the Super-hybrid has deeper cutaways for easy access to the upper frets.

The fast, low profile 25 1/2" scale Canadian hard rock maple 24 fret neck and close grain rosewood fingerboard gives this impressive and extremely capable cross category workhorse a great feel.

Super-hybrid specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder body. Neck: Canadian hard rock maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10� radius, 24 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5�/648mm. Nut: graphite.

Pickups: Fret-King WVC humbuckers in neck and bridge positions with single WHS vintage voiced single coil in centre. Controls: magnetic volume, magnetic tone control with push-push pot for humbucker coil-tap, five way lever switch. Piezo volume and user configurable three way active EQ. Hardware: Wilkinson custom designed bridge and WJ05 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:19 Page 19

FKV1HCSB Cherry Sunburst

James Bell Young Guitarist of the Year 2011 FKV1HBK Black magazine

FKV1HTSB Tobacco Sunburst

Black Label Eclat Standard

E

t a cl

The Eclat Standard is one of the electric guitar’s most enduring styles, and, for many players, a benchmark.

Our decades of knowledge in tonewood selection and attention to detail in construction methods, electronics and pickups are all crucial in the creation of the Black Label Eclat Standard.

The solid, natural grain, ¾” maple cap, selected two-piece centre-jointed mahogany body, and mahogany neck with long-tenon neck joint all coalesce to ensure the foundations of a guitar with amazing sustain.

The Eclat body features a rear contour and forearm scoop for an even more comfortable and fluid playing experience.

The subtly extended cutaway allows enhanced upper fret access while maintaining the Eclat’s purity of line and traditional elegance.

Tonally, the Eclat is as authentic as you could ever hope for.

B L A C K

Legendary Fret-King WVC humbuckers (built to the original recipe created by Seth Lover, and gifted to Trev in the ‘80s) give the Eclat a voice which speaks with all the depth and clarity you’d expect from a signature twin humbucker single cut guitar designed by Trev Wilkinson.

The Fret-King Vari-coil control rolls those spectacular WVCs all the way down to single coil for a range of tones which go from searing, saturated bridge humbucker sustain, overloaded with delicious harmonics, all the way to tingling transparent single coil bridge tones.

The Eclat Standard is truly one of the most versatile and useable guitars on the planet.

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Eclat Standard specification. Body: two-piece, centre-jointed mahogany with carved solid maple cap. Neck: mahogany. Fingerboard: rosewood, 12” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl crown. Scale: 24.75”/628mm.

Nut: graphite Pickups: Fret-King WVC humbuckers with solid nickel covers and backing plate. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil and 3-way toggle switch. Hardware: direct mounted tune-o-matic style with stop tailpiece and Wilkinson WJ01 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:20 Page 20

FKV3HTSB Tobacco Sunburst

Elliot Randall Award winning guitarist and producer.

Ex Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers

Elise

FKV3HHB Ash Blonde

Black Label Elise Inspired by a long heritage of semi-acoustic excellence, the Elise is an incredibly light, yet exceptionally resonant guitar with superior sonic performance and versatility.

Carved from a solid mahogany blank, the Elise body has acoustically tuned chambers, a full length centre block, and double carved solid maple cap to create a vibrant semi acoustic body.

The slick mahogany neck, with deluxe rosewood fingerboard, employs the Fret-King long-tenon neck joint, which mates precisely to the body underneath the neck pickup, forming a rigid fixed bond between neck and body, maximising the retention and transmission of the Elise’s fundamental acoustic properties.

Fret-King WVC humbuckers give the Elise a voice with unassailable authenticity, definition and the power required for everything from mellow jazz to full bore blues. Fitted with the Fret-King Vari-coil, the WVCs can be progressively wound back to emulate a P90, or produce sparkling traditional single coil tone.

The Elise sounds just like it looks, and then produces voicings never associated with this style of guitar, but which would be at home on Ocean Boulevard or a Nashville ‘Honkey Tonk’.

Elise specification. Body: solid mahogany chambered body, solid maple cap and tortoiseshell binding. Neck: mahogany. Fingerboard: rosewood, 12” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 24.75”/628mm.

Nut: graphite. Pickups: Fret-King WVC humbuckers with solid nickel covers and backing plate. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil and 3-way toggle switch. Hardware: direct mounted tune-o-matic style with stop tailpiece and Wilkinson WJ01 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

B L A C K

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FKV5HMMLB Laguna Blue

FKV5HMMBK Gloss Black

a r u t n e V

FKV5HMMBK Candy Apple Red

Black Label Ventura Working live, on stage or in the studio, the Black Label Ventura captures, then transcends, the classic tones of those time honoured ‘bolt-neck’ classics.

With stand out looks, the Ventura is typical of Trev Wilkinson’s fine eye for detail and building purpose into design. 21st century edginess and poised angularity blends with gracious curves to create a style which echoes iconic musical eras and genres.

A premium American alder body provides the Ventura’s tonal bedrock, and the 22-fret maple neck with rosewood fingerboard provides a smooth, positive playing response with choke-free bends.

Rock solid Wilkinson E-Z Lok tuners are complemented by a Wilkinson WVP ‘wave’ leading edge fulcrum vibrato with solid stainless steel saddles, stagger-drilled steel block and ultra-smooth action, all contributing to impressive total tuning stability.

B L A C K

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Ventura factors in maximum performance and high excitement. A ‘total firepower’ pickup option of a tone-filled Fret-King PAF-style WHHB bridge humbucker and two biting FretKing WDG Focusfield™ mini humbuckers in the neck and middle positions offers an amazing range of tones.

As ever with Fret-King, player control is paramount, and so Trev's innovative Vari-coil rotary control incrementally morphs the humbuckers through to single coil format, for maximum versatility – further evidence of his ‘player priority’ design approach to guitar building.

How many guitars look this cool, and will take a player from searing slashing and shredding through twang central, to sweet and mellow, from arena stage to intimate venue?

Only the Fret-King Black Label Ventura.

Ventura specification: Body: American alder. Neck: maple bolt-on. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ05 E-Z Lok. Bridge: Wilkinson WVP vibrato. Pickups: Fret-King 1 x WHHB bridge humbucker, 2 x WDG mini humbuckers, chrome covers. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 5-way selector. Hardware: Chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:20 Page 22

FKV71PVW Vintage White

Esprit I

FKV71PGHB Gun Hill Blue

Black Label Esprit I Instantly recognisable iconic styling, radical, yet oh-so-familiar, yet somehow different, may be the best way to describe the Fret-King Black Label Esprit.

The distinctive reversed six-a-side in-line peghead and striking asymmetric body add up to a statement of style with individuality and attitude to spare.

The single pickup Esprit I is a stripped down, no-nonsense rock 'n' roll machine.

The long tenon set-neck construction, combining a three-piece centre block agathis body with fast-playing maple necky with rosewood fingerboard, creates a solid platform for you to build your Esprit I’s tone.

The reverse string tension and single Fret-King WP90SK stacked pickup mounted hard up against the chromed aluminium GTB Lite wrapover tailpiece bridge let the Esprit I sing, scream, wail, moan and roar! Tamed with master volume, mutated with master tone and nuanced with the Fret-King Vari-coil control, this is a guitar that has subtlety as well as shredding power; the Esprit I just begs to be thrashed!

B L A C K

Esprit I specification: Body: Agathis. Neck: maple set neck. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25”/634mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ04. Bridge: Wilkinson GTB. Pickup: 1 x Fret-King stacked WP90SK. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil. Hardware: Chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:21 Page 23

FKV73PLB Laguna Blue

FKV73PCAR Candy Apple Red

FKV73PVW Vintage White

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I I I it

Black Label Esprit III

The three pickup Esprit III is a rock monster in disguise with its feet firmly rooted in tradition, and a flair and versatility which belies its looks.

The long tenon set-neck construction, combining a three-piece centre block agathis body with fast-playing maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, creates a solid platform for you to build your Esprit III’s tone.

The distinctive reversed six-a-side in-line peghead, asymmetric body and WP90s, vintage '60s 'Long Tail' engraved vibrato and signature oversized pickguard all add up to a real statement of style with attitude.

The reverse string tension and three stacked Fret-King WP90s give the Esprit III a huge range of core sounds. Master volume and master tone add to the dynamic and tonal range, while the Fret-King Vari-coil allows each of the stacked pickups to be rolled progressively back to single coil.

B L A C K

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The Vari-coil and five-way switch offer endless permutations such as classic neck P90, that definitive bridge single coil, hot bridge humbucker, and then some. Can you imagine neck and middle, with the Vari-coil half way back, mid-tone and volume backed off a little, sweetness and power like no other guitar, or a middle position humbucker, swept back to a neck and middle ‘out of phase’ setting in the flick of a switch?

The smooth-as-silk Wilkinson, vintage ‘60s 'Long Tail' vibrato and the Wilkinson roller bridge, which features superb return to pitch, add even more dynamic and performance opportunities to the Esprit III – a guitar which never fails to surprise, with a huge range of sounds, some very familiar, some a surprise, all exceptionally useable.

Unconventional? Possibly. Versatile? Certainly. A strong statement of individuality?

Most definitely!

Esprit III specification: Body: Agathis. Neck: maple set neck. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25”/634mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ04. Bridge: Wilkinson roller bridge with vibrato. Pickups: 3 x Fret-King stacked WP90s. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 5-way selector.

Hardware: Chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:21 Page 24

V t i r p Es

FKV75HVTB Tobacco Burst

FKV75HBK Gloss Black

Black Label Esprit V The Fret-King Black Label Esprit V takes style and versatility to a new level.

Familiar, but different to anything you will have seen, heard or played before, the Esprit V's distinctive reversed six-a-side in-line peghead, striking asymmetric body, chrome covered pickups and signature oversized pickguard add up to a statement of style with individuality and attitude to spare.

The long tenon set-neck construction, combining a three-piece centre block agathis body with fastplaying maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and a direct mount Tune-O-Matic bridge, creates a solid platform for you to build your Esprit V’s tone.

The twin humbucker Esprit V is a classic rock layout, nodding towards tradition, then adding versatility.

The reverse string tension and twin WHHBs give the Esprit V a huge range of tones.

Master volume and master tone add to the dynamic and tonal range, while the Fret-King Vari-coil allows each of the pickups to be wound progressively back to single coil.

The Vari-coil and traditional three way toggle switch allows permutations unavailable outside of Fret-King. Roll it all forward, and the high output bridge humbucker will rage; switch to the neck pickup, back off the tone a little, roll the Vari-coil back a touch, and you could be listening to the sweetest neck mount P90 ever; switch to the middle, turn it all up, and get a massive wall of sound for the most amazing rhythm setting ever.

Conventional? Somewhat. Quirky? Sure! Individual? Yep! For you?

Absolutely... why not?

B L A C K

Esprit V specification: Body: Agathis. Neck: maple set neck. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25”/634mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ04. Bridge: Wilkinson direct mounted Tune-O-Matic style with stop tailpiece. Pickups: 2 x Fret-King WHHB humbuckers. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil, 3-way toggle. Hardware: Chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:28 Page 25

FKV41TR Thru Red

Es

I t i r p

ss a B Black Label Esprit I Bass

The Fret-King Black Label Esprit I bass, with its balanced, asymmetric styling, distinctive 4-inline peghead and signature pickguard, is familiar, radical, and comfortable on the eye.

Superbly balanced, the Esprit I bass is a delight to wear and play standing or sitting. The long tenon setneck construction, combining three-piece agathis bodies to fast-playing maple necks with rosewood fingerboards, and a Wilkinson WBBC bridge with cold rolled steel baseplate and brass barrel saddles directly fitted to the body for maximum tone, all creates a solid platform for you to build your Esprit I bass’s tone and a great groove.

Talking of tone, the Esprit I is fitted with Fret-King’s distinctive WJM humbucker. Many pickups in one, this Wilkinson masterpiece is a profound and powerful pickup which will hold its own in every musical style.

B L A C K

Routed through a traditional volume control, passive tone control, and the Wilkinson Vari-coil, which progressively winds the WJM back to the paired pole piece element, the WJM takes you on a journey from jazz on to punchy slaps and pops, vintage to vicious, passive to an almost active like depth, definition and power.

Flying in the face of convention is normal for Fret-King. The overall vibe of the Esprit I bass is unconventional, and a statement of individuality, but it’s also a true bass player's tool, with a level of comfort which bass players really need, a playing feel to die for, and an astonishing range of sounds.

Esprit I Bass specification: Body: 2pc agathis. Neck: maple bolt-on satin finish. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 34”/864mm. Nut: graphite. Tuners: Wilkinson WJBL200.

Bridge: Wilkinson WBBC. Pickups: 1 x Fret-King Platinum Series WJM. Controls: volume, tone, Vari-coil. Hardware: Chrome. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:29 Page 26

FKV4+1OCB Original Classic Burst FKV4+1BK Black

FKV4VW Vintage White

FKV4OCB Original Classic Burst FKV4BK Black

n o i t p e Perc

Black Label Perception There's a low-end rumble in the Fret-King jungle with the Black Label Perception Bass range.

A fabulous, versatile workhorse that stands up to everything a bass player can throw at it, the Perception lays the foundation for a great groove.

Built with a two-piece centre-jointed American alder body, Canadian hard rock maple neck and close grain rosewood fingerboard, the Perception is traditional in feel yet contemporary in execution.

With a sleek neck profile, full width fingerboard, positive feel, enhanced upper fret access and extended neck join, the Perception responds fluidly to your style and demands to be played.

The pickups, specially created for the Perception, emulate the very best of classic vintage tone, with bell-like clarity, depth and power to spare.

Notice too, the brass barrel saddles, which contribute so much to the positive tone of the Perception, fitted to a simple, stamped tempered steel base plate designed to transmit all that string energy to the body for maximum tone.

The Perception captures the solid, precise tonality that underpins so much music, and demonstrates just how versatile a passive bass can be.

Available in four and five string versions, this is a ‘go-to’ bass that players the world over will really appreciate.

B L A C K

Perception specification. Body: two-piece centre-jointed American alder body. Neck: Canadian hard rock maple. Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 34”/863mm. Nut: graphite.

Pickups: Fret-King WJBR and WPB. Controls: two volume, master tone. Hardware: Wilkinson WBBC bridge and WJBL 750 mini tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:29 Page 27

Mick Radford – international recording artist/session player, Fret-King STVDIO Ventura 60.

Image: William Hines Photography ©2012

STVDIO

S T V D I O

STVDIO In the Fret-King workshop – an airy, vibrant and atmospheric atelier in an elegant Victorian workshop in the genteel seaside town of Southport on England’s North West coast – Trev Wilkinson, working with Mike Smith, his master builder of many years’ experience, craft the occasional extra special, unique Fret-King STVDIO guitar to show what can be done when the creative process is allowed to break free of the bounds of conformity.

Beyond even the excellence of UK-built Fret-King Green Label guitars, these unique styling exercises are exotic one-off creations and can be many things; stunning custom finishes, a particular combination of esoteric specifications or materials, rare and beautiful tone woods, an embellishment of precious metal, an experimental pickup configuration or switching, a new take on a body shape... But whatever, while hovering between the boundaries of master-built musical instruments, exclusive luxury goods, and art, a Fret-King STVDIO guitar is the embodiment of Trev Wilkinson’s imagination, and showcases the capabilities of the Fret-King styling studio, with each creation being an awe-inspiring and highly desirable object of beauty.

No Fret-King STVDIO guitar will ever be repeated exactly and the discerning few who will own one will possess a peerless and very collectable player’s guitar.

Hand-built in the UK. www.fret-king.com/stvdio.htm

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:29 Page 28

Green Label

Green Label Classic tonewoods, classic tone, classic guitars.

Fret-King Green Label guitars and basses are hand-built under Trev Wilkinson’s personal supervision, in the UK Fret-King workshops to painstaking, faultless standards of perfection.

Produced in very limited numbers, Fret-King Green Label series epitomises the excellence of world-class guitar building.

Brought to life by the touch and finesse master builders, Green Label represents the quintessence of luxury, the zenith of build quality and the embodiment of ultimate tone.

The process starts by hand-selecting and matching korina, mahogany, maple, rosewood, swamp ash and alder, classic timbers used for their fundamental contribution to instrument stability and tone.

And if tonewoods are the soul of a guitar, then pickups are the voice. Play a Fret-King Green Label and you’ll discover how each pickup, and pickup configuration, is carefully matched to the construction of each guitar to produce the ultimate combination of power, tone and clarity.

Great care and attention is paid to selecting the components used in the circuitry.

Matching potentiometer values and utilising quality switches and wire is of equal importance to any of the processes employed in building the ultimate guitar.

Last but by no means least, hardware. Having a great looking, great sounding guitar is just not enough and after a lifetime spent researching the subtle differences, the smallest points of detail, materials and manufacture can make to functionality, tone and ergonomics can make, Trev Wilkinson has created what is recognised to be the best hardware in the world.

With Green Label instruments, each piece of hardware has been designed and selected to enhance playability, to be as comfortable to use as possible, and is designed to perform in a real-world onstage environment - all done to produce the best ‘players’ guitars in the world.

At Fret-King, we refer to Green Label as “modern vintage”, everything you would expect from the best of the very best vintage guitar you could find, with the invisible modern attributes which make Green Label peerless working tools.

If you’re lucky enough to own a vintage classic, check out Fret-King Green Label, and you’ll see what we mean!

Hand-built in the UK.

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www.fret-king.com/greenlabel_series.htm All Green Label and STVDIO series guitars are supplied with a genuine Fret-King lightweight moulded ‘Hiscox’ ABS flightcase.

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Ventura 60 The Ventura 60 features a calibrated set of Fret-King Alnico V P90-style pickups, with a medium-output neck pickup and a hot bridge pickup to give a balanced response, chiming with the ‘characteristic of era’.

FGV60 Ventura 60 Laguna Blue

Ventura 80 The Ventura 80’s twin vintage voiced solid nickel silver covered Fret-King Alnico V humbuckers, three-way toggle switch and single tone and volume, let you tap into the sounds of psychedelia, from garage to stadium, producing an awesome and easily exploitable power.

FGV80 Ventura 80 Candy Apple Blue with optional Gold hardware and Vintique pickguard

A fitting testament to the spirit and creativity of those original pioneering West Coast guitarists.

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Fret-King Green Label Ventura

Daring to look different, the Green Label Ventura could be a styling studio prototype straight out of the 60s.

Ventura makes a statement about your individuality – working live, on stage or in the studio!

As Trev observes, “Unlike some of the guitars from way back then however, the unique offset Ventura design benefits from hardware and pickups that actually work!”

“You’ll sound great and stay in tune on stage or in the studio, with a winning combination of function, style and sound in one cool package.”

By utilising an original spec, small diameter truss rod, there is a much greater ratio of wood-to-metal, retaining all that elusive ‘vintage tone’.

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Superb quality Gotoh Magnum locking tuners replicate the style and light weight of the original Kluson® tuning keys. Height-adjustable tuning posts provide the perfect break angle for each individual string to rest in the self-lubricating Wilkaloid top nut, ensuring absolute minimum string friction.

These unique tuners also feature posts which lock automatically as the strings are brought up to pitch, eliminating excess string winds, making string changing a breeze and keeping your guitar in tune even with heavy vibrato use.

Keeping a vintage guitar in tune can be a nightmare, so all Green Label Ventura guitars are fitted with the Wilkinson VSV high-performance vintage vibrato system – you will not believe the tuning stability of the VSV. It really is the icing on the cake.

Ventura 60 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V P90’s. Volume, Tone, 3-way Selector. Ventura 80 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, 3-way Selector.

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Esprit I Simplicity, elegance, a true no-nonsense rock ’n’ roll guitar.

Featuring a single Fret-King custom-wound high-output Alnico V P90-style pickup, with single tone and volume controls and a custom Fret-King aluminum wrapover tailpiece/bridge, the Esprit I just begs to be given a damn good thrashing.

FGES1NK Esprit I Natural Koa

FGES3 Esprit III See Thru Red

FGES5 Esprit V Obsidian Black

Esprit III

Esprit V

With its matched set of three calibrated Fret-King custom wound P90-style pickups, master tone and volume controls, 5-way selector switch and a ‘reverse-wound, reverse-polarity’ middle pickup for hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4, the Esprit III offers a terrific level of versatility - and very cool tones!

The Esprit V is loaded with twin Fret-King custom wound Alnico V PAF-style humbuckers - the archetypal rock guitar pickup configuration.

The unique combination of three-way toggle, master volume, master tone and Wilkinson Vari-coil control, which rolls full humbuckers down to true single coils, lets you explore the outer reaches of a massive range of definitive rock tones.

Esprit

Fret-King Green Label Esprit Taking style and versatility to a new level.

Familiar, but different is the best way to describe the Esprit range of guitars from Fret-King.

Constructed from korina, a timber first used in guitar building in the 50s, and which has a grain structure similar in nature to mahogany, but lighter and more vibrant, this classic tonewood is the natural choice for the Fret-King Green Label Esprit.

With a traditional three-piece 4” centre-section body, 2 degree neck rake, 22 frets, 25” scale, one-piece mahogany set-neck with 12” radius rosewood fingerboard, and 8 degree angled back reversed six-in-line peghead, the Esprit has unsurpassed tonal transfer and natural tone.

Available in three versions, the Fret-King Green Label Esprit has individuality and attitude to spare.

Esprit I specification: Body: Korina. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD91. Bridge: Fret-King Wrapover Bridge/Tailpiece. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Fret-King High Output P90.

Volume, Tone. Esprit III specification: Body: Korina. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD91. Bridge: Fret-King Tune-o-matic, Stud Stop T/piece. Pickups & Controls: 3 x Fret-King P90, calibrated – middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector. Esprit V specification: Body: Korina. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD91 Fret-King Tune-o-matic, Stud Stop T/piece. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 3-way Selector.

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Elan 50

Elan 50 SP

The Elan 50 comes loaded with twin Fret-King ‘vintage voiced’ humbuckers with Alnico V magnets and solid nickel silver covers. The combination of three-way toggle, master volume, master tone plus the Fret-King Vari-coil control, which rolls full humbuckers down to true single coils, with all the sounds in-between, provides a huge palate of sounds.

The Elan 50 SP features a balanced set of Fret-King custom wound P90-style pickups, wired ‘reverse wound, reverse polarity’ in the centre position, for hum cancelling mode when both pickups are selected.

FGE50P Elan 50 SP California Green

FGE50 Elan 50 Laguna Blue

With three-way toggle switch, individual pickup volume controls and a master tone control, the SP is wired for solo work.

This innovative arrangement makes the Elan a very adaptable and versatile guitar.

Contributing to the great tone of both versions of the Fret-King Elan 50 is the intonatable Wilkinson GTB 100 wrapover tailpiece, a bridge of understated elegance and real functionality.

Free of moving parts, the GTB100 transfers all the string energy directly to the body, maximising power and definition.

FGE60 Elan 60 Obsidian Black FGE60P Elan 60 SP See Thru Blue

Elan 60 and Elan 60 SP With identical timber, pickup and control specification to the Elan 50, the Green Label Elan 60 adds the tuning stability and expressiveness of a Wilkinson VS401 vibrato bridge to produce a capable and creative hybrid.

Tuning stability, the hallmark of all Fret-King guitars, is further enhanced on the Elan 60 with Gotoh Magnum locking tuners, capable of holding tune with even the most extreme vibrato technique.

Whether you prefer the classic humbucker sound or the P90 option, the Fret-King Elan 60 is a world-class instrument which other guitars can only aspire to live up to.

n a El Fret-King Green Label Elan The Green Label Elan is the classic set-neck double cutaway guitar, infused with understated elegance.

Using a ‘form follows function’ approach, the Elan features a carved top incorporating a unique and elegant forearm comfort scoop, eliminating the usual sharp edge and providing an infinitely more comfortable playing position.

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Constructed from solid korina, with 22 frets, 25” scale neck with 12” radius rosewood fingerboard and 8 degree, angled-back six-in-line peghead, the Elan is a perfect conjunction of classics.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the iconic double cutaway bolt-on neck, but have always hankered after the set-neck tone associated with the iconic single cutaway, the Fret-King Green Label Elan is your guitar.

Great sustain and awesome tone are the undisputed hallmarks of the Fret-King Green Label Elan series!

Elan 50 specification: Body: Korina. Neck: Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD91. Bridge: Wilkinson GTB100 Wrapover. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 3-way Selector. Elan 50 SP specification: Body: Korina. Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD91. Wilkinson GTB100 Wrapover. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King P90’s. 1 x Volume per pickup, Master Tone, 3-way Selector. Elan 60 specification: Body: Korina. Neck: Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VS401 Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 3-way Selector. Elan 60 SP specification: Body: Korina. Neck: Bolt-On. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VS401 Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King P90’s. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 3-way Selector.

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FG60 Corona 60 Candy Apple Red

FG60HB Corona 60 HB Ice White

FG60SP Corona 60 SP Candy Apple Blue with optional Vintique pickguard FG80 Corona 80 Ice White

FG70 Corona 70 Laguna Blue with optional maple neck and Vintique pickguard

a n o r o C Fret-King Green Label Corona Trev Wilkinson, father of Fret-King says “No guitar range would be complete without paying homage to the most famous double cutaway guitar shape of all time.

Making a guitar this shape is easy; however, knowing how to build one from the inside out is a lesser-known skill!

I have owned many of these guitars and repaired many hundreds more over the decades.

These years of knowledge and experience are the essence of Fret-King’s ‘authentic vintage construction’, and imbue my guitars with that true ‘vintage vibe’.

Built with either a hand-selected, two-piece centre-jointed alder or swamp ash body, the Fret-King Corona is a classic combination of aesthetic and tonal perfection.

In keeping with the sixties tradition, this model has a familiar and comfortable shallow C profile maple neck with 25 1/2” scale length.

By utilising an original spec, small diameter truss rod, there is a much greater ratio of wood-to-metal, contributing to retaining all that elusive ‘vintage tone’.

Add to this the extra benefit of hardware that keeps you in tune and you have a truly rare instrument – one that really works live, on stage or in the studio.

Vibrato is a fundamental part of the performance of these guitars, and you will not believe the tuning stability of the Wilkinson VSV on the Fret-King Corona.

Fret-King Corona guitars feature custom-wound Fret-King pickups, specific to each application. ‘Vintage voiced’ and ‘hi-output’ single coils and humbuckers, in matched, calibrated sets for a perfect balance between each pickup combination and selection.

Corona 60 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking.

Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 3 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coils, matched and Calibrated – middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, 2 x Tone, 5-way Selector. Corona 60 HB specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coils (N+M), 1 x Alnico V Humbucker (B). Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 5-way Selector. Corona 60 SP specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale; 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato.Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coils, 1 x P90 – middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, 2 x Tone, 5-way Selector. Corona 70 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers.

Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 5-way Selector. Corona 80 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale; 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Humbuckers, 1 x Single Coil (M) – middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil, 5-way Selector.

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“I couldn’t resist building this!” says Trev.

“After seeing Jeff Beck and the Yardbirds in the 60s, his Esquire® was the guitar I wanted more than any other.

The audacity of someone taking a grinder to a slab bodied ‘holy grail’ guitar was just so cool!

FGCSV Country Squire Semitone De Luxe Thru Red

FGCS Country Squire Semitone Original Vintage Burst

FGCC Country Squire Classic Original Classic Burst

FGCYHB Country Squire Yardbird

That actual guitar now resides in my friend Seymour Duncan’s collection, but I did have the opportunity to spend some time with it, and the result is the Fret-King Green Label Country Squire Yardbird.

It’s common knowledge that the front of the guitar was contoured with a forearm chamfer, but unless you’ve actually held and played the original guitar, you’d never know that the back also had a ribcage chamfer contoured in.

The Fret-King Yardbird is loaded with a Seymour Duncan® Broadcaster® repro pickup, voiced by the man himself, and the body is even routed for a front pickup if you would like to fit one later, just like the original.

Just like the original Esquire, the 3-way pickup selector on the Yardbird is actually a tone selector. In forward position the tone control is bypassed and a preset bassy tone, created by running the pickup through two capacitors and a resistor, is accessed.

With the selector in the middle position both tone and volume work as normal; while in the last position the tone control is bypassed, allowing the pickup to go direct with all of its power and tone.

It doesn’t get more real!”

C

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Green Label Country Squire

As the name suggests, these guitars will appeal to country players, but no matter what kind of music you play, the ultra simple, single cutaway, bolt-on neck guitar that first appeared at the start of the 1950s lends itself to many diverse musical styles.

Throughout the history of rock ’n’ roll, guitars like the Country Squire have been at the heart of so many musical genres; country, soul, blues, rock, jazz and more.

The Country Squire range is Fret-King’s nod to the guitar that started it all!

With the Green Label Country Squire, we have taken the liberty of respectfully raising the bar, with a 22-fret neck with medium jumbo frets, in either a maple/rosewood combination, or one-piece maple, both with a deliciously comfortable 60s shallow C profile.

Both styles of neck utilise a 10” fingerboard radius to facilitate easier string bending, with a slinky, fast playing action.

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There’s a lot of mystique about original three-saddle bridges and why they sound so good. It’s simple really – with only three saddles, there are two strings to hold each saddle down firmly, so much less of the string’s energy is dissipated trying to stop the saddles moving, greatly enhancing sustain.

The principal drawback of the original design, however, was poor intonation.

With the addition of the fully intonatable Wilkinson WT3 multi-adjustable three-saddle bridge, that unmistakable tone is now achievable; and perfect intonation, too!

Country Squire Classic specification: Body: Swamp Ash. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WT3. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coils. Volume, 2 x Tone, 5-way Selector. Country Squire Semitone specification: Body: Swamp Ash Semi Acoustic. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WT3. Pickups & Controls: 1x Fret-King Alnico V Humbucker (Splits to single coil), 1 x Single Coil (B). Volume, Tone/Coil Split, 5-way Selector. C. S. Semitone Deluxe specification: Body: Swamp Ash Semi Acoustic. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VSV Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coils (N+M),1 x Alnico V Humbucker (B). Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector. Country Squire Yardbird specification: Body: Swamp Ash. Neck: 1pc Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WT3. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Seymour Duncan Broadcaster. Volume, Tone, 3-way Selector.

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Perception 60 JJ

FGP60J Perception 60 JJ Obsidian Black

The Perception 60 JJ features a balanced set of Fret-King double polepiece, single coil pickups providing a depth and breadth of sound, from silky, mellifluous jazz tones, to classic funk, to an edgy and assertive rock tone.

FGP60 Perception 60 PJ Laguna Blue

Perception 60 PJ The Perception 60 PJ features the classic Fret-King split double polepiece pickup, producing that signature profound, soulful, warm bass tone, with the double polepiece, single coil bridge pickup adding bite and definition.

s e s s a B Green Label Perception 60 Complementing the range of Corona guitars, the Green Label Perception 60 bass range brings together the best features of the two most successful bass concepts of our time, to give great sound and stability under the most extreme playing styles.

Constructed from carefully selected swamp ash, with optimal weight and density, the Perception 60 body is designed for perfect balance, and comfort.

The wide, slim profile, hard rock maple neck and thin rosewood fingerboard add to the subtlety of the Perception 60’s tonal palette and provides a feel of reassuring familiarity.

By utilising an original spec, small diameter truss rod, there is a much greater ratio of wood-to-metal, retaining all that elusive ‘vintage tone’.

The optional one-piece maple neck with traditional skunk stripe offers the journeyman bass player a true workhorse; versatile, positive and precise.

Attention to detail with the hardware includes Wilkinson authentic ‘elephant ear’ style tuners, and a Wilkinson WB2P original style bridge with two fully intonatable brass saddles, which transmit all of the string energy to the body.

A single string tree and low friction, high density Wilkaloid nut contribute to the overall positive feel and tone of the Perception 60.

The Fret-King vintage voiced Alnico V custom pickups, dual volume controls and master tone control imbue the Perception 60 with a breadth of timbre which covers the needs of the most discerning studio and live performance bass player.

Perception 60 PJ specification: Body: Swamp Ash. Neck; Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 34”/864mm. Tuners: Gotoh FB3. Bridge: Wilkinson WB2P. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Fret-King Alnico V Split Single Coil (M), 1 x Alnico V Single Coil J-type (B). 2 x Volume, Master Tone. Perception 60 JJ specification: Body: Swamp Ash. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 34”/864mm. Tuners: Gotoh FB3. Bridge: Wilkinson WB2P. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King Alnico V Single Coil J-type. 2 x Volume, Master Tone.

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FKLD

Trev Wilkinson is a legend in the guitar world for his innovative and faultless guitar hardware and pickups, which deliver stellar tonality.

His progressive approach to building guitars, and his unerring ability to think outside of every design box, is now presented in Fret-King FX pedals – his first foray into the world of stompboxes.

With the emphasis set firmly on tone, Trev has instilled his true boutique ethos into these pedals.

Each effect has been comprehensively researched and benchmarked against an enviable collection of highly collectible original vintage pedals and devices.

Line Doctor

Meticulously and authentically voiced, Fret-King FX Pedals deliver tones you’ll recognise straight out of the box.

Keeps tone 100% healthy no matter how hard you’re pushing.

Choose the pedals you want, plug in, flick the switch, and experience the way your music was always meant to sound.

If you're playing big stages where you need long guitar leads, or if you're using true bypass effects pedals, you need to pay a visit to the Fret-King Line Doctor.

Add to this the usual Fret-King standards – rugged, durable die-cast aluminium casing, true bypass technology, classy design, and dual paired inputs where necessary – and you have pedals that will take your playing to new levels, define your sound, and fill stadiums.

Basically, the more stuff that gets between your guitar and your amp, the more your tone – and volume – will suffer, and we can't have that. The Line Doctor is a simple yet ingenious buffer circuit that, when activated, will gently boost your flagging signal, replacing anything that has been lost somewhere along the way.

That means you're free to use as many true bypass stompboxes as you like, and your lead can be 20ft long – or 200ft! The Fret-King Line Doctor doesn't discriminate, and will bring your tone back to full health whatever the conditions.

Fret-King pedals – treat your tone.

P s t c e f Ef

s l a ed

Classic Wah The original, pure wah tone.

Ever since the swinging 60s, the wah pedal has helped guitarists own stages – and crowds – with its unique ability to mimic the human voice, its piercing tonal sweep, and its unmistakeable 'wacka-wacka' sounds. With the Fret-King Wah, Trev Wilkinson has gone back in time, found that original, pure wah tone, and brought it kicking and screaming into the 21st century!

F X

One of the keys to an authentic wah sound and response is using the right style of inductor. Naturally, Trev has made sure to use a custom designed, classic-style 'halo' inductor on the Fret-King wahs, so you can be sure you'll get all the vintage voicings you need in your playing.

The Fret-King wah features a uniquely versatile tonal sweep – from crystal clear bass through to crisp, sweet trebles, and anywhere in between. Jimmy, Steve or Shaft, the Fret-King classic wah is your best friend.

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FRET-KING MASTER July 2013 st_Layout 1 02/08/2013 09:31 Page 36

FKCB

FKBP

Clean Boost

Power Boost

For the ultimate volume gain.

When you need to ‘turn it up to 11’.

The Fret-King Clean Booster is so simple, so self-explanatory – and so effective.

You're approaching that moment in the song where you need to go one step louder, one step bigger, but you need your signal to stay clean. This is where the Clean Booster comes in.

A real revelation when you need to 'turn it up to 11', the Fret-King Power Boost gives you up to 20dB of boost to your signal, and it'll also break things up ever so slightly, giving you that sweet tone of a tube amp just starting to let rip!

Dial in up to 20dB of extra power for the parts that really matter, and play them as clean as a whistle. The Clean Booster will not colour your sound in any way, and it certainly won't distort your tone or overload your amp. In short, it's just what you need if you want to keep it clean – and loud.

Ideal as a boost for huge, crunchy rhythm sounds, or as the secret ingredient in a stadium-filling solo, the Power Boost sounds great with a clean amp, or over the top of an overdrive pedal. Just use the simple level control to choose how much of a boost you need, and step on it! Instant power...

FKKD

Klassic Drive Full, smooth and creamy low gain tone Derived from an original example of one of the greatest overdrive pedals of all time, the Fret-King Klassic Drive will give you a full, smooth, creamy low gain tone that will be music to your audience's ears. Use it to break your clean tone up, or to drive your valve amp at crucial moments, and you'll be rewarded with a sound that doesn't go over the top, but stays sophisticated, crisp and direct.

The Klassic Drive is sublime for anything from classic rock rhythms through to blues noodling and smooth jazz chords, and is destined to become... a klassic.

FKDXXX

Distortion XXX A gift to the world of gain The Fret-King Distortion XXX is Trev Wilkinson's gift to the world of gain! Ideal for players who like a dirty sound, and perfect for everything from blues and indie to rock, punk and all-out metal, the Distortion XXX is incredibly versatile.

Set the level, then use the gain knob to dial in anything from smokey jazz chords to howling solos, and the tone control can configure amounts of bass and treble – whatever you need, it's here in spades. Trev has lovingly modelled the Distortion XXX after one of his favourite distortion pedals of all time, and we know you'll love it too.

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www.fret-king.com

Front Cover: Parker Lundgren – Queensrÿche, Fret-King Black Label Country Squire Semitone.

Back Cover: Mick Radford – international recording artist/session player, Fret-King STVDIO Ventura 60.

Images: William Hines Photography ©2012

www.jhs.co.uk WORLDWIDE TRADE DISTRIBUTORS:

JOHN HORNBY SKEWES & CO. LTD., SALEM HOUSE, PARKINSON APPROACH, GARFORTH, LEEDS LS25 2HR, UK. ©2013 JHS & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Specifications and colours are subject to change without prior notice.

Fret-King® is a registered trademark of JHS & Co. Ltd. Wilkinson® is a registered trademark of Trev Wilkinson Design Associates. Wilkaloid™, Vari-coil™, Acoustibridge™ are trademarks of Trev Wilkinson Design Associates.