Fret-King 2012 Full Line brochure

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B L A C K

B L U E

G R E E N S T V D I O

Right here – right now.

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At Fret-King® we have a saying...

“Knowledge is Power.”

What does this mean?

Black Label

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!

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

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Country Squire

Country Squire Semitone

Elise

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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.

Hugely experienced players like 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. As well as being great players, they 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.

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.

Corona SP

Super-hybrid

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.

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, comfort-contoured body and distinctive, instantly recognisable, rock solid tone.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Perception 4-string

Perception 5-string

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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

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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: Wilkinson 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: Wilkinson WVC humbucker with solid nickel cover and backing plate, Wilkinson WP90, Wilkinson 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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“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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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: Wilkinson humbucker WP90B, Wilkinson WHS vintage voiced single coil and WHHBCa Prizefighter. Controls: volume, two push-push tone, and five way lever switch. Hardware: Wilkinson WVS 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: Wilkinson 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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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 Wilkinson 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 centrejointed 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.

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

Lee Hodgson

FKV2BS Country Squire Butterscotch

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

FKV2HBK Country Squire Semitone Black

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

It’s got all the ‘classic’ tones – plus the staggered pole piece humbucker has a secret… check the tone pot, it’s a ‘push-push’ for neck humbucker down to neck single coil. Now, flick the selector switch down to the flat pole piece bridge pickup, and the same pushpush toggles between authentic vintage ’52 ‘Nashville Snap’, and a creamy, focused single coil sound with enhanced mids and increased power.

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

Adjustable, pre-intonated barrel style natural brass saddles allow spot-on tuning, and 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 and tone you need.

Country Squire Semitone Elegant and capable, the semi-acoustic, chambered-bodied Country Squire Semitone is traditional and versatile all at the same time.

Twin hum to the eye, the Semitone sports an extra mini knob controlling the Fret-King Vari-coil circuit, which progressively rolls back the humbuckers to custom voiced single coils, so in the spin of a knob you can go from roaring high output bridge humbucker, to sweet mellow neck single coil, then back again in an instant to that oh so familiar single coil bridge bite.

Country Squire De-Luxe 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: Wilkinson humbucker WHHB3+3 (N) tapped single coil alnico WVOBT (B). Controls: volume & tone/coil split, 3-way lever. Hardware: Wilkinson WTB bridge & WJ05 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included. Country Squire Semitone specification. Body: semi acoustic chambered two-piece centre-jointed American alder body with tortoiseshell binding. Neck: Canadian hard rock maple.

Fingerboard: rosewood, 10” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, pearl dots. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Nut: graphite. Pickups: Wilkinson WHHB3+3 (N) WHHB (B). Controls: volume, tone & Vari-coil (humbucker to single coil), 3-way Lever. Hardware: Wilkinson WTBS bridge and WJ05 tuners. Luxury Fret-King carry bag included.

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FKV1HCSB Cherry Sunburst

James Bell Young Guitarist of the Year 2011

FKV1HBK Black

magazine

FKV1HTSB Tobacco Sunburst

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t a cl

Black Label Eclat Standard 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.

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Legendary Wilkinson 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: Wilkinson 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.

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FKV3HTSB Tobacco Sunburst John Etheridge FKV3HHB Ash Blonde

Elise

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.

Wilkinson 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: Wilkinson 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.

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FKV6SPOCB Original Classic Burst

FKV6SPBK Black

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FKV6SPFR Firenze Red

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.

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The bridge mounted Wilkinson 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: Wilkinson stacked humbucker WP90SKb and two Wilkinson 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.

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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.

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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: Wilkinson WVC humbuckers in neck and bridge positions with single Wilkinson 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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FKV4OCB Original Classic Burst

FKV4VW Vintage White

FKV4BK Black FKV4+1OCB Original Classic Burst FKV4+1BK Black

Jim Reece

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Black Label Perception

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

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.

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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.

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: Wilkinson 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_Layout 1 03/10/2012 12:43 Page 16

Blue Label

Fret-King Blue Label With no detail left untouched, Fret-King Blue Label offers absolute luxury of build and feel, truly exceptional tuning stability, and benchmark tone which will satisfy the most experienced player, Blue Label is a clearly defined step up, with true vintage construction methods, the close attention to detail in timber selection and build quality which is emblematic of Fret-King, and featuring custom designed pickups, innovative tone circuitry, and bridges and tuners recognised to be the best in the world.

We live in an aspirational world, and there is no more aspirational product than a guitar.

Myth and mystique surrounds the instruments of old we think of as ‘holy grails’. Blue Label instruments bring together all the best attributes of our shared guitar heritage and produce the modern classics our ‘heroes of old’ would almost certainly be designing and building today.

My relationship of decades with our production partner ensures that Fret-King Blue Label guitars and basses are faithfully and accurately hand built to my original designs, with the emphasis on emulating the high levels

of perfection associated with the Fret-King guitars I build in the UK – which represent the highest of high end boutique instruments.

Bold designs like the exciting ‘60s design school’ guitar design-inspired Ventura will appeal to the more extrovert player with its über-cool styling cues, fabulous comfort factor and uniquely versatile performance.

The Elan twin cutaway is a deluxe guitar if ever there was one, with its familiar outline, carefully chamfered and contoured body and elegantly carved top. The Elan is possibly the ultimate crossover guitar for players who prefer the ‘California shape’ looking for a familiar feel and ergonomics, but with ‘Nashville shape’ sounds. This intelligently designed guitar is destined to be a popular players’ choice.

Bassists will find much to delight them with the addition of the new Ventura Super 80, which offers a veritable walkthrough of the sound and looks of classic bass guitars from years past, and is surely destined to become a collectable classic itself in future years.

For good reason we call Fret-King, ‘… your next guitar …’ Check out a Blue Label, but only if you want to be delighted!

B L U E

All Blue Label guitars are supplied with a genuine Fret-King lluxury carry bag.

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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:17 Page 17

Blue Label Super-matic • Fret-King style, flair and superb playability.

FBSMOCB Super-matic Original Classic Burst

• Hum-Single-Hum ‘Zebra’ pickups for great tonal range.

• Fret-King Vari-coil control winds humbuckers progressively to single coil.

FBSMBK Super-matic Gloss Black

• Traditional premium materials, one-piece hard rock maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and two-piece centre jointed American alder body • Revolutionary Wilkinson ATD HT440 Self-Tuning Bridge.

This outstanding technological tour de force features: • Onboard chromatic tuner for spot on tuning • Six fully user programmable tuning presets; Standard E, plus 5 others.

• High visibility display designed to be viewed while playing.

• Simple, single button operation, with fast tuning changes.

m r e p u

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Fret-King Super-matic

The Fret-King Super-matic self-tuning guitar is the first ever guitar to feature the truly outstanding and innovative Wilkinson ATD HT440™ self-tuning hard tail guitar bridge.

S

Built with all the hallmark Fret-King style and attributes, the Super-matic is a very cool looking beast and features a Hum-Single-Hum pickup configuration, with Wilkinson WHHBZ33 offset pole piece ‘Zebra’ humbuckers wound to a very authentic recipe and a Wilkinson 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.

The Wilkinson ATD self-tuning bridge is a super low profile, real time electromechanical 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.

B L U E

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 high-visibility display, designed to be viewed while playing, and overall tuning is assured with the built in chromatic tuner.

Press the function button again, strum, and let the ATD change the guitar’s 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.

Super-matic specification. Body: American aAlder. Neck: Hard Rock Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Wilkinson. Bridge: Wilkinson ATD HT440 with Micro Hex Magnetic Sensor Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WHHBZ33 Zebra Humbuckers (B/N), 1 x Wilkinson WHSM Single Coil (M), Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (Humbuckers), 5-way Selector. Luxury Fret-King hardshell case included.

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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:17 Page 18

FBV60CR Ventura Super 60 SSH Coral Red

FBV60OCB Ventura Super 60 SSH Original Classic Burst

FBV60HVW Ventura Super 60 HB3 Vintage White

FBV60HLB Ventura Super 60 HB3 Laguna Blue

Ventura Super 60 Blue Label Ventura Super 60 SSH Players who prefer a palette of more traditional ‘working guitar’ tones will appreciate the flexibility offered by the Ventura Super 60 SSH option. Tonal versatility is equally paramount on the Ventura Super agenda via the exciting and creative options offered by the Ventura's SSH pickup layout of two custom designed, Wilkinson vintage voiced alnico V-single coil pickups, plus bridge-mounted Wilkinson WHHB humbucker controlled by the Fret-King Vari-coil control, rolling the humbucker smoothly from traditional humbucker to classic single coil.

Blue Label Ventura Super 60 HB3 Working live, on stage or in the studio, Blue Label Ventura Super 60 guitars really capture the classic tones, feel and response of those legendary bolt-on neck Californian electric guitars, with 2-piece, centre-jointed premium American alder bodies and 60s profile, 22 fret maple neck, 25 1/2" scale length and 10” radius rosewood fingerboard for a smooth, positive playing response with choke-free bends.

The Ventura’s innovative ‘art school design’ looks are matched by premium hardware; Gotoh Magnum locking machines, complemented by a Wilkinson WVP ‘wave’ leading edge fulcrum vibrato with solid stainless steel saddles, stagger-drilled block and ultra-smooth action, all contributing to impressive total tuning stability.

For the player who demands maximum performance and a high excitement factor from their guitar, the Ventura Super 60 HB3 offers the ideal solution – a ‘total firepower’ pickup option of tone-filled Wilkinson PAF-style WHHB humbuckers, unbeatable for those stand-out ‘all guns blazing’ solos...

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

Ventura Super 60 HB3 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WVP Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 3 x Wilkinson WHHB Humbuckers, 3+3 screw polepieces, solid nickel silver covers. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (Humbuckers), 5-way Selector. Ventura Super 60 SSH specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WVP Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Wilkinson WHHB Humbucker (B) 2 x Wilkinson WTS Single Coils (N+M). Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (Humbucker), 5-way Selector.

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FBES3VW Esprit 3 Vintage White

FBES5BK Esprit 5 Gloss Black LFBES5BK Esprit 5 Gloss Black Left Hand

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/5 3 it Blue Label Esprit 3

Instantly recognisable, yet radical, yet so familiar, the Fret-King Blue Label Esprit range is rooted in tradition but adds flair and innovation, offering a level of versatility which belies its looks.

With set-neck construction, mating three-piece mahogany bodies with 4” centre sections to one-piece mahogany necks, the Esprit is a solid platform to build your tone on.

The distinctive reversed six-in-line peghead, asymmetric body, stepped front and signature pickguard all add up to a statement of style with real attitude.

Esprit has substance too, with the Esprit 3 featuring three P90-style pickups, a 5-way selector switch and master volume and tone giving a hugely useable range of sounds.

B B L L A U C E K

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Blue Label Esprit 5 With one of the most exciting and distinctive guitar shapes around, the stylish Esprit 5 features twin vintage-voiced Fret-King WVC PAF-type humbuckers wound to the original recipe for those 'holy grail' guitar tones; solid-mounted Gotoh tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece; plus rock-solid set-neck construction featuring a substantial mahogany tonewood body mated to a 1-piece mahogany neck.

Radical yet traditional. Imbued with the spirit of rock and roll. Let the Esprit 5 take you back to the future.

Esprit 3 specification. Body: 3pc Mahogany. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Gotoh Tune-o-matic. Pickups & Controls: 3 x Fret-King W90 Single Coils - middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector. Esprit 5 specification: Body: 3pc Mahogany. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Gotoh Tune-o-matic Pickups & Controls: 2 x Fret-King WVC Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:18 Page 20

Elan Super 50 Rock-solid set-neck construction with a hardtail format.

FB60VW Elan Super 60 HBP Vintage White

FB50PLB Elan Super 50 SSP Laguna Blue

FB50BK Elan Super 50 HBP Gloss Black

FB60PCR Elan Super 60 SSP Coral Red

FB50TBB Elan Super 50 HBP Tobacco Sunburst

FB50PTR Elan Super 50 SSP See Thru Red

Elan Super 60 Guitarists can enjoy the feel, balance, outline and layout of that famous California twin cutaway favourite in the form of the Elan Super 60, with its precision Wilkinson WVP vibrato - the smoothest fulcrum vibrato unit available anywhere and traditional bolt-on neck construction, all offering a taste of the unique poise and total versatility, and more, of that legendary instrument.

0 6 / 0 5 r e p u S n a El Blue Label Elan Super 50 & 60 With its classic offset double cutaway body, the Fret-King Green Label Elan’s sophisticated look of understated elegance is now also available in Blue Label format.

Designed for maximum player comfort, the Elan’s refined, ergonomic outline features a carved top with gentle upper bout scooping to accommodate the player’s forearm exactly where it needs to be, matched by a body-shaped ribcage contouring for optimum ‘player fit’.

Blue Label Elan Supers offer temptingly creative pickup layouts. On the 50 and 60 HBP option, between the stalwart blues rock pickup layout of twin crunching humbuckers – here, tonally authentic PAF style Wilkinson units which can be rolled back to single coils for even greater versatility – the centre-mounted Wilkinson P90 pickup is equally a true tonal masterpiece, coupling a fat, warm output with top end bite, especially when pushing an overdriven valve amp.

Players who prefer a more journeyman pickup layout on either the set-neck Elan 50 and bolt-on necked 60 can opt for the SSP’s useful and versatile Wilkinson twin single coils and fat-toned bridge-mounted P90 for a more traditional tonal palette.

These truly exciting pickup configurations guarantee that the Elan Super 50 and 60 guitars shine through in any musical situation, offering the ultimate combination of tone and double cut playability in a stylish and highly desirable guitar package.

Elan Super 50 HBP specification. Body: Mahogany. neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Wilkinson GTB Wrapover. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers (B+N), W90m P90 (M). Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (for WVCs), 5-way Selector. Elan Super 50 SSP specification: Body: Mahogany. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Wilkinson GTB Wrapover. Pickups & Controls: Wilkinson W90bSK Stacked P90 (B), WTS Single Coil (M+N) - middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (for stacked P90), 5-way Sel. Elan Super 60 HBP specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WVP Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers (B+N), W90m P90 (M). Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (P90), 5-way Selector. Elan Super 60 SSP specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. SCale: 25”/634mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson WVP Vibrato.

Pickups & Controls: Wilkinson W90bSK Stacked P90 (B) Wilkinson WTS Single Coil (M+N) - middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, Vari-coil (P90), 5-way Sel.

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FB60POVB Super 60 SP Original Vintage Burst

FB60IW Super 60 Ice White FB60BMI Super 60 Burgundy Mist

FB60PIW Super 60 SP Ice White

FB60HIG Super 60 HB Ice Green

FB60PEOM Super 60 SP Electric Orange Metallic

FB60HOVB Super 60 HB Original Vintage Burst

FB60OVB Super 60 Original Vintage Burst

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Blue Label Super 60s A contemporary take on a design classic, the Super 60 provides familiarity and innovation.

Super 60 is available in the traditional three single coil, humbucker and two single coils, and P90 with two single coil pickup configurations, with Wilkinson pickups fitted in calibrated balanced sets, optimised for a perfect blend of tonality, articulation, depth and power.

The Blue Label Super 60 offers that traditional vibe, but with a twist, while the 60 HB provides the extra versatility and power of a custom designed creamy, powerful bridge mounted ballbreaker of a humbucker.

Twist a little further with the 60 SP; loaded with a Wilkinson custom wound P90-style bridge pickup for a truly unique combination of the traditional and the edgy, the P90 produces a sweet but eminently useable solo tone, clean or overdriven.

Tuning stability is an issue with all vibrato-loaded guitars, but the Super 60 features several class leading innovations, designed by Trev Wilkinson to ensure a totally trouble-free, smooth, return-to-pitch vibrato operation, unavailable with any other brand.

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Fitted with Gotoh Magnum locking tuners with height adjustable posts, the Super 60 offers perfect rake for each string. This promotes minimum friction through the Wilkaloid nut, with easy stringing and fast automatic string locking.

The Super 60’s Wilkinson VS401V vibrato bridge is a twin pivot, hardened steel, wave top plate unit with a stagger-drilled steel block giving unrivalled ‘return to zero’ performance. The VSV-style bent steel saddles offer superior tone and intonation, while a lockable, adjustable-tension push-in arm provides a neat ergonomic finishing touch.

Super 60 specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Brdige: Wilkinson VS401V Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 3 x Wilkinson WHS Single Coils, calibrated.

Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector. Super 60 HB specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking. Bridge: Wilkinson VS401V Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WHS (N+M), 1 x Wilkinson WVC Humbucker (B). Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector. Super 60 SP specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking.

Bridge Wilkinson VS401V Vibrato. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WHS (N+M), 1 x W90 (B). Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 03/10/2012 13:07 Page 22

FBSTTRB Super T Trans Blue

FBSSOCB Super S Original Classic Burst

FBSTBSC Super T Butterscotch FBSTMLB Super T Metallc Lght Blue

FBSSBSC Super S Butterscotch

FBSSTRB Super S Trans Blue

S / T r e Sup

Blue Label Super S and Super T The Blue Label Super S is a thoughtful development, subtly blending the best attributes of two classics. Offering the player all the versatility of the traditional 3 single coil pickup layout design, the Super S also offers the instantly recognisable tonality of the iconic bridge-mounted single coil pickup.

For those with more traditional preferences, the Super T brings together the ergonomic benefits of a comfort contoured body, plus various other classic attributes of the original late 40s/early 50s single cut bolt-on neck guitar.

Visually unique with its Fret-King stepped scratch plate and slanted, plate mounted pickup selector switch, the Super T and Super S feature a two-piece centre-jointed imported American alder body, Canadian hard rock maple neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard.

Intonation can often be an issue with this style of guitar - not so with the Super T and Super S, which both feature the unique and innovative Wilkinson WT3 bridge.

Constructed from thin gauge steel for authentic tone, it features fully intonatable machined brass saddles for perfect intonation, irrespective of string gauge.

Fitted with Gotoh SG38 sealed gear tuners, additional downforce for the 1st and 2nd strings is provided by an authentic circular string tree.

Authenticity is the hallmark of the Super T and Super S, enhanced by sympathetic and respectful evolution.

Super T specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Wilkinson WT3. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Wilkinson WVTN (N) Single Coil,1 x WVTB (B) Single Coil.

Volume, Tone, 3-way Selector. Super S specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 25.5”/648mm. Tuners: Gotoh SG38. Bridge: Wilkinson WT3. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Wilkinson WTS (N),1 x WTS (M).

1 x WVOB (B) – middle pickup reverse wound/reverse polarity. Volume, Tone, 5-way Selector.

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Blue Label Eclat 2 The Blue Label Eclat 2 features the classic format for this style of set-neck construction.

With a two-piece flat front centre-jointed mahogany body and one-piece mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, this guitar additionally features a unique forearm chamfer, rear comfort scoop and enhanced upper fret access.

FBEC2CR Eclat 2 Cherry Red LFBEC2CR Eclat 2 Cherry Red Left Hand

FBECSBBS Eclat Standard Blue Burst

FBECSHBS Eclat Standard Honey Burst

Fitted with the Wilkinson intonatable GTB200 combined bridge/tailpiece and custom Wilkinson P90-style pickups, the Eclat 2 delivers instantly useable tone in bucket loads.

Controlled by a traditional 3-way toggle switch, master volume and master tone control, the Fret-King Blue Label Eclat 2 offers a delicious blend of versatility and simplicity.

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FBECSTCB Eclat Standard Triple Cherry Burst

Blue Label Eclat Standard

Not for nothing do we refer to the Fret-King Blue Label flagship as a ‘Standard’.

The Fret-King Eclat Standard sets an exceptionally high benchmark, with one-piece mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard, extended tongue, set-neck construction, two-piece centre-jointed mahogany body with a natural bound 3/4” highly figured, double stained, book matched carved flame maple top.

Imbued with all the traditional attributes and tonal characteristics of this classic set-neck, single cut construction, the Eclat Standard additionally features a unique forearm chamfer, rear comfort scoop and enhanced upper fret access.

The attention to detail and the impact that hardware and pickups have on tone with the Eclat Standard is extreme, with a direct mounted nickel plated Gotoh tune-o-matic bridge and nickel plated aluminium stud stop bar tailpiece.

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The Wilkinson WVC humbucking pickups, with solid nickel silver covers, are wound to a very authentic recipe. They are controlled by a traditional 3-way toggle switch, volume control and master tone, and supplemented by a very non-traditional third control, the Fret-King Vari-coil, giving a continuously variable blend of humbucker to single coil.

The Fret-King Blue Label Eclat Standard offers a level of versatility way beyond its traditional character. Set yourself a new standard! The Fret-King Eclat Standard.

Eclat Standard specification: Body: Mahogany. neck: Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 24.75”/628mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD90. Bridge: Gotoh Tune-o-matic, Stud Stop Tailpiece. Pickups & Controls: 2 x Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers. Volume, Tone, Varicoil (Humbuckers), 3-way Selector. Eclat 2 specification: Body: Mahogany. Neck: Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 24.75”/628mm. Tuners: Gotoh SD90. Bridge: Wilkinson GTB Wrapover Pickups & Controls: 1 x Wilkinson W90 (N) P90 style,1 x W90 (B) P90 style. Volume, Tone, 3-way Selector.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 03/10/2012 13:11 Page 24

Blue Label Esprit 4 Bass Like the instantly recognisable Esprit guitar, the Blue Label Esprit 4 bass is radical yet so familiar, rooted in tradition, but with flair and innovation, offering a level of versatility way which belies its looks.

FBEB4TA Esprit 4 Trans Amber

FBEB4BK Esprit 4 Obsidian Black

With set-neck construction, mating a three-piece mahogany body with 4” centre section to a onepiece mahogany neck, the Esprit 4 bass is a rock solid platform.

FBVBOVB Ventura Super 80 Original Vintage Burst

FBVBCAR Ventura Super 80 Candy Apple Red

The distinctive reversed 4-in-line peghead, asymmetric body, stepped front and signature pickguard all add up to a real statement of style.

The Esprit 4 bass has substance too, featuring the classic ‘P/J’ Wilkinson pickup configuration with individual volume and tone controls, and a master tone control.

From earth-shattering ultra-deep fundamentals to classic rock tones, if you need a bass with attitude, the Esprit 4 bass is for you.

4 t i r p Es

Super 80

Blue Label Ventura Super 80 Bass Are you individual enough to take on the Ventura bass guitar concept? If so, you’ll revel in the performance level and tonal options presented by an instrument with true character in an age of often sanitised uniformity. The Ventura’s elegantly shaped, form-fitting body is skilfully assembled from two pieces of American alder, precision matched to a Canadian rock maple neck with gentle 12” radiussed rosewood fingerboard, equipped with a complement of 22 jumbo frets.

Afficionados of classic bass tones will positively revel in the Ventura Super 80’s eclectic pickup layout; a bridge mounted Wilkinson double-polepiece single coil unit; centrally-positioned split double-polepiece single coil; and just check that mighty hunk of tone-filled metal-cased humbucking magnificence situated at the end of the neck... And you can quickly select some very unique-toned pickup combinations via the easily-accessed 5-way lever, offering a real performance edge that is simply unavailable anywhere else, thanks to those gorgeous, full-toned Wilkinson units. From funky fingerpops to a full-on rocking roar, you can blend any combination of these pickups to suit the musical mood via the three individual pickup volume rotaries.

B L U E

The Fret-King Blue Label Ventura Super 80 bass. Destined to be a future classic. Here for you now.

Ventura Super 80 Bass specification: Body: Alder. Neck: Maple Bolt-On. Scale: 34”/864mm. Tuners: Wilkinson WJ200. Bridge: Wilkinson WBB4. Pickups & Controls: 1x Wilkinson WJBR J-type (B), 1 x WPB P-type split, 1 x EBO (N). 1x Volume per pickup, 5-way Selector. Esprit 4 Bass specification: Body: Mahogany. Neck: 1pc Mahogany Set Neck. Scale: 34”/864mm. Tuners: Gotoh GB2. Bridge: Wilkinson WGBB. Pickups & Controls: 1 x Wilkinson WJBR J-type (B), 1 x WPB P-type split. 1 x Volume per pickup, Master Tone.

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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 03/10/2012 12:46 Page 25

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.

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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 03/10/2012 12:47 Page 26

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.

All Green Label guitars are supplied with a genuine Fret-King lighweight moulded ABS flightcase.

G R E E N

www.fret-king.com/greenlabel_series.htm

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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:21 Page 27

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.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:21 Page 28

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

FGES1 Esprit I Vintage White

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.

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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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:21 Page 29

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

FGE60 Elan 60 Obsidian Black

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

FGE60P Elan 60 SP See Thru Blue

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

Elan 60 and Elan 60 SP

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.

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.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 08/10/2012 15:35 Page 30

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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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:22 Page 31

“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!”

r t n

u o C

e r i u q yS

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.

FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 02/10/2012 16:22 Page 32

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.

FGP60J Perception 60 JJ Obsidian Black

Perception 60 JJ 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

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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FRET-KING MASTER_Layout 1 08/10/2012 15:33 Page 1

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. ©2012 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.