17th Street Guitars RL Studio

17th Street Guitar's RL Studio Model

I do not know the year of production. Made in the USA.

Body
2 Piece Offset Dinky Mahogany

Neck
Bolt-On Mahogany w/Mahogany Body
1 5/8" Nut Width
25.5" or 24.75" Scale Length
V-Profile

Fingerboard
Rosewood
24 Medium Jumbo Frets
14" Radius
Mother of Pearl Dot Inlays

Chrome Hardware
Gotoh Locking Tuners
Tone Pros or Nashville Tune-O-Matic Bridge/Tailpiece

Electronics
DiMarzio Air Classic (Bridge Position)
DiMarzio Air Classic (Neck Position)
Speed Knobs - One Volume, One Tone with Push/Pull Coil Tap - Splits Both Humbuckers
3 Position Blade Switch

Finish
Mahogany: Brown-Red Satin


I picked the guitar up from Bruce Smith (Charlie Daniels Band) here in Nashville, so no accessories included. Bruce told me the guitar was given to him as a promotion. The finish is not the best. It has begun to flake off a bit in spots. When I buy guitars this is not a concern for me at all, but could be for some, so i'll take a point.

The guitar is quite versatile when it comes to sound. The air classics have impressed me. My musical tastes are diverse, and I can reach most of them satisfactorily. I play through a Silvertone model 1481 most of the time and if I feel the need for some chorus or delay etc. I play with a Digitech rp 350 in front for the few effects that I might need. I have not been very impressed with the coil tap sound, but I can't honestly say I've ever heard one on any guitar that was really musical. "Cutting" a humbucker down output wise is just not the way to get single coil tones in my humble opinion.

I can pull any sound I want from the instrument from jazz to metal.

The action was set high when i purchased the guitar (Bruce used the guitar for slide). I lowered the action down a bit and she plays beautifully. No buzzes anywhere. Upper fret access is not a problem. Everything is tight and proper. No rough edges anywhere. A proper USA made instrument. The reverse headstock is completely annoying, but she holds tune as good as any $1,800 instrument I've played, so it's not that big of a deal. Again, the finish is not the best as it has begun to flake in places, but this is not a concern for me. I'm taking a point again for the finish, only because for some this could be a concern. For me it is not.

The guitar has been very reliable and I would travel with no worries with this one.

No longer around, so no experience.

I would suggest for anyone to give these guitars a try if you are looking. Carruthers builds a fine instrument. I think the price point did them in, but still a decent guitar for the money.