Brubaker K-4

See previous reviews on the K4 design. I completely custom designed my K4. My guitar is completely made from mahogany (neck and body). Love the wide fat neck with 22 jumbo frets (25" scale). The back of the neck has a satin finish, which is very fast and without a sticky feeling at all. The body and neck are all finished in the exact same color as a 1965 Gibson SG (Red/Cherry see-though mahogany). I sent a picture to Kevin for color match and he did a wonderful job matching it. Cream colored nut and pickup covers. The pickups are P90's (Farlin P90 ALNICO with stock bridge reverse wound and %15 under neck ). I simply love the P90?s and Farlin?s are some of the very best on the market. Solid bridge chrome/nickel, knobs are the vintage SG numbered type of style. Deluxe hard-shell case.

I am a serious single coil/Fender nut, so buying this guitar was a stretch for me. I play though great tone tube amps (Fender Pro Reverb and Fargen Epic) and use very few pedals (Maxon OD808 and Dunlop Jim Hendrix Wah/Fuzz). I love clean clear Fender twang as well as overdriven. This little guitar has quite the output. Still new to me, only had for a couple of weeks or so, but it is quite the guitar. I have owned several guitars (amps) in the past, this is one I intend to hang onto? the sound is really growing on me? the more I play it, the more I love it. The Fralin?s are very hot, so overdrives my Pro Reverb with the amp on ?3-4?. To clean up the tone, I can simply roll back on the guitars volume it gets super clean. Love the tone control, it works like a champ without completely coloring the tone or greatly reducing the overall volume. I am only giving it a ?9? as I am such a single coil guy (Strat/Tele). One of my concerns was I did not like the sound of a PRS. They are very blah sounding to me. I would never want to own one. This guitar sounds nothing like a PRS, thank God!

Can I go higher than a 10? For this guitar I would love to rate it a 12-15? unbelievable quality, from the top to the bottom. I have never picked up a guitar with this quality. I have played PRS?s, nice, but nothing compared to this one. Kevin has me in his corner with the quality of this K4. I still can?t believe how nice it really is.

Only had for a short time, but can tell it?s made to last and last

Kevin sent me early pics of the guitar though the stages and asked me question when questions came up. Great to work it. Way to go Kevin?..

What else can I say, it?s a killer guitar with quality as I have never seen before. Plays like a dream and looks even better. This is a guitar to hold and enjoy as well as play. Even the back plate is finished like the guitar!

Kevin Brubaker creates his hand-made guitars in Westminster, Maryland. This guitar has a Tele style type body with a carved flamed maple top over Paulownia (a light acoustic wood similar to Swamp Ash).This color is a medium cherry red. This finish is flawless. The neck and board are made of Canadian flamed maple. The headstock has a unique design and the tuners are Sperzle locking. The 2 pickups are Duncan P90's, one volume and one tone control w/a 3-position knife switch. Fixed bridge with the strings thru the body. The tone control can be pulled up to bypass the control. The neck to body is Brubaker's own design which he calls "neck through the body bolted". The neck shape is a very comfortable Wide Fat configuration and the frets are medium and very well finished. The guitar come with a very good rectangular hard shell case.

I play classic rock and blues through a Tone King 40A (a great amp!) and a Tech 21 practice amp. I actually traded in 2 electrics and one acoustic guitar (plus cash) to purchase this guitar as it blew me away. I still have 3 PRS's with my McCarty Rosewood P90 as my favorite. This guitar might move into first! This very light guitar is very acoutic and sweet sounding. But, it can change into a screamer. When used clean...it is super clean and clear. The harmonics are huge. It is slightly bright with a very tight bottom end. All I can say is that sounds as good as it looks....and it looks awesome!

The guitar is Flawless. There is not a thing I can criticize about it. I have been playing since 1963 (but I still think young) and have owned guitars than my age. This one win the honor of being the most perfect one yet. Even the control cavity is very well shielded and the cover is the same wood as the body and matches (held by one central thumb screw). Every time I inspect the gutar I am amazed...either the finish (clear transparent)to the expert set-up to the perfect fret work. Obviously, I'm totally impressed!

It appears to be solidly made with only the best parts. Used only as a guitar, it should last a very long time.

I have met Kevin and he definitely stands by his products.

As mentioned before, I have owned too many guitars. This one has met my fantasy. It looks as good as it plays and it plays as good as it sounds. And just for a bonus it weights about 6 pounds! I was hooked on this piece about 5 minutes after I saw and played it. It is definitly a keeper. In fact, I hope I can buy another one of Kevin's other models when my budget permits.