Product: Fylde Aerial Single Malt
Price Paid: 1650 (GBP)
Submitted
12/29/2004
at
09:40am
by
Eric Brindley
Email: novice<dot>builder at easy<dot>com
Features
:
10
2004 custom order, a Fylde Aerial made with custom woods, back and sides, fingerboard and bridge using oak from old whisky barrels that also once had sherry stored in them and Oregon Pine that came from a washback vessel, all once used at the Talisker Distillery in Scotland.
Can there have ever been a more visually stunning guitar than this ever made by anyone, I can't imagine it. Check out the Fylde website ( www.fyldeguitars.com ) and look for "The Whisky Guitar" under the guitars heading. There's also a review of a different model done in the same woods etc in the reviews section.
Unique scorched figuring from the metal staves is accented using a blowlamp as a lot of the sanding reduces the original affect.
The neck is five piece oak and pine laminate that has also been painstakingly bookmatched to stunning affect.
The body is done in an immaculate laquer finish but its the neck's mirror smooth gunstock finish that impresses even further, fabulous in feel and comfort, without a doubt the best I have ever played on.
This a 12 fret to the body, slot-headed guitar with dimensions roughly Martin '0' sized. Lovely resonant little guitar, a true joy.
A very nice touch is that the oak fingerboard is bound in oak so that you don't notice its bound until you realize you can't see the fret ends, it makes it super comfortable to play without being ostentatious.
Another nice touch, is that the dots on the fingerboard edge are copper, which looks really nice against the caramel coloured fingerboard.
Also, for those who like the olfactory experience of the soundhole will find that this guitar smells great too, after decades of contact with sherry and whisky take it from me that this guitar smells aboslutely fantastic !!! Its really strong, hope it doesn't wear off with time !
Sound
:
10
The sound is typical for a small '0' sized acoustic, very balanced and piano like. The pine top imparts a surprisingly spruce like tone but it lacks some of the attack, but this is a characteristic not a fault, and it suits the guitar's dimensions very well. Its a mellow laid back little guitar, but its not just for noodling on, I can play all my regular pieces on it and it does them proud.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Perfectly set up from the factory, no flaws whatsoever. No finish flaws, no loose fittings.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Its a delicate little guitar in character but I am sure it is long lasting and hard wearing too, the standard of construction is superb, but its way too gorgeous to be exposed to undue rigours etc
Customer Support
:
10
Fylde have always been, and still are, a fantastic company to deal with, lightning fast replies to queries and ever helpful.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Been playing 35+ years. Had wanted one of these for a long time but kept thinking it was a sort of vanity but now I have one I am sooooo pleased !!! It makes a great contrast for my other guitars and with such a balanced and refined tone make a worthy alternative to my bigger 14 fret guitars.
Its a fantastic, stunning, amazing little guitar, the workmanship in it is self-evidently of the highest order.
