Product: Heatley Rhynocaster 7-String
Price Paid: US $2,700
Submitted
07/27/2002
at
08:28am
by
Mark Rhyne
Email: hillbillymark at lycos<dot>com
Features
:
10
Finished in July 2002, British Columbia, Canada.
24 fret rosewood fretboard on a 3-piece flame-maple compound-radius neck with carbon-fiber reinforcement bars. Rosewood overlay on headstock with MOP "H" inlay. 4+3 gold Schaller locking tuners.
Amazing air-dryed bookmatched flame maple top on a solid mahogany body. Natural binding. 2 custom made humbuckers with V/T and 3-way toggle. Push-pull tone pot for splitting coils.
Double locking Tone Pros Tune-o-Matic bridge and tailpiece in gold.
Sound
:
10
I'm a classical guitarist. I grew up playing electric rock guitar. I'm mostly a clean player these days. I still perform and record on electric on a daily basis. This guitar has the versatility to match the sounds that make up the many moods of Mark (that's me). It would be perfect for balls-out metal or rock, but I'll probably be playing pretty, lush solo pieces on it. It's the first 7 I've played with a focused-sounding low B.
The pickups are hard-mounted into the neck/body wood. Scott keeps the maker a secret, but they sound excellent. Never too bright and thin (which I hate). Very full with great low-end. Completely quiet unless tapped (but that's just normal).
This ax has tons of sounds and the tone and volume controls are extremely sensitive with great tones even turned down to zero.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
As low an action as any shredder could want. The controls are quiet. The bookmatching is beautiful and the finish is flawless. Heatley is committed.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar is a tank. I am, however, dreading that first ding or scratch. All components are of the highest quality. The strap buttons are recessed Dunlops, so the hold is assured unless the upper horn snaps off. I've never had a backup at any gig. I live in NYC, so you take only as much as is easily carried. There's no question in my mind of this guitar's reliability.
Customer Support
:
10
Scott is with you all the way. We spoke almost daily through e-mail, and he is a friendly, easy-going guy who'll do everything humanly possible to make you what you want. Never really discussed a warranty, but I know he'd take care of any problems.
He'll also make time for you over the phone when you have more specific worries/questions
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 25 years and teaching for 16. This is, without question, the finest guitar I've ever owned. As I said, every component is top notch, it's set up perfectly, gorgeous deep finish. I couldn't ask for more. Scott was helpful in guiding me through issues that I didn't know so much about (this is the first of 2 guitars I'm currently having built), and he updated pics of the guitar under construction on the site to give me a fix while I waited for it to be finished.
I'll never buy a mass-produced guitar again. I'll only buy aguitar made to my specs from custom builders.
I'll be back for more from Scott Heatley in the near future?.Hell, I may give him a call today!
See this guitar at http://www.heatleyguitars.com/marks7.html.
Then browse his site at http://www.heatleyguitars.com.
