Patrick Eggle New York Broadway

English guitar bought in Australia new about 1997. I wont go into woods etc as that has been covered before.

This is where I had major issues with this guitar. It sounded fine at bedroom volume but once cranked to playing volumes it began squealing uncontrollably and was unplayable. I had additional insulation professionally fitted around the pickups to try to curb the problem but to no avail (well there was some improvement but not much). I was really disappointed because I liked the feel and the quality of the guitar otherwise. The problem may had been faulty pickups but in the end I didn't want to spend any more time and money on my 'new' guitar - the disappointment was tangible.

Action, fit etc was very good.

The guitar had quality parts / fittings if my memory serves me right.

Didn't dealt with any customer support - probably my mistake but at the time I just wanted a playable guitar - now. It was brand new and I thought this is what a PE New York must 'sound like' ...if you know what I mean.

Rating based on playing experience only. Pretty, light weight, PRS copy type guitar. The problem was I sold a Strat Plus (lovely guitar) to get this guitar and was really disappointed. I now own a E C Strat and all is well with the world.

This is a British made semi hollow bodied electric guitar looking a lot like a Rickenbacker 330 with similar body shape, maple glow finish and a thin curved sound hole above the bridge.
Unlike the Ricky the it has a coil tappable Seymour Duncan hum-bucker at the bridge and a mini hum-bucker at the neck. Pickup options are selected from a five way strat like lever that I think gives options ?single coil bridge, hum-bucker bridge, all coils , single coil neck, hum-bucker neck - personally would have liked some phase change pickup options and maybe a peizo at the bridge though that may detract from it's elegance.
Also unlike the ricky the main body is mahogany as opposed to maple ? though it does have a maple sound board. The maple neck has the usual rosewood fingerboard and a tasteful headstock with spretzel tuners.
I bought it second hand, so I can't say if anything else was supposed to come with it.

It's clear that Eggle was inspired by the Rickenbacker 300 series though seeked to mellow and thinken the sound with a mahogony body and weightier pickups.
I can understand the logic as I have rehersed with a Rickenbacker 360 - a greate jangley sounding guitar with masses of character that can however be frustratingly thin and weedy when you want something heavier. Hats of to Jonny Mar and Peter Buck who manage to make great music with such a pain in the arse instrument.
The Eggle on the other hand can have plently trebley sparkle but also can be switched to give something much richer - a kin to an ES335.
The Eggle has a beatifully refined sound that works great both clean and distorted - the hollow chamber adding depth, complexity and a hint of tasteful feedback when needed.
Though perhaps this versitility is at the expense character.

The finish and setup are great - so much so I'd be reluctant to take such a beautiful guitar to a gig. Eggle are famous for the high quality control - which really shows here.
The neck is unusual in that it has been oiled as opposed to lacquered - this makes the guitar feel like a custom instrument - though Ive heard this sought of neck needs more care.
For playing - the neck is brilliant (another big improvement on Rickenbackers) being just the right depth and width for my fingers.

It's well made and will certainly do the business live. Though you wouldn't want such a pretty guitar to suffer the abuse of too much gigging.

I emailed them about the neck - after waiting months they gave a useful reply. Eggle have quite a good web site - though unfortunatly like most sites it reads more like a broucher than a first stop for Eggle owners.

I can't help myself when it comes to buying guitars that seem both very nice and a little different. This Rickenbackeresque guitar nicey compliments my Gordin Smith GS2, Burns Marquee, Shearaton, Acoustics, etc - being somewhat different to all of them.
This guitar feels and plays like something three times the price and I'd highly recommend it anyone who doesn't feel compelled to buy the usual Fender or Gibson.
http://trip.to/britishguitars