Product: Royale Swordstress Custom
Price Paid: 2000
Submitted
04/09/2007
at
09:09am
by
knottyhed
Features
:
10
Custom built to my specification by Kevin Chilcott this is apparently the first swordstress model to go leave his workshop. The features are a combination of what i asked for and what kevin helpfully recommended: 24 fret ebony fingerboard, maple/wenge/maple thru-neck with swamp ash wings, oil/wax finish, kahler trem, quick release locking nut, 2 coil-tapped seymour jazz humbuckers and push-pull volume and tone knobs. Other custom features include a small flat-blade pickup switch and recessed and inverted jack. The guitar came with strap-locks, leather strap (actually cut to measure when i picked up the guitar) and hiscox flight case. You may be able to find pics on http://www.royaleguitars.com either now or in the very near future.
Sound
:
10
The guitar is relatively bright sounding, presumably due to the choice of body woods and the thru-neck constuction - but that's exactly what i wanted, definately more strat than les paul I'd say. The tonal versatility is amazing, the combination of individually tappable humbuckers with the SD jazz's gives me a palette of tones that covers every base I need. Using a combination of the coil-taps and the tone pot i can get fantastic strat/tele type sounds - though it sounds far better than any strat/tele i've played. Pop in the coil taps and the guitar has real grunt, and easily handles rock/metal as well as any 'shred' guitar. A combination of the thru-neck construction and kahler trem seem to give this guitar jaw-dropping sustain and i think the oil finish really lets the guitar resonate.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The action was set up to my preferences at Kev's house and is in the words of the man himself "insanely low" :-D. Kev really cares about what he does and this shows in an attention to detail that is way beyond anything that could come out of any factory. The frets are so well polished that when i first started doing string bends and vibrato i became half convinced that the guitar must be tuned to Eb! Everything on this guitar is effortless. I love the finish, kev spent a long time with gun-stock oil, wax, abrasives and polishing cloths making it look superb and the natural wood look is far more beautiful to me than any PRS '10 top'.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I've not had the guitar long, but the quality of construction and the hardware is top notch, the wiring done by hand with great attention to detail and the guitar itself comes with Kevin's life-time guarantee against any defects in his workmanship. Being a soft finish it'll need regular maintenance, but it's well worth it for the feel of the neck and look of the guitar. As long as I look after it, it'll look after me!
Customer Support
:
10
Kevin bends over backwards to make sure things are right and he and his wife Lyn are two of the nicest people you could hope to meet. Like I said above, Kev guarantees his work for his life-time and you can't really get a better warranty than that!
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing on and off since I was 8 years old and have been practicing seriously since I was 16 (now 28). I've owned/own more guitars than is worth mentioning and have played just about everything when you count time spent in music shops or playing friend's guitars. Before I collected my swordstress my main axes' were my Musicman Silhouette and my vintage Yamaha SG1000. The silhouette plays brilliantly, the SG1000 sounds amazing and sustains for days. This guitar beats them both into a cocked hat. I've spent ??2000 on a guitar and feel like I got an absolute bargain!
