I’m hoping to post a video on YouTube of me playing and reviewing the UK 1 so I’ll keep you updated.
Meanwhile, here’s the readin’ version.
Campbell American is a true USA custom shop in New England that’s doing their own thing and doing it great! And no, they aren’t relatives of mine. We became dealers in March but because their guitars are special order, built to specs we had to wait until a couple of days ago to actually have one. Ours is a tobacco sunburst with a personally requested narrow outer band of dark finish to show off the bookmatched flame maple top. First, let that sink in….I requested the depth of the dark band of the sunburst….where else can you do that?
So, we’ve got this gorgeous flame maple top (option) on a semi hollow (option) mahogany (option) body with natural wood binding (option). Add to that a matching flame maple tobacco sunburst headstock (option) with Sperzel gears (option). We’ve got chrome covered (option) Dimarzio Bluesbuckers (option) with chrome surrounds and a coil tap (option). We’ve got audio taper, CTS high quality pots (standard) and a nice meaty 3 way pickup selector switch. The UK 1 is a small, compact body that balances nice, is comfortable and practical. Dean Campbell, the head honcho suggested a rosewood fingerboard over my indecision over maple, rosewood or ebony (option) and I’m glad I went that way. Also, Campbell American guitars feature true laquer finishes, glossy enough to shine and show off those cool woods but not so thick as to ‘candy coat’ the guitar which deadens the tone.
I leave it to the video review to tell the full story where you can hear the wide range of tones but let’s say for now that this guitar could very well be your dream guitar. You know, the one where you can pick some real options, the guitar that you’ll reach for time and time again, the ‘go to’ guitar. If you haven’t noticed, Campbell American offers real options. Want gold hardware? Vintage trem (I opted for the fixed bridge)? Ash? Basswood? Lollar pickups? Why settle for another cookie cutter guitar with whatever options the factory decides. The Campbell American plays as great as any other high quality guitar but isn’t priced where only rockstars and CEO’s can own them, but even better is that they will provide you with a great, unique guitar that fits your needs, not the needs of the accounting department of other brands.
EDIT 5/23 – I have some pics posted www.cmusicshop.com/documents/105.html in the meantime
