Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01, made in Japan 2015, candy apple blue. These are still pretty under the radar, but once you know... you know. The Crews brand is a project of major Japanese instrument retailer Musicland Key, produced at the famed Terada factory that builds all the high-end Gretsch guitars, among others. It's got some hectic specs: proper African mahogany body and neck, solid rock maple cap, nitro finish, deluxe Gotoh hardware and a pair of pickups by K&T. The pickups are designed specifically for this series by legendary pickup designer Jun Takano, and they're absolutely magnificent. It's no exaggeration to say this is amongst the best LPs I've ever heard: it's bright and piquant through the treble range, almost like a Telecaster, but with a weighty and rounded bottom end, a huge punchy attack and a mile-wide midrange that's more complex than string theory. It's superbly creamy and full with a dash of overdrive, but it cleans up to a gorgeous sparkling voice into a clean amp too... no mean feat for an LP style guitar. The quality of timber and workmanship is absolutely top-notch, it feels and looks on par with the better end of Gibson's Custom Shop offerings, and the semi-gloss nitro finish is gorgeous. All Crews stuff is made in limited runs, but this rich royal blue finish was made alongside some candy apple red LS01s; my understanding is there's only a couple of each in existence. This is a superb example of just how good modern luthiery in Japan is, and once you play it, it'll stay in your mind forever. Don't tell too many people though, or word will get out and these will be $5k+ in no time.... shhhh!

Model: Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01
Made: Japan, Terada plant, 2015 (serial 15522L)
Finish: candy apple blue top, natural mahogany back and sides, semi-gloss nitro
Neck: 1-piece African mahogany, Indian rosewood board, 58 style chunky profile, 43mm unbleached non-fat-removed bone nut
Body: 2-piece African mahogany, 2-piece solid plain rock maple cap
Weight: 4.000kg
Mods: wiring harness upgraded, pickguard removed, original harness and guard not included
Pickups: KTR Original PAF-style humbucker x2
Case: non original hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has some minor marks on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a coupe of small chips on the edges in the top horn, elbow area and bottom edge, as well as some widespread light scuffs. The sides have a few dimples in the elbow area and near the jack, no major marks. The front is pretty clean too, just some tiny dimples near the jack, in the elbow area and and on the horns, as well as some standard play wear on the horns and a hole from the removed guard. Overall: very good condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.