Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01, made in Japan 2011, cherry sunburst. Here's one for the real MIJ nerds! The Crews brand is a project of major Japanese instrument store Musicland, 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 a PAF style humbucker designed by Jun Takano, the mind behind the legendary (and elusive!) Greco Dry-Z pickups; if you were to buy a set you'd be up for something like $700aud. All of that adds up to some serious magic in the hands. The neck is a chunky '58 style shape, so that adds some sustain and beef to the tone and feels homely and sturdy in the hands. The body rings out like a bell unplugged even to a light touch, it's lightly weight-relieved and extraordinarily resonant. Into an amp, it's all sauce. The neck pickup is thick, punchy and full while maintaining a crisp clarity and shimmery top end, it cleans up a treat or doles out the double cream with some overdrive. The bridge pickup is full, warm, rich and fat, balancing the mammoth growl and snap on deck. A good LP sounds bright and clear as well as sounding full bodied and creamy, and this absolutely ticks those boxes. The nitro gloss finish shows off some gorgeous tight mahogany grain and some wavy, deep concentric patterns in the maple; it's got a real vintage sweetness and looks quite at home next to Gibson Custom Shop stuff. The bizarrely named 'Key To The Rock' series is kinda perfectly hilarious, but oh boy make no mistake: this is a very, very serious piece of work.

Model: Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01
Made: Japan, Terada plant, 2011 (serial 11026)
Finish: cherry sunburst top, red stain back/sides, gloss nitro
Neck: 1-piece African mahogany, Indian rosewood board, 58 style chunky profile, 43mm bone nut
Body: 2-piece African mahogany, 2-piece solid plain rock maple cap
Weight: 4.290kg
Mods: strap pins replaced
Pickups: K&T Original PAF-style humbucker x2
Case: non original hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock and neck are pretty clean, no major marks. The back has a couple of dimples around the cavity cover, no major marks. The sides have no major marks, nice and clean. The front has a couple of very light scuffs in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns, nothing nasty. Overall: excellent condition (9/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have very little wear, 9/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.