Crews KTR-SG-02, faded pelham blue, made in Japan 2014. The 'Key to the Rock' project is a collaboration between Japanese music retailer Musicland Key, the Crews Maniac Sound custom shop and the Terada Gakki factory. They do updated takes on some classic models, all executed to an eye-wateringly high standard. This one references the classic early sixties Gibson SG, so it's got the half guard, big headstock, trap inlays, bound fretboard and gum tuners. There's some distinctively Crews touches too: a tapered neck with a compound radius, and a lightweight yet perfectly balanced African mahogany body. The woodwork is top notch: proper high grade timber with a very consistent grain pattern, joined and beveled with utmost precision and finished with a thin coat of vibrant green topped with nitro clear coat. The resulting natural resonance is exceptional: the thing rings like a bell. The pickups are dialled too: the neck is punchy, thick and percussive with a walloping roundness, while the bridge is creamy and complex with a sparkling top end and a slicing attack. Most SGs sound like a foot clean, but this is clear and rich enough to be very convincing. With a dirty amp, oh boy: it was hard to put this down to write this description, my literal one job. Now, the green: I was initially calling it 'Kermit green' before checking the original catalog specs for the real name. Holy heck it's a cool, it's got that subtle shimmer you get from a pearl finish with a nitro top, plus some natural rub wear adds to the swagger... unusual, but very appealing. Just quietly, you'd need to shell out for at least a Gibson Custom to get this quality of execution out of the USA. Wildly good.

Model: Crews Maniac Sound KTR SG-02 
Made: 2014, Japan, Terada factory (serial KTR S 14481)
Finish: faded pelham blue, gloss nitro topcoat, 4-ply black guard
Body: African mahogany
Neck: 1-piece African mahogany, Indian rosewood board, 12-15.75" compound radius, 24.75" scale
Weight: 3.220kg
Mods: knobs replaced
Pickup: KTR Original humbucker x2
Case: basic non-original hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end and some scuffs on the back around the serial and front around the posts The neck has some minor dimples and rub wear on the back, it's clean and smooth in the hands. The back has some minor dents in the middle of the body and the elbow area, as well as some scuffs around the front strap pin. The sides have minor dimples on the top horn, some dimples and dents in the elbow area, a couple of minor chips near the knobs and some rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has some minor dimples around the elbow area, tailpiece, back edge and knobs, as well as some standard play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: very good condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good. The frets have some normal wear, including minor pitting, but they're pretty even with plenty of height left and no major buzz issues, 7/10 fret life left. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.