(SOLD) History x Kaminari KH-Cygnet Apple Green Metallic 2016
History and Kaminari KH-Cygnet, green metallic, made in Japan 2016. Regular Topshelfers will be familiar with History: the house brand of music retailers Shimamura Gakki, made at the famed Fujigen Gakki factory offering modern-vintage crossover models executed to a brilliant standard. Kaminari, however, are a bit more niche. They're a small custom builder, offering totally handmade guitars built in Japan that generally sell for A$4-7k, as well as some models made by Japanese-born luthier Kunio Sugai in Hollywood USA. The Cygnet is a collaboration between the two brands. It gets a number of cool design touches. Firstly, the body shape: it's similar to a non-reverse Firebird, but with shades of the Musicman St Vincent, with a deep belly carve and an easy-access bolt-on neck. I love the look of a Firebird, but always find them a little weirdly weighted and strange to play, but this sits in my hands way more comfortably and feels both more robust and faster to move around on. The tailpiece is a custom aluminium block embedded in the body, which transfers plenty of vibration to the body and looks super cool too. The headstock has a fun two-tone look with a mermaid-tail shape, which was apparently designed to give you somewhere sensible to clip on a tuner. The pickups are Dimarzio mini-humbuckers, which deliver the goods. There's a great balance of juicy creamy growl and sparkly clarity, it cleans up convincingly but maintains poise and sparkle even when doused with distortion. Also, it's gloriously green. I've been curious about these for ages, and eventually I just had to try one: it's wildly good.
Model: History x Kaminari KH-Cygnet
Made: Japan, 2016, Fujigen plant
Serial: KC160067
Finish: apple green metallic, semi-gloss poly topcoat
Body: 2-piece alder, centre join
Neck: 1-piece maple, rosewood board, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim C shape, bolt-on
Weight: 3.195kg
Mods: knobs replaced
Pickups: Dimarzio DP240/241 Vintage Mini humbucker x2
Accessories: basic non-original gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: The headstock has some scuffs on the end and dimples on the bottom edge and some small dents on the back and front near the E tuner. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and some rub wear and a small dent behind the 7th fret on the back only. The back has some dents in the elbow area and in the belly carve area, as well as widespread dimples and light scuffs around the whole body. The sides have minor dimples on both horns, dents and scuffs near the jack and some scuffs and a pair of small chips in the elbow area. The front has some dimples around the tailpiece and knobs, scuffs in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horn.
Overall: good condition (/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only