Crews Maniac Sound KTR TL-01 White Blonde 2017
Crews Maniac Sound 'Key To The Rock' TL-01, white blonde, made in Japan 2017. This is an excellent Tele; Crews stuff is a firm favourite around here. The 'Key To The Rock' series is a collaboration between Tokyo-based boutique guitar brand Crews and major Japanese music retailer Musicland Key. The idea was to take some classic vintage designs and add some modern sensibilities, and execute the build to an eye-wateringly high standard. This is made at the iconic Terada factory, the same folks who made Gibson's Orville guitars and still makes Gretsch's high end Pro Series stuff today. This model references the early 60s Telecaster. You get a gorgeous maple neck carved from some seriously choice maple, paired with a Madagascar rosewood fretboard. It's finished in nitro and carved to an 8.25" radius, which feels fantastic. The body is lightweight swamp ash, which is very loud unplugged and extremely responsive. The pickups are on the hot side of vintage, so there's a generous oomph through the low end and plenty of attack, paired with creamy midrange with plenty of kick and a wide, shimmering top end. It sounds nice clean, but it sounds extraordinary with a bit of overdrive. Into a warm tube amp, the creamy spread is so delicious. The buttermilk finish looks great too, and with Crews signature 'cloudy lacquer' nitro topcoat, it will look even better with another couple of hundred hours of play on the clock. You'll enjoy that process, I guarantee it.
Model: Crews Maniac Sound KTR TL-01
Made: Japan, 2017, Terada factory
Serial: 170357
Finish: white blonde, 'cloudy lacquer' semi-gloss nitro
Body: swamp ash, two piece centre join
Neck: quartersawn maple, Madagascar rosewood slab fretboard, 25.5" scale, 8.25" radius, vintage C profile, satin nitro finish
Weight: 3.430kg
Mods: switch tip replaced
Pickups: KTR Original single coil x2
Accessories: Crews gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has minor scuffs along the top edge, elbow area and back edge and a small dent near the jack. The sides have scuffs and some small chips in the elbow area, dimples near the jack and rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has dimples around the bridge and knobs and some scuffs around the elbow area, as well as play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: excellent condition (8.5/10)
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 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear but playing evenly with no major buzz issues