Saito Guitars S-622 Strawberry Milk 2024 (New)
Saito Guitars S622, strawberry milk, made in Japan 2024. The S622 is the cornerstone of Saito's S series: S for solid body, 6 for six strings, 22 for twenty two frets. This is right up there with the smoothest playing and best sounding S-style guitars I've ever had the pleasure to play. Firstly, the neck: it's a marvel. Saito's 'Standard Grip' neck is a modern C style shape, moderate in profile, with a subtle compound 10-12" radius, bound and rolled fretboard edges and some nice tall frets, and in this case, carved out of gorgeous solid African wenge. It's such a brilliant neck, it's an absolute pleasure to play. The two piece, centre-joined alder body is on show under the natural satin back. Being a carved top, it's a little lighter and comfier than a regular Strat style body, and it's extremely resonant. The pickups are the hotter set on offer for this configuration, so you get two Growl single coils and Bore-Up humbucker, which splits via a push/push tone pot. It sounds unreal: singing clarity with a burgeoning complexity, articulate response, creamy warmth... seriously, frightfully good. And how fun is the finish! It's very cute in the flesh, with a gorgeous vibrant pink fading lighter around the outside, all under glorious smooth slick satin.
SAITO GUITARS aim is simple: to create 'Simple and Beautiful Tools'. Company founder Masaaki Saito opened a guitar repair shop in Tokyo in 1991, diligently bringing out the best in customers' guitars for twenty years before turning his attention to product design. In 2011, Saito's SAYTONE Hand Wiring pickups were released, offering gorgeous vintage-inspired pickups wound totally by hand by master craftsmen. In 2015, they launched their solid body S series guitars. The design philosophy is all about functional beauty: stripping away everything that doesn't contribute to function and playability, in order to serve modern players pursuing an increasingly diverse mix of genres and applications. Masaaki calls it 'Beautility'.
SAITO GUITARS all feature these thoughtful details:
Compound radius fretboard for comfy chords down low and precise movement and easy bends higher up the neck
Rolled fretboard edges for improved ergonomics
Wooden fretboard binding to hide fret ends and maximise smoothness
Luminlay side dots for easy visual reference on dark stages
Recessed aluminium neck joint plate paired with a curved heel to minimise weight and allow for easy access to the top frets
Gotoh MG-T locking tuners and 510 series bridges for excellent tuning stability
SAYTONE Hand Winding Pickups, all designed and wound by master craftsmen in house using the best of vintage and modern techniques and materials. Pickups was Saito's entire business for several years, so they're truly boutique quality
Model: Saito Guitars S-622
Made: Japan, 2024
Serial: 242748
Finish: strawberry milk, natural back and neck, satin poly
Body: alder, modern archtop shape, 45mm depth
Neck: wenge, wenge cap fretboard, 25.5" scale, 10-12" compound radius, 'Standard Grip' profile, wenge fretboard binding, rolled fretboard edges, 42mm nut, 21mm deep at 1st fret, 24mm deep at 12th fret, Jescar FW-51100 Nickel Silver frets
Weight: 3.230kg
Mods: none
Pickups: SAYTONE Hand Winding Pickups. Growl humbucker (split via push/push tone control), Bore Up single coil x2
Accessories: Saito SHE-150L semi hard case, trem arm, tools and docs
Cosmetic condition notes: brand new condition, no major marks. Note this guitar has been used to film demo videos and played in store.
Overall: brand new condition (10/10)
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 D'Addario strings.
Fret life: 10/10, brand new