Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01 Cherry Sunburst 2013
Crews Maniac Sound KTR LS-01, made in Japan 2013, cherry sunburst. We love these Crews LPs here at Topshelf, they're astonishingly good guitars. The 'Key To The Rock' series, KTR for short, was a collaboration between the Crews brand and major Japan music retailers Musicland Key. They were all made at the exceptional Terada factory that produces all the high end Gretsch guitars today and Orville in the 80s and 90s, among others. First up, the quality of timber used is top notch. The back of the body is solid African mahogany, tight and consistently grained with an almost invisible centre join. The neck is the same, with gorgeous ribbon grains complementing the dog-hair detail on the back, paired with a luxurious dark chocolate Indian rosewood fretboard with subtle streaks that reward a close look. The top is a classy piece of solid plain maple, with some gorgeous wide concentric grain lines on show under the classy nitro sunburst finish, which catches the light with a certain softness. The neck is thick: it's a '58 style shape, with a big fat roundness in the hand that becomes a friend quickly and serves to make you consider your notes a little more carefully than a shreddable thin thing. The fat neck and unchambered body lend this a bit of extra oomph in the natural resonance department, as if it needed any help. Plug it in, and it gets better. Good LPs have a certain bell-like sparkly clarity through the top end, and this certainly has that. The neck pickup is glassy and shimmering on top, with a piano-like fat fundamental note and a bold, thick sustain. The bridge pickup has a creamy fatness on the lows and low mids, paired with a wide open top end and a pleasing midrange snarl when you dig in. In my opinion, this will scare not just regular Gibson models but even their high end Custom Shop stuff, it's seriously beautiful to see, hear and play. Once you Crews, you never lose.
Model: Crews Maniac Sound Key To The Rock LS-01
Made: Japan, 2013. Terada factory
Serial: KTR L 13287L
Finish: cherry sunburst, 'cloudy lacquer' semi-gloss nitro topcoat
Body: African mahogany, unchambered, solidn plain maple cap
Neck: African mahogany, Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius
Weight: 4.410kg
Mods: tuners replaced with Grover kidney bean style
Pickups: KTR Original PAF-style humbucker x2
Accessories: basic non-original hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some extra holes on the back from the original tuners, as well as some dimples on the end and bottom edge and some light scuffs on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and light rub wear on the back only. The back has a chip on the back edge near the rear strap pin, some dimples near the control cavity and light scuffs on the top horn and middle of the body. The sides have some dimples in the elbow area and some light scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has some light scuffs around the switch, above the bridge and near the knobs, as well as some play wear on the guard and horns and a smoky look to the chrome.
Overall: excellent condition (9/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only