Crews Maniac Sound OSG-61 Faded Pelham Blue 2012
Crews OSG-61, faded Pelham blue, made in Japan 2012. Crews Maniac Sound is the brainchild of luthier and guitar designer Crews Yoshioka; it started out as a pedals and mods operation and has grown into a significant player in the Japan domestic market. The OS series was the 2012-3 era version of the earlier (and later) Key to the Rock series, which were twists on some classic Gibson and Fender models designed by Crews, made at the exceptional Terada Gakki factory and sold exclusively at Musicland Key stores in Japan. This model references the original 1961 SG, so it gets the big headstock, bound fretboard, trap inlays and half guard. Being a Crews, it also gets amazing woodwork: lightweight hyper-responsive African mahogany and Indian rosewood, beautifully balanced and put together with exceptional skill. The neck is a fairly slim 60s style shape, carved to a comfy vintage C style shape that doesn't make you think too hard, and it's been blessed with some fresh stainless steel frets. The pickups are a Saytone Sledge set, hand wound by the maestros at Saito Guitars when they still sold their wares to other builders. The tone on offer is very convincing: the neck pickup is round and deep with a shimmering top end snap, and the bridge pickup is harmonically rich, creamy and smooth with a percussive midrange kick. Now, this finish: it's a semi-gloss nitro top coat over a deep sea green metallic, and it looks extremely fly. The previous owner replaced some parts with black bits to up the mean streak, although you get some of the original bits thrown in for good measure. This is twice as good as many USA made examples in my books, it's really terrific. Hail Crews.
Model: Crews Maniac Sound OSG-61
Made: Japan, 2012, Terada factory
Serial: OSG12026
Finish: faded pelham blue, 'cloudy lacquer' semi-gloss nitro
Body: African mahogany
Neck: African mahogany, Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim C
Weight: 3.110kg
Mods: re-fretted with Jescar 57110 stainless steel fret wire, tuners replaced, bridge and tailpiece replaced, pickguard and truss cover painted black on top, knobs replaced, pickup covers replaced
Pickups: Saytone Sledge humbucker x2
Accessories: basic non-original hard case, black pickup rings and some other plastics
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end and some light scuffs on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear only. The back has minor scuffs on the horns, elbow area and back edge. The sides have light scuffs on the top horn and minor dimples on the elbow area, near the jack and on the bottom horn. The front has dimples around the knobs, tailpiece and up from the pickups, as well as some rub wear in the elbow area and play wear on the guard and horns..
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
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 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 9.5/10, minor wear only