Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Nolly on July 21, 2011, 11:59:04 PM
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Hey guys,
Before we get into any details I think it's best to get stuck right in with the pics : :shock:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1504.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1565.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1575.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1578.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1588.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1541.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1534.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1547.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1521.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1510.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_5891.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/photo.jpg)
Right, with the porn out of the way, here are some specs:
ViK Duality shape
7/24 frets, 652mm
Black limba with Canadian curly maple top
1-piece old-growth Indian rosewood set-in neck
ViK new reversed “split-design” 7 headstock
Madagascar Ebony fingerboard with compound radius
Curly maple binding around neck
Custom ViK H+H pickups
Gotoh SGS510Z locking tuners with ebony buttons (18:1 gear ratio)
Hipshot 7 fixed bridge
German fretwire
CTS 500K pots (tone pot push/pulls to switch the neck pickup to parallel mode)
3 way toggle switch
Switchcraft long type input jack
Schaller straplocks
Gotoh knobs
Buffalo bone nut
Glowing side dots
Nitro-cellulose satin natural finish
Some of you may have seen the buildstory, if not I would recommend checking the build process out HERE (http://vikguitars.com/en-us/forum/index.php?topic=60.0).
I managed to wrestle this beastie away from customs this afternoon, and have barely been able to put it down since. I'll try and organise my thoughts somewhat coherently, but there is so much to take in at once it's difficult to know where to start! Of course, I've only just started exploring what this instrument can do so these really are just first impressions..
The whole process with Vik has been absolutely top-notch - from the initial discussions to the end product he has been unwaveringly pleasant, enthusiastic and patient. One of the things that really impressed me when I started talking with him about getting a guitar built was that despite his creations being so wonderful looking, to him the most important thing about them is the way they sound. He is truly focussed on delivering the best sounding instruments he can, not just aesthetically pleasing ones.
His builds always feature drool-worthy woods, so I really enjoyed the timber selection process with him. He did not disappoint, sourcing incredible specimens of each wood for every area of the guitar.
Vik himself wound the pickups, making this the only guitar I own that doesn't have Bare Knuckles installed. It seemed to me to be the best possible representation of Vik's work to have him make the pickups too, making the whole guitar as he intended.
Holding the finished instrument in my hands it's immediately apparent just how much love and attention has been lavished on it. The whole thing is extremely tactile with the satin nitro finish on the body and the oiled/wax rosewood neck. The Duality shape looks even more beautiful in the flesh, with the liquid-smooth body carves being more noticeable. There is always something cool to see at no matter what angle you look at it. The horn carves and non-existent heel make upper fret access laughably easy. The Hipshot bridge is a favourite of mine, so it feels very homely to me. The Gotoh 510 tuners are true luxury, incredibly smooth with zero play, and the self-locking mechanism is very cool once you get the hang of it.
The neck profile is very very nice - 19mm at the nut with a fairly flat-backed D profile. Combined with the compound radius and the flawless fretwork it is effortless to play. Out of the case the action was an inutterably low 0.7mm on the top E at the 12th, though I suspect that it was intended to be that low - a few cold nights in the customs warehouse probably reduced the the neck relief. Amazingly it could be played like that, with the strings sounding only a little choked. With a little tweak of the truss rod though it's still extremely low but the strings have enough breathing room to sing.
Speaking of singing, that's exactly what this guitar does. Unplugged it rings like nothing else, such great sustain and harmonic richness! The upper frets have every bit as much body to their sound as the lower ones, making playing right up at the top end very satisfying in a way few guitars I've come across can.
Plugged in I am still exploring the sounds, but my impressions are that the bridge position (wound to 13.4kΩ with 42 AWG polysol wire) sounds rich and fat, as well as extremely clear and punchy. The guitar has a deep timbre that results in a very satisfying "purr". The neck pickup (asymmetrically wound to 8kΩ with 42 AWG plain enamel) is absolutely beautiful, with an almost acoustic quality when played clean but plenty of body when the gain is ramped up. It's very defined but has plenty of fluidity for Petrucci-ish lead tones too. The parallel option on the neck pickup makes things glassier and sparklier for super-clean and delicate tones but (of course) doesn't introduce hum like a coil-split does. This is my first guitar with a parallel switch, and I don't think it will be the last.
That's about as much as I feel comfortable saying for now since it's still so new, but you can expect lots more thoughts, pictures, clips and videos from me in the near future!
Cheers folks 8)
EDIT: Here are the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz6ouwVsTCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_1HqFn0bUg
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It looks like a Vorlon should be flying in it!
I would feel like a plum playing it, but it looks dynamite.
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I don't think I've heard of ViK guitars before... if I have, I've forgotten. Where's he based, somewhere in Eastern Europe?
Your taste in guitars is the absolute polar opposite of mine (much like your playing ability....), but everything you buy is a work of art, I have to say. :D
Just read the whole of that build thread. Fascinating! All the different angles and contours on the body, the veneers on the back of the headstock - really imaginative.
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Beautiful Masterpiece !Congrats !Amazing woods !It would be great if you could post a YouTube vid or any video 8)!
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That's a sweet looking guitar.
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OK, it's got far too many strings, it's a pointy headstock-guitar, it's, it's... it's got so many things I don't go for...
But, WOW, what an absolute beauty... nice one :D
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I love the back and the carved body. It looks like an amazing axe to rock.
There is something raw about it, yet it looks so refined...simple but beautiful.
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You might have to put of the headstock in the crushes thread for me.
That's lovely.
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Stunning guitar, really superb!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title)
I think you must put a bit of foam behind the saddle, it hums :(
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Thanks guys, I've been getting some high-quality video footage of it today, hopefully I'll have it up before too long
I don't think I've heard of ViK guitars before... if I have, I've forgotten. Where's he based, somewhere in Eastern Europe?
Your taste in guitars is the absolute polar opposite of mine (much like your playing ability....), but everything you buy is a work of art, I have to say. :D
Just read the whole of that build thread. Fascinating! All the different angles and contours on the body, the veneers on the back of the headstock - really imaginative.
Yeah, he is in Belarus. Glad you found the thread interesting, there are so many details put into the guitar I don't think I have taken it in fully yet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBBzNgCksk&feature=channel_video_title)
I think you must put a bit of foam behind the saddle, it hums :(
You mean behind the nut? That happens on any reversed headstock guitar
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Exactly xD
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Alright guys, here's the first of the videos! There's a metal rhythm tone test coming up once it's uploaded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz6ouwVsTCg
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looking awesome man! i saw he did an 8 string with a fretless 8th string (the black lotus) and god is that a brilliant idea!
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It looks like an absurdly expensive piece of designer furniture. In a good way.
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If you don't mid saying, then how much was it (including customs and what not)........
......... essentially, how much money do I have to start saving? :lol:
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The list price is $3480 USD, but depending on the options you choose it could work out more or less than that. Chuck in 20% for VAT/customs on top.. it ain't cheap but it isn't mental either given the quality and how much of the work is done completely by hand.
I had very high expectations, but this has blown those completely out of the water.
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Seems resonable in all honesty. I could keep the price down by putting the propper number of strings on it :lol:
EDIT: Actually, I'd be happy sending him £300 if he just sent me a headstock back.
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Hahah!
You should get in contact with him, I was talking with him for a fair while before I ever put a deposit down and he was always very helpful and amiable :)
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woah
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Alright guys, here's the first of the videos! There's a metal rhythm tone test coming up once it's uploaded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz6ouwVsTCg
Thanks !Beautiful !Too short,though...... 8) I'm surprised in a good way :)!What a guitar !
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Thanks again dudes!
Here are a couple more snaps, one on my favourite guitar-picture-taking couch, the other to show how much the flamed maple binding pops since I feel that's been under-represented in the other photos!
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1324.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Nollythegreat/ViK%20Duality%207/Vik%20Duality%207%20complete/IMG_1321.jpg)
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Which pickups are you planning to slam into it?
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Not planning on changing them at all! I'll be down at the BKP workshop next week so we might try a couple of sets in for perspective but the guitar sounds fantastic as is :)
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Isnt limba kinda the same as korina?
I sit here and think of riff raffs in this handsome baby ^^
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Dare I ask, Nolly, how many guitars have you got?
That's not meant in a "how many guitars does one man need?" kind of way, I know it'll be less than my - totally un-needed - collection. Just curious! :)
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Isnt limba kinda the same as korina?
I sit here and think of riff raffs in this handsome baby ^^
yes, black limba and white limba (korina) both come from the same tree, Terminalia superba. if you are really lucky you get orange streaks running through it, usually from a small worn that has burrowed through
some nice wood in that guitar
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That looks awesome. How many planks you've already?
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wow....I'm seriously beginning to think your an arms/drug dealer or something :P
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Dare I ask, Nolly, how many guitars have you got?
That's not meant in a "how many guitars does one man need?" kind of way, I know it'll be less than my - totally un-needed - collection. Just curious! :)
I have 9 guitars at the moment - this new beastie, 2 Blackmachines, 2 Dæmonesses, a Bernie Rico Jr 7, a Fender CS Strat, a 1989 RG550 and a Kramer Baretta (my first proper guitar).
Dylan at Dæmoness is building me a Les Paul at the moment and I have put a deposit down on another ViK - a Caprice T hollowbody with a redwood top and one-piece BRW neck ( 8) ), so I might be up to 11 by the end of the year!
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PLEASE.... can we have a nice clear group shot?
Please PDT_003
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Any specific reason for a 1 piece neck?
I thought 3+ piece was better for neck stability.
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Any specific reason for a 1 piece neck?
I thought 3+ piece was better for neck stability.
it is... but it doesnt mean you start ignoring all the perfect 1-piece neck blanks that walk past.
3 piece is better because wood is rarely perfect, it doesnt mean you make a 3-piece blank out of perfect wood
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Makes sense, I thought it would still be better to use thin piece walnut/ebony/wenge along the centre of the neck to increase resonance.
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Makes sense, I thought it would still be better to use thin piece walnut/ebony/wenge along the centre of the neck to increase resonance.
Nice spot of backseat luthiery there duder ;)
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By the way, this is a clip I've done with this guitar, it kicks out some seriously clear low end!
http://soundcloud.com/nolly/7-horns-7-eyes-vindicator