• Handcrafted electric guitar
• Made in Finland
• Alder body
• Maple neck
• Rosewood fretboard
• 25-inch scale
• Moose bone nut
• Viitasaari Custom P-90s; made by Jarno Salo
• Three-way slide switches for each pickup – full P-90 plus two different coil taps
• Master volume & master tone
• Three-position pickup selector
• Gotoh tuners
• Mastery vibrato bridge
• Custom options available viitasaariguitars.com/ov/wordpress/
**** Demo Track
• Guitars recorded using a T-Rex Replicator tape echo and a Blackstar HT-1R valve combo
This spring is bringing exciting news from Flaxwood Guitars – the Finnish maker has given its model line-up a thorough overhaul.
One important change sees Flaxwood rearranging their models into three distinct series:
The (newly-expanded) Hybrid Series encompasses Fender-inspired electric guitars, which combine Flaxwood’s famous injection-moulded WFC-necks (Wood Fibre Composite) with wooden bodies.
Flaxwood’s bona fide classics – such as the Äijä, Laine or Rautia models – have now been grouped into the aptly-named Classic Series.
The brand-new Master Series is offering the guitarist ”factory customised” Flaxwood guitars. These models have received special finishes and/or hardware, in addition to pickup choices that differ from similar Classic Series instruments.
For this review we received one guitar from each series – the MTQ Hybrid (current RRP in Finland: 1.750 €), the Liekki 290-T Classic (current RRP in Finland: 2.054 €) and the 57HM-H Master (current RRP in Finland: 2.707 €).
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The Flaxwood MTQ Hybrid is the company’s beautiful take on the Telecaster Custom theme, with its wood-composite Flaxwood-neck and a swamp ash body with a bound flame maple top.
The MTQ’s gorgeous Honeyburst finish shows off some luscious wood grain.
The golden machine heads on the MTQ Hybrid are locking Gotoh H.A.P. units with height-adjustable tuning posts.
The bridge is a traditional Tele-ashtray design, but it comes updated with six bridge saddles for perfect intonation and action adjustment.
The MTQ’s pickups are made by Seymour Duncan:
The neck unit is a (PAF-style) Antiquity Humbucker, while the bridge single coil is a chunky STL-1B.
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The Flaxwood Liekki 290-T Classic (liekki means flame in Finnish) is without doubt one of the best-known guitars from this Finnish maker. This slender and gracious f-holed beauty is offered in several cool finishes.
The Liekki 290-T Classic is an all Flaxwood-WFC instrument. This injection-moulded material – which was developed in co-operation with the University of Eastern Finland – is eco-friendly and fully recyclable.
The Flaxwood body is partially hollow, and capped from the back with a resonating back plate.
Flaxwood Guitars’ proprietary 3D neck joint is very smooth.
As you can see from this picture, newer Flaxwood instruments now sport a matte black neck, instead of the original, structured look of the early Flaxwood necks.
The company uses it’s own compensated X-Tune Nut on all Classic and Master Series models. The X-Tune Nut will make open chords ring out much more in tune than most traditional guitars.
The Liekki’s 290-T-version comes equipped with Schaller’s ingenious LP Tremolo vibrato bridge.
Two Seymour Duncan P-90-type pickups (SP90-1 Vintage Soapbar) have been installed on the Liekki Classic.
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Flaxwood’s brand-new 57HM-H Master is a Metal guitarist’s dream machine.
The 57HM-H comes with a suitably moody matte black finish with golden pinstripes, Schaller Security Locks, and a pair of active EMG pickups.
The 57HM-H Master’s battery compartment has been installed into the instrument’s back plate.
The Gotoh hardware – locking tuners and a tune-o-matic bridge plus stopbar – has been finished in black chrome.
EMG’s 57/66-set comprises a pair of alnico-loaded humbuckers, and promises to deliver an intriguing combination of vintage warmth with active punch and clarity.
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Even though Flaxwood Guitars’ brand philosophy is based on the ultra-modern use of injection-moulded WFC-composite material, there is still a surprising amount of traditional handicraft that goes into the making of each and every Flaxwood model. There isn’t a machine in existence that will churn out finished instruments from raw materials, you do still need lots of guitar-making skills to build a top notch instrument.
You can see and feel the touch of a craftsman when you pick up a Flaxwood guitar. Our review trio displayed excellent workmanship, and all guitars came with a top grade set-up.
Any old Telecaster lover will feel right at home with the Flaxwood MTQ Hybrid, because the most important design elements – like the vintage bridge or the control positioning – have been carried over from the classic to this new model.
The neck profile is slim and slightly oval, with a mere whiff of a V-neck’s spine along its back. The playing feel is fast, effortless and precise.
The tone of the Flaxwood MTQ doesn’t come as a surprise – this model offers an array of very tasty Tele-style sounds!
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Flaxwood’s Liekki 290-T Classic is a lightweight and compact instrument that balances perfectly on a strap.
In addition to the three-way pickup switch, most Flaxwood models traditionally feature a single master volume control and two tone controls (one per pickup).
I can’t understand why Schaller’s excellent LP Tremolo isn’t used on more guitars as a standard feature. I can only applaud Flaxwood for featuring the LP Tremolo on several of their models!
The Seymour Duncan P-90s give you a wide range of different tones on the Liekki, from jazzy warmth all the way to gritty Rock.
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The Flaxwood 57HM-H is a fantastic addition to the company’s line-up in my opinion:
The playing feel of the 57HM-H is quite similar to the Liekki model, but the fatter frets and stable, non-trem bridge will be just the ticket for fans of detuned high-gain riffage.
The EMG 57/66-set is a great update on the US-maker’s original active humbucker recipe. There’s more than enough power and punch on tap, but you could never call these active humbuckers cold, clinical or sterile!
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It’s really great to see Flaxwood Guitars expanding their line-up further!
In my view the new three-tiered model range makes a lot of sense, making it easier to find the right Flaxwood for any player.
The Liekki 290-T Classic has become a genuine classic over the years, while the brand-new MTQ Hybrid and 57HM-H models further widen Flaxwood’s appeal to include both traditional and modern guitarists. A test drive is highly recommended!
**** Flaxwood Guitars
MTQ Hybrid – 1.750 € (comes with a gig bag)
Liekki 290-T Classic – 2.045 € (comes with a case)
Tämä kevät on Flaxwood Guitarsille tärkeää aikaa, koska joensuulainen valmistaja on perusteellisesti uudistanut soitinmallistonsa.
Tästedes Flaxwood-kitaroita tarjotaan kolmessa eri sarjassa:
Laajentunut Hybrid-sarja koostuu Fender-tyylisistä soittimista, joissa Flaxwood-komposiitista tehdyt kaulat on liitetty ruuvaamalla puurunkoihin.
Meillä kaikille tutut Flaxwood-mallit – kuten Äijä, Laine tai Rautia – on nyt koottu uuteen Classic-sarjaan kevyesti päivitetyillä spekseillä.
Täysin uudesta Master-sarjasta löytyy ikään kuin ”valmiiksi kustomoituja” Flaxwoodeja, joilla on Classic-sarjasta poikkeavat mikrofonit, viimeistely ja/tai metallitavara.
Saimme testiin jokaisesta sarjasta yhden kitaran – MTQ Hybrid (suositushinta: 1.750 €), Liekki 290-T Classic (suositushinta: 2.054 €) ja 57HM-H Master (suositushinta: 2.707 €).
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Flaxwood MTQ Hybrid on firman todella kaunis tulkinta Telecaster Custom -teemasta, jolla on puukomposiitista valmistettu Flaxwood-kaula, sekä suosaarnirunko reunalistoitetulla loimuvaahterakannella.
Puiden syykuviot näyttävät hienoilta MTQ:n Honeyburst-viimeistelyn läpi.
MTQ Hybridissä käytetään kullanvärisiä lukkovirittimiä korkeussäädettävillä viritystapeilla (Gotoh H.A.P.).
Tallan perusrakenne on vintage-tyylinen, mutta koska tämä Tele-talla on päivitetty kuudella tallapalalla kitaran hienovirettä pystyy säätämään tarkasti ja ilman kompromisseja.
MTQ-mallin mikrofonit tulevat Seymour Duncanin valikoimasta. Kaulamikrofoniksi on valittu PAF-tyylinen Antiquity Humbucker, kun taas tallamikrofonina toimii Duncanin lihaksikas STL-1B.
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Liekki 290-T Classic on varmasti yksi Flaxwoodin tunnetuimmista kitaroista – erittäin sulavalinjainen, f-aukolla varustettu kaunotar, joka on saatava useilla eri viimeistelyvaihtoehdoilla.
Liekki 290-T Classicissa puu on korvattu kokonaan kuitukomposiitilla. Kitaran runko on osittain ontto, ja sillä on Flaxwoodin tyypillinen resonoiva takakansi.
Flaxwood Guitarsin 3D-liimaliitos on erittäin sulava.
Kuten tässä kuvassa näkyy, käytetään uusissa Flaxwoodeissa alkuperäisen, strukturoidun näköisen Flaxwood-materiaalin sijaan kauloissa nykyään mattamustaksi värjättyä vastinetta.
Classic- ja Master-sarjojen soittimissa käytetään firman omaa kompensoitua X-Tune-satulaa, joka parantaa tuntuvasti alanauhoissa soitettujen nuottien virettä.
290-T-versiossa käytetään Schallerin mainiota LP Tremolo -nimistä tallan ja vibraton yhdistelmää.
Liekki Classicin mikrofonivarustus koostuu kahdesta P-90-tyylisistä Seymour Duncan -mikrofoneista (SP90-1 Vintage Soapbar).
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Flaxwood 57HM-H on Master-sarjan upouusi metallimiehen unelmakone, jolla on mattamusta viimeistely (kultaisilla vauhtiviivoilla), Schaller-hihnalukot, sekä aktiiviset EMG-mikrofonit.
57HM-H Masterin paristolokero on upotettu kitaran takakanteen.
Sekä lukkovirittimet että mallin tune-o-matic-talla (ja sen kielten pidin) tulevat Gotohilta, ja ne on päällystetty mustalla kromilla.
EMG:n 57/66 -setti koostuu kahdesta alnico-magneeteilla varustetuista humbuckereista, ja lupaa vintage-tyylistä lämpöä yhdistettynä aktiivimikrofonien voimaan ja selkeyteen.
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Vaikka Flaxwood Guitarsin filosofia pohjautuu juuri nykyaikaiseen WFC-komposiitin käyttöön (ja ruiskupuristukseen), käytetään jokaisen Flaxwood-mallin valmistukseen myös hyvin paljon perinteistä soitinrakennusosaamista. Ei ole nimittäin vieläkin keksitty sellaista konetta josta pulpahtaisi esiin valmis laatusoitin, vaan käsityötä tarvitaan edelleen.
Soitinrakentajien kädenjälki näkyy ja tuntuu jokaisessa Flaxwood-soittimessa selvästi. Testikolmikon jokaisessa kitarassa työnjälki on erinomainen, ja soittimet saapuivat testiin loistotrimmissä.
Vanha Tele-fani on heti kuin kotonaan Flaxwood MTQ Hybrid -mallissa, koska kaikki tärkeät elementit ovat tässäkin soittimessa paikoillaan, niin kuin esimerkiksi laatikkomainen talla, sekä perinteinen säädinosasto metallilevyllä.
Solakan kaulan profiili on mukavan ovaali, ja kaulan selkään on jätetty pieni aavistus V-profiilin ”selkärangasta”. Soittotuntuma on tarkka ja nopea.
Flaxwood MTQ ei sinänsä tarjoa varsinaisia yllätyksiä, vaan vakuuttaa täydellisesti Tele-maisilla laatusoundeillaan!
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Flaxwood Liekki 290-T Classic on mukavan kevyt ja kompakti ilmestys erinomaisella tasapainolla.
Kolmiasentoisen kytkimen lisäksi löytyy Flaxwood-kitaroissa perinteisesti yksi master volume -säädin, sekä kummallekin mikrofonille oma tone-potikka.
Minun mielestäni on ihme, että todella laadukas Schaller LP Tremolo -järjestelmä löytyy niin harvassa kitarassa. Useisssa Flaxwoodeissa LP Tremolo on kuitenkin tehdasvaruste, ja erittäin toimiva sellainen!
Seymour Duncanin P-90-mikrofoneista saa hyvin monipuolisen soundikirjon lämpimistä jazzsoundeista purevaan rokkiin.
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Flaxwood 57HM-H on mielestäni myös täysosuma:
57HM-H:n soittotuntuma on periaatteessa sama kuin Liekki-mallissa, mutta tämän kitaran tune-o-matic-tallan ansiosta matalat viritykset on selvästi helpompi toteuttaa kuin vibratolla varustetuissa kitaroissa.
EMG 57/66 -setti on amerikkalaisvalmistajan erittäin toimiva päivitys alkuperäiseen aktiivimikkikonseptiin – voimaa ja potkua löytyy vaikka muille jakaa, mutta näitä EMG-malleja ei todellakaan vaivaa lämmön puute tai liiallinen kliinisyys!
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Todella ilahduttavaa nähdä, että Flaxwood Guitars on edelleen voimissaan!
Mielestäni malliston uusi kolmijako on looginen ja hyvin perusteltu toimenpide, joka selkeyttää Flaxwoodin kitaratarjontaa.
Liekki 290-T Classicista on tullut vuosien mittaan jo aito klassikko, kun taas MTQ Hybrid ja 57HM-H ovat mielestäni loistavia lisäyksiä suomalaisvalmistajan laadukkaaseen soitinmallistoon. Suosittelen lämpimästi Flaxwood-kitaroiden koeajoa!
**** Flaxwood Guitars
MTQ Hybrid – 1.750 € (topattu pussi kuuluu hintaan)
Liekki 290-T Classic – 2.045 € (kova laukku kuuluu hintaan)
57HM-H Master – 2.707 € (kova laukku kuuluu hintaan)
The Edge Strat is engineered for top-notch performance with versatile tone and effortless playing. Unique features include a pair of special Custom Shop Fat 50s single-coil pickups with flat pole pieces, a DiMarzio® FS-1™ bridge pickup, upgraded quartersawn maple neck with “C”-shaped profile and 9.5” maple fingerboard, modern two-point synchronized tremolo bridge with pop-in arm and fully adjustable saddles. The Edge’s signature is also included on the front of the large ‘70s-style headstock.
The elegant guitar combines the classic curves, appointments and effortless playability of the Stratocaster with modern enhancements and materials to create a dream instrument for players and U2 fans alike.
The Edge Deluxe signature model is an updated take on the classic ’57 tweed Deluxe used to craft the Edge’s sonic identity. This amp also produces the tone and articulation of the vintage Fender Deluxe amps that are an important part of the artist’s complex multi-amp effects setup.
This 12-watt hand-wired amp features modified circuitry for tighter low-end response and high-impact tone, a 12” Celestion® Blue speaker, custom-tapered volume control and altered component values that tighten up low-end frequency response. The Edge himself also hand-designed the special grille logo badge, which distinguishes the traditional tweed amp as a distinctive tool for guitarists everywhere.
Gretsch Guitars’ brand new Streamliner series offers access to the legendary brand name at a very affordable price point.
At the moment, the new range includes three different guitar models:
The G2622 Streamliner Center Block (also available left handed) is a centre block-equipped version of a Sixties double cutaway Country Gentleman, while the G2655 Streamliner Center Block offers you similar looks in a more compact package. The G2420 Streamliner Hollow Body, for its part, is a full-blown, big-bodied archtop guitar in a similar vein to Gretsch’s legendary 6120.
All three guitars are also available as T-versions with a Bigsby Lightning Series vibrato. The Streamliner Series is handmade in Indonesia.
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The Gretsch Streamliner G2420T Hollow Body (street price in Finland approx. 560 €) is a very foxy looking guitar, despite its quite affordable pedigree.
The G2420T can be had in see-though red or gold metallic, while the standard model (equipped with a lyre-style tailpiece) comes in brown sunburst only.
The G2420T’s full-depth body is made from steam-pressed laminated maple. The top is stiffened by Gretsch’s traditional parallel bracing.
The nato (an Asian wood species somewhat similar to mahogany) neck is glued into the body.
There’s plenty of binding on the Streamliner Hollow Body – in addition to the multiple binding on the body the guitar also sports a bound fretboard and even a bound headstock.
This Gretsch comes equipped with a very decent set of sealed tuning machines.
The vintage-sized frets have been neatly seated. The G2420T features large rectangular position markers made from pearloid.
Bigsby’s mid-priced Lightning Series vibratos are produced in the Far East to exacting standards. The Bigsby B60 has been specifically designed for use with large-bodied archtops, such as the Gretsch G2420T.
This Streamliner’s Adjusto-matic bridge may seem to be held in place simply by string pressure, but there’s more to the bridge than meets the eye. The rosewood base is ”secured”, which means reverse pinned. The bridge posts continue all the way through the rosewood base and into two holes in the guitar’s top, which keeps the whole bridge in the correct place.
The biggest difference between the Streamliner G2420T and similar models in Gretsch’s Electromatic- and Pro-ranges can be found in the new guitar’s pickups:
Depending on the ”era”, or an artists wishes, a Pro Series Model G6120 will either come with a pair of DeArmond single coils, Gretsch’s own Filter’Tron humbuckers or similar TV Jones pickups. Recent Electromatic G5420’s are now equipped with Gretsch’s new Black Top Filter’Trons, which are licensed Far Eastern copies of the original pickups.
All new Streamliners sport a pair of Broad’Tron pickups. Broad’Trons are full-sized humbuckers designed to offer a tone somewhere in-between the twang and bite of Filter’Trons and the lush warmth of PAF-style ’buckers.
The controls on the G2420T are pure Gretsch:
Below the f-hole you will find separate volume knobs for each pickup, as well as a joint master tone control. An additional master volume control is placed next to the cutaway.
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Let me start this section by stressing how well-made this budget-Gretsch really is! The review sample wasn’t a ”review instrument”, breathed on by distributors Fender Scandinavia, instead I took the guitar straight off the wall at a local music shop (DLX Music).
The Gretsch G2420T Streamliner Hollow Body is a very cleanly put together archtop electric, and I genuinely couldn’t find anything to criticise (especially when considering the instruments pocket-friendly price). The very nice fretwork on the Streamliner is a definite plus when it comes to this guitar’s comfortable playability.
Officially Gretsch call this neck profile a ”Thin U”, but I would describe it as a very comfy D shape with a slightly flattened back.
The Bigsby B60 is buttery and doesn’t throw the Hollow Body out of tune too much, if used sensibly (a word of advice: if you’re very sensitive when it comes tuning stability, a Bigsby probably isn’t right for you). Because a Bigsby B6/B60 makes do without the additional roller of other Bigsby models, this vibrato is more sensitive and immediate in use (which is a good thing in my view). You get the all the Bigsby shine and shimmer with less ”work”.
Played acoustically, the Streamliner Hollow Body sounds just like the laminated-body archtop it is – open and dry with a strong focus on mid-range frequencies.
I feel that Gretsch’s plan of taking its new Streamliners closer towards the mainstream really seems to hit the mark. The Broad’Trons may not give you the traditional clucky, chicken picking, bright and sparkly sound of a set of Filter’Trons, but there’s still enough presence and treble left in the new pickups’ tone for a gretsch-y sound.
Thanks to the new pickups’ broader tone the Gretsch G2420T also works well for Jazz, apart from the usual Country and Rock (-abilly) genres. This clip starts with the neck pickup:
The Streamliner Hollow Body also sounds great with a light amount of crunch. There’s a nice balance between the low end and the treble in the G2420T’s sound, coupled with the dry delivery so typical of big box archtops.
You should be aware, though, that high gain settings and/or very high volume levels will result in howling feedback sooner or later. This isn’t really a fault, but rather a normal feature of this type of instrument, and the Streamliner Hollow Body isn’t any more ”problematic” than other guitars of this type.
This sound clip, too, has been recorded with Blackstar HT-1R valve combo:
Here’s the demo track off the Youtube video, whose guitar tracks were recorded using Apple Garageband’s own amp plug-ins. The lead guitar uses the bridge pickup, while the rhythm parts have been recorded using both pickups (left channel) and the neck pickup (right channel), respectively:
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In my opinion the Gretsch Streamliner G2420T Hollow Body is one of the best full-size archtops in this price range – possibly even the best! This is a surprisingly well-made instrument that punches far above its ”weight”.
If you’re looking for the ”genuine Gretsch Sound”, warts-and-all, I would point you to the (much pricier) Electromatic Series and its Filter’Tron pickups.
One of the Streamliner Series’ main objectives, though, is to broaden and widen the appeal of these guitars, and take the Gretsch name closer to the mainstream. I feel Gretsch have succeeded very well in this endeavour!
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