Testipenkissä: Vuorensaku T-Style Custom

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Vuorensaku on yhden miehen soitinpaja Jyväskylästä. Kielisoitinartesaani Saku Vuori korjaa ja rakentaa kaikenlaisia kielisoittimia. Tämän lisäksi Vuorensakulta saa myös käsintehtyjä kitaramikrofoneja.

Vuorensakulla ei ole valmista mallistoa, vaan yritys on aito custom-paja, jossa soittimet syntyvät käsityönä asiakkaiden toiveiden mukaan.

Saku Vuori on Suomen Soitinrakentajien Killan jäsen.

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Sain Sakulta testiin hiljattain valmistuneen sähkökitaran, joka on erittäin puoleensavetävä yhteentörmäys 1970-luvun Telecaster Deluxesta ja 50-luvun Gibson ES-5 Switchmasterista. Soittimella ei ole virallista nimeä (vaan ainoastaan sarjanumero), mutta kutsun sitä tätä testiä varten Vuorensaku T-Style Customiksi.

T-Style Customin perustana toimivat laadukkaat soitinpuut:

Ruuvikaula on veistetty miedosti liekehtivästä kanadalaisesta vaahterasta, ja otelauta on intialaista ruusupuuta. Kitaran reunalistoitettu runko taas on tehty hyvin kevyestä afrikkalaisesta mahongista. Runko on tehty kahdesta vierekkäisestä palasta, mutta liimasaumaa on miltei mahdoton havaita – erittäin tarkkaa työtä siis.

Vuorensakun satula on valmistettu aidosta hirvenluusta.

Otelaudan radius on nykyaikainen (9,5 tuumaa), ja siihen on asennettu 21 keskikokoista nauhaa ruostumattomasta teräksestä.

T-Style Customin nykyaikaisissa, kromatuissa Kluson Deluxe -virittimissä on vintage-tyylinen ulkonäkö, mutta ne toimivat huomattavasti sulavammin kuin 1950-luvun alkuperäiset painokset.

Tässä kitarassa käytetään perinteistä Fender-kaulaliitosta neljällä puuruuvilla ja suorakulmaisella teräslevyllä.

T-Style Customin mattapintaisen nitrolakkaviimeistelyn ansiosta soitin näyttää (ja tuntuu) erittäin orgaaniselta ja aistikkaalta.

Klusonin loistava Half-size Tele -talla mahdollistaa perinteisen Telecaster-tallan yhdistämistä muihin soitintyyppeihin tai mikrofoneihin.

Monien kitaristien mielestä alkuperäinen Telecaster-talla kolmella messinkitallapalallaan on soundillaan yhä paras talla sähkökitaralle. T-Style Customin Kluson-tallassa tallapalojen kierteet on leikattu tahallaan vinosti, mikä auttaa kitaran intonaatiossa.

Vuorensakun asiakas toivoi omaan kitaraansa kolmen mikrofonin Dog Ear -setin, ja sellainen löytyi toisen suomalaispajan, joensuulaisen Rautia Guitarsin, valikoimasta.

Veijo Rautian mikrofonisettiin kuuluu kaksi puolitettavaa humbuckeria (kaula- ja tallamikki), sekä yksikelainen P-90 (keskimikki).

Käännetty paneeli helpottaa pääsyä volume-potikkaan.

Saku Vuori on onnistunut mahduttamaan kaikki komponentit perinteisen (ahtaan) Tele-koloon:

Volume-potikkaan on piilotettu nostokytkin humbuckerien puolitusta varten. Viisiasentoinen kytkin taas toimii Strato-tyylisesti. Kuten kuvastakin näkyy, työnjälki on erittäin siisti ja käytetyt osat erittäin laadukkaita.

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Vuorensaku T-Style Custom -kitaran työnjälki ja soitettavuus on ensiluokkaista. Huippulaadukkaassa käsintehdyssä soittimessa on aina ”se jokin”, mikä on miltei mahdoton löytää suuren sarjatuotannon kitaroista.

T-Style Custom on hyvin kevyt soitin. Erittäin kevyen mahonkirungon takia on jopa huomattavissa lievä taipumus kaulapainoisuuteen liukkaan nylonhihnan kanssa. Nahkahihna tekee tästä taipumuksesta kuitenkin tehokkaasti lopun.

Tämän Vuorensakun lihaksikas kaulaprofiili (iso C) on juuri minun makuun. Yhdessä 9,5-tuumaisen otelautaradiuksen ja huipputrimmattujen teräsnauhojen kanssa, tästä muodostuu erittäin nopea ja tarkka soittoalusta. Kitara saapui testiin hyvin mukavassa trimmissä (matala E-kieli: 2,1 mm/korkea e-kieli: 1,5 mm).

Vuorensakun akustinen klangi on – yllätys, yllätys – hyvin Fender-mainen ja avoin.

Vahvistimen kautta soitettuna T-Style Custom -kitaran luonne eroaa luonnollisesti rivi-Telestä, koska Vuorensakun mikrofonivarustus on erilainen. Kolmen mikin, viisiasentoisen kytkimen ja humbuckerien puolituksen yhteispelistä saa yhdeksän hienoa laatusoundia Gibsonin ja Fenderin soundimaailmoista.

Pidän tästä Vuorensakusta kovasti, mutta löysin kuitenkin myös yhden kritiikkikohdan – tallamikrofoni on hieman hiljaisempi kuin kaulamikki. Tämä ei kuitenkaan ole laatuvika, vaan dog ear -kiinnitykseen liittyvä – ja monelta vanhalta Gibsonilta ja Epiphonelta tuttu – ongelma. Asiakkaan toiveiden mukaan tehtyä custom-soitinta on hyvin vaikea kritisoida tällaisissa asioissa, koska voi hyvinkin olla, että kitaraa on tarkoitettu juuri tällaiseksi. Jos tämä olisi minun soitin, pyytäisin kuitenkin tallamikrofonin alle noin kahden millin paksuisen muovilevyn, jolla koko tallamikrofonia saisi nostettua lähemmäs kieliä.

Rautia Guitars Dog Ear -setin soundi on vallan mainio. Humbuckereiden maltillisen tehon ansiosta soundi ei mene koskaan tukkoon. Mikrofonit kuulostavat hyviltä myös puolitettuina. Yksikelainen P-90-mikrofoni sopii soundiltaan ja teholtaan loistavasti settiin.

Tässä on audiopätkä kitaran soundivaihtoehdoista, silloin kun humbuckerit on puolitettu (alkaa kaulamikrofonilla):

Ja tässä samankaltainen pätkä täysillä humbuckerilla:

Lopuksi vielä You Tube -videon ääniraita:

Oli todella suuri ilo saada tutustua tähän Vuorensaku-kitaraan. Tämä soitin on jälleen yksi loistava esimerkki suomalaisen soitinrakennustaidon erittäin korkeasta tasosta. Valitettavasti minun on pakko palauttaa tämä kitara…

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Vuorensaku T-Style Custom

hintaluokka noin 2.500 – 3.000 €

Suuri kiitos Rockkaamo-festivaalin pääpromoottorille Jani Savolaiselle kitaran lainaamisesta!

Plussat:

+ kotimainen

+ käsintehty

+ työnjälki

+ soitettavuus

+ soundi

Miinukset:

– kaula- ja tallamikrofonin keskenäinen balanssi

16/01/2015 1

Huomenna: Vuorensaku T-Style

15/01/2015 1

Tulossa +++ Coming soon +++ Vuorensaku T-Style

Ensi viikolla testissä – Vuorensaku T-Style. Kyseessä on käsintehty, suomalainen sähkökitara Jyväskylästä. Vuorensakun runko on veistetty afrikkalaisesta mahongista (khaya ivorensis), kun taas kaula on tehty kanadalaisesta vaahterasta ja otelauta intialaisesta ruusupuusta. Mikrofonit tulevat Joensuusta – kitarassa on Rautia Guitarsin Dog Ear -setti.

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Here’s a short preview of the Vuorensaku T-Style which has just come in for review: This is a handmade Finnish electric guitar. The Vuorensaku’s sculpted body has been crafted from African mahogany (khaya ivorensis), while its Canadian rock maple neck is capped with an Indian rosewood fretboard. This classy guitar sports a dog ear set made by Finnish pickup specialists Rautia Guitars.

07/01/2015 0

Tulossa: Tokai ES-138, ES-145G & ES-162

Lisätiedot: Musamaailma

14/10/2014 0

Guitar Porn – Tokai ES-138, ES-145G & ES-162

Lisätiedot: Musamaailma

02/10/2014 2

In pictures – AJL-Guitars

(picture courtesy of AJL-Guitars)

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In the autumn of 2013 Kitarablogi had the pleasure of visiting Ari-Jukka Luomaranta’s AJL-Guitars workshop in Kokkola.
Here are some of the pictures I took on that occasion:

(picture courtesy of AJL-Guitars)

Find out more about AJL-Guitars on their WEBSITE or on FACEBOOK.
AJL-Guitars will also be at The Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin, Germany, in November!

17/09/2014 0

Kitaravahvistimen mikittäminen –– Miking your guitar amp

11/09/2014 0

Orange Guitar Pack +++ new product +++ uutuus

Orange Amplification are proud to launch, in time for Christmas, their new Orange Guitar Pack containing everything needed to start playing, all in one box. Created to get the next generation of guitarists playing, or encourage lapsed performers to get back in the saddle, this quality, affordable pack contains an Orange Guitar, Orange Crush PiX 12L amplifier combo, Orange branded gig bag, headstock tuner, guitar lead plus plectrums and strap. Also included is the new Orange Music Education Rock Guitar beginner guitar tuition course with access to over ten video tutorial lessons and backing tracks.

Orange Amplification tuo markkinoille ensimmäisen kitara- ja vahvistinpakettinsa. Orange Guitar Pack:iin sisältyy uusi Orange Guitar -sähkökitara, Orange Crush PiX 12L kitarakombo, topattu kitarapussi, klipsiviritysmittari, kitarajohto, sekä hihna ja muutama plektra. Paketista löytyy myös aloitteilijoille suunnattu Orange Music Education Rock Guitar -videokurssi.

Lisätiedot: Musamaailma

04/09/2014 0

Review: LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte

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James Hetfield is a musician, who surely needs no introduction. He is Metallica’s frontman, singer, songwriter and guitarist, and has played a very important part in the development of the Metal genre.

Metallica’s guitarists – Hetfield and his colleague Kirk Hammet – have long been collaborating with ESP Guitars. The LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte is the most recent fruit of this partnership.

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In the early years of Metallica, James Hetfield used to play a Gibsonin Explorer, and looking at his new signature model, it’s easy to conclude that this guitar legend still holds a place in his heart for angular guitars.

LTD’s James Hetfield Snakebyte (current price in Finland: 1.098 €) is an ultra-modern Metal-machine, with a clear stylistic nod to the Explorer.

Both the guitar’s body and set neck have been crafted from mahogany, while dark-black ebony has been chosen for this model’s fingerboard.

The Snakebyte’s body is noticeably more compact when compared to its vintage forefather, making for a lighter and more comfortable playing experience.

There’s a long, flat chamfer on the body’s bass side, which proved hard to photograph, but which really makes a difference in terms of the Hetfield signature model’s ergonomics.

A set of locking Sperzel tuning machines have been chosen for their high quality and proven tuning stability.

The Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece combination is locked in place after adjustment, meaning everything will stay perfectly put even under the most demanding onstage conditions.

LTD’s Snakebyte sports 22 jumbo-sized frets. The fretwork is first-rate, resulting in a fast and rattle-free playing surface.

Active EMG-pickups have long played an important part in James Hetfield’s sound. A couple of years back EMG have introduced a signature pickup set –the EMG JH ”Het” Set – made to the legendary guitarist’s specifications, and used on this signature LTD.

The JH-Nneck humbucker has been developed based on EMG’s Model 60, but Hetfield’s humbucker uses separate ceramic magnets and fatter coils. EMG’s Model 81 has formed the basis for the JH-B signature bridge pickup, but here steel polepieces have been added to the pickup’s ceramic bar magnets.

According to EMG the ”Het” Set has a warm and organic basic tone, coupled with a very clear attack and loads of output power.

OK, one three-way toggle, two controls – case closed…

Hold your horses! Yes, the toggle switch works in the usual way, but the controls aren’t a master volume and a master tone, but rather two separate volumes – one knob for each pickup.

James Hetfield doesn’t need a tone control, as all his settings are dialled in by his guitar technician. This way he only has to concentrate on pickup selection, while playing and singing at the same time.

The battery compartment’s cover is held in place by machine screws and threaded inlets.

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It’s true that in 1958 Gibson’s Explorer was a trailblazer thanks to its unusual, angular design. But it’s also true that this classic model is very large and cumbersome, often feeling like a bedside table strapped to your body.

Hetfield’s LTD signature model succeeds in keeping the Explorer’s angular spirit intact. Nonetheless, the LTD Snakebyte is a much more compact affair, which makes it far more comfortable to play and easier to hold.

The Hetfield Snakebyte is a fantastic player, as you would expect from a pro-quality guitar, such as this. The neck profile is a rounded ”C”. Our review sample came with a light action, measuring 1.8 mm (bottom E) and 1.6 mm (top e) at the 12th fret (with a set of 010s), and played well and rattle-free across the whole fretboard.

I must admit I was quite surprised at the sheer beauty of this guitar’s unplugged voice. There’s a strong, piano-like attack and an open character with a long sustain-phase.

EMG’s active ”Het” Set has the power of an approaching speedboat, yet the humbuckers still manage to offer open-sounding clean tones with plenty of organic mid-range character:

Switching to a High Gain channel takes the LTD Snakebyte straight into – surprise, surprise – legendary Hetfield-Metallica-territory. There’s power and attack to boot, and ample bite to cut through:

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In my view, LTD’s James Hetfield Snakebyte is a top-notch precision tool for the Metal- and Thrash-guitarist. This probably isn’t the most versatile electric guitar ever, but if you’re into Hard ’n’ Heavy this guitar offers the most direct way to sheer sonic bliss.

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LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte

1.096 €

Finnish distributor: Musamaailma

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Pros:

+ workmanship

+ light weight

+ playability

+ acoustic tone

+ amplified sound

Cons:

– no tone control

04/06/2014 1

Review: Italia Fiorano Standard + Mondial Deluxe

The Italia Fiorano Standard (price in Finland approx. 640 €) is a beautiful thinline, double-cutaway semi.

The Fiorano’s body is made by routing large pockets into the front of a solid mahogany body. In contrast to Italia’s Rimini 6 or Mondial Deluxe models the Fiorano doesn’t have a full centre block, though, but features an opening in the block between the guitar’s pickups. The body is then finished by glueing on a bound spruce top.

Hard rock maple is used for the Fiorano Standard’s neck.

The modern tuning machines are embossed with the I-for-Italia logo, and work very nicely.

The bound fretboard sports Italia’s stylish inlays, consisting of pearloid blocks and abalone dots.

The Fiorano Standard’s neck is glued in at the 19th fret.

Great to see Italia using a modern version of the venerable Tune-o-Matic-bridge. The updated design does away with the annoying and ever-rattling piece of wire, used to keep the bridge saddles in place in the vintage version.

The snazzy chrome tailpiece adds its own bit of panache to this stylish semi.

As you might know by now, I’m something of a P-90 fan. The Fiorano Standard comes equipped with not one, but two of my favourite pickups. These are made by Wilkinson and come with chromed dog-ear covers.

Like many of Italia’s models, the Fiorano also features a sping-suspended plastic tray as an unusual control cavity cover. The electronics comprise a three-way toggle, as well as master volume and tone controls.

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Italia’s Mondial Deluxe (price in Finland approx. 675 €) is a genuine semiacoustic hybrid, offering you a piezo-equipped bridge (and active preamp) for acoustic-style guitar sounds alongside its traditional magnetic humbuckers.

Thinline-type mahogany body is mated to a maple top, which sports a very fetching Rickenbacker/Mosrite-style German Carve -edge. The top’s edges have been left natural, constituting what is usually called ”fake binding”.

The Mondial comes with a set maple neck.

You can also see the quick-release battery compartment for the 9 V battery used to power the piezo preamp.

Italia’s top nut is made from a self-lubricating material containing graphite.

We find the same decent-quality tuners on Mondial Deluxe as on the Fiorano.

Look at the all the nice hues of blues and greens in the guitar’s abalone dots!

The Mondial’s bridge may look identical to the Fiorano’s, but this here is a piezo-equipped model. There’s a thin lead going from beneath the bridge and through the maple top to feed the piezo signal to the preamp.

”I” – stands for Italia…

Two vintage-voiced Wilkinson WVC-humbuckers handle magnetic duties on the Mondial Deluxe.

The sliders on the guitar’s shoulder control the piezo side’s three-band EQ.

The magnetic signal is fed to a three-way toggle selector and master volume and tone controls.

There’s a dedicated volume control for the piezo signal, as well as a second output jack, enabling you to feed the acoustic side to a mixing console or a dedicated acoustic amplifier.

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Italia’s Fiorano Standard is just the guiar for me. It is comfortably lightweight and balances nicely. Its relatively thin body sits nicely against your belly/ribcage, even without any contouring or bevels.

The neck has a nice, mid-depth C-profile, which will feel comfortable to most players. The Fiorano arrived extremely well set-up with a slinky action (E: 1.9 mm/e: 1.7 mm).

Even if you cannot expect a thinline guitar, such as the Fiorano Standard, to out-shout a fat Jazz guitar, the Italia’s spruce-topped mahogany body results in a warm and woody acoustic voice.

In my opinion, P-90s are the best choice for a guitar of this type, because their singlecoil construction makes for a more percussive and dynamic tone than what you’d get from a creamy humbucker.

Played into a clean amp channel you’ll get a nice, clucky attack and a open, yet strong overall voice, that will fit Jazz just as well as Brit Pop, Country, Blues or early Rock’n’Roll (why not add a Bigsby, perhaps?):

If you’re after warm, rich and dynamic dirty tones P-90s are just the ticket! The Fiorano Standard will work great for any Beatles-, Kinks- or Who-inspired player, as well as George Thorogood-style electric Blues:

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Italia’s Mondial Deluxe is a medium-weight instrument. The well-executed German Carve and very clean fake binding make this guitar look more expensive than it really is.

The neck’s D-profile feels really good. Thanks to its clean fretwork and fine set-up this instrument also plays great (E: 2.0 mm/e: 1.3 mm).

Unplugged, Italia’s Mondial Deluxe is rather quiet, but its fresh acoustic voice and clear attack bode well for things to come.

This hybrid’s piezo sound was the real surprise for me in this review. Italia’s piezo system simply sounds that good and genuinely ”acoustic”:

Naturally, it’s good to hear the Mondial’s magnetic side perform to equally high standards. This guitar’s vintage-voiced Wilkinsons do a fine job of translating the Mondial’s fresh unplugged voice into nice clean tones:

Switching over to the distortion channel will turn the Mondial into a Seventies-style Blues Rock machine:

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It’s nigh on impossible not to get a crush on these Italia-guitars: Both the Fiorano Standard and the Mondial Deluxe are distinctly different from the mainstream of guitars on the market, but their design idiosyncrasies never get in the way of easy playability and great sound. If you want to steer clear of the usual copies, bust still look for a guitar with its own charm, you should definitely check out an Italia.

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Italia Guitars – Fiorano Standard + Mondial Deluxe

Fiorano Standard – approx. 640 €

Mondial Deluxe – approx. 675 €

Finnish distributor: R-JAM Group

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Pros (both models):

+ idiosyncratic design

+ workmanship

+ finish

+ playability

+ sound

04/06/2014 1