Kitarablogi.com – Finland's premier Guitar and Bass blog
Juttuja kitaroista ja bassoista
• Handmade in Finland
• Chambered alder body
• Bolt-on maple neck
• Bound rosewood fingerboard
• 22 medium frets
• 24.75″/62.8 cm scale
• Two Rautia Valco Style singlecoil pickups
• Two volume, two tone controls
• Push/pull switch in neck tone reverses neck PU’s phase
• Schaller Tune-o-matic with ebony base
• Gotoh Stealth tuners
• Guitarkits USA tailpiece
Contact: Rautia Guitars
Halla Custom Instruments on pieni kitarapaja Tampereelta. Firma on erikoistunut custom-tilauksiin, joissa valmistetaan kaikenlaisia kielisoittimia asiakkaiden toivomuksien mukaan. Halla Customin vetäjä on soitinrakentaja-artesaani Ville Mattila. Mattila kuluu Suomen Soitinrakentajien Kiltaan.
Kitarablogi sai Halla Customilta oikean kaunottaren testiin. Kitara vaikuttaa ensisilmäykseltä kunnianosoitukselta Gibson SG:lle, mutta asiat eivät ole niin suoraviivaisia kuin miltä ne näyttävät!
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Kyllä tämä Halla Custom SG (hinta noin 3.000 €) on varsin henkeäsalpaava ilmestys. Se on turkoosinvärinen, uhkeanmuotoinen soitin, johon metalliosien kultainen hohto sopii kuin nakutettu.
Mutta tämän kitaran upea viimeistely (kovalla akryylilakalla) ei ole Halla Custom SG:n tärkein piirre: ”It’s an SG, Jim, but not as we know it!”
Tässä Halla Custom -kitarassa yhdistetään saumattomasti kahden klassikkokitaroiden ominaisuuksia – Gibson SG:n muotoiluun on sekoitettu reilusti Fender Stratocasterilta tuttuja piirteitä:
Vaikka tässäkin kitarassa on Gibson-klassikon virtaviivaistettu runko ja liimattu kaula (tosin paljon sulavammalla liitoksella), käytetään Halla Customissa Fenderille tyypillisiä materiaaleja – nimittäin vaahterakaulaa ja leppärunkoa – sekä täysipitkää mensuuria (25,5 tuumaa/64,8 cm).
Floyd Rosella varustetulla Hallalla on kartiomaisesti muuttuva otelaudan radius (ns. compound radius), jossa otelaudan kaarevuudesta tulee sitä loivempi mitä lähemmäksi runkoa mennään. Reunalistoitettuun ruusupuisen otelautaan on asennettu 24 kullanväristä teräsnauha.
Kaksi grafiittitankoa kaularaudan vieressä lisäävät entisestään kaulan lujuutta.
Laadukkaat, kullanväriset virittimet ovat peräisin japanilaisen Gotohin valikoimasta.
Huippulaadukas Floyd Rose tulee sekin Gotohilta. Ruuvattavan vibrakammen istuvuutta säädetään nailonkauluksella ja pienellä kuusiokoloruuvilla.
Halla Custom SG -kitaraan on asennettu kaksi firman omaa humbuckeria. Halla Venla -nimiset kaksikelaiset ovat vintagea selvästi kuumempia tapauksia.
Neljä säädintä ja kolmiasentoinen vipukytkin – asetelma näyttää harmittomalta, mutta tähänkin on lisätty yksi herkullinen lisäominaisuus:
Tässä Halla Customissa on mukana passiivinen (= ei tarvitse paristoa) säröpiiri, joka laitetaan päälle kaulamikin tone-säädintä nostamalla.
Myös sisäisesti Hallan työnjälki edustaa ehtaa custom shop -laatua, jollaista on lähes mahdotonta löytää ison tuotannon soittimista.
Asiantuntijat ovat varmasti jo huomanneet, että volume-potikoihin on myös lisätty treble-bleed kondensaattoreita.
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Tätä Halla Custom SG:tä on tilattu hot-rod Rock-kitaraksi, jossa on Gibson-kaltainen ulkonäkö, mutta Superstrat-tyylinen soundi.
Voin vain todeta, että tuli täysosuma. Tämä on suorastaan fantastinen ja erittäin inspiroiva soitin!
Jotkut Gibson SG:t voivat tuntua hieman hauraalta, ja monilla yksilöillä on sisäänrakennettuja vireongelmia soitintyypin erittäin pitkän kaulan takia. Halla Custom SG on täysin vapaa tällaisista ongelmista – soittotuntuma on (sanojen parhaassa mielessä) erittäin tukeva ja tanakka. Tämä kitara rokkaa!
Omistajan valitsema paksu kaulaprofiili, kaulan grafiittivahvennukset, Hallan Gibsonia paksumpi leppärunko, sekä Ville Mattilan osaaminen soitinrakentajana nostavat Halla Custom SG:n selvästi valtavirran yläpuolelle.
Testikitara oli säädetty omistajan toivomuksien mukaisesti Es-vireeseen ja se tuli hyvin matalalla kielten korkeudella. Soittotuntuma oli erittäin nopea ja vaivaton, ja kevyellä plektrakädellä kitara soi rämisemättä koko otelaudalla.
Myös soittimen Gotoh-floikka toimi kiitettävästi.
Halla Customin valmistamien Venla-mikrofonien soundi sopii täydellisesti rankempaan Rock- ja Metal-meininkiin. Mikrofonien lähtötaso on suhteellisen korkea, mutta – ihme kyllä – niiden soundi on silti vintage-maisesti avoin ja helisevä:
Halla-kitaran sisäinen passiivinen säröpiiri on erittäin kätevä lisäys, etenkin kun käytössä on yksikanavainen kitaravahvistin:
Tätä kitaraa on kuitenkin luotu rokkaamaan rankasti, ja niin se tekeekin selkeällä atakilla ja rouhealla äänellään:
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Halla Customin SG on loistava esimerkki soitinrakentamisen erittäin korkeasta tasosta täällä Suomessa.
Tällaisella käsintehdyllä laadulla on luonnollisesti hintansakin, mutta vastineeksi saa tässä aidon custom-soittimen, joka on tehty kokonaan omien toivomusten mukaan.
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Halla Custom Instruments SG-Style
Halla Custom -kitaroiden hinnat lähtevät noin 1.200 eurosta ylöspäin, riippuen kitaratyypistä, sekä soittimen varustelusta ja viimeistelystä. Testatun kitaran hinta olisi noin 3.000 €.
Lisätiedot: Halla Custom Instruments
Kiitokset menevät Make El Weirdolle (aka Mutantti Make) oman kitaransa lainaamisesta!
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Plussat:
+ käsintehty Suomessa
+ työnjälki
+ vireen pitäminen
+ kitaran säädöt
+ sisäänrakennettu särö
+ soundi
Halla Custom Instruments is one of a number of cool small instrument makers in Finland. The company is run by trained luthier-artisan Ville Mattila and specialises in one-off custom electric and acoustic string instruments. Ville Mattila is a member of the Guild of Finnish Luthiers.
Kitarablogi received a stunning Halla Custom electric for testing. The guitar may look like a tribute to the Gibson SG, but there’s more to this Halla than meets the eye!
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Just looking at the Halla Custom SG (price approximately 3,000 €) I had to catch my breath. This is a turquoise bombshell of a guitar, with a healthy dose of additional glitz added by the golden hardware.
But the fantastic paint job (using very hard acrylic lacquer) is only part of the story: ”It’s an SG, Jim, but not as we know it!”
The Halla Custom SG fuses design aspects from two classic guitar models – the Gibson SG and the Fender Stratocaster.
We find the classic lines and the set neck of an SG, but the Halla uses Fender-typical materials – namely a maple neck and an alder body – as well as a long scale (25.5″/64.8 cm).
The Floyd Rose-equipped Halla comes with a bound rosewood fretboard with a compound radius and 24 gold-coloured stainless steel frets.
Hidden beneath the fretboard lie two neck-stabilising graphite rods, placed either side of the truss rod.
The instrument sports a set of golden Gotoh tuners, as well as a neck wrist-strengthening volute.
The Floyd Rose is a top-drawer Gotoh unit, which comes with a screw in vibrato arm. An adjustable nylon cuff lets you decide how loosely (or tightly) the arm stays in place.
The Custom SG is equipped with a pair of Halla Custom’s hotter-than-vintage Venla-humbuckers.
There’s a nice little twist to the seemingly standard four controls plus three-way toggle set-up:
This Halla Custom guitar features a built-in passive fuzz circuit, which can be activated using a push/pull-switch hidden in the neck pickup’s tone control.
You really get what you pay for with a Halla – quality components, ultra-clean workmanship and thoroughly applied foil shielding.
The eagle-eyed among you will surely have already spotted the treble-bleed caps on both volume pots.
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The Halla Custom SG was ordered by its lucky owner (a man known as Make El Weirdo) as a hot-rod Rock guitar with Gibson-esque looks, but a Superstrat sound.
What can I say? This is a fantastic guitar that ticks all the right boxes!
Some Gibson SGs can feel a little bit insubstantial, and many suffer from tuning problems due to their long necks. The Halla Custom SG has no such problems, this is a rock solid, chunky instrument.
The owner’s preference for a ”baseball bat” neck profile, this guitar’s thicker-than-a-Gibson alder body, and Ville Mattila’s considerable skills as a luthier take the Halla Custom SG to a different level altogether!
This Halla came tuned to E-flat, and set up with a very low action, as specified by the customer. The playing feel was extremely fluid, and with a light picking technique this Halla played buzz-free all across the fretboard.
The Gotoh Floyd Rose worked great, too.
Halla Custom’s own Venla-humbuckers are the bee’s knees for fans of the harder styles of Rock guitar. The pickups pack an enormous punch, but miraculously manage to sound as open and chiming as vintage, low-powered ’buckers:
Halla’s built-in passive fuzz is a fun little addition that’s more than a gadget, especially when you’re playing with a single channel amp:
But with a guitar such as this, you will surely spend most of your time enjoying its precise attack and chunky crunch:
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The Halla Custom SG is a shining example of the high standards of luthiery in Finland.
Naturally, handmade quality such as this comes at a price. If you have the money, though, you should really ask yourself if you want to spend it on an off-the-peg, production line guitar, or rather on a special instrument made exactly to your own specifications.
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Halla Custom Instruments SG-Style
Prices for Halla Custom guitars start from 1,200 €, depending on the guitar type and options chosen. A similar guitar like the reviewed instrument would cost approximately 3,000 €.
Contact: Halla Custom Instruments
Thanks to Make El Weirdo (aka Mutantti Make) for the loan of his personal guitar!
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Pros:
+ handmade in Finland
+ workmanship
+ tuning stability
+ set-up
+ built-in fuzz
+ sound
Why do we need intonation adjustment?
On string instruments, the fret spacing along the fretboard is calculated according to a mathematical formula. This formula is theoretical, though, and doesn’t take into account variables, such as string tension (tuning), string thickness (gauge) and string height (action). These variables make the actual pitch of a string, which is pressed down against a fret, deviate from the theoretically correct pitch. To compensate for this pitch offset, you need some sort of intonation adjustment that sets the correct intonation (or octave compensation) for each string.
On acoustic guitars correct intonation is achieved by an angled bridge saddle, often carefully shaped to fine-tune the compensation further.
Early electric guitars were basically modified archtop acoustics, which carried on using traditional rosewood (or ebony) archtop bridges with carved ”steps” presetting the intonation. Overall intonation adjustment was carried out by moving the whole bridge carefully closer to (or further away from) the neck.
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The advent of the – much clearer-sounding – solidbody electric guitar necessitated a more precise approach to the problem of intonation adjustment.
Leo Fender’s novel Esquire/Broadcaster/Telecaster-bridge featured a mounting plate for the bridge pickup, as well as individual action adjustment for each string, and octave compensation in string pairs.
Fender’s Telecaster bridge assembly plays a huge part in this model’s distinctive, twangy tone, laying the foundation for the model’s classic status.
Over the course of the 1950s and 60s, Fender experimented with different saddles – smooth brass, smooth steel, threaded steel, and steel saddles with a single notch per string – but the basic, three-saddle formula stayed firmly in place. You got fantastic tone, but not perfectly spot-on intonation.
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Twenty years after the original launch of Fender’s first solidbody electric, things had evolved.
In 1952 the original three-saddle bridge was less of a compromise, because the regular string sets of that time (012s or 013s) had a wound g-string. With a wound g-string the biggest step in intonation adjustment was between the b- and the g-string, and, as they were catered for by different saddles, a good, working compromise could be found.
By the late Sixties, ”slinky” string sets with plain g-strings had become the norm. This shifted the intonation step between the highest wound string and the lowest plain string onto a single, rigid bridge saddle (for the D- and g-string).
Fender retained the traditional three-saddle bridge on its standard Telecaster, but introduced six-saddle bridges on many of its new models in the Seventies. Pictured above is the six-saddle bridge from a (second version) Custom Telecaster (introduced in 1972).
Although this bridge finally offered perfect intonation, some players criticised this type of bridge for ”sounding” thinner (or brighter) than the original version. This might also have been due to changes in the precise specifications of the bridge pickup at that time, though.
More recent six-saddle designs by makers like Hipshot, Gotoh or Fender are based on a thicker bridge plate. These are perfectly serviceable, modern designs, which offer precise intonation. Many Tele-anoraks still steer clear of these bridge types, however, because the more rigid bridge plate tends to tame the bridge pickup’s twang noticeably.
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Another approach to better intonation on a Telecaster is to keep the twang-enhancing three-saddle ashtray bridge in place, but modify the saddles.
Pickup specialist Joe Barden came up with angled brass saddles in his design for the late Tele-master Danny Gatton.
Wilkinson’s and Graph Tech’s designs have two different, preset jump-off points per saddle – one for each string.
These three approaches (Barden, Wilkinson, and Graph Tech) work very well in providing good intonation, while keeping the Telecaster-tone intact, as long as you use string sets with a plain g-string.
If you want to retain your three-saddle twang, but want to have more freedom in choosing your string gauges, the best way to go are saddles with an angle adjustment. Good examples are Wilkinson’s replacement brass saddles (above), or this stainless steel Tele-bridge by Mastery.
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How come that the vintage-type Fender Telecaster, with all its intonation flaws, is still in production and still very successful? The answer is that people have always been creative in working out solutions to design shortcomings.
In the Telecaster’s case this means finding a way to ”sweeten” the guitar’s slightly flawed intonation.
Here are three (of a myriad of) possible approaches:
1.) The fifty percent approach
After you’ve put on a set of new strings, use your digital tuner to set the (12th fret) intonation correctly for both E-strings, as well as the g-string (I call them the most critical strings). Then tune your guitar by tuning the open E-strings and the g-string to pitch. The remaining three strings (A, D, and b) are then tuned, so that the pitch at the seventh fret is correct (giving you E, a, and f#).
The A-, D-, and b-strings will be a little off in their intonation going up (or down) from the seventh fret, but overall the pitch will be much sweeter, than if you had tuned these strings to their correct open string pitches. You can then fine-adjust your sweetening by ear, using first position chords as a reference.
2.) Tuner sweetening
After you’ve put on a set of new strings, use your digital tuner to set the (12th fret) intonation, so that each string pair is slightly off in an approximately even way. With the E- and A-pair this would mean that the E-string’s intonation comes out slightly sharp, while the A-string’s intonation is a tiny bit flat. The next pair would see the D-string a bit flat, while the (plain) g-string is a tad sharp. The last pair would have the b-string a bit sharpish, with the e-string a little flat. Then tune the guitar by tuning all strings, so the pitch is correct at the seventh fret.
Now all strings will be a little off in their intonation going up (or down) from the seventh fret, but overall the pitch will be much sweeter, than if you had tuned them to their correct open string pitches. You can then fine-adjust your sweetening by ear, using first position chords as a reference.
3.) Sweetening to the A
After you’ve put on a set of new strings, use your digital tuner to set the (12th fret) intonation, so that each string pair is slightly off in an approximately even way. With the E- and A-pair this would mean that the E-string’s intonation comes out slightly sharp, while the A-string’s intonation is a tiny bit flat. The next pair would see the D-string a bit flat, while the (plain) g-string is a tad sharp. The last pair would have the b-string a bit sharpish, with the e-string a little flat. Then tune your guitar by first tuning the open A-string to pitch. Next, tune all the other strings by ear, using the A-string as your reference:
• E-string at the fifth fret against open A
• D-string at the seventh fret against open A (or A-string 12th fret harmonic)
• g-string at the second fret against open A (or A-string 12th fret harmonic)
• b-string at the tenth fret against open A (or A-string 12th fret harmonic)
• e-string at the fifth fret against open A (or A-string 12th fret harmonic)
You can then fine-adjust your sweetening by ear, using first position chords as a reference.
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Remember, none of the above tuning tips is set in granite. Tuning and intonating a three-saddle Telecaster is a dark art, and most players have developed their own way of sweetening their guitar’s intonation. Let your ears be your guide!
Tokai Guitars have a well-earned reputation for making high-quality electric guitars and basses, often ”inspired” by vintage designs. This time we got three semis from the very top of Tokai’s Japanese model range for review.
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The Tokai ES-138 (current price in Finland: 1,368 €, incl. hard case) is the company’s version of a 1958 Gibson ES-335, available in either see-through red or piano black.
Tokai’s ES-145G (current price in Finland: 1,431 €, incl. hard case) is a lightly updated variation on the theme, which comes equipped with gold-coloured hardware and a black finish.
The Tokai ES-162 (current price in Finland: 1,628 €, incl. hard case) is the most expensive model of the three on review. The ES-162 comes with post-1962 style small block markers, brass bridge saddles, and a light aluminium stopbar. The icing on the cake is this model’s vintage-style nitrocellulose finish – you can choose between a tri-burst and red.
Tokai use top-drawer Gotoh tuners on the three tested models.
The ES-138 and ES-162 come equipped with vintage-style Kluson-copies.
For the ES-145G Tokai have chosen a set of modern enclosed Gotohs.
These Tokai Japan -instruments all come with a one-piece mahogany neck, complete with a vintage-correct, steep headstock angle (17 degrees).
The bound rosewood fretboards on the ES-138 and ES-145G models sport dot markers.
As the ES-162 is Tokai’s version of a 1962-’64 ”Block Marker” ES-335, this guitar comes with small rectangular inlays made of pearloid.
All three instruments come fitted with medium-size frets.
Tokai’s ES-guitars come with Gotoh Tune-o-matic-bridges and stopbar tailpieces.
On the ES-138 and the ES-145G we find Gotoh’s LS-series hardware – die-cast (Zamac) parts with steel bridge saddles.
The ES-162 goes one step more ”vintage” by using a Gotoh HLS -set, comprising an ultra-light aluminium stopbar tailpiece and chrome-plated brass saddles on the bridge.
This guitar trio is equipped with the same pickups – a pair of Tokai PAF-Vintage Mark II -humbuckers.
All the electronic components are top quality Japanese parts.
Certain Tokai Japan -models are now sold in Finland complete with Tokai’s cool hard cases.
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The cherry red semi-acoustic is one of guitardom’s most iconic electric models. For many this curvy and well-rounded body, made from heat-pressed maple plywood, is the most beautiful body style ever.
Tokai’s ES-138 recreates this classic guitar in its earliest guise (c. 1958), complete with dot markers and a long pickguard, which extends past the bridge.
Even though an ES-335-type body is comparatively large (but thin), many of the best semi-acoustics are surprisingly lightweight. The Tokai ES-138 is very comfortable to play – both seated and strapped on – and balances superbly.
This model’s neck profile is a medium-thick ”D”, which feels great (at least in my hand). The fret job on the test sample was excellent, the set-up spot-on, and the action very light (with a set of 010s). The ES-138’s acoustic tone is typical of this type of guitar – very hollow and nasal with a clicking attack.
Tokai’s own rendition of the classic PAF-humbucker is superb, there’s no two ways about this! The output signal is moderate, and the basic sound is very open and dynamic. The neck pickup has a warm, round tone, but doesn’t mush up. The middle position on the selector switch gives you a very balanced and open sound. The bridge humbucker on its own sounds fresh and crispy, with not even a hint of annoying mid-range ”nagging”.
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The black-and-gold ES-145G sure looks very stylish – this is the distinguished gentleman in Tokai’s ES-range, who keeps his cool and looks dapper, no matter what.
Our test sample was the heaviest guitar of this trio, but still much, much lighter than may lesser contenders.
The ES-145G’s neck profile is also the chunkiest. This D-profile is a real palm-filler, giving you a real taste of late-Fifties goodness, and managing to stay just on the right side of ”fat”.
The workmanship displayed, and playability offered by the ES-145G are simply superb. Played acoustically there’s not a lot of difference between the ES-145G and the ES-138.
Through an amp, the ES-145G sounds just like a quality semi-acoustic should – humbucker power, balanced by a clean mid-range.
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Our review sample of the Tokai ES-162 is a real featherweight!
The ES-162’s Block Marker -personality is completed by an authentic early-Sixties style neck profile. It’s an oval ”C” that is less of a handful than the ES-138’s neck.
Top marks for the ES-162’s workmanship, finish and playability – this is a first-rate instrument.
This model’s thin nitro lacquer, its lightweight tailpiece, as well as the brass saddles on the Tune-o-matic combine into a very open-sounding and dynamic acoustic performance.
Standing in the same room with your amp, it is easy to notice an added degree of 3D-depth and scope in the guitar’s amplified tone. Interestingly – as is so often the case – recording the sound doesn’t seem to fully convey this added tonal dimension. You have to experience the ES-168 ”in the flesh” to get the full picture; the recordings sound remarkably similar to the other two models’ performances.
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The reputation of Tokai Japan -instruments has been legendary among players and collectors ever since the 1970s. This trio of ES-semis makes it crystal-clear that Tokai actually deserves this reputation thanks to the superb quality of it’s Made-in-Japan guitars.
Tokai’s ES-138, ES-145G and ES-162 offer you genuine Japanese quality at very fair prices.
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Tokai Japan semi-acoustic electrics
Tokai ES-138 – 1,368 € (hard case included)
Tokai ES-145G – 1,431 € (hard case included)
Tokai ES-162 – 1,628 € (hard case included)
Finnish distributor: Musamaailma
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Pros:
+ Japanese workmanship
+ one-piece neck
+ superb finish and set-up
+ Gotoh-hardware
+ authentic tone
Tokai Guitarsilla on erittäin hyvä maine laadukkaiden sähkökitaroiden ja -bassojen valmistajana. Tällä kertaa testissä kävi kolme Japanissa käsityönä valmistettua Tokai ES -sarjan soitinta hintaskaalan kalliimmasta päästä.
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Tokai ES-138 (hinta: 1.368 €, sis. kovan kotelon) on firman versio vuoden 1958:n Gibson ES-335 -kitarasta, joka on saatavilla sekä punaisena että mustana.
Tokai ES-145G (hinta: 1.431 €, sis. kovan kotelon) on kullanvärisillä metalliosilla varustettu ja kevyesti modernisoitu tulkinta aiheesta. Se on saatavana ainoastaan mustana.
Tokai ES-162 (hinta: 1.628 €, sis. kovan kotelon) on kolmikon kallein malli, jolla on suorakulmaiset otemerkit, tallapalat messingistä, sekä alumiininen kieltenpidin. Piste i:n päällä on kuitenkin ES-162:n viimeistely aidolla nitrolakalla. Malli on saatavana kolmivärisellä liukuvärityksellä tai punaisena.
Tokai käyttää näissä kitaroissa Gotohin valmistamia laatuvirittimiä.
ES-138- ja ES-162-kitarat on varustettu Kluson-tyylisillä vintage-koneistoilla.
ES-145G:n lapaan taas on asennettu nykyaikaisia suljettuja Gotoh-virittimia.
Näissä Tokai Japan -soittimissa on yhdestä palasta veistettyjä mahonkikauloja vintage-tyylisellä, jyrkällä lapakulmalla (17 astetta).
ES-138- ja ES-145G-malleissa käytetään pieniä pyöreitä otemerkkejä reunalistoitetussa palisanteriotelaudassa.
ES-162 taas on Tokain versio vuoden 1962-’64 ns. ”Block Marker” ES-335:sta, jossa upotukset ovat keskikokoisia suorakulmia.
Nauhakoko on näissä kolmessa ES-mallissa medium.
Kaikissa kolmessa Tokai ES -kitaroissa on Gotohin valmistama palkkimainen kieltenpidin, sekä kevyesti nykyaikaistettu versio Tune-o-Matic-tallasta.
ES-138:ssä ja ES-145G:ssä käytettään Gotoh LS -settiä sinkkipitoisesta valumetallista teräksisillä tallapaloilla.
ES-162:n Gotoh HLS -setti on muutaman asteen verran vintagemaisempi, kun käytössä on erittäin kevyt alumiinista valmistettu kieltenpidin, sekä kromattuja tallapaloja messingistä.
Kolmikon mikrofonivarustus on sama – kitaroissa on kaksi Tokai PAF-Vintage Mark II -humbuckeria.
Huippulaadukas linja jatkuu luonnollisesti myös ES-kolmikon japanilaisissa elektroniikkaosissa.
Tokai Japanin hienoimpia kitaramalleja myydään nykyään firman omissa laadukkaissa koteloissa.
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Kirsikanpunainen puoliakustinen on yksi legendaarisimmista sähkökitaramalleista. Useimpien mielestä tämä kurvikas, muottiin prässätystä nelikerroksisesta vaahteravanerista tehty koppa on kaunein muoto ikinä.
Tokain ES-138 on kyllä upea tulkinta klassikkomallin varhaisesta versiosta, jolla on asianmukainen erikoispitkä plektrasuoja ja pyöreät otemerkit.
Vaikka ES-kitaroiden runko on pinta-alalta varsin mittava, on laadukas lajinsa edustaja kuitenkin useimmiten yllättävän kevyt. Tokai ES-138 on erittäin mukava pitää sylissä tai kantaa hihnassa, ja se asettuu hyvin nätisti tasapainoon.
Kaulaprofiili on keskituhti ”D”, joka istuu todella mukavasti ainakin minun käteeni. Nauhatyö oli testisoittimessa ensiluokkaista, ja kitara oli säädetty hyvin mukavaksi 010-kielisatsilla. ES-138:n akustinen klangi on mallityypin mukainen – ontto ja nasaali maiskuttavalla atakilla.
Täytyy kyllä sanoa, että Tokain omat PAF-tyyliset humbuckerit kuulostavat loistavilta! Lähtötaso on hyvin maltillinen ja perussoundi on mukavan avoin. Kaulamikki on lämmin, mutta erotteleva, ja valitsimen keskiasennossa soundi on ilmava. Tallahumbucker taas soi hyvin tuoreella äänellä, mutta ei ”marise” häiritsevästi keskialueella.
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Musta ja kultainen ES-145G on mielestäni erittäin tyylikäs soitin – Tokai ES -sarjan oikea herrasmies, joka näyttää hyvältä tilanteessa kuin tilanteessa.
Testiyksilö on aavistuksen verran painavampi kuin testissä käynyt ES-138, mutta silti vielä huomattavasti kevyempi kuin moni edullinen tulkinta samasta aiheesta.
ES-145G:n kaulaprofiili on tämän kolmikon tuhdein. Tällainen täyteläinen D-profiili antaa aitoa myöhäisen 1950-luvun makua. Kaula ei ole missään nimessä liian paksu, mutta se täyttää käden vakuuttavasti.
Työnjälki ja soitettavuus ovat myös ES-145G:ssä esimerkillisiä. Akustisesti soitettuna ES-145G:n ja ES-138:n soundit ovat käytännössä identtisiä.
Myös vahvistettuna on vaikea huomata selkeitä eroja – Tokai ES-145G soi kuin mitä erittäin laadukkaalta puoliakustiselta sopii odottaa.
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Testissä käynyt ES-162 on selvästi kolmikon kevyin yksilö!
ES-162:n Block Marker -ulkonäköön sopii myös kaulan autenttinen profiili, joka on ovaali ”C” ja hieman ohuempi kuin ES-138:ssa.
Työnjälki ja soitettavuus on myös ES-162:n tapauksessa ensiluokkaista.
Tämän kitaran ohut viimeistely nitrolakalla, sen kevyempi kieltenpidin, sekä tallan messingistä tehdyt tallapalat antavat Tokai ES-162:lle erittäin avoimen ja dynaamisen akustisen klangin.
Myös ”livenä” vahvistimen kanssa samassa huoneessa huomaa, että tämän kitaran soundissa on aavistuksen verran enemmän syvyyttä ja laajuutta. Mutta, kuten usein, äänitetyssä materiaalissa tämä ”kolmas ulottuvuus” katoaa melkein kokonaan, ja ES-162 kuulostaa miltei samalta kuin testikolmikon kaksi muuta mallia.
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Tokai Japan -soittimien maine on jo 1970-luvulta lähtien ollut legendaarinen, ja tämä ES-sarjan kärkkikolmikko tekee hyvinkin selväksi, että Tokain tapauksessa firman maine ja sen kitaroiden laatu käyvät saumattomasti yksi yhteen.
Tokain ES-138, ES-145G ja ES-162 tarjoavat japanilaista huippulaatua erittäin reiluun hintaan.
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Tokai Japan -puoliakustiset
Tokai ES-138 – 1.368 € (kotelo sis. hintaan)
Tokai ES-145G – 1.431 € (kotelo sis. hintaan)
Tokai ES-162 – 1.628 € (kotelo sis. hintaan)
Maahantuoja: Musamaailma
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Plussat:
+ japanilainen työnjälki
+ yksiosainen kaula
+ viimeistelyn taso
+ Gotoh-metalliosat
+ mikrofonien soundi
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