DoctorPaul's Guitar Emporium - Sold Guitars
(SOLD)
Stormshadow GuitarWorks 'DBS' Original Series
"Kermit"
#0030
Like my other Stormshadows ('Seventeen', 'Monday', 'General Lee' and 'Cleo'), this one is handmade by Rich Atkin in his 'boutique' workshop in Sheffield. Again, the Charvel influence is very apparent, as is Rich's interest in GMW Guitars ... the neck profile and the massive weight of the body are both similar to my GMW guitars. This also has a devastatingly pretty (AAA grade) birdseye maple neck and separate board bolted to a solid Alder body. This is one of the original 55 guitars made by Rich before his designs diversified a little, so this is one of the (relatively) few guitars to come out of the workshop with a traditional 'keyhole' strat headstock. Pickups are the classic combination of Seymour Duncan JB (bridge) and 59 (neck) which sound bloody marvelous ... meaty and crisp. The trem is another German Floyd, so what do you expect ... these units are bulletproof. This is another guitar that lets you forget that you're trying to play it, you know? It is comfortable and neutral enough to just let you get on with playing, without worrying about stuff. Like my other Stormshadows, this can hold its head up EASILY against the gear coming out of the Charvel Custom Shop. Fit, finish and attention to detail are all excellent. Outstanding.
Interestingly, I was goofing around stripping it down and was double checking the electrics when I happened upon a push-pull on the volume knob... I'd not noticed it during days and days of playing the guitar. The push-pull activates ta coil-split on just the neck pickup ... the bridge pup is stuck as a full humbucker. This is a great versatile setup, which allows a jangly neck single sound to be switched easily to the full fury of the bridge hum. The in-between position (neck single with bridge hum) is also VERY pleasing ... bright and snappy but powerful. Excellent!
