Photos by Randall Cordero
Great Machines: Guitars - Play Skillfully with a Loud Noise
June 2, 2003
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Giffin Standard (Click on image to enlarge)
The Giffin Standard embodies many of the same qualities, emphasizing exquisite modern craftsmanship and attention to detail. With a gorgeous deep orange finish over flame maple with cream-colored binding, this guitar’s appearance is the perfect accompaniment to its thick, sweet tones. The Giffin’s neck becomes more comfortable the longer it is played. Before Roger Giffin relocated to his current shop, he built instruments in London for a who’s who list of clients, and then moved on to Gibson’s famed custom shop. His Standard effortlessly echoes the flavors of the great old Gibsons.
Of course, an electric guitar without a proper amplifier is like a sports car without a winding road, so our sampling includes the choicest amplifiers to pair with these special guitars. American and English tube amplifiers from the 1950s and 1960s have skyrocketed in value in recent years, and can have reliability issues with their 40-plus-year-old transformers and circuitry. Those seeking the tuneful magic of yesteryear can rejoice as abundant choices exist for those seeking to plug in, turn on, and turn up.
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The Zeeta amplifier by Maven Peal (Click on image to enlarge)
The Zeeta by Maven Peal is truly unique because it is designed to extract maximum flexibility from the power—as opposed to the preamp—section. Handmade and using the finest audiophile-grade components available, the Zeeta’s secret is its ability to deliver the spellbinding sound of a truly loud amplifier, rich in harmonics and sustain, at a reasonable volume. Plugging into the Zeeta and turning up the wattage control provides an experience you will not forget. Imagine the word “chewy” used to describe the sound of a guitar through an amplifier: Plug into the Zeeta and you will know what that word sounds like.
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