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Hands-on review: ZVEX Effects Fuzz Probe

I BORROWED THE GUITAR INITIALLY FROM THE GUY WHO MADE IT (DEE MCILROY). HE'S AN INDEPENDANT LUTHIER IN N. IRELAND. HE HAD TAKEN MY LOWDEN IN FOR A SERVICE AND I NEEDED SOMETHING TO KEEP GOING IN THE MEANTIME. ON PLAYING IT, I HAD TO BUY IT. THE LIST PRICE IS £2400 (ABOUT $3800 US)

THE SOUND IS AMAZING. IT'S A NORMAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR WITH A WIDER NECK (52MM) WITH NYLON STRINGS. SO IT FEELS LIKE A NORMAL ACOUSTIC WITH THE SENSIBILITIES OF A CLASSICAL, WITHOUT THE STUPID ACTION AND FLAT FRETBOARD. AS SOON AS I PICKED IT UP I WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE AND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY WON'T BUY THAT. IT'S ALL TONE, TONE, TONE! HE'S USED EXOTIC TOMEWOODS (SEE BELOW) AND THE FINEST ATTENTION TO DETAIL TO CREATE A MASTERPIECE.

THERE'S NOTHING I DON'T LIKE AT ALL. I REALLY MEAN THAT. I'M THE FUSSIEST PERSON I KNOW AND I CAN'T FAULT IT. INTONATION SET PERFECTLY (I.E. ISN'T THERE). BINDINGS PERFECT.

MY MODEL HAS BRAZILLIAN ROSEWOOD BACK & SIDES AND A BLACK CEDAR TOP (V. RARE). HAWIIAN KOA INLAY OVER THE HEAD. I THINK IT HAD PEARWOOD BINDINGS BUT DON'T QUOTE ME ON IT. 15 COATS OF LACQUER ON THE BACK AND SIDES SO THE GRAIN SHOWS THROUGH AND IT PROJECTS A LOT MORE TOO. IT SOUNDS STUNNING. SUSTAINS FOREVER. THE BACK HAS A BEAUTIFULLY FIGURED PIECE OF ROSEWOOD. THE CONSTRUCTION IS FLAWLESS. EVERYTHING YOU'D EXPECT FROM A HAND CRAFTED GUITAR. DEE WAS PRODUCTION MANAGER FOR LOWDEN FOR 10 YEARS SO HE KNOWS A BIT ABOUT MAKING GOOD INSTRUMENTS. HE'S A TOP GUY TOO. MAKES LOADS OF TIME FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH HE'S ALWAYS VERY BUSY.

AS WITH ALL HIS GUITARS I'VE PLAYED, HE'S COME UP WITH A CORKER. IF YOU WANT AN EMMINENTLY PLAYABLE, WORLD CLASS CLASSICAL BUT DON'T WANT THE OVERLY TIGHT SOUND OF A LOT OF NYLON STRUNG GUITARS WITH THE BUNGEE JUMP ACTION, THIS IS A MUST.

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