The 2000 Golden Axe Awards
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Guitar Unlimited - Electric (Top 5)
<--Back to Acoustics | <--Back to #6 thru #10
The next three guitars made it too difficult to rank them against each other. No matter which order we put them in, it just didn’t seem right. Therefore, for the first time in Golden Axe history, we have a three way tie for 3rd place. Ok, call us whimps if you want, but we just couldn’t decide. Each of the next three instruments has something special that qualifies it for third place. I think after you view the next three instruments you’ll see our dilemma. So, in no particular order . . .
#3 (Tie): Vigier Guitars: 20th Anniversary Model
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| (Click for a close-up) |
This stunning piece of jewelry is the Vigier 20th Anniversary Model. Magnificent!!! Designed in part by Arto Soukiassian (an award winning jeweler) this guitar has 750 karats of gold made into leafs on the pick guard, actual diamonds set into the body, pickup selector, logos, and fret markers, a star shaped sapphire on the volume knob, a moon shaped sapphire on the tone knob, and more, more, more. The description just goes on and on about all the wealth that is just dripping off this guitar. It even comes with a solid gold guitar pick. I wonder if I could buy it and claim it was a piece of jewelry for my wife, hmmm . . .
The guitar model is called an Excalibur Surfreter so named because of its metal, fret-less, finger board. The fret-less neck is very slick and fast, making it fun to play. Patrice Vigier took 6th in last years unlimited finals, so he’s moving up. It was difficult to move on from the Vigier booth, you just wanted to look at this one all day. The list price of this gem studded piece is $30,000 U.S. Darn, I don’t think my credit card limit goes up that high. Congratulations Patrice and nice work. Visit the Vigier Guitars web site at www.vigierguitars.com.
#3 (Tie): GMW Guitars: The Pharaoh
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| The Pharaoh and Lee Garver (Click for a close-up of the body) |
The Pharaoh guitar from custom builder GMW Guitars was an extremely creative mix of inlay and paint adorning a wonderful instrument. When you first look at this instrument it looks like it’s all just painted on. However, many of the features of the Pharaoh’s mask are actually inlay work from renowned inlay artist Ron Thorn (a name you’ll hear again in the finals), including the stone beard, mother of pearl eyes, onyx birds, etc. The way the paint blends with the inlays is a masterpiece. Even if you run your fingers over the surface you still can’t tell where the inlay stops and the paint starts.
Now, if you’re thinking that this guitar is all show and no go, oh how wrong you’d be. The empire guitar, onto which the Pharaoh was crafted, is a great instrument that would be an honored addition to any guitar players collection, even without the Mask of the Pharaoh. With the paint and inlay work, this guitar belongs in a museum for all to view at eight bucks a pop. Lee Garver, president of GMW Guitars, took 4th in last years final and has moved up a spot this year. The leaders better look out in 2001.
The list price of this instrument was still undetermined as of press time. View some of their other work at www.gmwguitars.com.
#3 (Tie): Warrior: Arch Angel
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| The Neck Inlay (Click for a close-up) |
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| The Arch Angel (Click for a close-up) |
From Warrior Guitars come the Arch Angel. What makes this guitar tied with the amazing Pharaoh and the stunning Vigier Jewel? Workmanship, workmanship, workmanship! Look at the way the body and neck have been crafted from multiple pieces of purple heart and maple wood. It has an eleven piece neck and a twelve piece body. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the top is double arched curving down and then back up to the edge of the body. The neck is clean and smooth. The action is astounding. And, if all this wasn’t enough, it has a 450 piece inlay on the fret board created by Ron Thorn depicting the Arch-Angel Michael destroying Satan. This guitar fits in your hand like . . . well . . . your skin.
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| The back of the Arch Angel |
They had the same model without all the bells and whistle (it was just white) and I almost bought that baby and took it home with me. Warrior wasn’t in the guitar finals last year, but took 2nd place in the 1999 Bass Division. Warrior also has a guitar in the best value division and a bass in the unlimited division this year.
The list price of this instrument is $20,000 US with all profits going to fund a local orphanage near the company’s head quarters. You can be proud of this one J.D. You can find the Warrior web site at www.warriorinstruments.com.
#2: ESP: Angel
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| Bruce Kulick, formerly with Kiss (Click for a close-up of the guitar) |
Continuing with the heavens theme is the ESP Angel. I just stared at this one for at least ten minutes before I could compose myself enough to get a ESP representative to fill out the entry form. This one of a kind guitar is totally hand carved and air brushed at the ESP custom shop. This early 16th century inspired artwork is exactly that, a piece of art. If I didn’t know it was a guitar I would expect to see it hanging on the wall in a old french cathedral. If you were at the NAMM show and you missed seeing this guitar live, you weren’t at the NAMM show.
The pictures are wonderful, but a two dimensional picture just couldn’t do this guitar justice. The most amazing thing about this guitar is that it actually plays well. The spot between the wing and the cross sit on your leg well, it’s a very well balanced guitar, Floyd Rose bridge and lock system, etc. A top of the line ESP guitar. And, when you’re not playing in that rock group, you can always hang it over the mantle piece in the family room. I never did find out the name of the craftsmen at ESP who worked on this, but my hat is off to you. Wow! By the way, ESP has a guitar in the best value division too.
The price of this guitar was undetermined at press time. Visit ESP at www.espguitars.com.
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#1: Gibson: Millennium 1939 Super 400 Reissue
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| (Click for a close-up) |
Harmony Central is pleased to award the Y2K Golden Axe Grand Prize to Gibson Corporation for the Millennium 1939 Super 400 reissue. Actually part of a three guitar set, this is Gibson’s way of commemorating the century in wood. The other two guitars that came with the set are the last 1959 Les Paul reissue made in 1999 and the first 1959 Les Paul reissue made in 2000. However, the guitar we are honoring is the Super 400. This guitar is the handy work of Gibson Custom Store guru Bruce Kunkel. The entire guitar is covered in etched and painted moments, icons, or historical figures from the century.
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| (Click for a close-up) |
You have to be impressed by the amount of research that went into finding all these pictures in the first place. Then arranging all the pictures, placing them in a pleasing way on the body, and, of course, the actual act of etching and painting it all. No one at the Gibson booth could cross in front of this guitar without stopping and studying the intricate work on this guitar.
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| (Click for a close-up) |
The neck inlay which read "The Twentieth Century" as well as the Gibson logos are done in 14k white gold. The back of the guitar displays a time line of the century in mother of pearl. The decade markers have the year written in the standard text font of the decade. You could sit and stare at this guitar for hours. The price of this guitar (or set of guitars) is $150,000 US making is not only the winner but the most expensive instrument in the entire Golden Axe Awards. If you would like to see how this guitar was created, go to www.gibson.com.
Last year Gibson was in 5th place. This year number one. Congratulations Gibson, you earned it.
Well, there you have it, the 2000 Golden Axe Unlimited Guitar Division. So pick your favorite guitar and drop in to the company’s web site and congratulate them yourself. Coming up real soon it’s the Bass - Unlimited Awards. Hope to see you there.
Keep Jamming,
Cliff
Cliff Suttle (cliffnotes@harmony-central.com) has been studying music for over twenty years including studies at the University of Michigan. Fluent on keyboards, guitar, and bass, Cliff is currently playing in an all original rock band Middle Earth. Cliff's motto: Understand the theory and you can play anything.
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