With a shocking crimson end over a resonant slab JM-style physique, there’s plenty of magnificence in simplicity right here.

My love of easy guitars is effectively documented at this level. I really like single pickup guitars, just like the RWM Guitars RWDCT we’re making a gift of, or the Tom DeLonge Strat. Mockingly I do have a comparatively complicated signature guitar of my very own, however that was designed to be an all-in-one studio weapon, not essentially a punk rock guitar. However in my numerous Instagram looking periods, I as soon as stumbled on Shevlin Guitars, based mostly in Bend Oregon on the West Coast of the US. We grew to become mates on-line and months later, I used to be fortunate sufficient for them to mortgage me this McKenzie guitar to evaluate.

Why am I so on this guitar? Properly, it’s easy, with a shocking offset slab physique that makes use of water-based wooden dye (extra on that in one other article) to permit the pure grain and look of the Alder wooden to shine via.

In relation to electronics it isn’t too complicated both, with a pair of Lollar El Rayo humbuckers which are voiced just like single coils. There’s a quantity knob for every pickup, and one grasp tone knob. Beneath the hood there’s treble bleed circuits that do wonders at low quantity, however these are the kind of hidden, non-complicated options I want to see in a guitar. Take loads of the work and thought out of my fingers, and let me simply plug in and play.

Earlier than we get to enjoying, right here’s some neck and playability specs to know: The McKenzie has a D-shaped Maple neck with a Kotolox fretboard. It’s a 25.5″ scale size, with 21 frets, a 9.5″ radius, and the fret thickness flattens and widens throughout the neck as you progress up frets. These frets are manufactured from Jescar, and there’s additionally a Tusq XL nut.

Sound Verify

I plugged the McKenzie into my trusty twin amp rig (UAudio Dream and Ruby amp sims in stereo) and ran it via some delays (EHX MM Deluxe Nano, UAudio DelVerb), and achieve phases (Shotmaker Heroine Deluxe).

Total, the McKenzie sounded nice to my ears, and people Lollar’s positively do have quantity of chime to them. They’re alleged to be bringing a better, single coil-like sound to the desk and so they positively delivered. The McKenzie is a remarkably strong guitar, that was snug to play and straightforward to coax sounds out of.

My solely grievance was that for a guitar that has two quantity knobs, I couldn’t mix the 2 pickups collectively when utilizing the center mode (each humbuckers collectively). Each quantity knobs needed to be absolutely rolled as much as get any sound of it, and I really like being able to combine and match each pickups at will.

In any other case, it delivered every part I might have hoped for from a twin humbucker offset. The McKenzie was crunchy, and had a really full sounding sonic footprint. I particularly liked the distorted sounds, as these Lollars actually got here to life with a bit extra quantity and chew from my achieve pedals.

This McKenzie is on the market from Shevlin proper now for $2190 USD, which looks like a good worth contemplating the skyrocketing gear costs throughout us. When you’re searching for one thing stripped down, however nonetheless premium in look and construct high quality. You need this guitar if you happen to’re not searching for progressive sounds, however as a substitute a very top quality canvas to then paint with your individual enjoying type, pedals, or gear. It permits you to do the innovating your self, and I’ve all the time gravitated in the direction of guitars like that.

In addition they get bonus factors for utilizing water-based wooden dye as a substitute of conventional lacquer finishes that may do a quantity on the surroundings. Keep tuned for a extra detailed look into that processes and why Shevlin is making an amazing aesthetic and ethical resolution with their superbly dyed guitars!

Go go to their web site and comply with them on Instagram, Shevlin Guitars is a superb small builder to assist!