In a world where many of the major guitar manufactures follow an accepted format, James Trussart is one small luthier who certainly knows how to stand out from the crowd with a guitar that is truly individual - But let's make no bones about it - Trussart Guitars are not gimmicks - Far from it, as major players from Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Rich Robinson Tom Morello, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Robert Cray and Sonny Landreth have all purchased a newJames Trussart Guitar - Note the word 'purchased' - Trussart is only a small company and as such they can't afford to supply free guitars to our guitars heros, in exchange for some cheap publicity - Furthermore, when the Guitarist Magazine celebrated their 25th Anniversary, various editors and contributors each had to pick 3 guitars from the last 25 years that they would like to own - Only 1 brand was picked by all concerned - Yes, James Trussart Guitars - Yes they look as cool as hell on a good day, so include a guitar that is loaded with expressive tonal qualities, along with a neck that feels something special and you have your next extra special guitar that you have promised yourself

Let me give you a small quote from the Trussart web site regarding this guitar :- The Steel O Matic has the looks and feel of a vintage guitar, whilst featuring a Trussart invention, 'the recessed steel top plate' - The metal plate sits neatly in a recessed area on the face of the guitar, keeping the edges covered, so adding style and comfort - Additionally, another trademarked recessed plate sits in the headstock, providing you with additional sustain - The steel plates are the ideal medium to display Trussarts custom finishes as well as enhancing the overall tonal quality, both of which are clearly evident - The Steel O Matic tone is a uniquely classic sound, that combined with the resonant qualities of the body and the steel top, can range from sweet, thick classic voices, through to the heaviest lead tones - Equally at home, played on the stage or as a work of art, either way, you know you have soething special on your hands when you play a Trussart

Spec/Features - So let me embellish this story a little, with some additional product info that is appertaining to this guitar - The chambered resonant sugar pine body, features a distressed 'driftwood' finish, along with a recessed antique silver gator steel top - The steel top, headstock facia and scratchplate feature the gator engraving and are supplied with the 'lightly aged' antique silver finish - In fact all the hardware matches the steel tops with an antique silver finish - The '62' bolt-on maple neck/fingerboard, again features the lightly aged 'driftwood' finish, to match the body - The neck profile is the classic early 60's format that Fender players have worshiped for over 50 years - Scale length is typical for this style of the guitar, so 25.5", along with a 1 5/8" wide top nut - Add a 10" fingerboard radius and a set of Dunlop 6105 medium jumbo frets and you have an instrument that has all the classic Strat hallmarks, coupled with a modern playing performance - So easy string bending, fluid action and no choking when you rip into those big blues bends - Vintage style hardware that features a solid/milled steel trem block, along with steel bridge saddles, whilst under the plate you have a set of custom spec'd handwound Arcane singlecoil pick-ups - Calibrated for a well balanced response across all the 5 way switch options, with a 6.1k (neck) 6.3k (middle) and a 6.5k (bridge) vintage spec'd output

Tonal charcter - To say it has the tonal voicing of a Strat is both wrong and right, in that different Strats from different periods possess different tonal qualities - Yes there is the overall vibe that we call the Strat voicing, but the finer detail depends on so many other factors - As an overview, the Steel O Matic possesses rich warm tendancies, with sparkling clear highs - It is loaded with character and in-conjunction with a good amp, you'll find it very responsive to how you play it - Hence excellent dynamics - Writing this report, I found it hard to put down, as the more you play it, the more you realise it can sound so different, subject to how you play it and what you want out of it - This certainly applies with various amp settings from clean and subtle overdrive to hi-gain hard core rock - My favourite set-up was to add a touch of overdrive to the amp, then adjust the guitars volume control as to dial in the level of overdrive required, then back it of a touch for a chilled out blues voicing - Great out of phase tones and a bridge pick-up that sounds full and not harsh even on hi-gain amp settings - To put it simply, this Steel O Matic is loaded with character, in so many ways

Guitars4You Offers Reliability, Integrity and Expertise

Every guitar in stock at Guitars4You has been personally selected, inspected and approved by me, with particular attention paid to the set-up and playing performance - Every sale, phone call, mail order transaction or e-mail is handled my me - Mark Hopkin, the owner, Managing Director, cleaner and coffee maker (Jo, my wife helps with the coffee) - A 35 year journey has fuelled my knowledge, experience, love, devotion and passion for exceptionally fine guitars - This reflects in every aspect of our business

I have no desire to run an Amazon style 'click to buy' guitar shop, that lacks any soul or passion, or indeed to fill a showroom with a selection of dirty, shop soiled or dusty guitars that are in need of a set-up