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    The Giffin Valiant - single cutaway

 

   
 
 

  

After many years of being asked "can you build me a Les Paul?" and having to politely say "no", I made time at last to design something that would fill this obvious gap in my model range. It had to follow certain well established criteria without stepping on any toes, so it took a while to finalize, but I believe the outcome was worth the wait.

    I went with the slightly offset body shape to get away from the traditional look, and I used a thicker body for a little added depth to the sound and to give it a different tonal quality than the Standard. The neck joint has an extra long tenon that runs under the neck pickup position.  This really helps to generate great string vibration transfer into the body.  For maximum playability, I've given the guitar good access to the last frets by making the cutaway extra deep, and I designed a straight pull 3 a side headstock to avoid any hang-ups at that end of the neck.

    

 
  A small but (maybe) useful detail is the front strap button which sits parallel to the neck instead of at 90 degrees to the body edge. This will prevent the strap from pulling off under "battle conditions"  I stayed with the wraparound bridge as I still feel that this gives the best sustain characteristics. The controls on this particular guitar are the same as on my Standard, but I've built in some flexibility here to allow a few variations such as two volumes and one tone plus switch, or two volumes, two tones plus a switch mounted on the upper bout. There's also room for coil taps or phase switches if needed. It can have either humbuckers or P90s. The guitar balances really well, both visually and physically and I'm endeavoring to keep the weight limit for this guitar to no more than 8 pounds.
      
(More versions of this guitar will be added as they get built)                                                                                                (available at Destroy All Guitars)		  


 

 

Have a listen to some sound samples of the Valiant  with Amalfitano Fullbucker pickups, played through a 3 Monkeys Grease Monkey Amp.
 

(Courtesy of the amazing Mr. Lance Keltner!)
as seen in this Youtube video

 
 

 

Bridge p/u gain
        

Bridge p/u gain 2


Bridge p/u gain 3
 

Bridge p/u clean

 

 

Middle position gain
 

Middle position clean
 

Neck p/u gain
 

Neck p/u clean
     
 

 
 


General specifications for the Valiant 6-string Solid body: 

(Suggested dealer retail price, basic model:  $3,640)  
Price for Custom order, basic model, direct from Giffin Guitars:  $3,750

(All instruments ordered directly from me are "custom orders" even if they fit within basic specs.)

Any custom guitar ordered using parts and materials from this light blue box section should fall within the basic model price (will not add to the price).  Any custom option from the dark blue box below will add to the price by the amount shown.
Materials used on a Valiant 6-string  (basic model):

Wood:                                                                                                                               The Wood Pile
 Body:  Honduras Mahogany, African Mahogany
 Neck:  Laminated Honduras (or African) Mahogany or Maple    
Body top:  S (standard) Figured Maple  (please check "The Wood pile" for examples of available wood)
Fingerboards: Indian Rosewood, South American Rosewood or Ebony
 Hardware:
 Tuners:  Sperzel Solid Pro or Sperzel locking (I will add other suitable tuners as I find them)
 Bridge:  Wilkinson, TonePros, ABM or Pigtail
Pickups:  Amalfitano, Wolfetone, Lindy Fralin, Kent Armstrong, Razor, Gibson, Voodoo. 
Guitar controls: 1-volume, 1-tone (CTS or DiMarzio pots), 3-position pickup selector (Switchcraft) (other control layouts are available within the basic model specs...please enquire for details)
Neck dimensions:
 Scale Length:  24 3/4 inches
 Width at nut:  1 11/16 inches, width at 22nd fret:  2 1/4 inches.
Neck thickness at first fret:  .855 inches to .900 inches.  Thickness at 12th fret:  .950 inches to 1.000 inches.
General neck shape is based on a 50's Gibson  which is a 'C' shape at the body end tapering down to a slight
'V' shape at the nut end.  Other neck shapes can be ordered at no extra cost.
Neck/body joint:  Neck joins body at 16th fret.  Heel is cut away to an unobtrusive but safe minimum
Inlay options:  Standard vertical lines, pearl dots
 

  

 
Additional options for Custom orders:

 Body and neck wood:  White Limba (Korina) - Add $250                                           

Neck material:  5-ply Curly or Bird's Eye Maple - Add $100

Body top materials available:  UG (upgrade) - UG+ (upgrade plus)  Maple - curly, quilt or Bird's eye, Redwood burl, Redwood curl,   Figured Walnut, Curly Bubinga, Curly Koa,  - Add $125 - $450  (please check "The Wood Pile" for examples of available wood)
Optional Fingerboards:   Madagascar Rosewood, Macassar Ebony - Add $50, 
Brazilian Rosewood - Add $300
Optional fingerboard inlays:  Butterflies - Add $400,  Teardrops - Add $100,  Snowflakes - Add $75
Abalone Pearl binding: Guitar fully bound with multiple laminates and Abalone Pearl - Add $600

For Custom inlays - please call for quote.

Other scale lengths available:  25 inch, 25 1/2 inch, 26 1/4 inch, 27 inch baritone - call for quote

For any other custom details - please call or write for quote

Hardware:  For hardware options other than standard, please call for quote.
 

  

 
 
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