Texas-based startup 660 Guitars hit Kickstarter in November to help fund the production of a new line of aluminum-bodied guitars. Though the crowdfunding effort was not successful, founders Drew Emory and Myke Wilkerson are forging ahead with a company and first product premiere at California's Winter NAMM show in January.
The roughly Explorer-shaped body of the company's first production guitar, the Patriot, is constructed from a single piece of aircraft-grade, powder coated aluminum. There's a groovy American flag to the rear and the lower horn and upper wings are represented by framing only, with the short upper front wing doubling as a carry handle for on stage gymnastics or ease of transport. As well as being lightweight, rugged and durable, aluminum is reported warm and resonant and not affected by weather-related issues.
Two 16.50K Dimarzio Dominion humbuckers with ceramic magnets are mounted on mini-rails within the body to allow for tonal adjustments. The rear plate masking the electronics comes in smoked acrylic black glass as standard or red glass as an option. Rather than bolt on some wood, 660 has chosen a shallow oval 16-inch radius, 24-fret solid graphite/carbon fiber neck.
The Patriot is the first of several aluminum-bodied axes planned for the 660 catalog. Others include a Flying V variant called the Aviator, a bass known as the Rhino, a Les Paul-like guitar dubbed the Craftsman and a shredder going by the name of the Viking. The Patriot carries a suggested retail price of US$3,400.
Visitors to NAMM next month can try out the instrument for themselves by stopping by the 660 Guitars booth (#1389). You can see and hear the Patriot's tone test in the video below.
Source: 660 Guitars
