Music

Winter NAMM debut for 660 Guitars and the Patriot

Winter NAMM debut for 660 Guitars and the Patriot
The Patriot features a wavy American flag to the rear of its one-piece aluminum body
The Patriot features a wavy American flag to the rear of its one-piece aluminum body
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The Flying V-like Aviator from 660 Guitars
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The Flying V-like Aviator from 660 Guitars
An orange Craftsman from 660 Guitars
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An orange Craftsman from 660 Guitars
The Patriot and Viking being given some shred treatment
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The Patriot and Viking being given some shred treatment
The Patriot's body includes a handy grip for on stage gymnastics or ease of transport
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The Patriot's body includes a handy grip for on stage gymnastics or ease of transport
The Patriot features a wavy American flag to the rear of its one-piece aluminum body
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The Patriot features a wavy American flag to the rear of its one-piece aluminum body
Two 16.50K Dimarzio Dominion humbuckers with ceramic magnets are mounted on mini-rails within the body to allow for tonal adjustments
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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 smokes acrylic black glass as standard
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The rear plate masking the electronics comes in smokes acrylic black glass as standard
The Rhino bass from 660 Guitars
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The Rhino bass from 660 Guitars
All instruments made by 660 Guitars have an aircraft-grade aluminum body
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All instruments made by 660 Guitars have an aircraft-grade aluminum body
The Viking from 660 Guitars
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The Viking from 660 Guitars
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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 and Viking being given some shred treatment
The Patriot and Viking being given some shred treatment

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

Patriot Tone Test - Clean

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