METAL MACHINES

Q Over many years reading Guitarist magazine, I have seen numerous ‘solid body’ articles and references to what a great difference – and, indeed, benefit – having the right kind of timber for the guitar body can have on the unamplified tone and feel of the instrument. Having this right is such a real bonus.

I have therefore always been somewhat bewildered by metal-fronted solids made by guitar makers such as Zemaitis and, issue 481). These guitars can indeed be wonderful works of art and I am sure that a great deal of thought and expertise goes into the design and planning of each instrument, but I can’t believe that screwing a chunk of metal onto the face of a quality solid can have anything other than a negative effect on the timber’s natural resonance.