The guitar has some innovative design elements
that are precisely executed. For
example, the strings are strung through the
lower end of the instrument at a 12-degree
pitch to match the 12-degree pitch of the
headstock. The added six inches of string
length and symmetrical string pull certainly
contribute to the resonance and sustain of
the guitar. These sonic properties also appear
to be augmented by the modified neck-through
design, where the neck is set into
the body up to the bridge prior to the top
being installed. The handcarved rosewood
and maple laminated control knobs, truss rod
cover and pickup surrounds are nice design
touches that are functional and add to the
guitar’s attractive color palette. The strings
pass over a chrome Tune-o-matic bridge and
a 1-11/16" black Earvana nut, and anchor
into a set of locking chrome Sperzel tuners.
One of my few nits with the guitar was that
I noticed some glue residue around the nut,
which had some sharp edges that could’ve
been softened. The chrome strap buttons
pair well with the chrome Switchcraft sidemounted
input jack. The size of the neck
joint, along with the location of the strap button
set into it, did hamper upper fret access,
but it’s my understanding that Mellozzo is
addressing both of these issues on future
models. Lastly, the Nikita signature on the
back of the neck joint is classy touch.
The high degree of craftsmanship embodied by
the Classic model translates into an instrument
that has exceptional natural sustain and tone.
The guitar is lightweight, resonant and balanced in both sitting and standing positions.
Strung up with a set of Thomastik-Infeld Power
Brights (.010–.050), the guitar exhibits a prominent
acoustic voice with a diversified frequency
response from its combination of tone woods,
giving the guitar a voice as unique as its design.
Notes have ample bloom with a certain degree
of immediacy that is likely contributed to by the
25.5" scale in conjunction with an ebony fingerboard.
The neck has a comfortable, two-degree
pitch that feels quite Gibson-esque and the fretwork
is well executed.
Plugged into amps from Carr, Fender and
TomasZewicZ, the Classic offers up an array of
usable tones that are diverse enough to handle
rock, blues and jazz applications. The guitar
has excellent clarity and note separation, and
it sits well in the mix, particularly in the lower
mids. It also has a singing quality whereby single
line notes simply hang for as long as you need
them—a great attribute for a blues guitar. The
humbucker combinations had a great blend
of fatness and quack. While not as clear as a
single-coil combination, they offer up an added
harmonic complexity that gave the guitar more
of an acoustic quality, perfect for fingerpicking.
While I am a fan of Fralin PAFs for their ability to
deliver classic humbucking tones with the right
amount of airiness and bite, the High Ouput
model in the middle position was a personal
favorite. Its position and design gave it a thick,
gritty quality that had more of a fundamental
emphasis than the PAFs, making it a good
choice for harder, classic rock-applications.
The Final Mojo
The Classic stands out as a top-notch guitar
that solidly delivers in both the tone and looks
departments. At a price of just under $10,000,
one would need to recognize that a substantial
portion of its value is derived from the degree
of time and craftsmanship embodied in this
handcrafted instrument. That said, with its
broad tonal offerings and meticulous craftsmanship,
it is an instrument worthy of consideration
amongst guitarists who can appreciate fine art
and fine tone in a single offering.
Buy if...
you share an equal appreciation for
fine woods, handcraftsmanship
and tone.
Skip if...
you don’t highly value a premium
handcrafted instrument.
Rating...
