Ratings
Pros:
Drop-dead looks. Bitchin’ fusion of vintage elements. Powerful Gibson-esque tones.
Cons:
Some iffy fretwork.
Tones:
Playability:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$2,899 (hardshell case included), $3,899 as reviewed with optional cosmetic upgrades)
Chasing Vintage Challenger
chasingvintageguitars.com
Solid Ground
Unsurprisingly, Challenger’s tones have a Gibson solidbody flavor, with authoritative fundamentals and ample mass. But the sound isn’t too dark. As on a vintage Les Paul, there’s plenty of zing when you need it. Much of the character stems from the stock Seymour Duncan pickups: a vintage-y Alnico Pro II at the neck and a hotter-than vintage Custom/Custom at the bridge. (Chasing Vintage says they recently changed their stock bridge pickup to a Duncan 59/Custom.) Of course, with a handmade model like this you can request any humbucker you like. You might nudge Challenger in a modern rock direction with hotter pickups, say, or use vintage-output PAFs for cleaner, brighter tones.
Things to Fret About
As lovely as Challenger is, there are a couple of construction concerns. While the bone nut is a conventional 1 11/16" in width, the span from E string to E string is approximately 1/16" wider than on most Gibsons and Fenders. I was startled by how disorienting this was at first. It took me an hour or so to feel comfortable. This is more a matter of taste than a critique, and I suspect Chasing Vintage can modify the string spacing to suit your taste.
But the string spacing—with the outer strings slightly closer than usual to the neck’s edges—highlights a bigger issue: There’s a noticeable gap between several frets and the binding on the neck’s treble side. I could even slide a fingernail beneath the 6th fret. Several times over an afternoon of playing the high E string snagged in the gap. Fretwork should be close to perfect on a model in this price range.
The Verdict
The Challenger is a hip and inspiring mash-up of vintage influences. It positively drips with gorgeous cosmetic details. It’s comfy to play and it provides many attractive Gibson solidbody-style tones. Our review model isn’t perfect—some frets aren’t as tightly seated as they should be. Still, I dig Challenger’s vintage-with-a-twist aesthetic, its classy handmade feel, and its bold, definitive tones.