Reverend Musical Instruments

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Reverend logo

Reverend Musical Instruments, commonly known as Reverend Guitars, is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. The company was established in 1996 by noted guitar and amplifier technician Joe Naylor, a graduate of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. Reverend guitars are known for their combination of unorthodox construction methods, retro design, playability and affordable price.

History

The original Reverend models were known for their distinctive body shape as well as their use of non-traditional materials. Inspired by semi-hollow designs produced by Silvertone as well as the venerable Gibson ES-335, the original Reverend models were constructed using a core of solid mahogany surrounded by acoustic chambers. A strip of molded plastic provided the frame while the front and back of the guitar was constructed of phenolic laminate sheets in a variety of colors and finishes. All American-built Reverends were identical in body shape, with various models set apart by their pickup choices and tremolos. Because of its plastic-like texture and non-traditional appearance, the use of phenolic laminate would prove to be a polarizing design feature among players. Some guitarists were wildly enthusiastic about the distinctive style and lively tonal response, while others derided it as being too similar across the line and too plastic for their tastes.

Although Reverend guitars were initially sold in large guitar stores around the country, Joe Naylor eventually made the decision to sell all of his guitar direct through an internet website as a way of making the company more cost-efficient. This move was one of many major changes instituted by Naylor over the years, as Naylor tried to adapt to the changing market. New USA Reverend models were frequently introduced and, if they failed to sell, soon discontinued with only a few stalwarts (such as the Slingshot) being offered consistently. A short-lived line of bass-guitars, called the Rumblefish, received excellent reviews from critics but were eventually discontinued along with various amplifier models such as the Hellhound, Kingsnake, and Goblin. For a relatively brief period of time, a budget line of American-made Reverends—the Workhorse series—were available. Despite all of these changes, Reverend guitars were not able to translate their small, fanatically loyal owner-base into mainstream acceptance.

Naylor surprised many of the company's devoted customers when he announced that all USA Reverends were to be discontinued in favor of an imported line constructed in Korea. These guitars, known initially as the Stage King series and now known as either the "Set Neck" (set-in neck construction) or "Bolt-On Series" (bolt-on neck construction), featured solid wood bodies and a slightly more traditional shape than the American models. Despite the shift to overseas construction, the new Reverend models have been highly regarded by players for their overall quality, affordable price and distinctive appearance.

In 2007, Naylor announced that guitars formerly made of mahogany would in the future be made of korina (Terminalia superba, also known as African limba) wood instead. Naylor cited more consistent guitar weight and excellent resonance as the reason for the change, which came into effect with guitars over serial number 07468.

Artists

Reverend guitars have been endorsed by several high-profile musicians over the years.

• Kid Rock was one of the first major-label artists to be associated with Reverends, after being photographed with a Reverend for the cover of The History of Rock (2000).
• Billy Corgan has used Reverends on studio recordings as far back as 2000 and has been seen playing Reverends during television appearances. Corgan used Reverends exclusively on the tour supporting his solo album, theFutureEmbrace. Nicole Fiorentino, Smashing Pumpkins bassist, uses Reverend basses, exclusively.
• Prior to his untimely death, Ron Asheton of seminal protopunk band The Stooges used Reverends on stage for current reunion shows with the group, notable for launching the career of Iggy Pop. Reverend sells a Ron Asheton signature guitar built to his specifications.
• Guitarist Rick Vito is among the Reverend Signature Model honorees.
• Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive By Truckers fame, often plays Reverend Guitars.
• Bob Balch, of Stoner Rock band Fu Manchu (band), Played Reverends on the recording of the two latest albums, We Must Obey and Signs of Infinite Power.
• Unknown Hinson has two Reverend Guitars. "I have two Reverend Club King 290 guitars. They are both black. One has a rosewood fretboard and the other has a maple fretboard.", with that, he also has his own signature series of the model.
• Pete Anderson has a series of Signature Reverends, including the PA-1, the PA-1 RT, and the Eastsider.
• Guitarist for The Cure, Reeves Gabrels, has a Signature Reverend, and is working on a second Signature model.
• Dan Auerbach owns a few Reverends.
• Bass endorsers include: Meshell Ndegeocello and Nicole Fiorentino.
• Yankee great, turned instrumental guitarist, Bernie Williams has been seen with his Reverend at several events.
• Tito Jackson appeared with his Reverend on Entertainment Tonight, among many other places.

Models

Reverend has over 30 models, including 10 Signature Models. The guitars are made at Mirr Music in South Korea. Every guitar is inspected and set up at the Livonia, MI headquarters. Reverend uses their own custom pickups on each model. All of the guitars feature Reverend's distinctive and highly lauded Bass Contour Control (BCC), a knob allowing the player to control tone more finely than conventional bass/treble knobs (which Reverend guitars also include). The BCC allows the player to add more bass for a fuller, richer sound, or to subtract it, allowing for twangier tones that approximate those of vintage single-coil pickups.

Bolt-on neck series

• The Buckshot, features a Telecaster-style single-coil pickup at the bridge and, for added versatility in tone, a Revtron mini-humbucker pickup at the neck. The Buckshot is an extraordinarily versatile guitar noted for its ability to produce not only Telecaster-style twang, but also fuller, warmer tones, making it particularly suitable for country, rock, and punk music.
• The Charger - a retro-styled but distinctive-looking guitar suitable for country, blues, and rock, with either clean or distorted tones. The Charger 290, featuring two Reverend P90 pickups, was a Guitar Player magazine Editors' Pick, noted for its versatility and snappy attack. The Charger HB has two Reverend humbucker pickups.
• The Club King, a semi-hollow guitar prized particularly for rockabilly and jazz, is available in an RT model with two Reverend "Revtron" mini-humbucker pickups, and a 290 model with two Reverend P90s.
• The Double Agent has a Reverend humbucker in the bridge position and P90 in the neck position, offering a unique combination of tones.
• The Flatroc has two Revtron mini-humbuckers, making it particularly suitable for rockabilly.
• The Jetstream, prized primarily by rock players for its big tone, is available in a 390 model, with three Reverend P90 pickups and has often been described as a "Strat on steroids," and in HB model with two Reverend humbuckers. For Reverend's tenth anniversary in 2007, a special Jetstream model was released in a sparkling silver finish.
• The Six-Gun 3 has 3 single-coil pickups, the Reverend Salnico single-coils featuring alnico 5 rod magnets, on a sleek body with a traditional tone.
• The Kingbolt is the newest Reverend Bolt-on. It has a hot-rodded body with a Wilkinson Trem. It comes with either two Special-H Zebra Humbuckers, or Joe Naylor's Railhammer pickups.

Set-Neck Series

• The Warhawk 3 has a thicker raised center section increases body mass, while the thinner wings increase resonance. It is available in an HB or a 390 version.
• The Sensei series are all classic double-cutaway models. Each have a pair of Reverend pickups, in a choice of Humbuckers (HB), Revtrons (Reverend's mini-Humbuckers RT), Railhammers (RA), or P-90's (290).
• Reverend's vintage V shaped guitar is called the Volcano. It has a raised center ridge for increased body mass and sustain. The Volcano comes with a pair of Special-H Zebra Humbuckers. There is also a flat, flame-maple version called the Volcano RA-FM.
• The full-sized semi-hollow in the line is the Manta Ray. It has a 1-3/4" thick body with a solid maple flat top. It comes with a pair of Humbuckers (HB) or P-90s (290).
• The Tricky Gomez is based on the Manta Ray platform, but it has mini-Humbuckers, called Revtrons, a 6-in-line headstock, and a Bigsby. The name was based on the myth of a guitar virtuoso who lived in obscurity and could never quite get his career off the ground.
• The Bayonet is Reverend's newest set-neck guitar. A modernized body design that is loaded with Railhammer pickups, a pickup designed by Joe Naylor. It comes in hardtail or with a Wilkinson Trem.

Signature Series

• Pete Anderson has a series of signature models with Reverend Guitars. The PA-1 is a large hollow-body that has been improved with the Uni-Brace system to address the feedback issue common with hollow-body guitars. It has 2 dog-eared p-90 pickups. The PA-1 RT is the same guitar, but with Reverend's proprietary Revtron mini-HUmbucker pickups. The Eastsider is on a vintage-T platform that has been chambered around the neck joint. It has a compound radious (10-14) neck. The Eastsider-T has two single-coils and a push-pull phase switch, and the Eastsider-S has three single-coils and a push-pull studio switch to achieve all the pickup combinations.
• The Reeves Gabrels Signature Model 2 is loaded with Railhammers and has many features, including a push-pull phase switch.
• The Gil Parris Signature 2 has the Humbucker-Single Coil-Humbucker pickup configuration. With the Bass Contour Control, the guitar is extremely versatile.
• Rick Vito's Signature is an Art Deco masterpiece with ebony fretboard, stairstep tuner buttons, pickup pan knob, and included two-tone tapered case. It has a Dual-Pro pickup, hot single coil with a second blade polepiece in addition to the standard screw polepieces in a standard Humbucker cover.
• The Reverend Ron Asheton Signature Model is based on Reverend's vintage v -- the Volcano. It has 3 P-90s, and features three lightning bolts in the upper horn. Since Asheton's passing in 2009, proceeds of the sale of this model go to the Ron Asheton Foundation.
• Unknown Hinson's Signature is a scaled down version of the Reverend Club King 290. Unique to this guitar are the bat-inlays on the fretboard, the Hinson logo on the headstock, and the engraved pickguard with his signature.
• Named for Unknown Hinson's alter-ego, the Stu D Baker is the same as the Unknown Hinson Signature, without the adornment.

External links

• Reverend Musical Instruments website