In case you don't know about Atlas guitars (whichmost of you probably
won't) here's some background: Atlas was/is a small custom shop i
Thailand making expertly crafted instruments predominantly in the style
of PRS. You know, stunning flame tops, high gloss finishes, elaborate
inlays. I came about them about 10 years ago, when I as a young musician
was looking for a high quality instrument to grow with, while not
really having much money. A guy was selling what he said was a handmade
PRS-copy, and I thought I'd check it out. It was a beautiful deep blue
Custom 24-copy, called Star Sapphire, complete with ebony fretboard and
abalone bird inlays, and I instantly fell in love. Got it for 700 euro,
and have cherished it to this day. To me, this is as good as an electric
guitar gets. You can't surpass this quality. It might get different,
but not better. I've always wanted to try another Atlas out, but they're
not very common in Europe. The exception seems to have been the UK,
where there was a relatively successful distributor, but it's a long way
to England from Sweden, so I never got the chance of playing another.
Fastworward ten years, and I'm in a position where my financial
situation is a bit better, and I feel like getting a new guitar. I'm
thinking about different things, when it suddenly hits me that I'm gonna
try to find me another Atlas finally. I browse the web for a used one,
with no luck. The website of the UK distributor hasn't been updated for
several years, but I give it a shot and ask what models are in stock.
Bingo! Turns out that Paul, who is running the buisness will stop
importing guitars to move on to do other things, and happens to have
four guitars left in stock. No hollowbodies, that I wwas primarily
searching for, but still very nice pieces. I give him an offer for the
whole lot, and he agrees. One week later, the guitars arrives at my
door, and oh this is nothing short of fabulous!
First, we have a red Telstar Deluxe. It's a take on the Suhr/Tom
Anderson kind of luxuary stratocaster. A bright red flame maple top,
quilted maple neck and headstock, abalone dot inlays and splitable
humbucker. I was sceptical when buying since I usually hate strats, and
can't stand the look of red guitars. Well, turns out I just hadn't ever
played a red Atlas strat! Whenever I pick this up, I can't put it down.
It just plays so good. The tone is loud and clear, and the glossy maple
fretboard has such a snap to it! It sounds like a strat but not the
typical vintage tone; it's more of a modern, fusion-like sound to this
one, which I like. I also find myself dishing out some country flavoured
licks whenever I play it, something I usually never do.
Second is the Eternity Midnight. I don't know if the Eternity is
supposed to be a copy of something, or just an original model. Kinda a
mix between a PRS and a Les Paul double cut. A bit like the PRS Santana,
but not exactly. Anyway, I can honestly say that I have never seen nor
played anything like it in my entire life. The aestethics are, as you
can see, really over the top! Black flame top, moon- and star inlays on
the body. Ebony fretboard and the freboard markers are shaped as phases
of the moon! So cool! I like guitars with just enough bling to be almost
but not really tasteless, and this is right on the border. Perfect! And
the sound. Since it lookslike nothing else, I decided it should sound
like none other of my guitars. Therefore, it has been given super hot
pickups. Bridge is a whooping 18k, and I'm usually a PAF-guy, so quite a
difference. It has been strung with thick chromes and tuned down a
whole step to D. I can tell you, this thing GROWLS. I'm going to install
some kind of sustainer system later on, just t make it even more
extreme. Also, I have never encountered a guitar that is so easy to play
on the higher frets. I'm sitting around thinking I'm in the 12th
position, when I look down and realixe I'm actually in the 15th or even
17th position! Didn't even noticed it. It's just a perfect instrument,
completely unique that I will never part with.
Comments
The build quality is excellent on them. I switched out the pickups on the purple (and added a Sustainiac) and use it a lot. I wasn't too fond on the finish of the singlecut (Atlas Elegant) as I'd ordered Tiger Eye and got that orange, so I had it refinished to green black burst by CA Guitarworks and added the GraphTech piezo system:
(Excuse the red rings, they're placeholders for some Ebony ones I have on order, put these on for now and reminded me of Boba Fett )
@Ben Both of those look great! The purple one is really my cup of tea. A ten on the pimp scale! Please tell me you gig it wearing gold chains, a white suite and a broad brimmed hat!
Wish I'd jumped on the red Telstar Deluxe when it was first listed by keithf instead of procrastinating! However I'm seriously glad its gone to such a great home. If you ever decide to sell it on then please PM me as I'll definitely be interested.
Enjoy mate and Happy Christmas!
The yard is nothing but a fence, the sun just hurts my eyes...