Reverend guitars
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer of electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s. The company was established in 1996 by noted guitar and amplifier technician Joe Naylor, a graduate of the Roberto-Venn School
Roberto-Venn School
The Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery is an Arizona accredited school in Phoenix, Arizona. It has graduated over 1200 students in its over 35 years of operation. Graduates can be found all across the music industry from guitar repairmen to upper management and owners of large musical instrument...
of Luthiery. Reverend guitars are known for their combination of unorthodox construction methods, retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
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-335Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
, 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
Pickup (music technology)
A pickup device is a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick, or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal that is amplified, recorded, or broadcast.-...
choices and tremolos
Tremolo arm
A whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece...
. 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
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. These guitars, known initially as the Stage King series and now known as either the "Set Neck" (set-in neck
Set-in neck
Set-in neck is a method of guitar construction that involves joining guitar neck and body with a tightly fitted mortise-and-tenon or dovetail joint, secured using some sort of adhesive...
construction) or "Bolt-On Series" (bolt-on neck
Bolt-on neck
Bolt-on neck is a method of guitar construction that involves joining a guitar neck and body using screws as opposed to glue as with set-in neck joints. The term is a misnomer, introduced mostly by Fender whose guitars traditionally had "bolt-on necks". Real bolted joints are uncommon in guitar...
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
Terminalia superba
Terminalia superba is a large tree in the family Combretaceae, native to tropical western Africa....
, 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 who use Reverend guitars
Reverend guitars have been endorsed by several high-profile musicians over the years.- Kid RockKid RockRobert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
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 CorganBilly CorganWilliam Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
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, theFutureEmbraceTheFutureEmbraceTheFutureEmbrace is the only solo album by Billy Corgan, frontman of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Released in June 2005, the album's sound was markedly different than most of Corgan's earlier work, eschewing his characteristic "drums, bass, big-guitars sound" in favor of an...
.
- Prior to his untimely death, Ron AshetonRon AshetonRonald Frank Asheton was an American guitarist and co-songwriter with Iggy Pop for the rock band The Stooges.Asheton is ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time....
of seminal protopunkProtopunkProtopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
band The StoogesThe StoogesThe Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
used Reverends on stage for current reunion shows with the group, notable for launching the career of Iggy PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. Reverend sells a Ron Asheton signature guitar built to his specifications.
- A premium line of signature guitars was developed by Reverend and guitarist Rick VitoRick VitoRick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
.
- Jason IsbellJason IsbellJason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.-Background:Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener...
, formerly of Drive By Truckers fame, often plays Reverend Guitars.
- Bob Balch, of Stoner RockStoner rockStoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
band Fu Manchu (band)Fu Manchu (band)Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. They have been featured on compilations put together by Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, and invited to perform on the US television program Monster Garage...
, Played Reverends on the recording of the two latest albums, We Must ObeyWe Must ObeyWe Must Obey is the tenth album by the southern California stoner rock band Fu Manchu. It was released in 2007 and includes a cover of The Cars' song, "Moving in Stereo".-Track listing:#"We Must Obey" - 3:12#"Knew it All Along" - 3:11...
and Signs of Infinite PowerSigns Of Infinite PowerSigns of Infinite Power is the tenth album by the southern California stoner rock band Fu Manchu. It was released on October 20, 2009 on Century Media Records...
.
- Unknown HinsonUnknown HinsonStuart Daniel Baker, better known by his stage name, Unknown Hinson, is a comedic country musician, songwriter, and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as the voice of Early Cuyler on the Adult Swim cartoon series Squidbillies....
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.
Models
The "Stage King" series of Reverend guitars is manufactured in Korea, with each guitar then being inspected, strung, and tested in Reverend's Michigan headquarters. All Stage King 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. The Stage King line has included:Bolt-on neck series
- The Buckshot, available since 2008 for left-handed players as well as right-handed ones, 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 PlayerGuitar PlayerGuitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine Editors' Pick, noted for its versatility and snappy attack; it is still manufactured. The Charger HB-FM, which had two Reverend humbucker pickups and a maple top with a flame maple veneer, has been discontinued. - 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, a 290 model with two Reverend P90s, and an HB model with two Reverend humbuckers.
- The Double Agent and Double Agent-FM Reverends (the latter being available for left-handed as well as right-handed players) have a Reverend humbucker in the bridge position and P90 in the neck position, offering a unique combination of tones.
- The Flatroc (available for both left-handed and right-handed players) has two Revtron mini-humbuckers, making it particularly suitable for rockabilly.
- The Gil Parris Signature model features a Charger-style body with humbuckers in the bridge and neck positions, but adds a Lace sensor burgundy pickup in the middle position, giving it a versatility especially suitable for jazz, rock, and fusion.
- 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 and HB-FM models with two Reverend humbuckers, the latter also having a maple top with flame maple veneer. For Reverend's tenth anniversary in 2007, a special Jetstream model was released in a sparkling silver finish. In 2008, the Jetstream 390 and HB were made available in versions for left-handed players.