The aim is to make something new from some things old. Not just to do what has been done before but to take elements of some of of Damians favourite designs and combine them into something interesting, exciting and new.
He has combined elements from various 1950s solid body guitars with the aim of retaining a cohesive and functional design. It had to look right and it has to sound right.
The overall aesthetic is heavily influenced by the the Epiphone Wilshire and Crestwood. This was Damians “launch pad”. The foundation on which he worked. The comfort of the Fullerton designed slab models is hard to beat so I tried not to stray too far from that. Early `50s lower edge contours for seated playing with late `50s contours for comfort.
The Mk II version of the Rocket uses a full width tenon that provides massive contact area which gives unbeatable rigidity and vibration transfer. Both critical elements in making an instrument that both sounds and feels “right”.
Available with either a pivoting vibrato or adjustable wraparound bridge and with a range of pickup and aesthetic options. (please check the spec list for details).
Specification
Construction
Set neck, full width, max length tenon
Scale length:…….......….24.625” or 25.5"
Body
Material:………….......…..Premium grade 1 piece 1.75″ Mahogany (options below)
Contours:………............“T” style lower edge radius, “S” style upper radius with deep belly and forearm contours
Neck
Material:……………..........One piece quartersawn Mahogany (options below)
Fretboard:………….…......First grade Rosewood (Bound or unbound)
Binding:…………….......….Single ply “Royalite”
Inlays:……………….…........Clay Dot inlays (options below)
Fretboard Radius:……..12″
Nut Width:…………….......1.693″ (43mm)
Trussrod:…………….........Vintage style 3/16 single acting rod.
Nut:…………………........…..Bone or "Tusq" XL
Frets:………………….........Jescar Nickel silver or Stainless Steel
Headstock angle:….....10 degrees
Electronics
Pickups:…………........……Bridge Humbucker 2 x P90 (options below)
Switching:………….....…. 5 way (options below)
Controls:…………….....… T style plate with single volume and tone (options below)
Hardware
Finish:…………............…..Nickel or chrome
Bridge:…………...........…."Mannmade" Classic 2 post vibrato (options below)
Tuners:………...........…….Gotoh “Kluson” type
Finish
Type:……………...........…..Nitrocellulose lacquer
Colour:………...............….Choice of vintage colours
Accessories
Case:…….....................…Hiscox “Liteflite” hardcase
Options
Body material:….........Honduran or African Mahogany / Black Afara / Spanish Cedar / Alder / Swamp Ash wood
Neck material:….........Honduran or African Mahogany / Maple
Vibrato bridge:….........Gotoh 510 2 post
Hardtail bridge:..….....Tonepros adjustable wraparound
Pickups:…………............Any combination of std Humbucker or P90 pickups
Controls:………..….........Rear mounted 2 vol/2 tone + 3 way toggle switch (2 pickup guitars only)
Fretwire:………..….........Choice of Jescar 47095, 55090, 51100, 57110 wire. (Available in 18%Nickel silver or Stainless steel)
Fingerboard:...............Unbound or single bound with vintage spec “Royalite” ABS.
Inlays:…………….....…... Vintage spec Cellulose Nitrate “Trap” inlays (only available with bound fingerboard)
Headstock:……....….....With or without "step"