Our pick of the month’s most delectable and wallet-bothering new gear
PJD York Standard £2,199
CONTACT PJD Guitars PHONE 07791 236 353 WEB www.pjdguitars.com
That’s snazzy! A bit like if my MusicMan made friends with a Telecaster.
This is theYork Standard from PJD Guitars and, yes, while it is the UK builder’s take on a T-style guitar, as you can see this is more than just anotherT-copy, offering something a little different.
Like what?
Well, the shape for a start. Cut it in half horizontally and you’ve got the pointy horn that owes more to the cutaway on a Les Paul than a Tele, and on the bass side it’s much more pronounced, taking it even further from the traditional T-shape. PJD has also steered clear of traditional Tele woods, opting for obeche here (and across its newly revised versions of previous models, too).
What’s obeche?
A hardwood that lives on the lighter, softer side of the hardwood family. This makes it a great choice for working with on guitars, the end result being a drop in weight without the need for chambering or weight relief. Here, we’ve got a completely solid body, but unlike its original inspiration there’s also some comfort contouring, too.
Right on. Tell us about the neck…
The neck is quarter-sawn maple with a one-size-fits-all C-shape profile and it’s finished in a natural satin nitro. As you’d probably expect, it’s fitted with a maple fretboard, which is home to 22 Jescar nickel frets and inlaid with some neat, contemporary-looking hollow black rectangles. Flip it over and you’ll see the brilliantly ergonomic heel joint with four recessed screws and some sleek comfort-enhancing curves, should you dare to venture t’ward the difficult notes.
What about the pickups?
Along with the bridge and control plate, these are York Standa
