NGD: Blackmachine-inspired and it feels so good...

[mikah912]

So, several years back when I first started getting into customizing guitars, I heard about this shop in Colorado making scatterwound pickups - The Guitarmory. It was basically a one-man show and the man was Dale Blakeman. He also got into making custom axes very reminiscent of Blackmachine B6 models.

Before I say any more, though, pics:













Dale made a few "D3" guitars, and I would just drool over every progress pic and finished pic because I absolutely couldn't afford to pay for even a reserve slot, much less the full monty. Occasionally, I'd see one show up on Reverb for pretty high prices and get snapped up quickly.

Fast forward to 2019 now that the fervor over this body style has calmed down, and The Guitarmory has changed ownership a few times and is now pickups-only. I saw the #4 D3 pop up and just sit there on Reverb quite awhile. I was interested as the price was an absolute steal, but already had money in another custom build. Well...that didn't work out, so this Guitarmory "Wardenclyffe D3" is all mine.

Specs:

• 25.5" scale
• Sapele body
• Multi-ply padauk/wenge neck.
• Bolt on construction.
• Guitarmory Foxbat pickups with zebrawood bobbins.
• Schaller Hanness bridge.
• Hipshot hardware/locking tuners.
• Stainless steel frets.
  
• Glow-in-the-dark inlays and side fret markers

I've held Blackmachine-type guitars before, but forgot how ergonomic and crazy light they are. This one is clean and feathery, but also somehow fat and mean-sounding. The pickups are an absolute joy. Probably my favorite set yet. Clear, yet balanced with some personality. I think they're just two-wired, so no push/pull coil tap yet. Doesn't really need it, tho.

I love the glow-y quilt maple top too. Pretty without being gaudy. I've played a Schaller-Hannes bridge before, but it feels better here. So good on the wrist. Sterling fret and nut work, too. Plays fast as hell, and is resonant acoustically to boot.

Overall, just an absolute beaut of a custom American-made beast that I got for Indo Schecter/Ibanez prices.

 

[guitaardvark]

Beautiful! What's with that plate under the volume knob?

 

[mikah912]

Beautiful! What's with that plate under the volume knob?

His own little tweak to the formula. It's just a chunk of iron that makes it a little more badass. I remember Dale was into military/firearm stuff hence the names of his pickups. I think it's inspired by that.

 

[AaronGraves]

Nice! Dale used to come into Guitar Center when I worked there and I got to play a few of his guitars! They felt so nice. I actually have 2 OG Polaris bridge pickups that he wound back at the end of 2014. Nice to see his guitars still floating around!

 

[BlackSG91]

That's a very stunning looking guitar. It's very sleek.


;>)/

 

[Dawn of the Shred]

Congrats and HNGD

 

[mikah912]

Nice! Dale used to come into Guitar Center when I worked there and I got to play a few of his guitars! They felt so nice. I actually have 2 OG Polaris bridge pickups that he wound back at the end of 2014. Nice to see his guitars still floating around!

I'm really sorry he got out of the business, so to speak. Guy had a way with both pickups and guitar making that really stood out. I did a NGD recently for a custom I really liked that I had done by a small California shop, and this D3 blows it away for fit, finish and playability.

 

[IbanezDaemon]

Killer top! Looks better than my Blackmachine B6 for sure.

 

[mikah912]

Killer top! Looks better than my Blackmachine B6 for sure.

Thanks! It's interesting that the vast majority of Blackmachine-inspired guitars have super quilt-y, flame-y or burl-laden tops with elaborate trans dye finishes, while the originals are downright austere, comparatively, with unvarnished ash bodies.

As I said, I think this one strikes a balance. It's not too elaborate or distracting.

I just realized, too, I didn't do a back shot of mine, so without further ado....