Recent Arrival
King Snake is a well known high end brand in Japan, but not well known outside of Japan. They are mostly known for building hollow body models that are very lightweight and resonant.
However, they also have a few solid body models. And when I first stumbled across this one, I know I had to give it a try.
In my mind, it's a cross between a Danelectro 59, an LP Junior and a Gretsch. It checks a lot of boxes for me, single Filtertron pickup, wraptail and all mahogany body.
The TV Jones Magna'Tron pickup is a new one for me. For some reason, I was expecting a hot, mid-rangey tone. But maybe if I had actually read the description, I would have known it's nothing of the sort. I find it very twangy and snappy, almost single coil in its tone. It's very clear and cuts through whether clean or overdriven.
Here's a great YouTube demo of the guitar and the different tones available, even from a single pickup:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeXTcGraF5M&t=174s&ab_channel=RedGuitars
The very thin lacquer finish with no filler lets the texture of the wood grain shine through. I expect it to wear very easily.
Overall, this is a great and unexpected find.
