MusicRadar

• Review

Although a single-cut design such as this always brings Gibson to the tip of one's tongue, the vibe here is more Washburn Idol or ESP LTD EC series than anything else.

What's more, this is in effect a double-cut guitar as the small amount of body mahogany that's been removed from the upper bout between the 16th and 19th frets allows for a much cleaner access to the highest frets.

Overview

Like the ESP LTD EC-200 the AV1 is a slab-bodied affair that has been given a contour around the front and back edges, as well as the lower cutaway.

A Gibson Les Paul Standard's top is more deeply carved of course, so this design allows for a more streamlined look that brings with it more of a Gibson SG-like, rebellious vibe.

The heel is also different from what you may expect. The neck pocket is deep, and a portion of the neck tenon extends under the neck pickup.

Also, when bending the treble strings way up the dusty end, the neck wood makes for an efficient pivot for your hand, increasing accuracy in the fingering, one's technique notwithstanding.

Pickups here comprise a pair of Wilkinson's own-design WVC humbuckers that sit beneath two genuinely sexy nickel covers that and tune-o-matic-style bridge.

The bound rosewood 'board and well shaped mahogany neck here certainly make for a comfortable playing experience of sorts, although we did find the binding to be overly scruffy and the 'board itself very dry, so much so that a modicum of rasping was unavoidable.

A little rub with fine wire wool and an application of lemon oil not only takes minutes but will transform the feel dramatically.

It's also worth mentioning the frets at this point. They're a little on the low side and aren't levelled then redressed after they're inserted.

That said, the job here is tidy enough for the price, but it's one reason why we'd strongly recommend you play your potential purchase before you buy it - hitting your mouse won't let you feel what you're buying.

The graphite nut, too, is rather untidy with the D-string sticking quite seriously in its slot - again a very easy fix but one we'd have liked to been done before we - or you - receive the guitar.

The nut has also been seated poorly, with too much glue blobbed around for certainly our, and doubtless Mr Wilkinson's, liking.

The headstock bristles with six of Wilkinson's own Kluson-style tuners, which work perfectly well.

You can make your own mind up about the black plastic pegs' visual merits and, as we alluded to in the original AV1 review, pegheads and logos also seem destined to divide opinion.

Sounds

It's difficult to go far wrong with the classic combination of solid mahogany construction and a quality pickup or two - and the AV1 doesn't let us down.