Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Guitars

In Pictures: Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 21 July 2014

Latest from boutique Finnish guitar-maker uses Arctic salmon-skin finish

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Shoal Music

Shoal Music

Finnish guitar maker Kari Nieminen’s hand-crafted Versoul guitars have been paraded onstage by a succession of stars, including Ronnie Wood, Kenny Burrell, Allan Holdsworth, Michael Landau and Billy F Gibbons.

Gibbons is a particular fan of the Raya Blue Light model, having purchased and played several, including custom versions with necks covered in gold leaf.

Versoul’s latest creation is a Raya Blue Light model, too, but what’s different is the finish: the top of the guitar’s body, fingerboard and headstock are covered with two-piece tanned and lacquered salmon skin.

Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

The guitar itself has a heavily chambered alder body finished in black on the back, with a 24.75-inch scale curly maple neck, finished in dark transparent brown and featuring narrow vintage frets made from a bronze alloy.

Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Contributing to the guitar’s full, open tone is a new improved, hand-wound Versoul humbucker pickup, specially voiced with an Alnico 2 magnet and combined with enamel copper wire.

Finishing touches include distinctive Frost Silver plating for the metal hardware, maple bindings with wood purfling and perforated steel side.

And the volume knob is hand-crafted from moose horn – should it have been called the salmon moose?

See versoul.com for more info.

Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

The magazine for serious players image
The magazine for serious players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Latest in Guitars
Deals of the week logo
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $140 off a Yamaha Stage Custom, $200 off a Fender Tele, and hundreds off PA and live gear
 
 
Robben Ford [left] wears a dark suit jacket and v-neck t-shirt as he plays a blonde Telecaster onstage. Photographed in 1975, Joni Mitchell [right] plays her Martin dreadnought live onstage at Wembley Stadium.
Robben Ford reveals the Joni Mitchell tone tricks that helped him nail his guitar sound in the studio
 
 
Gibson Mark Ronson Les Paul Custom
Gibson unveils Murphy Lab replica of Mick Ronson’s Bowie-era 1968 Les Paul Custom
 
 
Harley Benton ST-Modern Carlos Asensio
“An absolute steal when it comes to quality and value for money”: Harley Benton ST-Modern Carlos Asensio CGM review
 
 
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush perform live in 2015.
Geddy Lee on honouring Neil Peart and why he and Alex Lifeson are getting back together as Rush
 
 
Wampler Golden Jubilee: the sparkly-green stompbox has gold anodized dials and two channels of drive to play with, placing classic Plexi and Mesa-style sounds into a compact housing.
Love hotrodded Plexi crunch and Mesa high-gain drive? Wampler’s Golden Jubilee serves up both in one sparkly green stompbox
 
 
Latest in News
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Ravyn Lenae performs onstage during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joshua Applegate/WireImage)
How a warped sample and some Anderson .Paak magic helped Ravyn Lenae to create Love Me Not, her viral hit
 
 
tembo
Tembo is a kid-friendly magnetic drum machine and sampler that promises "unforgettable family jam sessions"
 
 
Thomann compo poster - a man, woman and child playing music
Thomann are on the look out for customers of theirs whose stories “move people and spark inspiration”
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Laufey performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
In an era of loudness, Laufey is flying the flag for "the lost art of dynamics"
 
 
keystep 37 mk2
"Spark ideas in your DAW, pilot any synth or patch modular without breaking your flow": Arturia unveils KeyStep 37 Mk2 with redesigned interface, extended connectivity and generative tools
 
 
Suno text prompt
“The hijacking of the world’s entire treasure-trove of music”: Artists’ pressure group launches Say No To Suno campaign
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...