Clips:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2183128/Vik_SL8_Clip1_July9.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2183128/Vik_SL8_Clip2_July9.mp3
Specs:
- 22 frets, 682mm, 26,85"
- Honduran mahogany and ash body
- ISNC Set-in bubinga/rosewood/bird's eye maple neck with traditional headstock 8
- Rosewood/ fretless Ebony fingerboard with compound radius
- German fretwire
- Hipshot 8 hardtail bridge
- Gotoh SGL510Z tuners with plastic buttons, 21:1 gear ratio
- SD Blackouts 8 pickups
- Gotoh battery box
- 3 way Toggle switch
- Black MOP Lotus inlay
- Ebony bindings around neck
- Oil/wax neck finish
- Nitro-cellulouse high gloss black front and natural satin back body finish
I loved his designs right off the bat, the lines are clean and symmetrical, and everything works ergonomically. The attention to detail is insane for a hand built instrument; everything is super tight and high quality. As soon as I gave it a strum I noticed the resonance all over the neck and man the sustain - it was like having a built in compressor or something, the notes will ring out as long as you wish.
Plugged in it sounds huge and growls, very cutting mids and very nice and tight low end. The fretless was immediately inspiring, I had a bunch of ideas start coming out and got used to it very quickly. Another fine detail is the slight taper and rounding of where the fretless board meets the fretted to make bending and vibrato on the low string seamless. It came with SD Blackouts for electronics which I didnt love, they are good for some things and insanely high output but I popped in an 808x which I prefer.