Up for sale, a 2020 Karge Blackguard Esquire in like-new, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with original G&G-brand hardshell tweed case and hangtags. This guitar was handmade by Randy Springis at his workshop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Since he started crafting guitars in 2017, Springis and Karge have quickly garnered a reputation for high-quality, workhorse instruments.
This particular T-Type guitar features some impressive tonewoods: the body is American chestnut, reclaimed from the 19th century beams of a North Carolina tobacco barn, while the one-piece neck is heavily figured flame maple. The chestnut and maple produce an acoustic profile that's bold and gutsy, qualities which translate well through the Klein Epic Esquire pickup. Klein’s Esquire pickup is meticulously made to vintage spec with a blend of Alnico III magnets, and the custom-made baseplate is copper plated cold rolled steel. The resulting tone delivers fat low end, thick and chunky mids, and smooth treble. Featherweight at just 6lbs 4oz, this Karge has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action and accurate intonation.
The one-piece maple neck features deep figuring along the profile length and headstock, with a full U-shaped profile carve that offers generous shoulder in every register, measuring .920” deep at the 1st fret and .970” at the 12th. The maple fretboard has a 9 1/2" radius, and the StewMac 148 medium fretwire is flawless. The scale length is a full 25 1/2” and the nut measures 1 11/16” in width, hand-carved from bone. The uniquely-shaped headstock features a block letter Karge logo, as well as stock Kluson-style Gotoh SD91 tuners which turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch.
All the electronics work exactly as they should, with the Klein Epic Esquire pickup wired directly to Emerson 250k pots for the Master Volume and Tone controls. This guitar features an (factory) Eldred mod on the selector switch, an alteration which has become quite popular with Esquire players thanks to the versatility it adds to the one-pickup instrument by allowing the Volume and Tone knobs to be reconfigured to three different settings through the selector switch.
Position 1: In this position, the pickup is routed through the Volume control only, bypassing the Tone pot entirely and allowing for a hotter, louder lead sound with even more high end.
Position 2: A standard Esquire configuration, routed through the Volume and Tone knobs.
Position 3: Once again, the Tone control is bypassed, but this time the signal is routed through a fixed .0047uF Tone capacitor which scoops the mids, warms the tone and gives the guitar a particular “oh-oh” vocal quality which, when used in tandem with the Volume knob, can effectively replicate the feel of a wah pedal.
Hardware includes a pair of domed knurled knobs, serialized neck plate, and a Callaham Vintage T-style bridge with enhanced compensated brass saddles for improved intonation. The one-ply pickguard rounds things out, evoking early '50s Fender specs. The nitro lacquer Butterscotch finish exhibits various dings and edge wear, all presumably from the factory relic treatment (especially given the like-new nature of the frets and neck gloss).
The original custom G&G-brand hardshell case is included, as is a significant amount of case candy including original spec sheet dating the guitar to 5/1/20, hangtags, warranty, and letter of authenticity written by Randy Springis.
