Josh Williams Guitars Stella Carved Top Dirty Lemon Burst w/Ron Ellis (USED, 2024)

The Stella Carved Top is Josh Williams' Les Paul-inspired guitar, though in hand, it definitely has its own vibe - ie, this isn't a replica, and honestly, we're thankful for it.

The recipe for this guitar is what you might expect - maple top/mahogany body, mahogany neck/rosewood fingerboard, 24.75" scale length, twin humbuckers, and a tune-o-matic style bridge. What's endlessly fascinating though, is how a wide range of builders can use this standard recipe and achieve vastly different results.

One of the biggest differences between the Stella and a Les Paul is the body width - the Stella measures 14" wide vs a Les Paul's 13". You wouldn't think an inch would make such a difference, but it does - and a positive difference in our book. This extra width makes the Stella more comfortable and less prone to balance issues when seated or standing.

Another highlight of this model is the neck carve. Measuring .89" @ the first fret, the carve feels very similar to a '59 Les Paul though the Stella has more of a soft V to it. Suffice it to say, it's a carve that a lot of players will find agreeable and is definitely one we really love.

Tonally? This one’s a standout. The original owner had us install a set of Ron Ellis pickups (Signature in the neck, LRP in the bridge), an upgraded wiring harness (originals not included), and a Faber bridge and the results are everything we want from a guitar in this lane - classic “Tele-on-steroids” tones with clarity, bite, and the punch of a great humbucker-equipped guitar. Ellis pickups also possess a feel thing that's hard to describe but suffice it to say, a lot of the praise and "magic" of Ron's pickups are in their dynamic range / touch-sensitivity. The fact that they also sound phenomenal makes them some of the best pickups on the market.

The volume and tone controls are exceptionally responsive, making it easy to shape everything from sparkling cleans to rich, dynamic overdrive, often without even touching your amp. Just a beautifully voiced, wide-ranging instrument that rewards every touch. Simply put - the Stella Carved Top is an outstanding LP-inspired build with enough meaningful tweaks to right some of the common complaints of the iconic LP. Excellent stuff, Josh!

• Body//Top--Curly Maple, Body--Mahogany, Finish--Closet Clean, Color--Dirty Lemon Burst, Binding--Cream
• Hardware//Pickups--Ron Ellis Signature (neck) / LRP (bridge) , Bridge/Stoptail--Faber, Tuners--Kluson Pearl Buttons
• Neck//Neck--Mahogany, Fingerboard--Rosewood, First Fret Thickness--.89", Inlay--MoP Vintage Small Blocks, Frets--Medium/Jumbo, Nut--Bone 1 11/16", Scale Length--24.75"
• Other//Condition--Aside from Josh's own aged finish there are few additional signs of wear present (a smudge here / there - it fits perfectly with the relic'ing). A very well cared for instrument / no fret wear, Weight--8lbs 10oz, Serial Number--399, Case--Mono Gig Bag

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