Fender And Gibson Would Never Make This Guitar

[@michaelthomas9991]

That guitar sounds like it’s straight out of the ‘50’s / ‘60’s era. Beautiful clean sound, and great playing Phil. Nicely done, sir!

[@kevinmackfurniture]

The neck on this guitar is actually "Rift" sawn. True quarter sawn material is between 75° to a perfect 90° to the surface. Rift Sawn (Also Very Stable) is anything from 80° to 45° to the surface. Sweet Guitar.

[@jamro217]

It is always impressive how someone can make an instrument today based on models that are seventy years old and still come up with a fresh approach. Great job!

[@freeman436]

I own two Belltones. Phenomenal fit and finish. Excellent customer service. Super cool exquisite instruments.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you for your comment!

[@SosAmanSam]

Why did you have to contact customer service?

[@freeman436]

@@SosAmanSam Customer service as in the purchasing process was flawless. I never had to access CS because of a problem. Zero problems.

[@eamonahern7495]

Can they be played with classical style hand position standing up? As in thumb at the back of the neck rather than cradling it in the hand and resting with the headstock high.

[@BryanBrett-q4d]

​@@eamonahern7495no

[@samuelhatman8995]

I watch you a lot, and always enjoy your content. I've played 66 years... a little more than you've been breathing air. I researched you, just a little. And... I like your refreshing unbiased honest approach to evaluation. But!!! I ring like a bell to art and emotions. Did I detect/respond to your demo playing the Belltone? I think you like that guitar. I looked at your eyes, and the snap of your gaze while listening. You know this is a beautifully built instrument, thoughtfully designed, capable of being more than it's monetary value in expression and voice. Gosh Phil, great video! If I could pony up the cash, I would dang sure own the guitar you played tonight. Thank you, thank you for bringing us all a wonderful new American built instrument. Yours, Sam

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

Totally agree with Sam here. There was something different about you playing and hearing this guitar. Phenomenal tones!! I Love it.

[@garymcaleer6112]

It has a sweet chime to it. And "clean as a whistle."

[@ProbableCauseBluesBand]

I typically don’t get excited about customer builds, but this guitar is super cool!!!

[@Twy7chTec_Shop]

That finish is absolutely jaw droppingly, just gorgeous!!

[@samuelhatman8995]

Yup, pure honest appreciation... no agenda. Sooo well done!

[@carlc2597]

Man, that burst Strat on the wall, I think that is my favorite traditional vintage look, just classic, beautiful!

[@jrm2fla]

I know the owner / designer, he lives here in Miami FL … innovative guy, a good songwriter, guitar player and performer

[@AuntJoey]

Looks like the bastard child from the love affair 3-way with a Fender Telecaster neck, a Gibson Les Paul body, and Gretsch pickups. What kind of music does this guy play?

[@JeanLeite-d1e]

I like it! It has a little bit of all the characteristics of some of the best guitars ever made. And everything here is done in a high class way for the owner! Well done AND sounds great!

[@brianlebrun2382]

I absolutely love those tones. The edge of breakup thing you were doing was perfect especially in the neck position. It's so nice to hear a neck humbucker that doesn't have that Gibson bark. I'll have to check out their site since you said it came from Florida...which is where I am. Thanks for the demo.

[@davidl7447]

Tele, Les, Gretch is a perfect description Phil

[@AuntJoey]

Yup. That's what it is!

[@sseltrek1a2b]

and, it actually "works"...they did a nice job blending these different instruments...

[@papasteve7376]

As always, thanks Phil. Watch Phil's live podcast on Friday's at 6pm EDT

[@danparry834]

Great video Phil, it really seemed like you enjoyed playing this fine guitar!

[@JayceAllanGuitar]

That thing is gorgeous.

[@roberteffler3382]

Reminds my of an Ovation electric they produced in the 70's, I think they called it "The preacher"

[@MystNLMusic]

I thought it was the breadwinner?

[@roberteffler3382]

@@MystNLMusic It's possible, it's been a long time!

[@GoudLoodje]

@@MystNLMusic Nah a Breadwinner was just like a Deacon; a weird asymmetrical body. The preacher was a double cutaway guitar, like Ovation's take on an SG with mini humbuckers. To me this Belltone guitar looks like a single cut Preacher, so kinda like a hybrid between a Preacher and a Viper

[@akeeperofoddknowledge4956]

I dont ordinarily like single-cut guitars (says the guy who bought a $150 Epiphone LP Special ) or a maple fretboard- but Im loving this! It looks beautiful and sounds even better! Great playing, btw, Phil!

[@matthewprimeau8552]

your reviews are GREAT!

[@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow]

i checked out their website cool looking guitars reminds me of classic 1950's cars .. they have that classic vibe

[@michaelgentlemaniac757olse5]

Sounds amazing, like a hazelnut gelato on a summer day. Wow!

[@Doug5524]

Superb demo Phill, What a stunning guitar straight out of the 50s

[@LuftysSpacedock]

Thanks for the video Phil, you are always throwing something at us that is suprising, new, and in this case, for me, have never heard of before! I think you are spot on on your conclusion about a player wanting something that a Fender/Gibson isn't giving them, and this could be it! I play allot of surf style, and that whole Fender strat/jazzmaster/jag only thing can get a little, well dull at times, and this Belltone could, with a dialed in config, perhaps really surf it up! Sounded great! Would love to see one in person. Thanks for the share!

[@elizabethanderson2968]

Brilliant info ... you are a treasure trove of insights!

[@jerrykuchera5467]

Stunning guitar! Great review work Phil! It's outa my price range alas. But it's drool worthy!!!

[@sirtogii5216]

Love to find out about guitar makers I've never heard of!

[@leiferickson3183]

That sounds amazing!

[@rickmorse9884]

Great video, Phillip! I never understood why Gretsch pickups sounded so unique compared to everyone else's ... thanks for explaining that!

[@steveworth544]

When you played clean and gently used the vibrato arm it almost sounded as if you were playing through a tape echo. What a stunning guitar.

[@GeorgiaSalt_]

Great tone unexpectedly sweet

[@RobertJohnRoberts]

One of the best sounds...the combo of the guitar, pedal(s), and amp was really, really cool. I would have liked to heard a comparison a LP standard, Strat/Tele against this. Love the sound, but how does it compare? I could have listened to your sound demo for a couple hours, man. The neck pickup especially, it sounded like we were just flying along, cruising amongst the clouds. Awesome, as usual. Thnx.

[@xpump876]

@12:30 - 23$ for a capacitor ! (... I got some fancy speaker canles I cansell ya)

[@RP-sk8ij]

What a beautiful tone, great choice of guitar 🎸🎶🎵

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Very much my thing. My guitars are mostly retro, like my Silverstone or Harmony etc. All tastefully upgraded with better PU's disguised to look period correct, so cosmetically you think they are factory spec. The Belltone have really nailed that kind of look.

[@tmsglobal5848]

Great to hear about this USA brand of guitars

[@Z4LTTE]

phillip shredding like crazy at 7:25

[@AverySylvaine]

I want the Agufish signature baritone sooo bad. I missed the last Agufish signature and I’m scared of missing out on this one too. It’s got all the specs I could possibly want in a guitar and it looks stellar.

[@Thorgnor]

Totally digging those tones you're getting!

[@STORMBREAKER_250]

Kinda reminds me of an old Obation Breadwinner like Glenn Campbell played.

[@Mr.-J-2024]

On first look, I liked that the shape reminded me of a nod to the old 70s Ovation Viper electric! Filtertrons with vibrato... sweet. Nice Tele style pup switch too. I liked it very much overall. Thanks Phil.

[@gregb6387]

Beautiful sounding pickups.

[@mikekozi-lester3887]

Hi Guitar 🎸 Guy 👦 nice video 📹 and workmanship

[@progresspedals]

Subtle Viper/Deacon vibes, the pg reminds me of Decoboom stuff, and the aluminum switch tip reminds me of this Reverb shop I like- check out Forney Custom's 'verb shop. The nice contrast of the warmer pickups and the snap of the maple neck was more evident and expressive with that OD pedal engaged. Very cool piece! xo

[@Renshen1957]

There’s the LP Double Cut Special with P-90’s was James Gurley’s go to guitar Guitar through a dimmed Fender Showman or Fender Twin with/without a fuzz was used on the highest frets for Ball and Chain. See the live version from KQED live performance short video.

[@markfahey3921]

It sounds beautiful, and I (surprisingly for me) like the look of it very much.

[@myoptik3x103]

Sounds wonderful, looks beautiful in a classic sort of way. Not sure we could ask for more.

[@Gene_Cali]

🎸 I Love your Playin', thanks

[@neilpatrickhairless]

Had a discussion on Reddit earlier and apparently there is public support for an alternate Phil McKnight channel that caters specifically to bass players. The silver lining is you won't get bogged down in thousands of gear reviews on a bass centric channel

[@The-Lu]

This guitar is so sick, the one on the website that's Superman colors look so sweet. This might be my upgrade to my Fender Strat when I go to get a new one. :D

[@wetwebwork]

That is a beautiful looking and sounding guitar. Thanks for the video

[@mikedr1549]

Whoa - sounds really really nice. Smoooooooooooth and silky.

[@alfabethev2.074]

You make t h e best reviews ! Tnx Phil ! 👍🏻

[@ampgent]

Johnny Marr vibes on that bridge pickup 😎

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Nice. This guitar has soul.

[@michaelgentlemaniac757olse5]

Looks awesome, classy. Cost?

[@guitarplayer5932]

heres what you need guitar players, 1. satin finish neck, 2. medium jumbo stainless frets, 3. locking tuners, everything else to taste, pickups color, neck radius etc

[@BitMatt1]

Wow, love that guitar

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

That is one nice instrument. Before you did the price reveal, I was just adding up each feature in my head as you were pointing out each along the way and was expecting well above $3k. Maybe even something like $3650 or so. I was pleasantly surprised at the $2600-ish price. And that tone was giving me a chubby when thinking of how it would sound with my Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus and my Strymon Big Sky reverb pedal. Or even my EHX Memory Man Deluxe, or both. Whooh boi! The sound of Heaven on Earth baby!

[@PulauSwan]

A little pedantic , I know, but in the transcript , 1:00 - 1:10 mins , I read about a maple guitar neck, pre-treated with anabolic steroids. I wasn't aware that maple trees were fretilized with them. Quon and Cortison . Are these chemicals used to straighten the grain , whilst the tree is growing, or after the tree is harvested , sawn and then kiln dried , to it's specific hydration spec. I have a few guitars with quarter-sawn necks , ( Momose ), have the MIJ's been getting the same treatment . WTF ❤😊😂

[@joeb8383]

What an amazing amazing sound !!! Absolutely love it .

[@RossD8]

Love your style. I'm in.

[@dennismcquoid9751]

Great looking guitar!

[@TheNewRevolution]

Damn that's a nice guitar. I've never heard of Belltone. I rock that guitar all day.

[@steveoneal5257]

great review

[@captainbandar2393]

Thank you for what you’re doing Phillip, can you kindly do one on NOVOs Serus J

[@PatrickGeneLeBlancHardy]

Sweet!! Thanks For Sharing 🧠🎸🎶✌️

[@nellayema2455]

Great sounding guitar. The body shape reminds me of the Ovation Viper.

[@mattj6676]

That's a great guitar. It looks great, it looks different without being weird, it sounds great, everything on it had thought put into it. That's a great case too. I like things that are different but practical, and that fits the bill! I also like that they use domestic wood, nothing wrong with a maple neck.

[@peskypesky]

gorgeous guitar. and I love the original design.

[@bareandmare]

Wasn't familiar with Beltone, thanks for the introduction . . . . . will check out their Lefties . . .

[@claudiajay8291]

Seems like a good jazz or blues guitar … very smooth… I’ll put that one in my list …I’d love to trade some of my gear but now is not the time ❤

[@matsherwood6277]

Beautiful sounding guitar.

[@gtr1952]

Neck thickness/carve is important to me. 85/91 would work fine. Sounds great too!! Thanks!! --gary

[@papablue3015]

Phil: What do you get when you mix? I was gonna say a rash? But that's much better! That's a sharp looking guitar! Thanks 🤘

[@cosmicbackwoods]

that thing is beautiful

[@sseltrek1a2b]

that aluminum selector knob is nice...so tired of the plastic ones (especially those that are 2 piece)...

[@mikestroud9969]

Good video buddy 😊. I myself would never pay that much for that guitar. 😮. Take care Have a good one 😎✌️👊🎸

[@WakizashiSabre]

iD say, that relief is kinda mystery, on some, neck is constant through the all the way and on others it affects like first five seven frets mostly.

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Wooow that sounds beautiful

[@chucksgarage7165]

Takamine made an electric guitar in the early 80s that was shaped like a Stratocaster but it had 2 humbuckers and a 2 piece tail like a Les Paul. The neck and the body were 1 piece. My dad bought one for me at about age 12-14. I think it was 120 bucks. It’s a pretty nice guitar. I put a Jeff beck pickup in it and had it setup by Tom (TK) Keck at strings n things in memphis and it plays pretty good.

[@GuitarGearGyan]

Guess my next project build will be based on this phenomenal guitar.

[@BrentAdams]

Sweet Sounds!

[@ildarrrr2]

It reminds me of 1976 Ovation Viper guitar - similar shape, supreme quality and similar supreme sound

[@honkytonkinson9787]

My 20 year old too of the line Fender strat has a flat sawn neck I haven’t had to do any adjustments to the neck in that amount of time, so stable neck I do live in Tennessee so temperature and humidity are relatively stable My bottom of the line Ibanez bass has a three piece quarter sawn neck, not particularly stable, and I think my truss rod is almost maxed; with light gauge strings

[@nunyabusiness6691]

Gibson has made a guitar similar to this. It was called the Sonex. I don't know if they ever made one with a trem system. Gibson has made several Tele and Strat style/competitor guitars with different pickup configurations and bolt on necks over the years.

[@joe-ng3ky]

It does favor my ovation viper everything except the headstock Nice guitar

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Not meant in a negative way, but through the years I keep seeing the revelation brand that challenge the big F and G. However, do they still exist after 3 or 5 years? I remember some of these brands, but I never see them mentioned, demonstrated or used in any video anymore. Could you check your previous videos on those brands and evaluate their current state?

[@stevegroh4520]

This guitar is gorgeous, me want!!

[@bozmusic2]

I want one!😀

[@nvlddmkm1282]

Question to Phil or anyone that may know (regarding Phil's tip on checking flat/quarter sawn) - I recently bought an Eastman SB59/tv which appears to have a quarter sawn neck (mahogany), but the body is also a 1-piece mahogany body and looking at the side on the bottom, the grain also goes top to bottom. I can't imagine the entire body plank was quarter sawn, but because of this grain direction, does this apply to mahogany as well?

[@MrShooter72]

I hadn't heard of this brand, but the case looked nice. Then you opened it and I spat out my root beer and shouted, "Holy CARP!!!"

[@Berndaddie]

Thx Phil. Very nice guitar.

[@steverhinefrank5589]

more good work ! thanks ! a personal taste nit pic... i am a huge fan of sepatate volume controls for each p/u. especially when the control cavity is this cavernous. single tone is fine. but being able to blend the pickups is sooo desirable.. ok, rant over. cool guitar !

[@beatmasterbossy]

The Fender American tremolo with milled saddles has sharp screws and they do stick out.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

Maybe I'm spoiled, or maybe it's the times we're in, but high quality is expected, not a feature, of a boutique guitar, and nothing else but the neat looking routes in the pickguard, stands out about this guitar.

[@christopherholbert1878]

Hi Phil have you ever tried the Sterling SUB Ax4 with the Floyd Rose trem?

[@Kunibert_Knatter]

Pretty neat, indeed!

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you

[@brandonanderson2066]

Cool guitar

[@jamesgibson3242]

Phil ever consider doing a video on Mosrite? Either vintage USA or if that is too much $$$ for you how about a Japanese version? There are tons of Japanese Mosrites on eBay.