OVERALL
IMPRESSION
Although Casper
Guitar Technologies is able to design and develop guitars that are simple in
concept, this guitar was developed with opulence in mind. The first Casper
guitar developed for my needs is very much bare-bones in many respects, but it
is a brute in construction, meant to be played and to last several lifetimes –
it is so easy to play (incredible neck!), and yet extremely solid in its build.
The JEM Sublime is of the same quality craftsmanship, made to be played –
extremely solid in its construction, yet beautifully elaborate designs and
ornamentation almost make it seem fragile to the senses. The tone is gorgeous,
as the notes ring clear through the custom Sublime pickups. Stock
‘relics’ and other stock ‘boutique’ guitars cost as much, and sometimes more
than the JEM Sublime with its decked-out décor and custom electronics,
but why have something stock when you can have a unique instrument that no other
person on the planet has? Stephen Casper’s decades of expertise and work
demonstrates how he can take a popular concept (e.g., the JEM), and create a
masterpiece that exceeds the quality and playability of what a JEM owner would
come to expect.
What further
makes this guitar unique is the number of involved artisans from around the
globe. Many of the guitar elements (apart from the basic JEM shape) came from my
design, of what I envisioned, and then this was realized through the talents of
others. The guitar body and neck was made in Florida, the pickups from Hungary,
the fretboard inlay from Korea, the silver knobs and tuner pegs from British
Columbia (via Sweden). And then there are the accessories: An alligator strap
from Florida, a silver pick from the UK, and a hand-designed case from New York.
This package is one-of-a-kind not only in design, but in the collaborative
efforts of skilled artisans who have a passion for music and quality instrument
creation.
Only partially
completed in detail, you can see a video of this guitar in action:
http://youtu.be/GUnJIFOpfOU