Guitar Pic of the Day - 3.24.09

[Help!I'maRock!]

a step further into GreatDane's collection. out of Hamer and into McInturff's own venture.

http://greatdaneband.com/Images/MusicalEquipment/McInturff_Monarch/webTCM_Monarch-002.jpg
http://greatdaneband.com/Images/MusicalEquipment/McInturff_Monarch/webTCM_Monarch-004.jpg
http://greatdaneband.com/Images/MusicalEquipment/McInturff_Monarch/webTCM_Monarch-005.jpg
http://greatdaneband.com/Images/MusicalEquipment/McInturff_Monarch/webTCM_Monarch-013.jpg
http://greatdaneband.com/Images/MusicalEquipment/McInturff_Monarch/webTCM_Monarch-015.jpg

Terry McInturff - TCM Monarch

The Monarch’s hand carved body is made of one substantial piece of select Honduras mahogany, as is the neck. Many electric guitars of the past have been made of mahogany, but few have been able to produce the wide open, airy tones of the Monarch.
Choose from one of 3 pickup combinations at no extra charge: The versatile TCM Noiseless Singles in the neck and middle with our acclaimed TCM Zodiac humbucker in the bridge, rich and vintage neck and bridge TCM T90’s or two TCM Zodiacs for warm and punchy crunch. Also includes TonePros ™ locking fixed bridge and tailpiece with non-locking tuners or TCM Vibe and Sperzel locking keys and beautiful paua shell “rope” inlays on a select Indian rosewood fretboard.

Standard Features
Deep dish carve double cutaway design.
One piece Honduras mahogany neck.
One piece Honduras mahogany body.
East Indian rosewood fretboard.
Set in mortise and tenon neck/body joint.
Joins at the 19th fret.
25-1/8" Scale length.
1-11/16" Nut width.
12" radius arch.
22 frets, medium jumbo.
9 degree headstock pitch.
Curved, single action stainless steel truss rod.
Additional graphite reinforcements.
Unique shock protect circuit on bridge ground. Limits electric current at the strings in dangerous ground fault conditions.
Switchcraft ¼" panel style output jack.
Body cavities coated with Acheson Electrodag 112 conductive shielding paint.
Nitro cellulose lacquer.
Hand signed and numbered.
Jim Dunlop Strap-Loc compatible dual design strap buttons.
Limited lifetime warrantee to original purchaser.


SPECIFICATIONS
Tuners
Non-locking with tune-o-matic bridge and stop tail piece.
Sperzel locking with non-locking vibrato system.
Headstock
Black.
Inlay
Paua shell "Rope".
Nut
Self-lubricating composite.
Neck Carve
Standard carve — .835 @ 1st and .870 @ 10th, tapered.
Body
One piece solid mahogany, carved.
Electronics
The Monarch is available in 3 stock configurations.
1. TCM Single neck, TCM Single middle and TCM Zodiac bridge.
2. TCM Zodiac neck and TCM Zodiac bridge.
3. TCM T90 neck and TCM T90 bridge.
1 volume control.
1 tone control.
Volume controls have high pass clarity circuit which preserves tone at lower volume levels.
Finish
Standard finish included.
Hardware
Chrome hardware.
Bridge
Tone Pro's system on Nashville style tune-o-matic and stop tail piece.
Custom Gotoh non-locking vibrato system on tremolo equipped guitars.
Retail Price
$2,695
Includes deluxe hard-shell case.
Options
'57 Neck Carve — .905 all the way down — No Charge.
Mild V Neck Carve — .900 @ 1st and 1.00 @ 10th — $500.
Matching mahogany headstock — $100.
Upgrade to Gold Hardware — $150.
Pickup configurations as listed above — No charge.
Tune-o-matic and stop tail piece, or non-locking vibrato system — No Charge.

[Prages]

There are so many things I like about that guitar that I find it strange that the few things I don't like outweigh them.

I HATE abalone inlays. I can tolerate abalone dots, but anything more than that and I can't help but be reminded of all the cheap Asian guitars with abalone all over the fretboard and binding.

I'm also not crazy about the way the top is carved, and the placement of the 5 way switch seems like they forgot about it until the very end and then said "We'll just stick it right there for now".

I'm sure it's a great guitar, and if I played it, I might change my mind, but just because of those few things, I really don't have any desire to try it.

[Chihlidog]

I like it a lot, but I dont like the color of the pickups with the rest of the guitar. If they were just about any other color I would really be into this one. Chrome, black, even gold.

[Aahzz]

The switch position bugs me, but I like it otherwise.

[Mark Wein]

Not sure I dig it. The controls all the way around seem strangely placed.I think I agree with Prages that the top carve is a bit much for the size of the guitar, and makes the control placement a little strange.

I'm sure it would be one of those guitars I would pick up and love if I played it even though I don't dig how it looks, though :facepalm:

[JModius1972]

Oh man. I'm going to go against public opinion here and once again say WANT! love0

[Denverdave]

Hmmmm....a McInturff PRS clone - or at least a high class tip'o the hat to PRS. I like the guitar overall, but echo some of the above observations (inlay & switch placement).

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[Help!I'maRock!]

Hmmmm....a McInturff PRS clone - or at least a high class tip'o the hat to PRS. I like the guitar overall, but echo some of the above observations (inlay & switch placement).

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McInturff worked at Hamer before his own venture. and was involved in the design of yesterday's guitar. if anything, its a Hamer clone, not a PRS.