Kauer Super Chief Black “Excalibur” Semi-Hollow Guitar w/ TV Jones & Bigsby

Information

Brand New w/ Warranty. We are an authorized Kauer Dealer.

Like what you see? All photos are of the exact instrument you will receive.

From the mouth of the builder: “This new semi hollow features our biggest ever 15.5" wide semi hollow body featuring our I-beam internal construction, Spanish Mahogany core and neck with Maple or Spanish Mahogany front and back plates. Huge, giant sound that is unrivaled in clarity and punch.” Despite its semi-hollow body, multiple members of the Guitars To Be Played team have commented on how uninhibited the upper fret access is on the Super Chief. The lower cutaway is fabulously deep and the heel is thoughtfully contoured. Even thumb-over-the-neck players will find ample room for their hand right up to the last fret. Also worth noting: Sperzel Locking tuners and Dunlop Straplock-ready buttons come standard!

What Do We Think?

Whether you’re looking for hot-rodded Filter’Tron tones or the more delicate touch of single coils, this guitar delivers. That’s right, the coil splits on this Super Chief sound fantastic. The TV Jones Power’Tron in the neck and Power’Tron Plus in the bridge are the perfect pickups to harness the character of the maple top/maple back/mahogany core semi-hollow body. In humbucking mode they have a big bottom end, a harmonically-rich midrange and a tapered-off top end. The bridge position in particular has a nice bite in the upper reaches of the midrange in case you want to crank up the drive.

Coil-split, the pickups highlight more of the responsive upper register of the solid maple top and back. The neck position retains a lot of warmth but gains a beautiful “snap” and extra sweetness. The Power’Tron Plus in the bridge position likewise maintains a strong bottom end but again inherits a crisper midrange and more detail in the top end. Whether going for classic rock tones in the vein of Keith Richards, or a transparent platform for a load of effects to follow, the coil split positions really deliver.

The cocked wah gives that rocked-back setting on a wah pedal at the flip of a switch. We think this sounds really fantastic on the coil split positions, kind of like rolling the tone back but with its own voice. Smooth and a little bit Santana. While we’re talking tonal options, the combination of coil split and phase reverse between the pickups is pretty darn cool too. A little quack and a lot of chime at the same time.

This Black “Excalibur” model features gold sparkle binding and gold hardware all around. Sperzel Locking tuners, Bigsby, the works. Even gold sparkle Kauer logo on the headstock. It’s a beauty for sure.

How Does It Play?

Doug Kauer and team have done it once again! We don’t usually set guitars up this low but the PLEK’d neck just plays perfectly with string action of 4/64” on the low E at the 12^th fret and a hair over 3/64” on the high E. No buzz. The medium C neck has enough substance to support the hand but not too much to get in the way. This guitar provides an extremely easy playing experience.

Weight: 7lb 13oz

The Mono Vertigo hybrid case is included and gives you ultimate flexibility along with superb protection.

Specifications

Body

Top: Maple

Back: Maple

Neck: Spanish Mahogany

Binding: Gold Sparkle

Finish

Top: Black

Back: Black

Neck: Black

Neck

Neck Profile: C

1^st Fret: .89”

12^th Fret: .96”

Width at Nut: 1.70”

Binding: Gold Sparkle

Fretboard: Wenge

Scale: 24.75”

Frets: 22

Radius: 12”

Fretwire: Jescar 47095NS

Inlays: Keystone

Hardware

Bridge: TonePros Tune-o-Matic

Talipiece: Bigsby B5 + Vibramate

Tuners: Sperzel Open Back Locking

Electronics

Control Layout: 2 Vol / 2 Tone / 3-way toggle

Pickups: TV Jones Power’Tron / Power’Tron Plus

Extra: Cocked Wah, Coil Split, Phase Reverse

Reviews