Kauer Super Chief "The Tree" Quilted Mahogany Back Semi-Hollow Guitar –Taos Blue

Information

Brand New with Warranty. We are an authorized Kauer dealer!

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

This guitar is a one-of-a-kind offering even within the already-hallowed halls of the Super Chief. The highly figured QUILTED HONDURAN MAHOGANY back on this one comes from “The Tree”. Quite literally, this is the tree of Robert Novak fame and the only one ever known to yield quilted mahogany. This guitar is a true piece of history as the last available wood sets are in very short supply. Tonally, The Tree has qualities more similar to Brazilian Rosewood than to regular mahogany, simultaneously deep, rich and brilliant.

We’ll tell you right upfront that photos do not do this guitar justice. The quilted mahogany has a three-dimensionality that ripples intensely under the sun. On the top, the tortoise purfling and Taos Blue finish might just pale the New Mexico earth and sky. With a thoughtfully-contoured neck heel, the 15.5" wide semi hollow body plays far smaller than it has a right to. Even the 17th position plays unimpeded, and getting precise fingering right up to the 22nd fret is no problem.

We would like to point out that we have chosen not to price the guitar any higher than the minimum advertised price set by Doug Kauer. We want to keep this guitar as obtainable as possible for anyone who appreciates what we have on hand here. Doug added only a minimal upcharge for the quilted mahogany so this is most likely the cheapest opportunity you’ll find to own a guitar built with The Tree!

What Do We Think?

Compared to some other notable semi-hollowbody guitar examples, this one has a bit more get-up-and-go. It has the warm, woody vowels in the low register that you would expect to find, but a more crisp and responsive upper register. We’re not sure whether that’s more the Solid Maple top and Solid Quilted Mahogany back speaking or a healthy dose of the Wolfetone KauerBucker pickups. Either way, we like it.

The neck pickup is smooth and sweet, and the tone knob has a superb sweep than can mellow out the pickup even further without loss of intelligibility. The bridge pickup has a throaty growl when you dig in but also cleans up promptly with a lighter attack. And it all opens up like the Taos heavens in the middle position for a huge shimmer that hangs gracefully above of the body’s natural resonance. All three positions are bound to see a lot of action. Sprinkle in the Bigsby as generously as you like, because the Sperzel locking tuners and perfectly-cut nut slots keep the stars in place and your tuning in check.

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 12th fret and 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: 6lb 15oz (Kauer has it at 7lb 2oz but their scale reads heavy!)

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

Specifications

Body

Top: Eastern Maple

Back: Highly Figured Quilted Mahogany

Neck: Spanish Mahogany

Binding: White

Finish

Top: Taos Blue

Back: Vintage Brown

Neck: Vintage Brown

Neck

Neck Profile: Standard C

1st Fret: .86”

12th Fret: .91”

Width at Nut: 1.7”

Binding: White

Fretboard: Wenge

Scale: 24.75”

Frets: 22

Radius: 12”

Fretwire: Jescar 47095NS

Inlays: Keystone

Hardware

Bridge: TonePros Tune-o-Matic

Talipiece: Bigsby B7 Vibrato

Tuners: Sperzel Open Back Locking

Electronics

Control Layout: 2 Vol / 2 Tone + 3 way switch

Pickups: Wolfetone KauerBuckers

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