Knaggs Severn Trem SSS Flame Maple Neck Guitar – Black

Information

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

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

What Do We Think?

It only takes a note or two unplugged to realize this has a different resonance than your standard S-style guitar. And more of it. The string vibrations sound more harmonically-rich and feel more coupled to the body. Whether this is more attributable to the set neck or to the Knaggs Chesapeake trem, we can only guess.

This remarkable bridge features a hinged tremolo assembly connected to a steel bridge plate. It rides smoother than a traditional tremolo, sensitive to a light touch of the hand and always returning to the same point. It allows for an easy whole step of pitch up, and for some pretty substantial dive bombs going down. It stays in tune VERY nicely.

The Fralin Blues Special set has a touch more output than a vintage Strat set, but without losing the character. Mounted in the afore-mentioned steel bridge plate, the bridge pickup has a little something extra. There is a girth and body you gain from the pickup being mounted to something more substantial than a pickguard. It still sounds like a Strat pickup, but hits stronger.

The in-between positions have a nice quack, without completely dropping the midrange. In fact, position 2 (bridge and middle) has a sweet wah-like character with a little compression. Position 4 opens up more and emphasizes a blooming bottom end.

The neck pickup has the more direct and throaty attack you expect from this position. It has a nicely hollowed-out lower midrange. Not one that makes the pickup sound thin, because in fact it sounds quite warm. But it gives the pickup a sweet clarity with a nice punch and presence. And you don’t have to save all your solos for the bridge pickup; the neck position takes to gain very nicely too, and you’ll find it to be quite expressive to boot.

The set neck has a wonderfully-contoured heel that allows you to play the 15^th and even 17^th positions with ease. Rather than having to play around the heel, it fits comfortably in the palm of the hand. Visually, the flame maple of the neck and fretboard is quite a beautiful sight to behold. But even on their flame maple, Knaggs uses quartersawn Eastern hard rock maple to ensure excellent stability.

How Does It Play?

The Knaggs “Slight V” neck on the Severn is slightly thinner than on the Influence models. Think of it as Medium C with the slightest bit of shoulder taken off between the nut and the 5^th fret or so. Ever so slight that you are not likely to even perceive it as a V. But just enough to make sure the neck doesn’t get in its own way for chording on the lower frets. The string action hovers right around 4/64” at the 12^th fret across all strings, without buzz.

Weight: 7.4oz

The Knaggs hardshell case pictured is included!

Specifications

Model: Severn Trem SSS

Serial #: 1384

Color: Black

Body Woods: Alder

Neck Wood: T2 Maple

Fingerboard Wood: T2 Maple w/ Dot inlays

Scale Length: 25.5”

Number of Frets: 22

Fingerboard Radius: 8.5”

Fret Wire: .100 / .051

Neck Shape: .850/.860 1⁄2 fret to .940/.950 12.5 fret

Headstock Veneer:

Pickguard: Parchment

Hardware Plating: Nickel

Tuners: Gotoh locking

Nut: Graphite

Strap Buttons: Dunlop

Electronics: Vol/Tone/Tone/5-Way

Pickups: Fralin Blues Specials

String Gauge: .010s

Weight: 7.4oz

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