Tausch Custom OAP-IV Signature
The custom guitar virus has attacked once more. This is the result - my Tausch OAP-IV. And it's obviously quite different from the other three Tauschs. But let me take you through it step by step.
First of all, the body shape is something new compared to my other Tausch guitars. The models I-III feature the curvy and sexy JS-shaped body with rounded contours and asymmetric aerofoil profile, while this one goes more into the rock guitar/superstrat direction, resembling shapes like Ibanez RG, Jackson Soloist, Kramer Stagemaster Standard or ESP M-II. The reverse headstock is clearly inspired by ESP, but more about that later. HH pickup configuration in chrome bezels, along with a chrome Floyd Rose complete the classic body look.
This time, I wanted to combine several fascinating aspects in one guitar:
- Neck-through construction: Just like the 80's high-tech superstrats e.g. from Jackson or Kramer, or my trusty Ibanez Prestige RGT. The playability is second to none, of course mostly due to the smooth neck-body connection.
- Pau Ferro neck wood: Also known as Santos Rosewood. Hard, stable, dark and very pretty, kind of an "haute couture" wood and almost a best seller offered by many boutique guitar makers nowadays. I had to jump on the bandwagon here and run with the pack. :)
- Sound chambers: A nice "undercover" feature, not so much for weight reasons, but for tone. For example, my Maxxas MX3 with the semi-hollow body excites me with its quick response and overtone richness. The Swamp Ash body wings are partly hollowed out and then glued to the center piece (which is actually the neck).
- Seymour Duncan P-Rails: OK, this is an experiment. These P-Rails are supposed to provide the flexibility to have a chunky single-coil, a genuine P90 and a humbucking tone in one pickup. I wonder if they can keep what the advertising promises that I fell for. :) But hey, if I don't like them, I will replace them with trusty reliable DiMarzios in a heartbeat. The pickups are controlled by an Eyb Megaswitch E. Thus, I will be able to have (a) both humbucking sounds, (b) both P90 sounds and (c) one additional setting that combines the two soapbar coils. Thus, I "sacrifice" the pure single-coil tone but I'd rather have my well-known 5-way lever switch instead of two 3-way mini switches. I used to have it on my '87 Ibanez Saber but I found the mini switch solution very impracticable on stage.
- Ibanez EDGE Floyd Rose Trem: Still one of the best Floyd Rose incarnations out there. For this guitar, I replaced the cast iron block with a massive brass block (a neat aftermarket modification). It is said to increase the sustain but we shall see about that.
- Split Fretboard: I first saw this exclusive idea in a 1994 magazine review of a Neil Moser custom guitar and it fascinated me ever since. One half of the fretboard is Flame Maple and the other is Ebony. This gives a great contrast, also because the Maple extends to the headstock overlay! I got in touch with Neil Moser and Lee Garver beforehand and asked about possible pitfalls with this construction, and they pretty much gave their "thumbs up" signal and made me to go for it.
- Reverse Headstock: I just dig the strong shape of the reverse ESP headstock. First I had the Lag headstock shape in mind, because it's a little rounder yet much smaller than the Kramer headstock, but I finally went for something that doesn't look like a shoe, a hockey stick or a banana - and ended up with ESP reverse which I think is awesome. :) Plus, this sets the guitar apart from the overall Ibanez-related appearance.
- High Contrast Finish: The finish on back and sides is clear high gloss. The top is finished in a high-gloss black opaque finish. Together with the split fretboard it creates a high contrast "light and dark" appearance. This idea is also continued with the unique hardware mix (chrome for body and black for headstock).
But I would say I let the pictures speak for themselves. Thanks to my colleague Michael Hoffmann for the great session and the great pictures!
| Maker | Luthier Rainer Tausch, Illertissen, Germany: www.tausch-guitars.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Custom OAP-IV | |
| Year | 2009 | |
| Body | Swamp Ash, chambered, with neck-through construction | |
| Finish | black high gloss (top), clear (back), matte clear (neck) | |
| Neck | 1-piece Pau Ferro (neck-through construction) | |
| Fretboard | split Ebony/Flame Maple, half-and-half, no inlays | |
| Scale | 648mm | |
| Frets | 24x jumbo | |
| Nut | Kahler locking nut with integrated string retainer | |
| Bridge | Ibanez EDGE Floyd Rose (1987), chrome, with retrofitted brass block | |
| Machines | Sperzel Trimlok, black | |
| Pickups | Neck | Seymour Duncan P-Rails (Neck) |
| Bridge | Seymour Duncan P-Rails (Bridge) | |
| Electronics | 1x Eyb Megaswitch 5-way blade 1x volume pot | |
| Strings | d'Addario .010-.046 | |
| Specials |
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