From the May/June 2021 problem of Acoustic Guitar | By Matt Blackett
To cite the illustrious gamers of Monty Python, “And now for one thing utterly completely different.” Effectively, possibly not utterly. We’ve seen variations on the hybrid acoustic/electrical for ages. Some, just like the Taylor T5, got here at it from the “acoustic guitar with an electrical pickup” angle. Many others have approached the issue by slapping a piezo bridge on an in any other case standard-issue electrical guitar.
All designs have yielded musical leads to the fingers of expert gamers, however has any producer really nailed an amazing acoustic tone and an amazing electrical tone in the identical instrument? Effectively, our advantageous Aussie pals at Cole Clark guitars would have you ever consider that sure, somebody has certainly cracked that code, and it’s them. A lofty declare, to make sure, however they put their cash the place their mouth is and despatched me the AN2EC-BLBL-HUM that you simply see right here. If that title doesn’t roll off your tongue, you may name this grand auditorium-sized beauty Angel (as designated by the AN).
You may inform at a look that this Angel is a unique breed of guitar, however earlier than we speak about what this instrument is, let’s speak about what it’s not. By design, Cole Clark didn’t got down to construct a guitar that might compete—in tone or quantity—with a standard acoustic in the identical room. As a substitute, they conceived, designed, and constructed this guitar to be the best-sounding amplified acoustic you’ve ever heard. (Keep in mind that lofty descriptor from earlier than?) Which means the bracing, electronics, and general building are completed with the amplified (or direct, within the studio) sound in thoughts. OK.
There’s extra. You might need observed that there’s a Lollar humbucker nestled within the bridge place of the Angel. To make that work, Cole Clark wanted to additional stiffen up the development of the guitar, presumably sacrificing much more acoustic tone within the pursuit of an acoustic-electric which may not even be potential. Is there no finish to their insanity?
Within the Crossover Matrix
I wasn’t anticipating a lot sonically after I first strummed the Angel—though from a visible standpoint I used to be very impressed with the attractive (and sustainably sourced) Australian Blackwood high, again, and sides. So I hit a chord, and the actual fact is I instantly cherished the acoustic tone of this guitar. No, it’s not a cannon like a D-28, nevertheless it’s sparkly and resonant and has nice maintain. I truly had tons of enjoyable enjoying the Angel earlier than I ever plugged it in. The neck is quick and cozy, with a flat 12-inch radius that makes lead traces enjoyable and simple and an general solidity that makes me really feel like I can hit it as arduous as I need, which I did.
But when the entire concept right here is to create an incredible amplified sound, I knew I needed to attempt that. Like all Cole Clark guitars, the Angel includes a three-way acoustic pickup system that consists of an undersaddle piezo, a face sensor for choosing up the sound of the highest, and a condenser mic. Appears logical sufficient, however the place Cole Clark actually excels is within the crossover matrix that permits every of those parts play to its respective energy.
Basically, the piezo handles the lows, and solely the lows, with assault and immediacy. Which means this piezo gained’t see or reproduce any of the frequencies that deliver concerning the ping and splatter of a piezo gone fallacious. The mids then go to the face sensor, however with not one of the frequencies that may make a high go into gig-ruining suggestions. The microphone solely offers with highs, and even then solely above its suggestions zone, so that you get top-end zing with out squeal. It’s like you may have the world’s best sound engineer dwelling inside your guitar. While you’re completed dialing all that in, there’s a three-band EQ to tweak the general tone. Wow.
No Ping, No Quack
Then there’s the entire humbucker factor. This guitar has a specifically voiced Lollar within the bridge place, with a separate output jack, quantity and tone controls, and a three-position mini toggle proper on the highest of the guitar to pick acoustic, humbucker, or each. Some individuals don’t like seeing quantity and tone knobs on an acoustic guitar and I’ve two phrases for them: John Freaking Lennon.
They advised me I might get all this working and sounding nice with no fuss. I’m considerably cynical, so I didn’t consider it one bit, regardless of the undeniably pleasant and reliable perspective of the Cole Clark individuals. However I arrange a rig the place I despatched the 1/4-inch acoustic sign to a Tascam US 20×20 interface right into a pair of KRK V6 powered screens, and the humbucker’s output went to a Kemper PowerHead feeding a 2×12 cab loaded with Celestion Bucks.
I strummed a chord on the purely acoustic facet, with all of the controls at midday, and all EQ flat. And it sounded wonderful. No ping, no quack. A nice, musical, forgiving acoustic tone. I performed round with the controls and heard what they introduced, however I swear, after hours of testing, my favourite amplified acoustic tone on this guitar was with each management straight up. I don’t suppose that’s ever occurred in 40 years of testing gear. Shade me impressed.
I did some recording, monitoring the Angel direct, and I used to be really happy with the outcomes, which have been very musical- and professional-sounding. The guitar sat within the combine superbly, and I didn’t really feel the necessity for a standard miked acoustic in any respect. So, Cole Clark delivered on their promise, however I knew my work was not completed. There was that humbucker.
I wasn’t positive how an electrical guitar pickup would take care of acoustic guitar strings, however this pickup works simply as you’ll anticipate and sounds superior. It supplies crunch and chew that actually doesn’t appear potential from an acoustic guitar. By means of my Kemper, the tones sounded completely electrical, possibly in a Gibson ES-335 form of approach, and by no means in that hole, creepy, “I plugged an acoustic into my high-gain amp” form of approach. Slightly than provide the choice of splitting the coils (which I’ve at all times thought was overrated) Cole Clark allows you to go from collection to parallel operation on the humbucker’s coils by pulling up on the tone management, for a super-cool and really useable further sound.
I need to concede that the .012–.053 strings that the Angel shipped with are slightly too beefy for me to really do my electric-guitar factor with—significantly bends on that wound G. However there’s no denying that it rocks, and I can crank out large riffs with abandon. Once they feed again—and so they do—the suggestions is musical and controllable.
I’ve by no means been a fan of mixing acoustic and electrical tones on devices akin to this, however I’ve to confess that I acquired a bunch of nice sounds within the center place, with a giant acoustic tone on one facet and a Vox AC30 cleanish pop tone on the opposite. Even high-gain tones have been blendable with the acoustic timbres by judiciously using the quantity knob and dialing in as a lot rock as I wanted. I’m not a giant looping man, however I assume that loopers would love this guitar for laying down a ravishing acoustic mattress after which burning on the humbucker, or conversely layering dense, droning electrical traces after which floating excessive with sparkly acoustic components.
Attaining the Unattainable
I’m unsure anybody has completed what Cole Clark achieved with this advantageous guitar. It’s clearly not for everybody. It might’t do every part {that a} traditional dreadnought or a meat-and-potatoes electrical can do, and so they candidly acknowledge that. You wish to play in your lounge with an enormous acoustic sound? There are many advantageous producers who might help you. However if you wish to play in a coffeehouse, or alongside a loud band, or report direct, or do all these issues with the choice of including in wonderful electrical tones (courtesy of a boutique pickup!), with killer tone, controllable suggestions, and eco-friendly sustainable woods, effectively, I’m gonna counsel you look Down Beneath. Congrats, Cole Clark. You would possibly simply have a unicorn in your fingers. And to anybody who says, “That’s not possible!” I used to be as soon as such as you. I encourage you to plug in a Cole Clark guitar and see for your self.
Get tales like this in your inbox
SPECS
BODY Cutaway grand auditorium; AA-grade Australian blackwood high, again, and sides; river she-oak bridge with Graph Tech Tusq saddle; pure satin nitrocellulose lacquer end
NECK Queensland maple; 25.5″-scale river she-oak fretboard with 12″ radius; 1.73″ Graph Tech Tusq nut; 20 frets (14 to physique); pure satin nitrocellulose lacquer end
OTHER Cole Clark three-way pickup system; Lollar Imperial humbucker (with separate output and tone/quantity controls; collection/parallel switchable on tone management); Grover tuners; Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings (.012–.053); Cole Clark tweed hardshell case
MADE IN Australia
PRICE $2,899 avenue
This text initially appeared within the May/June 2021 problem of Acoustic Guitar journal.
