Road One T-style by NW Guitars
MODEL : Road One T-style
LUTHIER : NW Guitars
The Road One, a modern guitar that preserves the classic and vintage side of the electric guitar.
Since I’ve been a luthier, I’ve mainly worked with my customers to design custom electric guitars. Each new guitar is different from the previous one. The current models in my line are very rock/metal oriented, (Thesis, Marinka) and I wanted to be able to offer something new.
With the Road One, I wanted to create a modern guitar because that’s what I think is most like me. But I also wanted to keep this classic and vintage aspect of the electric guitar, to keep these codes that guitarists are attached to.
So I decided to mix 2 models of electric guitars that I like, the Telecaster and the Les Paul Junior. These 2 guitars reflect the simplicity, no frills, we plug in and Rock n’ Roll!
Always with a reliability approach, I select the woods and parts just like for my custom guitars. The necks are made of maple, the fingerboards are made of rosewood, and the Road One bodies can be made of alder, basswood and chestnut.
For the hardware, I use Gotoh parts that have nothing to prove. These parts are of high quality, whether it is for the Tuning Machines or the Telecaster type small or large ashtray.
For the pickups, I work with the brand Q-Pickups, which makes hand-wound pickups. The manufacturing is neat, the sound is really interesting with a nice dynamic and organic sounding pickups that you can’t always find with industrial pickups.
An instrument whose design has been carefully thought out.
Not really, I don’t pretend to create a revolutionary guitar, but rather to propose to the guitarists an instrument whose design has been carefully thought.
The neck has a double action truss-rod, and carbon reinforcements to guarantee a more precise setting and its stability in time.
The body has a belly cut to improve comfort, found on many electric guitars but not on traditional Telecaster or junior LP, and I paid attention to make sure the Road One has a good balance.
So I opted for a 3×3 headstock, more compact than the 6 inline heads which for me can weaken the headstock, and add leverage which can tend to make the guitar nose dive.
I also suggest chestnut as a wood species for the body, it is not common, but this wood has a resonance close to that of mahogany, and is wonderfully suited to single-coil pickups. The wood grain looks like ash, its weight is very correct, which makes it a very good choice for translucent finishes like Butterscotch.
The last point is the choice of compensated bridges on the Telecaster type bridge, in order to ensure a better intonation and thus a better tuning.
A total customization for each guitar
The guitarist can customize his Road One for free. He can choose his pickup models between single coil Tele, P90 or Humbucker. This simple choice offers many characters that a Road One can have.
Once the type of pickups is chosen, I advise the musician in order to associate the type of wood that will be the most adequate to his pickups, and to the desired sound.
Then he chooses the color, a satin or glossy finish, and the color of the hardware.
The guitarist can also opt for different additional options to push the customization. (Hepcat pickups or other brand, table insert, inlays…). An estimate is proposed according to the requests of each.
A simple and affordable guitar with a quality of fabrication worth the higher end models
It really fits well !
The biggest difference of the Road One with the other models of the range is its wiser side. That’s all.
So yes this guitar is simple at first glance, but it is still well equipped, with a manufacturing method identical to other more expensive models.
The necks are still custom fitted for optimal conductivity, and the varnishes are thin to let the wood resonate and express itself. Another difference is on the electronic wiring: still quality parts (CTS potentiometer, Switchraft jack) but a rigid copper wiring, with vintage Oil Paper capacitors that match perfectly with the pickups.
Premium quality with attention to detail and sound
I understand that choosing a new guitar can be a difficult and personal decision for musicians.
I believe that what sets Road One guitars apart from other brands is my commitment to producing high quality instruments with meticulous attention to detail and tone.
I believe that every guitar I build should offer a unique and satisfying musical experience for every guitarist. I make sure to listen to musicians to understand their needs and desires, in order to design guitars that allow them to express themselves with their own style and sound.
I hope that musicians looking for a superior guitar will consider Road One as an option for their next purchase.
Do not hesitate to contact me to talk about your project. I am always ready to listen to your needs and to advise you according to your expectations.
Discover all Road One models : HERE
We also invite you to follow him on his various social networks:
In the coming weeks, as for others luthiers for plucked string instruments, luthiers for bowed string instruments, amps & effects makers, wood & supplies dealers, lutherie events, jobs, schools & teachers subscribers on our site, you will be able to follow our series of mini-interviews dedicated to the fascinating world of luthiers.
See you soon…
If you are passionate about the world of luthiers, join us!