I've spent the last several weeks putting the particular nash s 57 through the paces, and am have got to say, it's one of those guitars that actually lives up to the buzz. If you've been loitering guitar forums or local shops for almost any amount of time, you've possibly heard people discussing Bill Nash and his reliced creations. Many people love the look, many people hate the particular idea of a "pre-beaten" guitar, yet once you really plug one within, most of those arguments just kind of melt away.
There's something in regards to a 1950s-style Strat that will just feels like home. Maybe it's the maple fingerboard or maybe the way an ash body when calculated resonates against your ribs, but the nash s 57 manages to capture that will vintage magic without having requiring you in order to take out a second mortgage. I've possessed a lot associated with guitars—some fancy, several cheap—and this one has quickly become the main one I reach intended for whenever I just want to play.
That Broken-In Feel Right Out from the Box
The very first thing you notice whenever you pick up the nash s 57 is that it doesn't feel "new. " And I don't just mean the scratches and the dings. Most new guitars, even the expensive ones, have got this stiff, sterile quality to them. The conclusion is often too thick, the neck of the guitar feels a little bit sticky, and also you sense like you possess to be cautious with it.
With the Nash, that's gone. Because it's finished in thin nitrocellulose lacquer and then reliced, it feels like the guitar you've owned for thirty years. The back of the neck is usually sanded down to an easy, matte wood experience. If you've actually played a guitar where your thumb gets stuck for the gloss finish during a slide, you know just how much of a game-changer this is. It's fast, it's dry, and it simply feels honest .
The Magic of the Relic Work
I understand the particular relic thing is definitely polarizing. I get it. Why could you pay someone to pummelled a guitar? But here's the thing: it's not really just about appearance. A heavy relic nash s 57 isn't simply about looking "cool" on stage. Once you strip away that will thick poly finish off that most modern electric guitars have, the wooden can in fact breathe.
I'm not really a scientist, yet I can tell you this any guitar vibrates differently. You can feel the notes in your own left hand plus against your chest in a way that a thick-skinned factory guitar simply can't replicate. Plus, there's the psychological benefit. Merely accidentally bump the nash s 57 into a cymbal stand or the door frame, I actually don't have a heart attack. This just adds in order to the character.
The Sound: Lollar Pickups and Ash Bodies
You can have the best-feeling neck in the world, but if the guitar sounds like a wet blanket, it's going to stay on the walls. Luckily, the consumer electronics in the nash s 57 are top-tier. Many of these arrive stock with Lollar pickups, which are arguably some of the best in the business.
The '57 model is generally designed with an ash body, which is definitely a big section of that classic 50s sound. Compared to alder (which you'd find on the S-63 model), lung burning ash has a bit more "scoop" to it. You will get these really apparent, crystalline highs along with a tight, punchy reduced end. It's that will "glassy" tone that individuals associate with earlier Buddy Holly or even Mary Kaye period Strats.
Locating the Sweet Spot
When I'm playing through the neck of the guitar pickup around the nash s 57 , it's got this amazing woody flute-like quality. It's warm yet never muddy. Switch over to the particular "2" or "4" positions—the "quack" positions—and you've got enough funk and chime to cover any Nile Rodgers or even Stevie Ray Vaughan riff you can throw at it.
The bridge pickup is generally the weak point on a lot of Strats—they could be way too bright and ice-picky. But Nash plus Lollar appear to possess found a way to ensure it is useful. It's got plenty of bite to cut through a mix whenever you kick on the fuzz pedal, but it still maintains some body. This doesn't sound slim; it sounds bold .
Playability plus Hardware
One thing I truly value about the nash s 57 is that while it looks outdated, it plays along with modern precision. You aren't coping with the headaches of the real 1957 vintage device. The frets are usually usually 6105s, that are tall and slim, making bends easy. You don't have to worry about "fretting out" just like you might on an old 7. 25-inch radius neck because Nash typically uses a flatter 10-inch radius.
It's the best associated with both worlds. You receive the vibe and the soul of a vintage piece, yet you have the reliability of a modern build. The enthusiasts are Gotoh vintage-style, which hold their particular pitch surprisingly nicely even if you're doing some moderate tremolo work. The enthusiast is cut completely, that is honestly where most factory electric guitars fail.
The particular Weight Factor
Maybe I'm simply getting older, yet I can't endure heavy guitars anymore. Most nash s 57 increases I've encountered are usually remarkably light. Due to the fact ash can differ wildly in weight, Nash seems to be pretty particular about selecting items that won't eliminate your shoulder throughout a three-set gig. Mine weighs in right around 7 lbs, which is the particular "goldilocks" zone for me. It's light sufficient to be comfortable but heavy sufficient to feel significant.
Is It Worth the high cost?
Let's talk about the particular elephant within the space: the price. The nash s 57 isn't exactly cheap, but it's also not within the "crazy" territory of a Fender Custom Shop or a boutique Masterbuilt. You're generally looking at somewhere in the mid-two-thousands range.
Intended for that money, you're getting an any guitar which has been hand-assembled, hand-finished, and place up by those who actually caution about how this plays. Once you purchase a mass-produced acoustic guitar, you're often spending money on the name upon the headstock plus a lot of marketing. Once you purchase a Nash, you're paying for the labor and the parts.
I've played Custom Shop Fenders that will cost twice as much as my nash s 57 and, to be completely honest, didn't experience half of the same quality. There's a certain "vibe" to a Nash that is hard to quantify. It's not trying to be a perfect museum item. It's trying in order to become a tool intended for a working music performer.
Conclusions on the S 57
At the particular end of the particular day, a guitar is a quite personal thing. What I love about the nash s 57 , you may hate. You might prefer an excellent, shiny finish or perhaps a super-slim neck user profile. But if you're a fan of the classic 50s aesthetic and you need electric guitar that feels like a good old friend the 2nd you pick this up, it's hard to beat exactly what Bill Nash is doing.
It's a "no-nonsense" guitar. It's got the appearance, the sound, and the playability that will makes you desire to keep practicing. Every time I actually walk past mine sitting on the stand, I end up picking it up "just for a minute, " plus an hour afterwards, I'm still playing. In my opinion, that's the sign of a truly great instrument. It doesn't simply sit there; it invites you to enjoy. If you obtain a chance to consider a nash s 57 , do it—just be prepared in order to want to take this home together with you.