Rapier 33 Electric Guitar ~ Fiesta Red
Fast check - won't affect your credit rating.
The Same - Just Better
Want a Better Guitar? Buy It From Richards Guitars - If you are serious about the guitar please do find the time to read this. I promise you that anyone offering you next day delivery are not offering what we do! Behind every guitar sold is our meticulous quality control and personalized setup service. We literally leave no stone unturned. From geometric to cosmetic - every aspect is checked and adjusted as necessary... |
We want your guitar to INSPIRE you.
In this first video I introduce you to a customers guitar which is about to go into our workshop for setup and I show you just how many modifications and improvements will be made to the guitar.
This second video shows the guitar going through the workshop process. This process takes around an hour but dont worry - its just highlights!
Its Not Always A Happy Ending
One of my favorite adverts was one by Honda which said at Honda they don't use the word "OK" and instead they use the phrase "What If". I LOVED that advert and found it so inspiring. This is the premise of every guitar setup we undertake. If that means rejecting guitars and starting again - that is exactly what we do.
No Time To Watch the Videos? Here Is the Summary...
If you have bought a guitar before you will know all too well that not every guitar feels or plays the same. You may also know that due to the nature of the major component of the guitar (wood) that they can feel great one moment and awful the next (say for example after traveling half way around the globe on a boat - from some factory in the far east to the UK!) Richards Guitars offers a unique service offering the more discerning/knowledgeable buyer a host of "players benefits" which will ensure that ANY guitar purchased will give you years of enjoyment - regardless of the price paid. I can demonstrate that a guitar purchased from Richards Guitars will... Sound Better Feel Better Play Better Stay In Tune - Longer Look Better Want more reasons to buy from Richards Guitars? After Sales support A second guitar setup to your new guitars standard for just £35 - Got a guitar at home that you think could be improved? Drop it in and we will do over £55 worth of work for just £35 6 & 12 month checks and "re-sets". A *FREE follow up service for any of my customers. We will ensure your guitar plays like the day it left our store (minus your own wear and tear of course!) saving you £££ on pricey guitar technicians bills. If we find any parts that are failing that are not due to normal wear and tear we will replace them free of charge! Over the past 20 years I have worked hand in hand with suppliers, reporting back with fault "trends" and ways to improve products supplied to us. Companys I have dealt with have been listening intently over the years and we know what value our input has brought to their brands. To summarise, a guitar supplied by Richards Guitars will not just feel like a new guitar, it will feel like YOUR guitar. * Due to the need to check your intonation & adjust accordingly you must bring in your guitar with BRAND NEW strings fitted (original guage as setup when sold) OR pay our technician to remove your old strings and fit new ones - guide price £16 including strings. It is impossible to check intonation accurately with old strings. Past 2 Years Of Customers (Image only shows some of the UK!) Every red marker represents someone who I have supplied a guitar to, possibly starting with guidance and advice online, telephone or in store. I have provided a guitar meticulously quality controlled and set up to their personal specification. I have personally play tested prior to dispatch and have continued to provide back up and support via my live chat service... |
- Call us during office hours (Monday To Saturday 10-4pm) on 01789 263333
- Why not book an appointment and spend a morning or afternoon in total peace and privacy? All the advice will be on hand whenever you need it
- Live Help is available which is run by Jon, Jake & Richard most hours of the day 7 days a week
- Richard has written many advice blogs relating to this brand, which can be found at the bottom of the page
- Richard has provided many hours of advice via our Youtube page at www.youtube.com/richardsguitarshop
- Special highlights are often featured on our Instagram
The stunning new generation Rapier 33 is a product design from Alan Entwistle, the UK genius guitar designer responsible for a host of successful guitar lines and accessories.
The original Rapier 33, instantly recognisable with its forward slanted middle pickup, was the solid bodied electric that played a major role in the industry of British guitars. This legendary guitar served countless up and coming 60’s British Beat groups and helped launch the careers of many guitarists in the 60's and 70's.
Whilst Entwistle has successfully retained all the glorious charms and visual characteristics of the original ‘legendary’ Rapier 33, significant and meticulous attention has been made within hardware upgrades, construction and playability for this fabulous new model.
Selected specifically for its natural sonic characteristics, Okoume, from Central Africa, is the chosen tonewood for the body, whilst for speed, comfort and accuracy, the 4-bolt, soft ‘C’ profiled neck with fully adjustable truss rod, is now crafted from hard rock Canadian maple, with a 12in radius rosewood fingerboard, fitted with 23 medium jumbo frets (including zero fret).
For accurate intonation, tuning stability and perfect return to pitch from the original vibrato design, the exciting new Rapier 33 now features a smooth, friction-free, precision cut 43mm nut, Wilkinson machine heads and high spec’d roller bridge.
With a 3 ply scratchplate, immaculate Fiesta Red finish and new Rapier headstock logo, this guitar does indeed look visually very impressive. Stunning looks aside, modern upgrades also include pickups, internal wiring and controls which have all experienced Entwistle’s magical touch.
A trio of Entwistle low noise EWR64 mini-humbucker pickups, with exceptional tonal response, balanced output and clarity are now installed and, when used in conjunction with the ‘Bass Cut’ switch, delivers that classic and much-loved 60’s jangle.
“Both Volume and Tone controls are wired with 500k pots, linear and log respectively,” says Alan “And, with jazz and blues players in mind, the Tone control includes a 0.015 mfd cap which retains clarity when wound back, whilst also delivering that classic, rich response when played with overdrive or distortion.”
The original Rhythm/Solo toggle switch has been rewired as a 3 way pickup selector accessing neck, neck/bridge and bridge units. With the middle pickup now introduced via the second slide switch, 7 pickup permutations are available for an extremely versatile guitar.
Now with upgraded hardware, exceptional playability and performance, the new generation Rapier 33, will not only evoke nostalgic memories for old-school players and collectors, it’s also the professional choice for Britains new young talent.
Gear News talks to Alan Entwhistle about the new generation Rapier 33 HERE.
Rapier 33 Features
Body: Original double-cutaway solid body featuring Okoume, a central African tonewood chosen specifically for its warmth, depth and high-end clarity.
Vibrato: Original Rapier Hi Lo design smooth action vibrato system, with chrome finish.
Pickups: 3 Alan Entwistle low-noise EWR64 mini-humbucker pickups, delivering exceptional tonal response, balance output and clarity.
Controls:
Two Volume Controls and a Tone control. 3-way pickup selector switch. 2 slide switches: Middle pickup selector and bass
Machine heads:
6-inline Wilkinson WJN-05 machine heads provide simple, effective action for maximum tuning stability.
Neck: 4 bolt hard rock Canadian maple with soft ‘C’ profile for instant comfort, speed, accuracy and great feel. Fully adjustable truss rod,
Fingerboard: 12" radius rosewood fingerboard, fitted with 23 medium jumbo frets (including zero fret).
Scale Length:
25.5" / 648 mm.
Frets:
23 - including zero fret. Medium profile for added comfort, accuracy and an overall positive feel.
Nufriction-free 43mm nut.
Headstock: Classic design with new generation Rapier logo.
The Rapier™ 33 is a collaboration between Alan Entwhistle and JHS.
Choose options
Fast check - won't affect your credit rating.