Eastwood Guitars introduces the Micawber: A Five-String tribute to Keith Richards
Eastwood Guitars, a prominent Canadian guitar maker, is continuing its trend of vintage-inspired instruments with the launch of the Micawber, a unique five-string T-style guitar that pays homage to Keith Richards’ legendary Telecaster and his signature open G tuning.
Richards is known for his unconventional approach, famously omitting the sixth string, which he considers unnecessary. This distinctive tuning has led to some of rock’s most memorable riffs, including classics like Start Me Up, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, and Brown Sugar.
Innovative Design and features
The Micawber features a 25.5″ scale length and a striking natural blonde finish, designed specifically to be a five-string guitar right from the factory. While it may resemble a conventional Telecaster at first glance, a closer look reveals its unique characteristics, including a custom gotoh T-style bridge with individual string saddles and five Gotoh tuners.
Additionally, the guitar boasts a slightly narrower fretboard, measuring 1.343″ at the nut, making it ideal for those looking to capture that quintessential Stones sound. The electronics include a custom-wound single-coil blade pickup at the bridge and a neck humbucker, all controlled by a three-way switch. The bridge pickup is complemented by a Blend dial, while a low-pass filter is incorporated into the third position.
Premium Tonewoods and Construction
The Micawber’s construction features a combination of an ash body, a modern C-shaped maple neck, and a maple fretboard equipped with 21 medium-jumbo frets. This thoughtful selection of tonewoods contributes to its rich sound and playability.
Pricing and Availability
With a price tag of $1,299,the Micawber may not be the most budget-amiable option,and you might find yourself fielding questions about the missing strings. Tho, this is a specialized instrument, and its unique design justifies the investment.
This release follows Eastwood’s earlier recreation of Mike Bloomfield’s modified Telecaster, showcasing the brand’s commitment to both classic and contemporary guitar trends.The recent introduction of a microtonal double neck inspired by Angine de Pointrine further illustrates their innovative spirit.
Preorder and Market Trends
The Micawber is currently available for preorder through a crowdfunding initiative, requiring a $200 deposit.As of now, it has secured eight out of its target of twelve pre-orders to move into production.
While five-string guitars are not entirely new to the market-Jacob Collier’s signature Strandberg model has gained popularity, even outselling its six-string counterpart-Eastwood’s Micawber stands out with its unique homage to Richards. Additionally, a similarly inspired model from Newman was released in 2024, further highlighting the trend of five-string guitars in contemporary music.
For more data, visit Eastwood Guitars.
