The redesigned Ancoats New Islington guitar

new-islington

The All New New Islington

|By Dave|
new-islington,design,craftsmanship

You've probably seen this guitar already through the website and on the socials, but I thought I'd go into a little more detail about the history of it here.

Design Evolution

This iteration stems from Dave's original concept, which drew inspiration from a Les Paul Junior format with modifications including sharper horns and a coffin-shaped art deco pickguard. The original featured a single pickup, set neck construction, 21 frets, and a 3×3 headstock with simple volume and tone controls.

Material & Hardware Changes

The current version represents a complete redesign. Earlier production runs utilised European ash and white maple, resulting in heavier instruments. Modern versions employ obeche and roast maple, reducing weight to 3kg–3.5kg depending on hardware specifications. Hardware components have been upgraded significantly from cost-conscious Wilkinson parts to premium-grade components.

Pickup Development

Originally sourced from Creamery Pickups, Dave has partnered with Green Pickups for collaborative development. The custom "A Line Singles" pickups deliver high output similar to Stratocaster specifications with bar-style pole pieces for consistent response during string bending. Future "A Line Doubles" models are in development.

Playability Features

Dave emphasises three core principles: "My guitars have always been about looking good, sounding good and playing good." The neck profile utilises a mid-C shape with subtle back flattening—essentially a C/D hybrid. Additional refinements include rolled fretboard edges and meticulous fretwork, alongside distinctive details like Future Relic finishes, brass and mother-of-pearl inlays, tapered German carve, matching headstock inlays, rotary selector switches, and custom tremolo units.

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