F series chambered guitars are the ultimate tone monsters. The F2 model shown here has 2 humbucker pickups. The F3 model has 2 humbuckers and a middle single-coil pickup. Developments of the past year extend the range of Rees chambered guitars in a choice of two directions. The F2 Semi-acoustic provides rich wood tone, and quiet acoustic practice volume, while retaining the long sustain character and playing feel of a performance electric guitar. The F2 Semi-solid has the feedback-resistance and sharp attack of a solid guitar, with a bit of extra tonal modulation from the smaller chambers behind the F-hole and controls.

Mahogany and maple has a long standing reputation as the best possible wood choice for an electric guitar. Korina has a similar sound to mahogany and is a light colour. Taking the art of luthiery to a new level, a sophisticated chambered construction creates considerable tonal enhancement, and moderate acoustic sound. The wood beneath the bridge is solid giving a very strong sustain on both models. This is a most responsive guitar to play, with an extensive range of sounds from magically sweet to aggressively growly available by changing the picking style. This instrument is always a joy to play, even without an amplifier. Playing loud is also great. (There is no acoustic feedback problem as with arch-tops).

Ben Smith of Fugazirum performs with his new all-blonde F2 Semi-acoustic. Korina back; flame maple front; all maple neck. The fine balance and light weight of the F2 make him even more lively! This gig was fairly loud. Ben's guitar has nickel pickup covers, and a custom additional pickup phase switch for what he calls his "Peter Green sound".

Set Neck Heel for Comfortable High Fret Playing and Best Tone
Could a guitar be designed to have all three of these desirable neck features?
1) The neck heel is thin, so that it is comfortable to play on frets 18 to 22.
2) The neck heel is firmly set right into the center of the guitar body to achieve optimum tone and sustain.
3) The neck itself is interchangeable with industry standard necks; is removable for ease of maintenance; and allows changes of neck shape, width , and a wide choice of nuts.

It is probably impossible to create enough strength to achieve all this with an all wood construction, if the heel is made thin enough to allow easy access to high frets. However, by using a mahogany heel that is reinforced internally with four carbon fibre bars, it has been possible to do all this on these guitars. (Carbon fibre is about 100 times stiffer and stronger than wood, and unlike metals is not excessively heavy). A double truss rod is conveniently adjustable from the side of the neck near the body.

F2 Controls
Push the tone knob, and the 5 way pickup selector, with a Rees circuit, provides 5 humbucker sounds in order from neck to middle to bridge.
Pull the tone knob, and single-coils are used from the pickups selected.

Push for Humbucker Guitar Pickup Selector position when tone knob is pushed: 1: Neck humbucker PU. 2: Neck humbucker PU and a bridge single coil. 3: Middle pure humbucker made of a neck coil and a bridge coil. 4: Bridge humbucker PU and a neck single coil. 5: Bridge humbucker PU.

Pull for Single Coil Guitar   Pickup Selector position when tone knob is pulled: 1: Neck single coil 2: Neck single coil 3: Neck single coil 4: Neck and Bridge single coils 5: Bridge single coil

Ben Smith recorded his Rees F2 in the studio

These samples are recorded at very high quality and are available on audio CD to play through your hi-fi. Please call for a free demo CD. The mp3s here are inevitably not quite so good. Even so, you must have quality speakers connected to your PC to appreciate these.

These samples are created and played by Ben Smith on his Rees F2 guitar. They were recorded using a Motu 828 Mk II soundcard at the highest possible sample rate, with an AKG D1200 dynamic microphone placed close, and slightly off axis in front of the amp speakers.
 
Ben's amplifier is a Fender Hot Rod Deville valve amp retro-fitted with a pair of Jensen vintage alnico V 10 inch speakers and cryogenically treated Electro-Harmonix and Svetlana Valves. No effects, no reverb, no compression, have been added to these recordings. The sweet modulations of some samples are the natural vibe of the guitar when played well. The sustain is natural and not enhanced.

F2 PU Selector Voice	Bridge PU	Br H + Nk S	Br + Nk mid PUs	Nk H + Br S	Neck PU
Clean Humbuckers
Clean Single Coils
Crunchy Humbuckers
Crunchy Single Coils

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