NGD Aristides Headless

[GuitarAddicted]

Thanks to @Eagle for recommending Aristides Guitars, I didn‘t had them on my radar.

What should I say, I‘m beyond stoked.
This guitar is just awesome and it has left me speachless today.
Long Story short, I searched for an Aristides Headless and this beauty showed up on the Aristides website.
I wrote them a message and they werd just on their way to NAMM.
So thanks to Jeroen and Pascal from Aristides for answering all my questions during their busy time at NAMM.
After checking the specs I made the deal when they were almost on their way back to the Netherlands.
They put my prefered string gauge on the guitar, did an amazing setup and send me the guitar as quick as they could.

So this beauty arrived today and as soon as I opened the awesome Softcase (which is also in it‘s own league) I named it „Medusa“
It‘s a beauty and it can turn into a beast immediatly.

Specs:
Custom satin shattered finish shell pink and blue.
Bare Knuckle Silo bridge and Stormy Monday Neck Pickup.
Hantug Vibrato

First I would have compare it to the Strandberg but honestly that wouldn‘t be a fair competition.
The Aristides is many miles ahead and the better guitar in every single point.

To be honest this guitar looks way way better in Person.

By the way the guys offered me to visit the factory and hopefully I can do that when I can take a des days off.

 

[Warmart]

Now that is winning!! Mega super double secret probation congrats on that one!!

Every time I see one I want, the coin fund is lacking, and it sells to someone else. Generally would want a cool finish like you just got!

One of these days, one of these days.

May you love it long time!

 

[spawnofthesith]

That looks awesome, congrats!!!!

 

[Eagle]

Thanks to @Eagle for recommending Aristides Guitars, I didn‘t had them on my radar.

What should I say, I‘m beyond stoked.
This guitar is just awesome and it has left me speachless today.
Long Story short, I searched for an Aristides Headless and this beauty showed up on the Aristides website.
I wrote them a message and they werd just on their way to NAMM.
So thanks to Jeroen and Pascal from Aristides for answering all my questions during their busy time at NAMM.
After checking the specs I made the deal when they were almost on their way back to the Netherlands.
They put my prefered string gauge on the guitar, did an amazing setup and send me the guitar as quick as they could.

So this beauty arrived today and as soon as I opened the awesome Softcase (which is also in it‘s own league) I named it „Medusa“
It‘s a beauty and it can turn into a beast immediatly.

Specs:
Custom satin shattered finish shell pink and blue.
Bare Knuckle Silo bridge and Stormy Monday Neck Pickup.
Hantug Vibrato

First I would have compare it to the Strandberg but honestly that wouldn‘t be a fair competition.
The Aristides is many miles ahead and the better guitar in every single point.

To be honest this guitar looks way way better in Person.

By the way the guys offered me to visit the factory and hopefully I can do that when I can take a des days off.
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I am very pleased you are happy with this. I take recommendations of equipment (particularly expensive equipment) very seriously.
The build on these just makes almost everything else seem shoddy and they sound amazing. Even just sat on the couch unplugged the clarity and volume makes it a pleasure to play. Mine is always arms reach away.
Enjoy, it looks stunning.
Oh and their customer service is as great as the guitars even if you buy used.

 

[OrganicZed]

That fretwork looks so good. Congrats on a cool guitar.

 

[norminal]

That fretwork looks so good. Congrats on a cool guitar.

In 2025, there is zero reason why any manufacturer should ship a guitar without fretwork like that.

Sure, it takes more time, and time is money, but if we can send a rover to Mars, we can build a machine to do that level of work.

 

[OrganicZed]

In 2025, there is zero reason why any manufacturer should ship a guitar without fretwork like that.

Sure, it takes more time, and time is money, but if we can send a rover to Mars, we can build a machine to do that level of work.

I think you are correct that modern robotics and could make perfect fretwork the starting point, but the initial investment for custom tooling and the necessary R&D work is cost prohibitive. I think the major players (Gibson, Fender, Martin, PRS) could make it happen if they wanted to, but the ROI would likely not be worth it.

 

[Eagle]

In 2025, there is zero reason why any manufacturer should ship a guitar without fretwork like that.

Sure, it takes more time, and time is money, but if we can send a rover to Mars, we can build a machine to do that level of work.

You can get close with plek but you would need to do hand work as well.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Dude, Congratulations! I'm so glad it's as great in person! What kind of range does that trem have for diving and pulling up?

 

[SpaceMan]

On paper I would love an Aristides, but I just love the look and feel of natural wood… I’m torn.

 

[GuitarAddicted]

Dude, Congratulations! I'm so glad it's as great in person! What kind of range does that trem have for diving and pulling up?

I‘m going to check the range today but all I can say for now ist that it‘s much closer to a Floyd Rose than the Strandberg.
You can even do flutter etc. which you can‘t with the one on the Strandberg.

 

[GuitarAddicted]

On paper I would love an Aristides, but I just love the look and feel of natural wood… I’m torn.

I totally get that. I do have a luthier background, I love Wood and so have build many guitars myself.
But I just love the consistency about the Arium material. And it feels super super smooth.
I had PRS Private Stock and also Knaggs etc. I was never into fancy wood and I prefered painted guitars.
This one arrived at -3 degrees completely in tune out of the box.
It‘s a pure Tool of joy!

 

[GuitarAddicted]

I am very pleased you are happy with this. I take recommendations of equipment (particularly expensive equipment) very seriously.
The build on these just makes almost everything else seem shoddy and they sound amazing. Even just sat on the couch unplugged the clarity and volume makes it a pleasure to play. Mine is always arms reach away.
Enjoy, it looks stunning.
Oh and their customer service is as great as the guitars even if you buy used.

Thanks again Andy!
It‘s just such an awesome and perfect tool!
As you might know I do have some luthier background myself, so I do love wood and high quality materials.
But yeah it‘s 2025 and I have to do a step forward in evolution etc.
And when I‘m going to visit the factory I will spec out another one.

 

[2112]

That looks unreal. Congrats!

 

[laxu]

That looks nice!

 

[Eagle]

Thanks again Andy!
It‘s just such an awesome and perfect tool!
As you might know I do have some luthier background myself, so I do love wood and high quality materials.
But yeah it‘s 2025 and I have to do a step forward in evolution etc.
And when I‘m going to visit the factory I will spec out another one.

I have an 060 as well that I bought used.

Just as perfect and incredibly yellow .

 

[Jazz Padd]

Very nice, congratulations! Play it long and in good health.

 

[State of Epicicity]

It‘s a pure Tool of joy!

That's what she said.

 

[Jynx]

I want one!