Crafter at NAMM 2016

The NAMM 2016 Show was in full swing this year with over 6000 companies presenting their products at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California. Crafter Guitars were there with representatives from South Korea, the USA and UK to present new guitars models for 2016.

Crafter made an early impact at this year’s show by placing a new solid Koa (KGLXE-9000) guitar in a presentation case at the show’s entrance. A fine guitar with Rosewood and Abalone detailing plus the new LR Baggs Anthem preamp and pickup system. A fine guitar made to turn heads and introduce Crafter to visitors. This guitar was complimented by a stunning solid German Spruce and Rosewood KGLXE-7000 on the stand.

Following Crafter’s recent success with their mahogany series guitars the company has designed a new traditional styled TM80-BR model, which was demonstrated by Keri Kelli (of John Waite / Alice Cooper Band) on the Crafter stand. This new mahogany model features a redesigned slotted headstock with a softer curved top. This new style of headstock is now being introduced across all traditional styled guitars in Crafter’s guitar portfolio for 2016.

A welcome visitor the stand also included Lloyd Baggs (AKA L.R. Baggs). Lloyd joined Crafter’s CEO, Injae Park, on the Crafter stand to discuss ideas for some new pickup systems. Crafter have had a long relationship with Lloyd and his preamp/pickup technology in their guitars.

Lloyd and Injae are the innovation and brains behind many of Crafter’s unique electronics including the new Anthem preamp and pickup. There are not many Crafter electro-acoustics that do not have Lloyd’s name on them! Keep your eyes out for the new CRT-LV (LCD Tuner) which will be coming to Crafter guitars later on this year.

Crafter have also shown a greater interest in the Chinese manufacturing market for guitar models that are […]

March 15th, 2016|Company News|
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Kaylen Castle plays Crafter

Back in 2013, Crafter Guitars were alerted to a new guitarist on the acoustic scene by the name of Kaylen Castle. Kaylen is a self-taught musician who delights audiences with his percussive acoustic fingerstyle music. He has most recently played the Acoustic Avalon, hosted by Sheehans Music and in 2014 he played for Crafter at the London Acoustic Show.

Crafter Guitars are thrilled to announce Kaylen Castle as a new endorser to the growing Crafter family and fully support him in his career. You can discover Kaylen’s music on Facebook, YouTube,  and Bandcamp where you can listen and purchase his music online.

Kaylen plays a GAE6 and a GAE15 Left-handed guitar

December 5th, 2015|Artists|
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New Crafter guitars arrive in the UK

We’re pleased to announce that the latest Crafter guitar models unveiled at NAMM and Frankfurt this year have now arrived in the UK. The 42nd Anniversary model, The Dragon, and two Parlour styled guitars have now arrived in our warehouse and are ready for distribution. The Anniversary Dragon Series guitar is available in the traditional Mahogany or Rosewood (solid back) choices with solid Engelmann Spruce tops and luxury gig-bags.

The new Parlour models from the PLT Series are available in either solid Cedar or Vintage Spruce tops with vintage oval classic tuners and abalone soundhole inlays plus gig-bag as standard.

To find out more about these new Crafter guitars and their availability, please contact your local Crafter dealer.

(Distribution by Sutherland Trading Co Ltd)

April 29th, 2014|Product News|
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Crafter Guitar Workshop Tour

In November 2013, the UK and USA distributors of Crafter guitars were invited to South Korea to visit Crafter’s extensive guitar workshops. The tour covered two days of watching every detail that goes into creating a Crafter guitar and the expertise of the craftsmen and women who produce them. Crafter’s CEO, Injae Park, showed us the time and effort that goes into each guitar and the constant quality control that is observed during each stage of production.

The guitar workshops follow a comprehensive workflow with separate rooms specialising in each stage of production. There are dry rooms for acclimatising the woods, humidity controlled rooms for production and sealed off areas specifically for spraying and finishing the guitars. Even though there are many machines for the cutting, sanding and shaping of the guitars, much of the production craftwork is still done by hand and with great attention to detail.

With complex production methods and expertise, the staff are seen as a great asset to the company and Injae has not moved his workshops much further away from where HyunKwon started the company in Seoul. This is helped the company hold onto loyal and skilled staff who often stay with the company for at least 15 years or more.

As we walked through the workshop rooms we were welcomed and greeted by every member of staff who were happy to demonstrate their skills in guitar building. We documented the tour with a view to share this with Crafter players across the world.

February 13th, 2014|Company News|
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New Mahogany Guitar Models Introduced

You would be forgiven for thinking you had just walked into Ron Burgundy’s apartment if you had these new Rich Mahogany guitar models in your home. For 2013, Crafter have introduced three new models to the Crafter lineup in the increasingly popular Mahogany finish.

Two models in the MAHO TOP range include the D8 MH/BR and GAE8 MH/BR, these are Dreadnought and Grand Auditorium (Electro) models in a gloss finish with scratchplates. Satin finish guitars in the range are still available without the scratchplates. The new LITE Cast range also includes a new Mahogany cutaway model with the Acorn VTA PreAmp and Cable Pickup, to complete the series.

As well as the new Mahogany models, a new addition to the 9 Series in Maple has been added in the form of the D9 (Dreadnought) which compliments the existing T/TE9 (Orchestra) and GAE9 (Grand Auditorium) models in the range. All of these guitars feature solid Engelmann Spruce tops with vintage Maple backs and sides.

NAMM is only around the corner and Crafter are expected to release a brand new Anniversary model plus a couple of new guitars at the show at Anaheim in California, USA.

Watch this space for future announcements!

November 15th, 2013|Product News|
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X Factor’s Tom Mann plays Crafter

If you have been watching a certain popular singing competition so far this year, you will have seen X Factor’s Tom Mann play a Crafter LITE TE CD for his audition this month. Tom who is 19 and comes from Southampton sang Passenger’s ‘Let her go’ to Nicole, Gary, Sharon and Louis who have put him through to the next round of auditions. Crafter guitars personally wish him the best of luck in the competition! You can find his Facebook Page here: www.facebook.com/TomMannMusic

Watch Tom Mann play in the Room Auditions

September 9th, 2013|Artists|
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New UK Crafter website launched

Crafter Guitars UK has launched! A brand new Crafter website for the UK market for guitar owners. Featuring news, reviews, product support, artists and dealer locations for all the Crafter guitar information you need.

You can also connect with Crafter Guitars UK on their social media networks via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest too.

July 30th, 2013|Product News|
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Crafter TE9 iGuitar Review

Brand new for 2013 from the NAMM show in California, the Crafter TE9 MP has been shipped to the UK and straight to iGuitar for review. It’s so new that we haven’t received a full shipment yet but they are due at the end of summer. Something for your Christmas list! The Crafter TE9 is a grand auditorium guitar with a solid Engelmann spruce top and maple back and sides. Delightfully light in tone and weight but with a punchy sound. Features the new LR-T NX PreAmp with L.R. Baggs Pickup and inbuilt LCD Tuner for tuning on the go. Rick Graham gives his verdict on iGuitar with a stunning 4.5/5 stars. We can’t wait to see more of them on UK shores! Click here for review.
“A great sounding guitar with a good quality onboard pre-amp and low price point. Well made and looks fantastic to boot. Even if you have budgeted for a more expensive instrument, I’d suggest you make a point of checking out the TE9 – you might be in for a very pleasant surprise!” – Rick Graham

June 19th, 2013|Reviews|
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Crafter on Eurovision 2013

Hands up if you saw the Crafter guitar on Eurovision last weekend? The DLXE 3000/SK was played by a guitarist with ByeAlex from Hungary who came 10th in the table with their song ‘Kedvesem’.

If the subtitles are anything to go by then this is a song about a girlfriend being brought up by wolves who splashes in the sea, dances in the clouds and gets messy hair in the wind.

A bit tame by Eurovision standards surely? Watch the footage from ByeAlex on Eurovision 2013 below.

May 22nd, 2013|Spotlight|
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Castaway Series gets reviewed in iGuitar

The Crafter Castaway Series gets a 4.5/5 star review in issue 11 of iGuitar Magazine. Michael Casswell delivers some lovely playing samples that show off the volume that can be achieved in such a small bodied guitar. Brand new at the time of review but the series has now been expanded to include vintage finishes plus some LiteCast models that are on the horizon in spruce and mahogany! Coming in 2013. Click here for the full review with video.
Michael says, ” The Castaway is good enough for professional use, giving a bluesy parlour type acoustic tone which is very cool. It could also be a great instrument for younger, smaller hands to learn on, helping create guitar gods of the future. Lastly, if you do need a travel guitar, then this would be a great friend to have around, as you travel the world, just you and a tent, enriching your soul and outlook on life. ”
 

July 17th, 2012|Reviews|
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