Testimonials
“The S4 is a really beautiful guitar, having lived with it for over a year now I have learned a lot more of what it is capable and it is a joy to play. Sonically, it probably has the edge on my vintage ‘63 Strat (although don’t tell anyone I said that!!)”
- Adrian, Birmingham
"The S4 is an absolutely stunning and expertly crafted guitar. The finish is beautifully done, and the feel is fantastic, with a perfectly shaped and very striking flamed maple neck with a smooth oiled finish. This combined with the lightweight body makes for a supremely comfortable and enjoyable playing experience. In terms of sound, the tone is full and clear and works brilliantly for all styles of playing. Overall, an absolutely fantastic guitar that I look forward to cherishing for many years to come. It was also an absolute pleasure to work with Karl, who guided me through the process expertly. Many thanks Karl!"
- Rob, London
"I absolutely love my Karl Longbottom S4 . It sounds incredible, feels as comfortable as you could hope for, it stays in tune, regardless of what you do with the trem, as good anything in its class, if not better. I've been playing guitar since the early 80's. I was selling them in a Midlands Music Shop from mid to late 80's. I have been in several gigging bands and still play at least once a week, which I'm so blessed to be able to do. I met Karl at the Birmingham Guitar Show and loved his work. He was so busy, there wasn't enough time to play, I was very impressed, not only with the quality but also the attention to detail and the sound. "Wow!" He's pretty much able to accommodate most things you'll ever need in a guitar. The S4 "Hollow" is an intriguing concept, incredibly light, so you can play all day. The construction still means it resonates and sustains as normal, if not a little longer, for some reason. I'm sure that the top notch components have something to do with it mind. Thanks Karl”
- Jas Parker
I’m a big fan of guitars that have their own look and sound, and I’ve loved the Fluvia since I first picked it up. It’s an incredibly comfortable and lightweight guitar, the neck is perfect and it has a real voice of it’s own - sounds very different to all me other guitars. It’s awesome! Karl makes beautiful instruments with exceptional build quality.
- Matt Webster
“I chose to order a guitar from Karl for his wealth of experience in woodworking and I couldn't be happier with my Fulvia. Karl was very accommodating and a pleasure to deal with. My guitar looks, feels and sounds amazing and has some real mojo!”
- Tom Pounds
“The Fulvia is very special guitar, it feels familiar for many reasons, but at the end of the day it stands well apart from the crowd when you play it. It huge tonal range due to the Firebird pickups in combination with the Korina body and it is really comfortable to play, whether you are sitting or standing. I couldn’t have asked for a more personal experience when it came to getting the look of the guitar right, and would have to say the end result was amazing, it looks and feels like a vintage guitar that never was!”
- Adrian Hobbins
"The Fulvia feels so fresh, yet so authentic. Play it like a Strat, a Tele or a Les Paul and it will behave like that. This is a guitar that feels like home to me"
- Sasha Ivantic
“Karl’s S4 is the definition of perfection. Karl built me my own custom S4, and I must say it is an absolute dream to play. I’ve played quite a few S style guitars but Karl’s guitar beats every one of them in terms of build quality, playability and just overall feel. By just looking at the guitar, you can tell how much attention to detail and tlc has been done while being built. But the true beauty of the guitar Isn’t just the looks, it’s the feel and sound quality, and the S4 just does what words couldn’t describe. From the headstock to the neck then to the body, the S4’s feel absolutely incredible. The hand-carved wood is carved to absolute perfection, and the woods Karl uses are absolutely stunning and the tone is just incredible. I genuinely don’t think there’s anything on Karl’s S4 that could be changed to make them better, they are absolute beasts!”
- Jenson B Guitar
The Fulvia is just brilliant and a total joy to play. All the little details combine to make an incredible difference to playing. I'm honestly blown away by how good it is.
- Andy Fairbrother, Nottingham