This explorer-inspired custom, named ‘Luaith’, was commissioned and designed with Ade Mulgrew of Irish metal veterans Darkest Era.

A culmination of utility and class. Aesthetically, the guitar is based on a classic heavy metal design, and Darkest Era’s dark, organic sound (namely ‘A Path Made of Roots’, from their latest offering ‘Wither on the Vine’). It is understated, elegant and formidable.

The body is hewn from a single piece of stained Olive Ash, sandblasted and bound with flame maple. A 9-piece flame maple and wenge neck is paired with a stunning Mun Ebony fretboard, which is in turn adorned with a brass ‘Impulse’ inlay, gold ‘jumbo’ frets and Luminlay side dots. The neck was carved with a D-shape profile and oiled & waxed by hand. 

An Evertune bridge and Sperzel locking machineheads guarantee perfect intonation and tuning stability through Darkest Era’s often punishing touring schedule, and a matched pair of Bare Knuckle’s fiery Nailbomb humbuckers (with a push-pull coil split on the volume pot) ensure the guitar sounds as good as it looks.