Oct 2007

JV archtop 'First Play' feature Guitarist magazine

In his clearly warped imagination, British guitar maker Jon Case envisaged the love child of a Gibson Flying V - inspired by Wishbone Ash guitarist Andy Powell - and a deep toned ES-335. Then he made one and called it the JV!
Jon is relatively new to the British guitar making scene but his sharp eye for design (and imagination) is welcome - the JV is one of four hand-built electrics that feature carefully selected woods and custom hand-wound pickups from Armstrong or Bare Knuckle.
"The JV is a semi-solid archtop in that it has hollowed out side wings with a central block of mahogany," explains Case. "On top of that is a hand-carved spruce filler that fits exactly beneath the laminated archtop. This guitar is topped with a figured European sycamore, book matched veneer, bound in ivoroid."
The JV also features, "a unique pickup mounting system that connects the mounting screws and springs directly to the the body for a more positive string and body vibration transfer," says Case before adding that "traditional plastic mounting rings can be fitted if preferred." Other neat features are the Case 'Bell' knobs - turned from solid brass with a rubber grip ring. But it's not just the careful detailing that impresses: it possesses full-toned, unique voice that's surprisingly versatile - not least due to the split-able humbuckers.
Base price for the JV is £2,750 (inc case); our model is £3,050 thanks to the Hipshot vibrato and locking Sperzel tuners but aspects of the guitar can be ordered at no extra cost.