Fret King Black Label JD

Fret King Black Label JD Overview

A real guitarist's guitarist, Donahue has been on the scene for 40 years. Renowned for his masterful and original approach to string bending (Danny Gatton referred to him as "the string bending king of the planet"), Donahue has released a number of solo albums, is a charter member of guitar group The Hellecasters, and has a list of album and band credits across the spectrum of modern popular music as long as the proverbial arm.

As a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention in the 1970s, Jerry has also lent his playing to some of the greatest folk rock records ever released.

Jerry's discography and story can be found at:www.hellecasters.com/JDonahue/jdon.htm


The project got off the ground in early 2010. After Jerry had been so impressed with JHS' Vintage® brand V52 ICON guitar, he called JHS MD Dennis Drumm and enquired as to whether there might be a possibility to work with the company to get all the things he'd always wanted into a guitar of this sort, at a price which was affordable to all players.

Drumm commented: "The answer of course was yes, because I knew that if we could impress Jerry so much with the Vintage V52, at a UK RRP of -ú329, we could so easily make the best ever guitar Jerry's helped to design for not much more... and we have!"

"Don't forget," continues Drumm, "that part of the whole brand ethic of Vintage and Fret-King is to totally over-deliver at the price point, in a way which other brands seem to not always want to do!"

Jerry commented: "I'm over the moon with the amazing range of iconic tones the Fret-King JD produces. It's literally the best of the three most popular solid bodies ever, rolled in to one!"

This new guitar, created with close cooperation between Jerry and designer Trev Wilkinson, uses Jerry's custom pickup designs, wiring, and switching, with a beautifully comfortable vintage neck profile and unique GÇô but very recognisable GÇô body shape, all constructed with materials usually associated with boutique guitars, and a build quality
the equal of anyone's custom shop!

The Fret-King JD will be the very first Black Label model, and also the first of a string of models to be released throughout 2011, designed in conjunction with internationally renowned players of distinction.

Donahue has always been known for his single coil sounds, and this special new guitar stays true to form. Coming in a classic single cutaway shape, the body is alder with an ash veneer top, and is complemented with black binding. A 22-fret maple neck and fingerboard add slinkiness to the feel of the guitar, and the contrasting black pickguard brings a classy touch to proceedings.

The Black Label JD guitar really comes into its own in the sound department. Powered by two specially designed, custom-wired Wilkinson single coil pickups, the five-way selector switch allows a multitude of tones, gleaning the best of the classic tones associated with three of the most iconic, benchmark guitar designs into one instrument.

Call GAK now for product info, advice and the Best Prices - 01273 665400