The Rapier Saffire Series is based on iconic models that played a major role in the industry of British guitars, serving countless up and coming 60s British Beat groups and helped launch the careers of many guitarists in the 60s and 70s and, whilst Entwistle has successfully retained all the glorious charms and characteristics of the original Sapphire 12, significant and meticulous attention has been made within hardware upgrades, construction and playability.
Now offered in a beautiful 3-Tone Sunburst, Greenburst and Vintage White offset with chrome hardware and 3-ply, split scratchplates and black gloss headstock with redesigned Rapier decals, the new generation Saffire 12 looks stunning.
Selected specifically for its natural sonic characteristics, Okoume, from Central Africa, is the chosen tonewood for the body, whilst for speed, comfort and accuracy, the 4-bolt, soft ‘C’ profiled neck with fully adjustable truss rod, is now crafted from hard rock Canadian maple, with a 12in radius, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets (including zero fret).
For accurate intonation and tuning stability the new generation Rapier Saffire 12 now features a smooth, friction-free, precision cut 43mm GraphTech Nubone nut, Wilkinson machine heads and high spec’d roller bridge.
Hardware upgrades also include a trio of Entwistle’s custom wound, Astrosonic single coil pickups, constructed with 7mm alnico 5, rod magnets mounted on a steel base plate, delivering a full rich dynamic response throughout all frequencies via a 5 way selector switch and single volume and tone pot. The latter, is wired with Entwistle’s own Smooth Track Tone Control circuitry, ensuring a gradual response and clarity throughout the full sweep of the tone control.
It’s quite apparent that Entwistle himself is a creative genius, as witnessed within the Saffire's wiring, which includes the Entwistle ATN5, a 5-way rotary switch housed on the top horn offering a wide range of additional tonal extremities, from acoustic-like qualities, mid-range boost and high-end chime and clarity for extreme tonal versatility.
With a generous 49mm fingerboard width at the nut, there’s ample room for musicians with large hands to enjoy the freedom of first position chords and, needless to say, with these high quality tonewood and hardware upgrades, the Rapier Saffire 12 effortlessly delivers all the familiar resonance associated with multi-strung guitars, whilst engaging the ATN5 circuitry on this beautiful model offers classic 12 string jangle in abundance.
Specifically designed as a ‘player’s guitar’, the Rapier Saffire 12 string electric guitar, not only rekindles nostalgic memoriesfor old-school players and collectors, it’s the professional choice for Britain’s new young talent, effortlessly lending itself to all styles, from country, jazz, pop, to blues and rock, whilst offering exceptional playability and performance.
Specifications
Body:
Original double-cut solid body featuring Okoume, a central African tonewood chosen specifically for its warmth, depth and high-end clarity.
Pickups:
3 Alan Entwistle Custom Wound low-noise Astrosonic single coil pickups , featuring alnico 5, 7mm rod magnets, delivering exceptional tonal response, balance output and clarity.
Controls:
Two Volume Controls with Global Tone control featuring Entwistle SmoothTrak tone circuit producing a gradual response when the tone control is wound back.
5-way pickup selector switch.
5-position ATN 5 rotary switch, offers advanced sonic versatility within pickup frequency parameters.
Machine heads:
6 in line: Wilkinson machineheads provide simple, effective action for maximum tuning stability.
Neck:
4 bolt hard rock Canadian maple with soft ‘C’ profile for instant comfort, speed, accuracy and great feel. Fully adjustable trussrod.
Fingerboard:
12" radius, bound rosewood fingerboard, fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets (including zero fret), block inlay position markers.
Scale Length:
24.74" / 628 mm.
Frets:
22- including zero fret. Medium profile for added comfort, accuracy and an overall positive feel.
Nut:
Precision cut, friction-free 43mm GraphTech Nubone nut.
Headstock:
Classic 6-aside design with Rapier logo and inlaid crown.
The Rapier™ Saffire 12 is a collaboration between Alan Entwhistle and JHS.
About Rapier
JHS, in collaboration with legendary UK guitar builder and designer Alan Entwistle, brings you the new generation of RAPIER guitars with an amazing recreation of that sixties UK icon, The Rapier.
Guitar players of a certain age will recall, back in the mid 60’s, noses pressed up against the guitar shop window, staring at the totally unaffordable solid bodied American guitar in red, and next to it, the more affordable UK produced Rapier, the only credible alternative.
The classic Rapier 33, double cutaway solid bodied electric, instantly recognisable with its forward slanted middle pickup. A guitar that played a major role in the industry of British guitars, serving countless up and coming 60’s British Beat groups and helping to launch the careers of many guitarists in the 60's and 70's.
Whilst Entwistle has successfully retained all the glorious charms and visual characteristics of the original Rapier 33, significant and meticulous attention has been made within hardware upgrades, construction and playability.
Selected specifically for its natural sonic characteristics, Okoume, from Central Africa, is the chosen tonewood for the body, whilst for speed, comfort and accuracy, the 4-bolt, soft ‘C’ profiled neck with fully adjustable truss rod, is now crafted from hard rock Canadian maple, with a 12in radius rosewood fingerboard, fitted with 23 medium jumbo frets (including zero fret).
For accurate intonation, tuning stability, and perfect return to pitch from the original vibrato design, the new generation Rapier 33 now features a smooth, friction-free, precision cut 43mm Graph Tech® NuBone® nut, Wilkinson® E-Z-Lok machine heads and high spec’d roller bridge.
Rapier fans and collectors alike, will be aware that the two slide switches lower down on the scratchplate, Bass Cut and Pickup selector, were actually the same ones used on British Pifco brand hairdryers from that era, these, like the all-important pickups, internal wiring and controls, have all experienced the Entwistle magic touch.
Loaded with Entwhistle EWR64 twin blade twin coil pickups, , with updated circuitry which can boost treble, cut bass provide low noise operation creates that immediately recognisable 60’s jangle and, with the original Rhythm/Solo toggle switch, now rewired as a 3-way pickup selector accessing neck, neck/bridge, and bridge units, along with the first slide switch introducing the middle unit, the new generation Rapier 33, with 7 pickup permutations is an extremely versatile guitar
With jazz and blues players in mind, the new generation Rapier 33 also includes the Entwistle SmoothTrak tone circuit which produces a warm, gradual response when the tone control is wound back.
The Rapier range, designed and built to play as we expect from today’s instruments includes all those stars from yesteryear, the twin pickup Rapier 22, the astonishing four pickup Rapier 44, and the truly beautiful Rapier Saffire, a blend of styles from the 1960’s UK guitar constellation, available in a six string and bass.
Available in Fiesta Red, Daphne Blue, Arctic White, three tone Sunburst and an outstanding sapphire green to black sunburst, with 3-ply scratchplate and distinctive Rapier headstock logo, the new generation Rapier series offers exceptional playability and performance, will evoke nostalgic memories for old-school players and collectors, and offer an eclectic and edgy pro-spec alternative to new young talent.