NAMM 2018 Update! LSL Instruments Releases The 24 Fret XT4DX!

24 Frets Of Custom Guitar Heaven!

2017 has been the busiest year of all of our custom guitar building lives. What started as a new adventure with a new company helping to grow the brand using our current arsenal of some of the finest vintage builds on the planet, has turned into something entirely different, and I’m loving every minute of it!As many of you well know I have been in the custom guitar business since 1999 working as everything from your local guitar shops manager, to supervision of that Best Buy/Guitar Center that went so well, to showroom sales at Carvin Guitars, then on to 6 years as builder and custom guitar dealer manager at Suhr Guitars. That gives me a solid 18 years in this industry. In that time I have personally Spec’d thousands of guitars for both dealers and customers that have a proclivity towards the finer things in life when it comes to their guitars. They know what they want and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Experience Breeds Innovation!

In all my years of working with high-end dealers and High-end customers, helping to design build after build, each with its own unique characteristics, I have learned that no one knows it all. But knowing what you know is something to be reckoned with. I’ve learned something new on nearly every build I have been lucky enough to be a part of. Each customer will have an idea that makes you turn your head and say “why didn’t I think of that”? Each new build comes with new construction challenges, new tone scapes and quite often new feel all around even though the general body shape is very similar to many you’ve held before.There’s always something that sets a good guitar apart from the herd. And that unique touch comes from you. Your mind. Your creativity. Your experience after years of not decades of tonal pilgrimage! It is with great respect to that dedication that we are proud to present the new XT4DX 24 Fret!

The Key To Building A Best In Class Modern Guitar Is To Merge It With Vintage Design!

in 2017 many fans of the brand have accused us of abandoning ship. Which is understandable since from the beginning we have built nothing but the best vintage guitars we could possibly muster year after year. We are Beyond appreciative of all of our loyal fans that own upwards of 4 to 5 custom builds of their own.When I first joined the company the first question that was asked to me was “what would you do differently to grow the company”?My answer was beyond simple. “Lose the pick guard… throw on a fancy top give the people what they want, and listen to their requests before denying them the options they want, and watch them fly off the shelf!”Now anyone who’s ever worked at a custom shop, or a big box music store, or a boutique retail establishment knows that it is not that simple. You cannot please all the people all the time, especially when you’re talking about a boutique guitar.What we set out to do in designing the 24th fret XT4DX was to take in and understand what our customers had asked for throughout 2017 when it came to a more modern spec guitar. We did our very best to address all of the requests that we had received in 2017 and we did our very best to secure the best Tonewood possible to come out with this new model at this 2018 NAMM SHOW!

Problem…Reaction…Solution!

Problem #1: I need more frets!We have been very comfortable with the simple yet elegant design of the XT3DX , however our customers have continually requested a 24 fret version of the shredworthy SuperSat.While our production schedule did not allow for us to provide a complete redesign of such a build in 2017, we knew that in 2018 we had better show our loyal customers that we heard their suggestions and took them to heart.(22 fret XT1DX Pictured Below)Problem #2: Thinner, More Modern Neck Shape!From day one we have had zero need for much of anything other than a C shape neck to be honest. We’ve done traditional builds with traditional neck shapes, so when we released the XT3DX, we offered it with a Slim C neck profile to allow for a faster playing experience. Paired with a satin finish, it can be a lethal combo!!!On the new XT4DX we have made a Modern D neck profile available! It starts at about .830 at the first fret and goes up to about .880 at the 12th. While we could have chosen to go even slimmer, we decided that the feel was quite comfortable and found that a few thousands of an inch made a significant difference in stability, resonance, sustain and overall tone so .830 was the sweet spot!Note: the new Modern D shape is Available across all of our models now.Problem #3: I need a flatter fingerboard radius In the past we also had no need for an extremely flat fretboard radius. The flattest we’d go was 12″ which was spotted on the Topanga and XT models. Other than that we ran very traditional specs such as 7.25″, 9.5″ and 12″ alone…In my past experience in working with custom customers I had never seen a more requested radius than the old faithful 16″!!! We had the option to go 14″ which is also comfortable but it was just so close to our 12″ from before, we just wanted to give you a more substantial difference between the previous model and the new 24.This fretboard is fast!!Note: 16″ radius is available exclusively on the XT4DX. XT3DX comes exclusively with 12″ radius.Problem #4: I need stainless steel jumbo frets!This was a no-brainer!! Anyone who plays a modern shred machine wants stainless jumbo frets.. that’s just simply the truth and we’re happy to accommodate!Stainless steel jumbo frets come standard on the XT4DX!Problem #5: I want both modern contours and traditional drop top as an option!This has been hotly contested and has started much controversy among our friends and fans so we’d like to let the masses know that we are happy to provide either option! We know that the new modern contour may be an extreme change for our loyal fan base. I personally love it! It’s extremely comfortable and looks so handsomely aggressive it’s something that really grows on you!!So whatever your taste would dictate on your next build, we’d like to think we’ve got it covered!

Oh There’s More…..

We look forward to telling you more about this new model! We’d also love if you would consider visiting us at our booth at NAMM 2018 and try it out for yourself!We promise to return after the show with a full rundown of the new XT4DX in all its glory!!