Valkyrie Superguitar™

A GRACEFUL FORM EQUALLY SUITABLE FOR CLASSICAL POSTURE, TRADITIONAL POSTURE AND STANDING PLAYERS

Healthy posture is encouraged by a contoured body shape inspired by human factors and the silhouette of swan wings. A Valkyrie provides one of the most logical body styles you will ever encounter. Whether you stand or sit in either of the most common postures during recording sessions and live gigs, an ergonomically designed guitar fosters comfort. Relieving stress in your back, neck, and limbs is essential to a long career, especially if you are often seated at a digital audio workstation or in a studio. This design truly accommodates a seated tracking session.

Also, the tummy cut extends through the entire upper horn for increased comfort for both sexes. In the end, however, one must still properly warm up and maintain health through exercise and diet. A healthy human body is an unstressed human body, so please take a moment to evaluate all that you do to your body while playing guitar. Settling for an instrument that is uncomfortable is like wearing shoes with a pebble inside. It’s madness. Your bodily-kinesthetic intelligence deserves more from an instrument.

UNIQUE SOLID BRASS HARDTAIL BRIDGE (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

The 2Tek design is one of the great innovations in guitar hardware. For fantastic string separation and sustain, each fully adjustable saddle on a 2Tek bridge rests on its own weight-relieved brass tone block. This creates a tremendous amount of isolation for each string and contributes to a uniquely authoritative and rich tone with desirable harmonic overtones abundantly present. The dynamic range is wide and articulate.

Additionally, the expertly machined saddles provide comfort, an important reality if palm muting is a regular aspect of your technique. From the manufacturer: “On a conventional bridge, all the saddles share the same bridge block or platform; as a consequence, when you strike a string the vibrations disperse in all directions. In fact, the adjacent saddles are typically in such close proximity that they allow vibrations to transmit to each another—often referred to as “crosstalk”—and this crosstalk is usually in conflict with the harmonic overtones of the originating string.”

SUBSTANCE & STYLE

Our signature Viking-longship-themed headstock delivers straight string-pull over a graphite or bone nut for excellent tuning stability. The Hipshot Grip-Lock tuning machines with a smooth 18:1 ratio are mounted with Hipshot’s screwless system which enhances sustain and leaves no installation scars. The three levels of staggered tuning machines work in tandem with the shelf depth to eliminate the need for string retainers and provide an ideal break angle over the nut. Open strings ring true with a strong attack transient.

OPTIONAL ALUMINIUM HEADSTOCK ATTACHMENT FOR INCREASING SUSTAIN & PUNCH

Long story short: Increased sustain and some additional clarity and fundamental punch emerges from this feature. Long story: Olympic archers with recurve bows use dampening stabilizers for a reason. Likewise, adding a few ounces of mass to the back of the headstock can mitigate dead spots and wolf tones which can emerge in all stringed instruments, sometimes coming and going due to humidity changes or string gauge choices. There can be other benefits when you manage this phenomenon with science.

Oscillation of the strings happens between the witness points of the nut and the saddles, but that wave energy is transferred elsewhere through sympathetic vibrations, especially to the neck which obviously flexes dynamically under tension from the strings. From this energy the guitar’s natural frequencies (and mode shapes) create frequency cancellation which results in notes that don’t sustain as desired and other notes that are too loud in comparison with their brethren. Extra mass and stiffening added to the surface of the headstock creates greater inertia and greater inertia means increased mechanical impedance.

The Massomancer features a stealthy hidden chamber with two M2.5 threaded holes available which allow additional brass, tungsten, or even inexpensive neodymium magnet shims or coins to be clamped against the surface of the headstock as a means of fine-tuning the sympathetic frequencies in the neck (or you can use it to attach a headstock tuner and keep it from being visible from the front of the guitar—other uses are envisioned).

Archers also study the node points on their arrows to achieve maximum stability on their release because they know there are two places on an arrow in flight which are nearly still—this knowledge affects how far they draw the arrow back. Waves are everywhere, in guitars and even in bows and arrows, so it pays dividends to manage them to your advantage.

SEVERAL TESTED PROFILES AVAILABLE

A desirable neck carve boils down to individual anatomy and personal preference, but aspects of a familiar shape can be improved for better playability. A 25.5" scale length Valkyrie can be outfitted with a variety of compound profiles—you’ll feel the difference immediately. Don’t settle for a fatiguing simple tapering profile.

The progressive asymmetric shapes produce extra comfort within a range of familiarity from the first position all the way up the neck—and for the fretboard, many fret radii are available, too. Enjoy a lifetime of extended play with less stress on your tendons and joints.

And, last but not least, the neck has a matte finish using Simtec for no “sticktion” while shifting positions—feels much like an unfinished neck but is sealed against the elements.

A MECHANICALLY SUPERIOR FRETTING TECHNIQUE

Solid fretwork is a necessity for the maximum range of usable setup configurations and consistent note expression. This feature is not just about the cosmetic beauty of hidden tangs. The fact is, slotted fret pockets maximize the T-beam shape of fretwire because compressive forces mechanically secure each fret from the ends and sides of the tang within the channel.

Most guitars have frets that are held in place by only the lengthwise sides of the tangs within the slot, and if you’re lucky, glue. On a Valkyrie, you’ll enjoy a mechanically superior manufacturing technique with a cosmetic bonus. On top of the superior process, we also use glue for extra holding power. There is no fret sprout in any climate. Notes ring clear across the fretboard.

UNSURPASSED LONGEVITY, SMOOTHNESS AND SHINE (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

Unlike most 22 or 24 fret guitars, our fingerboards extend to the end of the neck, so there is a solid base for every fret which enhances sustain in the upper register. Also, Jescar services the world with their professional grade guitar fret wire. For dependable quality control of tensile strength, hardness, dimension, and composition, they are the distinguished leader among luthiers. Jescar FW58118-S (.118" X .058) is their largest variety, offering an unparalleled feel and polished look but other options are available.

Stainless steel frets ensure reduced friction due to the absence of corrosion or oxidation. This is cosmetically more attractive and you’ll experience silky smooth bends due to less string drag and ultimately longer string life because friction and wear are not multiplied over time as with nickel silver frets.

THE ULTIMATE IN COMPREHENSIVE CONNECTIONS

A radial neck pocket introduces more surface area than traditional flat pocket designs for increased string energy transfer to the body. To visualize it, hold out your hand with the palm up. That’s a finite amount of surface area. Now, curl your fingers a bit. That’s the same surface area as before in a smaller footprint. Neck pockets can be so much more than a 2-3/16" floor and weak illusory support from the pocket walls.

Our proprietary 3D coupling goes beyond even a radial connection and maximizes body-to-neck contact on 3 diameters—made possible by CNC milling. In other words, the curvature of the neck pocket includes the sloping sides, the back, and radiused corners. Total connectivity is the goal. It also guides the neck into flawless alignment. Forget about tone-sucking gaps and misalignment often found in mass market designs—this modern approach connects the entire neck heel with the complementary pocket in a compounded manner—one 3D puzzle piece into another. It’s also very attractive and contributes to the clamping success of the two-bolt coupling system.

TIGHT & BEAUTIFUL HEEL DESIGN

Securing a neck with industrial grade embedded inserts makes for precise and consistent reassembly after scheduled maintenances. This dependable two-bolt coupling system takes advantage of the powerful torque that only machine bolts can offer, pulling the wood cells tightly against the complementary-shaped 3D neck pocket in many directions at once. These bolts are also used in high-stress designs like skateboard truck installations where heavy contrary forces are constantly in play.

SPACE-AGE REINFORCEMENT

Dual carbon fiber rods in the neck enhance sustain and provide additional resistance against seasonal changes, touring stresses, and potential dead spots. One of the most trustworthy ways to ensure that a neck can perform consistently within shifting climates is to reinforce it with lightweight carbon fiber.

With an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, this composite material is often found in critical aerospace applications as well as in major structural components of supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador. Combined with a strong 2-way truss rod, the stabilizing benefits are exceptional.

SUPER GREEN (SG) SERIES PROVIDES MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS AND ENDURANCE TIME (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

Within an outer ring of black, the central material color is a pale green in normal light and a glowing green as conditions move toward total darkness. The SG series has the fastest illumination time of the Luminlay product line.

When the stage lights are down, the glow is powerful but not overpowering. It’s a perfect reference when you need it, and the fingerboard surface remains uncluttered, showcasing the beautiful grain of the board.

LOOKS LIKE A 3-WAY SWITCH BUT HAS 6 SETTINGS (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

If you want the most useful tone combinations available right at your fingertips from a dual humbucker guitar, the Free-Way Ultra Switch has 28 terminal connections which provide a plethora of useful specialty wiring solutions. The clean footprint appears like a traditional 3-way switch but offers 6 settings, and that’s before considering the expansion of options via push-pull knobs.

The most classic and desirable settings can be had with one switch—totally clutter free. And we offer a “treble bleed” equipped with a variable resistor so that you can find the sweet spot for your volume control outcomes and change things up when you experiment with new amplification—or you can disable it by simply releasing the alligator clips securing it into the circuit—totally reversible if your needs change or you want to experiment with other capacitor and resistor values.

3D PRINTED PICKUP RINGS FEATURING ORIGINAL CUSTOM ARTWORK

Thanks to the growth of the 3D printing industry it is now feasible to create singular pickup rings for each iteration of the Valkyrie line—or to forego a pickup ring altogether if an exotic top seems to aesthetically clash with this option. With a ring, we’ll work with you to offer something that has symbolic value and you’ll have the option to custom order replacements should your preferences change over time.

NO DEAD SPOTS WHEN YOU BEND, EVEN ON THE POLE SIDE (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

The unique combination of rails under the wound strings, and poles under the plain strings give you tighter lows and fatter highs than a conventional pickup, for perfect tonal balance without any compromise. Clarity is also increased, but the tone is never sterile sounding at all, because Railhammers have the rich, organic tone only a passive design can deliver.

Regardless of pickup choice, they can be mounted with a block of foam underneath if you desire or mounted on our unique pickup ring option. Either way, it remains totally height-adjustable.

EVEN MORE TONAL COLORS ON TAP (OTHER TONE CAPACITOR OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

Bill Lawrence was a legend in the guitar community, and this device is part of his legacy. It is an LCR network, sized as a 1" cube which can shift the low/mid emphasis to a more desirable range for a particular pickup setting.

Some people describe it as a virtual removal of coil windings, but it’s more than that. Used in combination with our included “treble-bleed” and the varied settings on a Freeway-switched guitar such as the Valkyrie, it provides that last bit of tone-chaser finesse that most other guitars lack.

ELEGANT SIMPLICITY (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

These small performance oriented knobs are precision machined. Three rubber o-rings are held in place by grooves, offering a no-slip grip as you dial in your tone and interact with it in the moment. A set screw secures the knob to the audio potentiometer shaft and a split-shaft option is available that does not use set screws.

DEPENDABLE STRAP CONNECTIVITY (OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

The Straplok Strap Retainer System is a favorite among touring musicians because of the ease of use and dependable design. The end result is a sturdy system for the ultimate in performance and comfort. Flush-mounted inserts are also available.

ROCK THE PLANET WITH A CLEAN CONSCIENCE

To respect what Earth offers up in raw materials, we want to do our part by supporting the ethical harvesting of tonewoods. Our supplies are sourced from reliable and accountable sources. We encourage everyone to do their part toward achieving sustainable forests for future generations.

SCIENCE + INTENTION + CRAFTSMANSHIP

When purpose and imagination coincide, we call it Toneflow. The Valkyrie’s ergonomic design expresses these forces to achieve cumulative enhancements in playability and tone. She features aesthetic mindfulness grounded in science, intention, and craftsmanship.