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Abbey Road Studios has teamed up with Gretsch to launch a new limited edition ‘Studiomatic’ guitar. Find all the details below.
The model, designed specifically for recording, merges the iconic sounds of the legendary London studios and Gretsch for tonal flexibility, clarity and mix-readiness. Abbey Road’s technology has been incorporated directly into the signal path of a guitar for the very first time with the ‘RS201 Studiomatic’.
The instrument boasts the integration of a circuit inspired by the classic RS 97 Rumble Filter. This technology was designed in the 1950s by the EMI team at Abbey Road, in a bid to remove very low-frequency and mechanical vibrations from recordings.
As a result, the “unique circuitry” offers guitarists unprecedented tonal control, retaining clarity in complex arrangements without sacrificing warmth, allowing them to bring the coveted Abbey Road technology directly into their playing – at home, live or in the studio.
Abbey Road has recognised the groundbreaking innovation by assigning the ‘Studiomatic’ a new Recording Studio (RS) number: ‘RS201′. It marks the first time in history that the studios’ legendary ‘RS’ numbering has been awarded to a musical instrument.
The team-up between US instruments manufacturer Gretsch and Abbey Road Studios “celebrates the legacy and innovation of two iconic brands that continue to empower musicians worldwide”.
“Gretsch’s dedication to hand-craftsmanship and commitment to quality has pioneered new designs and manufacturing techniques, earning endorsements from legendary artists including George Harrison of The Beatles,” a description reads.
“Meanwhile, Abbey Road Studios, synonymous with iconic artists such as Kate Bush, Fela Kuti, Oasis and Amy Winehouse, has been at the forefront of recording technology since the 1930s.”
The studios’ technical innovations have shaped the sound of modern recording, from the invention of stereo sound to the groundbreaking innovation of Artificial Double Tracking.
“Designed with a shared dedication to sonic excellence, innovation and craftsmanship, the ‘Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic’ continues this tradition of innovation, offering musicians cutting-edge tools to realise their creative vision,” the listing adds.
“With its unique and iconic history, Abbey Road’s mission has always been to unlock the greatest musical potential in every artist who walks through its doors. Innovation has always been at the heart of Abbey Road, and its engineers have consistently pushed technological boundaries, setting new standards for excellence in recording.”
Max Gutnik, Chief Product Officer of FMIC, said: “Partnerships like this are the kind guitarists dream about. Gretsch and Abbey Road Studios share a legacy built on tone, feel and musical innovation.
“The ‘Limited-Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic’ was born from the idea of crafting a guitar that thrives in the studio: responsive, inspiring and sonically rich. Every detail was dialled in through close collaboration between our teams.”
He added: “The result is an instrument that invites players to explore new sounds while tapping directly into the lineage of recordings that defined modern music.”
Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager of Abbey Road Studios, explained: “The evolution of this unique instrument has been a true collaboration between Gretsch and Abbey Road, driven by a shared desire to craft a guitar designed for mix readiness, sonic flexibility and great tone.
“The ‘RS201’ assignation is a testament to the technical innovation encompassed in this unique instrument, placing the Studiomatic in Abbey Road’s storied lineage of groundbreaking new technologies,” Huffelmann went on. “It has been a joy to collaborate with our friends at Gretsch in creating the Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic, and we couldn’t be more excited to hear the music it inspires in guitarists around the world.”
The ‘Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic’ is a thin hollow-body guitar crafted for clear, muddy low-end and low-mids, featuring Filter’Tron pickups that are both vintage-inspired and modern-voiced. Find more information here.
Last year saw Boygenius launch a custom-made signature guitar in collaboration with Gretsch.
This September, a Gretsch guitar formerly owned by Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page was auctioned off for £100,000 – doubling its estimated price of £50,000. The model was a 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120, which was the prize in a competition run by the NME magazine in 1974.
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