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Nik Huber ‘Dolphin2’ Electric
Guitar Reviewer: Scott Mullane Distributor: T&G Australia |
One could be excused for looking at these guitars as a PRS wannabe. In fact Paul Reed-Smith is an unofficial mentor to Nik Huber, having a degree of personal input into the development of these fine instruments. However, Nik Huber has created an instrument with its very own sonic signature and, dare I say, created a new benchmark for custom guitars. I guess those crazy Germans are just compelled to over engineer and improve an already existing idea. Let’s check out the Nik Huber Dolphin 2.
Upon opening the guitar case, you are confronted with an instrument of rare beauty, the translucent blue finish revealing a heavily quilted maple top. Premium timbers only where this instrument is concerned. A lovely mahogany neck set into a beautiful mahogany body with a gorgeous quilted maple top. The bastard son of a Les Paul and a telecaster. Thankfully Nik has definitely only taken the best of both of these guitars and thrown out anything less than perfect. You could stare at this instrument all day before even picking it up. But just like a wild brumby, this beast needs to be ridden!
Picking the Dolphin 2 up is no disappointment. The fine craftsmanship apparent in the timber selection and finish carry over to the feel of the instrument. Although the timber choice and carved top give a slight Les Paul impression, the weight of this guitar, thankfully does not. At 3.5 kilos, there will be no back or neck complaints caused by this little beauty. I know all you purists will be scoffing at the weight, opting for the more wood, more tone argument. An argument that I myself would normally also enter quite vocally. However, the Dolphin 2 does not disappoint and is somehow a better instrument for having shed a pound or two.
The attention to detail is staggering beginning with the quality Schaller hardware, custom designed for Huber himself to the ebony buttons on the machine heads. Another nice touch that cements this idea of attention to detail is the control panel cover. Rather than the traditional plastic cover, the dolphin 2 has a wooden cover made out of the same mahogany as the body. Now that is class. As is the unique styling of the set neck joint. A thoughtful heel has been routed away to assist in the ease of access to the upper frets. This in conjunction with the compound radius on the fret board, makes the Dolphin 2 a dream to play. It almost plays itself.
Plug in this beauty and that feeling of quality just keeps getting better. This instrument is one of the first modern guitars to truly have it’s own signature sound. Obvious comparisons can be drawn, but there is always a more pleasant element at work. The humbucking pickups are not high output, and this really shows off the wonderful tones available to the player. In fact the pickups are hand crafted by another German, H. Haussel. The pickups beautifully compliment the instrument, allowing the player to form the tone rather than have the pickup set the tone for you. The string balance is incredible, allowing all strings to ring true and even. The bottom end is tough but not floppy, and the tone and sustain are gorgeous. Even when switching to the neck position. Have you ever felt like you need two different amplifiers, one for your bridge pickup and one for your neck pickup?
I was amazed at how well the tone translated from one pickup to the next. Another surprise was the coil tap. I usually do not like coil taps as they seem to offer a pickup with thin tone and uncontrolled harmonics. Not the Dolphin 2. The coil tap truly gave a single coil pickup with great tone, offering as much to the player as the humbucker. What a treat!
You may be forgiven for thinking that I have just described the perfect guitar, and I assure you that I looked extensively for anything negative, and I did find one thing. The negative is that I would be mortified to scratch and/or dent this instrument as badly as I have to my favourite Tele. This instrument is a Ferrari, and begs to be treated the same way. Almost as a show piece to be driven to the country on Sundays, polished and taken straight back to the showroom, unlike the Holden that you drive to work every other day. I guess the $7000.00 price tag also reflects the user. Only for serious collectors and or guitarists. Hopefully the later.
I’ll go back and keep searching for a fault. Keep you posted.