BC Kingston Fusion

There are three versions of Kingston's 16" double cutaway thinline, the "Fusion." They are the quilt, flame and spruce.

Ted McCarty ran Gibson Guitars from 1950 - 1966, a golden era even in that company's long and proud history. Many would argue that the highlight of his tenure was the introduction of the "335" thinline in 1958. These semi-acoustic guitars have a solid maple block through the center of the guitar designed to emphasize solid-body type sustain and to minimize feedback. The hollow "tone chambers" provided a depth of tonal colors not possible with solid bodies.

The Fusion is Kingston's take on this venerable guitar. To find more tone they've replaced the plywood top, back and sides of the "335" with solid select tone woods. The Fusion's mahagany neck, sides, kerfing, centerblock and fully carved back form a homogeneous unit that really warms the tone and feeds the sustain. When the bite of the fully carved premium quilted or European curly maple top is coupled with the clarity, articulation and punch of the custom order Lindy Fralin humbuckers and added to the equation the result is that the Fusion is capable of almost pure acoustic sounds right up though those big, fat, creamy Duane Allman sounds.

A 2-way adjustable truss rod is flanked on each side by carbon fiber rods that extend from the peghead all the way past the neck joint to the 21st fret. This increases neck stiffness and sustain while adding little extra weight and eliminating the possibility of "dead spots." The plastic bindings of the "335" have been replaced with bindings/purflings of solid ebony and curly maple, and Kingston believes this also adds to the tone and sustain.

The 3-way toggle switch has been replaced with an ultra-smooth 5-way lever switch very accessibly located just off the volume control. The face mounted input jack has been replaced by a flush-mount jack installed in the side on the treble side, lower bout. Unprecedented access to the switch and all electronics is afforded by a small oval access hole in the back.

Fusion - Standard Specifications:

Body Measurements:
- length - 18 3/4" (inches)
- lower bout - 16"
- upper bout - 11 1/2"
- waist - 9 1/4"
- sides - 1 5/8"

Neck Measurements:
- fret scale - 24.562"
- number of frets - 22
- fretboard cutoff - 23rd fret
- fretboard radius - 12"
- nut - 1 5/8"
- 19th fret - 2 1/8"
- string separation at bridge - 2 1/32"

Tops: fully hand carved solid select quilted maple, or, European curly maple; or, European spruce

Backs: fully hand carved solid select mahogany; or European curly maple

Sides: to match backs

Necks: select mahogany

Fretboards, headcap face, pickguard: solid ebony

Bindings/Purflings: solid ebony and curly maple combinations - all fabricated in shop
- 5 piece: around tops
- 3 piece: around backs
- 2 piece: around fretboard, f-holes, peghead and pickguard

Position markers: MOP triangle sequence on fretboard with 2mm MOP side position dots

Neck particulars: 2-way LMI adjustable truss rod with carbon fiber rods on each side from peghead to 21st fret

Pickups: custom Lindy Fralin humbuckers; 8K at neck and 9K at bridge

Frets: jumbo

Nut: bone

Bridge: tuneamatic, nickel

Tailpiece: stop tailpiece, nickel

Switch: lever, 5-way P-Model Megaswitch yielding
1) Bridge humbuckers
2) Inner coils in parallel
3) Outer coils in series
4) Outer coils in parllel
5) Neck humbucker

Controls: Master volume, master tone

Jack: flushmount, located in side on treble side lower bout

Finishes:
- Quilt Fusion: sunburst top with just darker than natural mahogany sides, back and neck
- Flame Fusion: sunburst top with just darker than natural mahogany sides, back and neck
- Spruce Fusion: blonde

Machine Heads: locking Sperzel tuners, black

Case: TDK

Options:
- Bigsby setup with Bigsby tremdo tailpiece and Schaller roller bridge and delrin nut ($300)
- Total sunburst on Spruce Fusion ($500)
- Cedar Creek or Calton custom case ($500)

Prices:
- Quilt $6025
- Flame $5725
- Spruce $5725

Audio Samples:
Fusion Quilt Blues
Fusion Quilt Bridge Rock
Fusion Quilt Jazz
Fusion Quilt Neck Gain
Fusion Quilt Rock Bridge

Fusion Flame Bridge Rock
Fusion Flame Chicken Pickin Neck
Fusion Flame Clean Bridge
Fusion Flame More Bridge
Fusion Flame Neck Blues
Fusion Flame Soundtrack Bridge Bigsby

Fusion Spruce Bridge Gain
Fusion Spruce Bridge Slight Gain Fingers
Fusion Spruce Bridge to Neck Blues
Fusion Spruce EJ Style Thing
Fusion Spruce Groove
Fusion Spruce More Blues
Fusion Spruce New Blues