Pheo Mutant Vintage Set

Here's a new set of Pheo guitars that Phil Sylvester labels "mutant vintage," a set of mangled artifacts that have been enhanced in ways only Phil can achieve.

No, you didn't forget to put on your glasses! These fractured, yet crafted, random yet profoundly organized instruments are the creations of Phil Sylvester of Pheo Guitars. They are the very epitome of functional art - they play, beautifully, even startlingly well. They are consummate instruments that press hard at the boundaries of what we normally think an instrument "should" be. From Pheo you will find remarkable guitars and amplifiers made from found objects and crafted elements - old instrument parts, hairdryers, grills, vacuum cleaners, etc. all deconstructed and reassembled into a whole that only vaguely resembles, and certainly transcends it's origins.

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59 Reverse Carve - $7000
The Pheo 59 Reverse Carve is one of a new series that I call “Mutant Vintage”. It is built from a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Jr. that had already been modified. I added an Eastern Red Maple top that loosely follows the contours of a 59 Les Paul Standard, but carved in reverse so that it is concave rather than convex. The top is 1/2” deep in the center section and shallower at the rims as would be the case in an actual Standard. Pickups are a ’58 Rolph Pretender at the bridge and a Pheo polepiece magnet humbucker at the neck, based on Gibson’s clearer lapsteel PAFs that predated their guitar PAF. The body and neck are old growth honduras mahogany with 56 years worth of playing time and great deep tenon construction. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Mid fifties substantial Gibson neck carve. 8lbs 14oz.

Prewar Four - $4000
Yet another “Mutant Vintage”. The Prewar Four is built from a 1941 Gibson L4 that had been through the ringer. I added an East Indian Rosewood solid back to replace the ruined ply back. The new back is two angled planes rather than an arch. Top cracks were repaired. Neck reset, rebound, and refretted. Pickup is an actual McCarty in a new pickguard housing. This guitar has an absolutely lovely acoustic voice, much improved by the solid back, perfectly complemented by the smooth clear tone of the McCarty.

Slip Cat - $5000
The Slip Cat is another “Mutant Vintage”. Built from the body and neck of an early sixties Melody Maker, old growth honduras mahogany and Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with over 45 years playing time. I’ve added Brazilian Rosewood struts into which are drilled the bridge and tailpiece mounts, and a multi section Eastern Red Maple cap. Pickups are a Rolph 58 Pretender humbucker at the bridge and a vintage Melody Maker single coil at the neck. This guitar has the sustain and growl of a burst at the bridge and the clarity of a Strat at the neck, though with a bit more complexity than a Strat from the variety of tonewoods. 8lbs 14oz. Neck carve is just slightly larger than a medium C, with a little more heft as you move toward the body.

Stealth Jr. - $4500
The Pheo Stealth Jr. is one of my “Mutant Vintage” series. It is built from a very light early to mid sixties Gibson SG Junior. I wanted to keep the look of the Jr. but build in some hidden enhancements. First, I added an Eastern Red Maple cap to the back to give the acoustic response greater body and complexity. The pickguard has been elevated to conceal a Pheo Firebird pickup in the neck position. The bridge pickup is a modified Lollar Imperial humbucker hidden under a P90 cover. Front knobs are the two volumes for the neck and bridge pickups. Tone knobs for each pickup are hidden in the back. Neck is medium, neither giant nor thin. Plenty of battle scars, but GREAT wood. 7lbs 8oz.