Upgrades
Upgrades and Options From Kendall Guitar Works
Kendall Guitar Works can provide various upgrades and options with the guitars we build, and with the conversions that we perform in our workshop in Toronto, Canada.
On This Page
Upgrades and options for:
Mahogany Options
Options
The Kendall Classic Special is finished with a mahogany veneer in keeping with the original Red Special. Sapele is shown here, and Khaya is also an option.
A one-piece quartersawn mahogany neck, hand-carved, with a traditional bolt-on joint is also standard on a Classic Special.
The Kendall Deluxe Special can also be constructed with mahogany, with the further option of an alternative stain colour and other finishes.
Exotic Woods
Options
The Kendall Deluxe Special can be constructed with a chambered mahogany body, and a mahogany or exotic wood top. It can also be built using laminboard or blockboard and finished with an exotic veneer of your choosing. Mottled bubinga is shown here. Scroll through the images for more options.
A one-piece quartersawn mahogany neck neck, hand-carved, with a traditional bolt-on joint can be used on a Deluxe Special, or we can use more exotic woods such as figured, birdseye, flamed, or torrefied maple.
We often purchase exotic woods and veneers online from EdCo Canada and from eBay. Please feel free to browse those sites for inspiration.
Please note that some woods and veneers may incur additional cost.
Deluxe Special Trim
Options
The Kendall Deluxe Special can be customized with serveral trim options, some of which are pictured below. There is no additional charge for these options.
Trisonic-Style Pickups
Options
Kendall Classic and Deluxe Special guitars come with three 60s-style Yonderbosk Sovereign pickups included. These are hand-assembled, air-coil single coil pickups in the style of the legendary Burns TriSonics.
We can offer other Burns Trisonic-style pickups, usually at extra cost. Please contact us to discuss.
We re-use the stock pickups in BMG and Burns conversions; however, we can install any other Trisonic-style pickups requested or provided by you, and we have Yonderbosk Sovereign pickups and a limited supply of modified Kent Armstrong Burns Trisonic pickups on hand that we can install at extra cost. These are imported from the UK.
The cost of upgrading pickups in a conversion is () for the Kent Armstrong pickups, and () for the Yonderbosk Sovereign pickups, including import charges and taxes.
24K Gold Plated Hardware
Upgrade
With this upgrade, available on the Kendall Deluxe Special, a set of hardware from The Cyber Shop , and a set of Yonderbosk Sovereign pickup covers are plated with 24K gold by the same company used by Gibson Custom Shop.
- Tremolo block, arm, and nut
- Bridge blocks
- Control knobs
- Strap buttons
We pair these with durable gold colored parts:
- Goto Magnum Lock SG381-05P1 MGT tuners
- Stewmac gold medium fretwire and pickguard screws
- Switchcraft gold barrel jack
- AllParts gold toggle switches (optional)
Pricing is (,, ).
KAT SuperPot
Upgrade
Brian May's distinctive sound is achieved in part by overdriving his Vox AC30 ampifiers; that is, by turning his Red Special guitar up so loud — with a treble booster in the signal chain — that the tubes in the amplifiers distort. When the guitar is turned down, it produces a very clean, sparkly sound.
The SuperPot was designed for Brian May by Nigel Knight of Knight Audio Technologies (KAT) to increase the range over which Brian can control the transition from clean to overdriven while performing on stage.
The KAT Superpot is a dual-ganged stereo 250 kΩ potentiometer fitted with a 1 MΩ resistor and a 22 nF capacitor. It replaced the 220 kΩ volume potentiometer in Brian's Red Special.
We assemble the KAT SuperPot, and fit it into a Classic or Deluxe Special build, or into a BMG or Burns conversion. We adjust the volume control knob to fit the thicker shaft of the KAT SuperPot.
Pricing is (, , ).
BMG Signature Protection
Option
If you're fortunate enough to have a BMG Special or Super personally signed by Sir Brian May, we are able to protect the signature by clear coating the top of the guitar.
Brian May Guitars cautions that, being signed on the body's upper bout, the signature will almost certainly wear off during playing.
Sir Brian uses a Sharpie® brand metallic oil-based paint marker. Solvent-based products can melt or mar the signature, so we selected and tested water-based products that won't affect it, including a high quality, water-based, two-part polyurethane finish that is clearer, harder, and more durable than other water-based products such as acrylic.
We strip the guitar of all hardware, clean and degrease it, and mask off all but the top. We then apply several coats of polyurethane, sand it flat, and buff and polish it to a super high gloss finish. Finally, we reinstall the hardware and set up the guitar.
Pricing is . We are able to extend a discount if signature protection is done along with a BMG or Burns Special full conversion. Please enquire.
MayStar Decal
Option
If you've chosen a BMG Special full conversion, your guitar will look almost identical to a BMG Super. All it needs is a MayStar decal on its headstock.
This option is not available for Burns Special guitars that have the Burns logo on the headstock.
We remove the tuning pegs from the headstock, clean and degrease it, and mask off all but the top. We then affix the decal and apply a polyurethane clear coat so that it's permanent, sand it flat, and buff and polish it to a super high gloss finish. Finally, we reinstall the hardware.
Pricing is . We are able to extend a discount if the MayStar decal is applied along with signature protection. Please enquire.