Reverend
ActiveOverview
Reverend Musical Instruments, known as Reverend Guitars, manufactures electric guitars and basses featuring Korina bodies, custom pickups, Boneite nut, and Bass Contour Control. The brand occupies a mid-market position with over 30 models, including signature series, noted for retro designs, unorthodox construction, and affordability.178
History
Reverend Guitars was founded in 1997 in a garage in East Detroit, Michigan, by Joe Naylor, a guitar technician and luthiery school graduate with experience in industrial design and vintage guitar repair.136 The company initially produced guitars with a patented non-traditional body construction until 2004.3 It relocated to Toledo, Ohio, where guitars are inspected and set up, and is currently run by Ken and Penny Haas.125
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Club Series (offset semi-hollow guitars) | versatile for rock and blues | $800 - $1,200 |
| Buckshot Series (single-cutaway solids) | high-output for rock | $900 - $1,300 |
| Descendant Series (modern bolt-ons) | affordable entry-level | $500 - $800 |
| Kingpin Series (single-cut semi-hollows) | jazz and blues tones | $900 - $1,400 |
| Pete Anderson Series (tele-style) | country and rockabilly | $1,000 - $1,500 |
| Signature Models (artist collaborations) | professional custom designs | $1,200 - $2,000 |
Manufacturing
Guitars are manufactured by Mirr Music in South Korea.15 Each instrument is inspected, set up, and quality-controlled at the headquarters in Toledo, Ohio.15
Notable Products
- Club King 290 - Semi-hollow with P90s for warm overdriven tones.
- Buckshot ATX - Solidbody with railhammer pickups for high-gain versatility.
- Pete Anderson Jet - Signature tele-style with custom electronics for twang.
- Double Agent OG - Dual voice pickup guitar for humbucker/single coil switch.
- Falcon - Double-cut semi-hollow for archtop-style playability.
Reputation
Reverend guitars receive praise from players for quality construction, distinctive retro aesthetics, playability, and value relative to price.15 Professionals like Billy Corgan and Reeves Gabrels use them on major stages.3 Some enthusiasts note the South Korean manufacturing as less premium than USA-made alternatives, though setups in Ohio ensure consistency.15
Sources (8)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Musical_Instruments
- https://rocketreach.co/reverend-guitars-profile_b5e3a51ff42e6e4f
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xIxoErmTiI
- https://www.zoominfo.com/c/reverend-guitars/345899527
- https://skymusic.com.au/blogs/education-information/everything-you-need-to-know-about-reverend-guitars-and-why-they-rock
- https://reverendguitars.com/our-story/born-in-detroit/
- https://reverendguitars.com/our-story/
- https://reverendguitars.com