Chapman ML3 Modern Semi-Hollow Obsidian Burst: A USA Exclusive
Guitar Center exclusive model announced
The new Chapman Guitars ML3 Modern Semi-Hollow Obsidian Burst is a new model that will be available only via Guitar Center in the USA. Designed using an online poll, this guitar looks fine but may well cost too much for players outside the US.
Chapman ML3 Modern Semi-Hollow Obsidian Burst
This model comes in a rather fetching Obsidian Burst finish over a flame maple top applied to a thick carved maple cap. It is a semi-hollow Telecaster-style body and has a mahogany paired with a baked maple 24 fret, 25.5″ scale-length neck.
Tonally, this guitar should be pretty decent as it has all the right tonewoods to achieve a great sound, whether clean or overdriven. Being semi-hollow should also add to this great mix of tonewoods. Hardware wise it has all the good stuff and includes a set of Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners, hardtail bridge and stainless steel frets.
Madrigal humbuckers
The guitar comes with a set of Rob’s Chapman Madrigal humbuckers. These can also be coil-split to give you faux single coil tones. I’ve never tried them myself, but from the demo video below they appear to be well suited to higher gain amp settings.
Hopefully, they will clean up well when you back the gain off a little or split those coils. The guitar has a modern look thanks to that reverse headstock and appears on paper to be well specified. But at a thousand bucks it isn’t the cheapest Chapman guitar.
Crowd Developed?
The guitar was designed using responses from online voting drawing on Rob’s significant following on YouTube. Seems a pity that it is exclusive to the USA. But I figure at some point they may well introduce a similar model available to the rest of the world. But if you do want one and you are outside the US, then be prepared for import fees and taxes galore that will make this Chapman guitar a little too expensive.
Overall, though, this is a decent-looking, well-specified guitar.
RRP – USD 999 exclusive to Guitar Center USA
More Information
- Product Page (may not be viewable depending on your location)
Video
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