Manson MD-2 Mikey Demus Signature: Crushing orange tones?

17 Nov 2017 by Jef | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Manson MD-2 Mikey Demus Signature · Source: Mansons Guitar Works

Previous Next

The new Manson MD-2 Mikey Demus Signature model guitar has just been released at the Mansons 2017 guitar show and I was there to hear it in action. Will this new orange-clad beauty rock your world?

Skindred

Mikey Demus is the tall, red-bearded guitarist with Skindred who knows a thing or two about playing crushing guitar riffs. He has collaborated with Mansons Guitar Works on his very own signature guitar model. If their guitars are good enough for Matt Bellamy of Muse and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin then you know you are on the right tracks.

I was lucky enough to be at the show where this new signature model was unveiled to the world and so I got to hear it first hand in Mikey’s hands. I can confirm that it sounds great. As Mikey is left-handed, it looked really stunning and odd in that cool orange finish, as it really stands out from the crowd.

Mikey Demus with his new signature model at the Manson 2017 Guitar Show · Source: Mikey Demus/Facebook

Orange Crush

You can order it either right or left handed, so don’t be put off by it being a signature model for a southpaw! I love the colour, and it really suits the guitar. The photos don’t do it justice, as in the flesh it really pops. However, if you find orange too much then Mansons do a more subdued black version. But if I was buying one, it would have to get an orange one.

Manson MD-2 Mikey Demus Signature · Source: Mansons Guitar Works

Specifications

The specifications are as follows: a two-piece alder body with a maple neck and nice dark ebony fretboard. The finish options are Dry Satin Black or Satin Candy Orange (although the fretboard sets off the orange finish nicely, in my opinion).

The pickups are Psychopaf British Rail T humbucker in the bridge and a Psychopaf Straightjacket humbucking neck pickup both controlled by a dual volume and tone control setup, a Gotoh GTC bridge and Gotoh HAP tuners. Tuning should be rock solid.

The Satin Orange Candy finish costs a £100 more than the Dry Satin Black, but after seeing it in the flesh I would have to have an orange one myself.

MD-1

There is also an MD-1 version of the guitar with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Tele humbucking bridge pickup and a Seymour Duncan Jazz Humbucking neck pickup, which reduces the cost of either model by £150.