Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open - 130

VG APPROVED GEAR

KNIGHT TIME
Teye Guitars' Master
Series Knights Templar

G

uitar fanatics find inspiration from
different players. And if Woody swapping licks and practicing "the ancient art
of weaving" with Keef while playing his
famous pearl-topped, single-cut Zemaitis
gets your juices flowing, one look at Teye's
Master Series Knights Templar just might
send a shiver up your spine.
When discussing this guitar built by
Texas-based luthier/musician Teye, it's impossible to put aside the remarkable story of
the Knights Templar, given the degree and
nature of its ornamentation. The mosaic of
white mother-of-pearl that covers the top is
quartered by synthetic coral in the shape of a
red Templar cross. Teye's incredible engravings on the aluminum metalwork, front and
back, refer to the legendary warrior-monks
with symbols, Latin inscriptions, and a vision
of hard-charging knights, bannered lances
aimed at the enemy. Every piece of pearl is
figured, and every detail from the headpiece,
with its custom tuner buttons, to the ornate
pickup bezels rings like steel on steel.
The wasp-waisted body and set neck are
carved of korina, a legendary lightweight
and resonant solid-body tonewood. The
guitar's proprietary Shipwreck finish is
applied and rubbed out by hand, creating
a warm contrast to the bright white pearl.
The neck also features Teye's trademark
trompe l'oeil "tiger-neck" finish.
Vital statistics include a lightly arched
bound ebony fingerboard with a 25.5"
scale and Bedouin pearl inlay at every fret.
The bone nut is 1.75" wide, and the body
is fitted with a Teye SuperSustain bridge
and tailpiece. Acoustically, the guitar has a
distinctive ring and long sustain, the sonic
impact of korina with overlaid pearl and
machined aluminum.
The electronics are a new development
for Teye, the all-analog Master Mojo wiring
with controls serving varying functions. The
five-way selector in position 5 (up), selects
neck pickup only, 4 selects neck and bridge
out of phase, middle is neck and bridge in
phase, 2 selects bridge and coil-tapped, and
1 (down) is bridge pickup only. That's a
thoughtful double humbucker wiring, but
it only scratches the surface of possibilities.

Prices: $37,500, Master Series (as
tested); $12,950, Emperor Series
Info: www.teye.com

Teye has liberated a variety of tones
by using potentiometers instead of
mini-switches. As per Teye's suggestion, the Templar was plugged
through a single-channel tube amp.
Teye's suggested presets provided a
good starting point for experimentation. The Mojo wiring accessed a
spectrum of useable sounds, rhythm
and lead, through manipulation of
the proprietary potentiometers with
end detents that allow the player to
bypass the Mojo wiring and click
into the Templar's "natural tone."
With or without the Mojo

VINTAGE GUITAR

130

September 2017

circuit, the Lollar humbuckers
spoke authoritatively when a
strong solo voice was called
for - inventive wiring, resonant
timbers, extraordinary metalwork,
and pearl top all conspiring to deliver
classic rock lead sounds. Just a suggestion of finger vibrato made for terrific
sustain with any voice.
Finding the right place in a band
mix can be a challenge, especially
with multiple electrics in full roar,
but the Mojo circuit summoned funky
and fat rhythm sounds with full-bore
humbucking voices or snarly, slinky
single-coil tones. Stomping in both
gain stages of a Seymour Duncan
Palladium overdrive pedal made the
Templar practically dance by itself.
The Teye Templar is deceptively
lightweight despite the décor, and it
sits comfortably in the lap and on the
strap. General playability is tuneful and
silly-easy on the sizeable, comfortably
carved neck. Just holding the Templar
is an experience, because the concept
and execution are awesome. If it didn't
sound and play so well, it'd be the most
amazing display piece ever. As it is, it's
simply amazing. - Chip Wilson
Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open

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