The James Trussart SteelDeville is a classic single cutaway relic guitar that is simply gorgeous and sounds amazing.  One of the unique aspects of this instrument is that it features the James Trussart exclusive hollow steel body and special metal appointments such as the recessed steel head cap.  These custom appointments are not only visually appealing but they are also functional—the steel head cap, for example, adds mass to the headstock to increase the guitar’s sustain.  Overall, the SteelDeville has a very nice thick, resonant tone that features an edge that can cut through just about anything.  The SteelDeville has been played by a number of famous guitarists, including Richard Fortus and Gilby Clarke of Guns N Roses and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes. Read more

The James Trussart Steelphonic relic guitar features a great classic design.  The guitar is designed to not only sound amazing but look amazing, too—you haven’t seen a relic guitar with this look before, that’s guaranteed.  It’s also built using a very unique design that really captures the metallic tones of the resonator guitar.  However, it plays and feels like an electric.  This sound comes from the way the guitar is built.  It is based around a metal “candy box” that’s connected to a transducer pickup.  The guitar also features two other magnetic pickups, and the sounds from all of them can be blended together to create sounds no other guitar is capable of.

The Steelphonic features a hollow steel body with a bolted on maple neck.  The neck also features a recessed steel head cap, and it can be done in the shape of either a relic from 1959 or 1960.  It has a rosewood fingerboard with medium jumbo #6130 frets.  The Steelphonic features a custom hard tail style bridge and custom B-Band pickups and preamp.  As far as controls go, it has magnetic pickup and a resonator pickup volume controls, plus a three way toggle switch.

The patterns and colors available are very intricate and interesting.  James Trussart himself worked for years to come up with his unique finishes, and you’re sure to find one you like.