Ivison Guitars Dakota Standard '59 PAF Set w/ Case – Natural Tint

Information

Brand New w/ Warranty. We are an Ivison Dealer.

Like what you see? All photos are of the exact instrument you will receive.

Ivison Guitars is a boutique electric guitar company based in Worcestershire, UK. Ivison started in 2018, helmed by Neil Ivison, a guitarist and retired guitar tech with over 30 years of touring experience. All Ivison guitars are built one at a time, from raw lumber billets to the final hand buffed 'vintage patina' finish. Crafted using the finest quality materials, utilizing both traditional and modern construction methods and techniques.

Ivison uses Honduran and African Mahogany, Spanish Cedar, Korina, Eastern Maple, Indian Rosewood, celluloid inlays, celluloid binding and pickguards, aniline dyes, and non-plasticized nitrocellulose lacquer. Ivison also builds their own pickups, hand wound one at a time, then specifically matched for optimum tone into each guitar.

What Does Cam Think?

During my tenure at the Gibson Custom shop, I worked on thousands of guitars. I have a pretty good handle on the feel and tone of instruments in the mahogany/ korina body, set-neck style we all know and love. The Dakota Standard pays homage to several legendary guitars in that style, borrowing some elements, yet retaining its own identity.

The Dakota Standard uses the classic single-cut set-neck style, but with some unique appointments. The body itself is akin to a Les Paul Special, but with the raised middle section of a Firebird and a similar pickguard. It also utilizes a wrap-tail bridge, with compensated saddles to maintain correct intonation. Controls are the same as a Les Paul with individual volume and tone pots for each pickup. The finish is traditional, using nitro lacquer with a light aging throughout. The classic 12” radius, 43mm nut width, and vintage 24.625" scale length is used for that familiar playability.

Regarding tones, the Dakota is remarkably true to its vintage influences. A pair of Ivison '59 spec PAFs are installed in the Korina body. The neck pickup is a beautiful recreation of a PAF. It’s full and commanding with a big low-end and articulate top-end. Jazz chords sound full and complex, while single note melody lines cut through with authority. With some drive, the neck pickup remains clear, but with a silky smoothness to the top. It never sounded flubby.

The bridge pickup is bold in that beautiful PAF way, with trademark bark and snarl. Chords have excellent note separation and single notes carry a clarity that never sounds brittle. With some overdrive added to the mix, harmonics leap off the fretboard. That signiture AC/DC grind and clarity is bountiful. The middle position has that scooped, single-coil like response that works so well clean or dirty. Call me impressed, this Dakota has my attention!

How Does It Play?

The string action measures right at 4/64” on the low E string measured at the 12^th fret and just under 4/64” on the high E string. The neck is a classic ’59 profile, but not a ‘baseball bat’. It’s meaty and supportive with a C shape carve, leaving plenty of room for your hand to maintain comfort. The frets are Jescar 45100 in nickel, which is an excellent size for chording and single notes. They provide accurate intonation and easy bends.

Weight: 8lb 1.3oz

The Hiscox Liteflite Case Included!

DAKOTA STANDARD - Specs

Body

Korina

Neck

Korina

Long tenon construction

24.625" vintage scale length

Single action, vintage spec truss rod

Maple truss rod fillet

Premium AAA Indian rosewood fingerboard

Polished buffalo bone nut

12" radius

43mm nut width

'59 neck profile

Depth at 1st fret: 22.5mm (approx.)

Depth at 12th fret: 24.5mm (approx.)

Jescar 45100 nickel fretwire

Vintage pattern celluloid dots

Celluloid side dot markers

Electronics

Ivison '59 spec PAFs

CTS 500k pots

.022 paper in oil capacitor

Switchcraft switch & jack socket

Hardware

Faber aged nickel compensated wraparound bridge

Aged nickel anchors and studs

Gotoh aged tuners 15:1 ratio

Finish

100% nitrocellulose finish, lightly aged, vintage formulated

Accessories

Hiscox Liteflite case

Ivison Guitars COA