Ivison Guitars Dakota Standard Freebird Pickps w/ Case – Light Aged Tobacco Sunburst

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?

This is the second Ivison I’ve had the pleasure of trying. The first, being a Dakota Standard with PAF’s and a Korina body. This Dakota sports a mahogany body, old growth mahogany neck, and Ivison Freebird pickups. It’s one of those instruments that’s good enough to be your main guitar. It could also be an incredible secondary guitar for tones alternative to humbuckers. And compared to the Gibson Firebird guitars I’ve played, this Dakota is infinitely more playable and comfortable.

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.

As far as sounds, the Freebird Set is very cool. It’s a faithful set as compared to the ‘60s pickups they are based on. And despite the single coil like sonics, the pickups themselves are true humbuckers. The neck pickup has a bright high-end, but not fatiguingly so. The lows are tight, yet the pickup retains body and depth. DC Resistance is low, coming in a little over 6k ohm.

The bridge pickup is little hotter, coming in just over 7k ohm in DC Resistance. It’s a great match for the neck pickup. I found the bridge to be remarkably balanced and never abrasive. It is bright and articulate, but not overly so. The middle position is nicely scooped with an enhanced treble response, similar to the other positions. Both pickups sound great gained up in that edge of breakup territory. That is really where this pickup set shines in my opinion.

How Does It Play?

The string action measures right at 4/64” on the low E string measured at the 12th 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: 7lb 15.7oz

Hiscox Liteflite Case Included!

DAKOTA STANDARD - Specs

Body

African mahogany

Neck

Old Growth Honduran Mahogany, last imported into the UK in the 1950’s

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 Freebird pickups

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

Aged Tobacco sunburst

Accessories

Hiscox Liteflite case

Ivison Guitars COA