Former master luthier and head of the Private Stock Division at PRS, Joe Knaggs founded his own boutique guitar brand in 2009. Based in Maryland, Knaggs Guitars produces high-end, handcrafted electric guitars, emphasizing design, quality, and innovation. With refined body shapes, sophisticated details, and premium finishes, Knaggs appeal to players who seek both artistic craftsmanship and sonic excellence.
With its slab body and single cutaway, the Knaggs Choptank draws inspiration from early '50s American icons. This Choptank HT-T3 was made in 2019, and it is an impressive solid-body guitar that demonstrates Knaggs' artistry. It starts with an Alder body and a stunning flame Maple neck. While similar guitars are traditionally built with bolt on necks, the Choptank has a carefully-designed set neck. Because of that, this 2019 Choptank is a resonant instrument with a lot of sustain.
This Choptank is finished in gorgeous relic Olive Drab finish with aged nickel hardware to match. For pickups, it sports a Seymour Duncan Tele bridge and an Antiquity II Minihumbucker in the neck position. With a three way toggle switch, volume, and tone controls, the Choptank delivers an impressive range of sounds.
This 2019 Choptank is gently used, and it is an excellent player. It is setup with approachable, low action, and the general playbiltiy/overall utility shows a high level of attention to detail throughout the build process. The relic-ing is tasteful, and cosmetically the guitar is very clean. The finish is chipped along the edge of the pickguard near the tone control (see photos). This Choptank includes its original Knaggs hardshell case and paperwork.
This Knaggs Choptank has a vibe all its own. It is a highly-usable guitar that would be reliable and dependable on stage night after night. Plus, it is so good looking! The Flame Maple neck/fingerboard is intense, and we love the combination of the Olive Drab finish, single-ply black pickguard, and sleek aged nickel bridge.