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Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova

 

Review of the Epiphone Supernova by The Man in the Jar  

Baby Blue and still mad for it...?  Let's see.

Features of the Epiphone Supernova

Tuners - Vintage style covered tuners with small chrome knobs and a nice smooth action.

Headstock - The elongated Epiphone take on the classic Gibson design balances well with the large body of this instrument. The model name "Supernova" is printed on the truss rod cover. 

Nut - White plastic nut which is smoothly finished.

Neck - The mahogany neck is finished in the same metallic blue as the body. It's a fixed neck with a nicely shaped heel. The slimness of the neck feels immediately comfortable in the hand while the gloss finish makes for fast movement.

Fretboard - Dark chocolate rosewood with a nice close grain. Split parallel markers and antiqued binding finish off a handsome package.

Frets - Medium well-polished.

Action - Nice and low straight from the box.

Body - Classic "Lucille" 335 shape which is a pleasure to wear whether you are sitting or standing. Being mostly hollow the body is extremely light so you could happily wear it for days on end. The arch-top body and central block are made from laminated maple. The finish is like that dense metallic sparkle so beloved of the Vauxhall estates of my childhood (the cars, not the council flats). The faint, even sparkle teamed with this shade of blue give the Supernova a strong 1950's retro feel. The antiqued binding on front and back together with the two traditional style f-holes define the look beautifully.   

Bridge - Standard Tune-o-matic and stoptail bridge in chrome.

Pickups - Two chrome covered Alnico V 57's in solid black surrounds. A single row of pole pieces adds the 335 authenticity.

Controls - Volume and tone for each pickup have traditional black top-hat knobs.

Pickguard - White pearloid with a large Epiphone logo and Noel Gallagher's signature. The guard is of the traditional raised variety being held off the body by a small chrome bracket at the bottom.

Strap-buttons - Medium-large buttons. One is on the bottom of the guitar and one is on the back at the heel. This makes the guitar hang really nicely on the strap. Where it high for some serious posing.

Output Jack - On the front below the controls, unadorned by any type of surround. So make sure you're looking at what you are doing when plugging up. 

Finish - Good all round. That blue metallic finish really grows on you.

 

Sound of the Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova

I have heard Epiphone users say that these pickups approach the authentic voice of the Gibson 335. On a clean channel there's full range sparkle from the bridge through to a blues growl at the neck. Combining the two produces a complex chiming tone that is great for fat rhythm playing. These voices crunch up well when the amp is overdriven, although tradition would dictate that there's a limit to how far you should travel down this particular road.   

 

Overall Impressions of the Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova 

Signature models, whatever the name of the artist, are always more a matter of taste that ordinary finishes simply because of the name of an individual artist attached to the instrument. The Epiphone 335-type is in itself a satisfying instrument to play and gives all the visceral, physical pleasure of wearing and playing a big semi-acoustic guitar. If the Noel Gallagher association adds to your pleasure then this is the only 335 you should consider... except for the other Gallagher model that sports our glorious flag.   

Buy the Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova in Metallic Blue

Check out the Epiphone Noel Gallagher Supernova in British Colours

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