Chapman Guitars

Chapman Guitars is a guitar company established in 2009 by Rob Chapman, a guitarist best known for his informative videos on YouTube.^[1] The company claims to be the first to design its guitars "collaboratively", and the design, features and specs of new models are selected by the votes of Chapman's YouTube subscribers in online polls on his website.^[2]

Chapman used to manufacture their guitars in notably small, cheap production runs. The ML-1 was initially limited to a run of 500 guitars, although a second batch was produced when the factory which supplied Chapman offered more at a discounted price. The ML-2 was limited to 250 pieces.^[3]

Production models

The company's first production guitar was the ML-1. In order to make the best guitar for the lowest initial outlay, Chapman chose a design philosophy by which any compromises would be reflected most in the parts which would be most likely and easily replaced later by the owner. Thus those components of the ML1 which were not so easily replaced could be of the very highest quality that the limited budget allowed; the ML-1 featured a solid mahogany Fender Stratocaster-style body, a maple neck and an ebony fingerboard, but the pickups (according to Chapman on his YouTube channel) were sourced from a factory located in USA. The ML-1's body and distinctive reverse-style headstock had a simple, black finish. The ML1 was priced for the entry level market when it initially retailed for £299, but the second batch allowed its price to be reduced even further to £199. The ML-1's second batch suffered from further decreased quality control, with some customers complaining of sharp/unfinished fret work and generally poor craftsmanship. This deviation in quality control was a deciding factor for the manufacture of Chapman guitars to be moved to World Musical Instruments, South Korea. In 2013, South Korean crafted ML-1s, ML-2s and signature guitars for Rob Chapman, Rabea Massaad and Lee Anderton began shipping.

2009-2016 Models

Standard Series

• ML-1 – The first Monkey Lord approved model, S-Shaped guitar with HSS pickup configuration. Since February 2014, it is available in Natural Ash (due to the success of the Special Run of natural finish swamp ash ML-1s during late 2013). Since June 2014, it is available in Natural Walnut.
• ML-2 – The second Monkey Lord approved model, LP-Shaped guitar with HH pickup configuration.
• ML-3 Modern & ML-3 Traditional – Two T-Shape guitars designed in 2014 with many choices determined by community voting, and the newest editions to the Monkey Lord's lineup.

The Modern features a HH pickup configuration on a carved sapele mahogany body with a recessed bolt on maple neck, and is available in Satin Black and Natural Mahogany finishes. It is targeted more at those in pursuit of a T-Shape guitar, but with an alternate layout and pickup configuration.

The Traditional uses a stacked single coil for the bridge pickup and a regular single coil for the neck pickup (unlike the dual single coils on most Fender Telecasters) on a two piece carved swamp ash body, again, with a recessed bolt on maple neck. It is available in either Natural Swamp Ash, or Satin Blue finishes. The Traditional, as the name suggests, is designed for people looking for a more traditional T-Shape guitar.

• ML-7S – ML-1 shaped 7 string guitar model in mahogany.
• ML-7T – ML-3 shaped 7 string guitar model in swamp ash.
• ML-V - V-shape guitar collaboratively designed, introduced on NAMM 2017.

Signature Series

• ML-1 CAP10 – Lee "The Captain" Anderton signature model with HSH configuration of Seymour Duncan pickups. It's the first Chapman signature model.
• ML-1 BEA – Rabea Massaad signature model with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers.
• ML-3 RC – Rob Chapman signature model.
• Rob Chapman Signature Ghost Fret
• ML-1-8 RS - Rob Scallon 8 string signature model with two Chapman humbuckers.
• ML-1 RS - Rob Scallon 6 string signature model with two Chapman humbuckers.

Special runs

• ML-1 Natural Ash – Special Run of natural finish swamp ash ML-1s during late 2013. Since February 2014, it is available as standard option.
• ML-1 CAP10 Blackout – Limited run of guitars with the same specs as the white CAP10 but with black body and black pickguard during late 2013.
• ML1 CAP10 America - a limited version of the ML1 CAP10 which is exclusive for Riff City Guitars, the CAP10 America has the same specs as the standard CAP10, but with a Cherry Sunburst finish, white Pickguard and Maple fingerboard
• ML-1 Hot Rod – Limited run of natural finish swamp ash ML-1s with single Seymour Duncan JB humbucker pickup and Floyd Rose during early 2014.
• ML-2 Classic Gold Top – Gold Top ML-2 with Seymour Duncan SH-1 Blues set of humbucker pickups and phase reversal capability. There have been 66 guitars made in this run with the total run expected to be less than 100.
• ML-1 Norseman - a Special version of the ML1 which was designed by Chapman guitars and their Norwegian retailer Evenstad Musikk. this model has a Quilted Maple top, Mahagony neck, covered Chapman Passive Aggressive pickups and a Floyd Rose bridge

Bass guitars

• MLB-1 – 4-string bass

2017 models

at NAMM 2017, Chapman introduced a completely new line of guitars, which will replace all of the models that came before it (except for the Rob Scallon and Lee Anderton signature models). and for the first time, Chapman are making some of the models in Indonesia. Pre-orders started on April 2017 and will end in July, when they'll arrive

Indonesian series (Standard series)

the Standard series guitars are made in Indonesia, having Maple necks with Bolt On constructions, Veneers instead of thick caps, dot inlays, gloss finishes and made to be cheaper versions of the Korean models

• ML-1 Modern - a Strat shaped guitar with HH pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body with a Maple veneer, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Sonorous Zero pickups. aveilable with Lunar (black) or Midnight Sky (dark blue) finishes.

there is also a 28' scale baritone version, which has a Swamp Ash veneer, locking tuners and a Graphite (dark brown) finish

• ML-1 traditional - a more traditional style Strat shaped guitar with SSS pickup configuration, has an Ash body, Maple fingerboard, brass saddles and Chapman Venus Witch Zero singlecoil pickups, aveilable with Lunar or Coffee-burst finishes
• ML-2 - a Gibson shaped guitar with 25' scale length, features a Mahogany body with a Maple veneer, Ebony fingerboard, Set-Neck construction and Chapman Stentorian Zero pickups. aveilable with White Dove (with covered pickups) and Lunar (with uncovered pickups) finishes
• ML-3 Modern - a Tele shaped guitar with HH pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body with a Maple veneer, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Sonorous Zero pickups. aveilable with Lunar or Incarnadine (bright red) finishes.
• ML-3 traditional - a more traditional style Tele shaped guitar with SS pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body with a Mape veneer, Maple fingerboard, brass saddles and Chapman Mojohand Zero singlecoil pickups, aveilable with White Dove or Honey-burst finishes
• Ghost Fret - a Gibson Explorer shaped guitar with 24.75' scale length, has a Mahogany body with a Maple veneer, Ebony fingerboard, Set-Neck construction and Chapman Premordial Zero pickups. aveilable with Black Blood (faded red) and Lunar finishes

Korean line (Pro series and signature series)

the Pro series guitars are made in South Korea, having 3 piece Maple necks with Neck-Through contructions, Stainless Steel frets, Satin finishes, Carved tops, Strap-Locks, Hipshot open gear tuners and glow in the dark side inlays.

• ML-1 Pro Modern - a Strat shaped guitar with HH pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body with a Maple top, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Sonorous pickups. aveilable with Lunar (black) or Sun (bright brown) finishes.
• ML-1 Pro traditional - a more traditional style Strat shaped guitar with SSS pickup configuration, has an Ash body, Maple fingerboard, brass saddles and Chapman Venus Witch singlecoil pickups, aveilable with White Dove or natural wood finishes
• ML-2 Pro - a Gibson shaped guitar with 25' scale length, features a Mahogany body with a Maple top, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Stentorian pickups. aveilable with Fireburst (Cherry Sunburst) and Dusk (bright blue burst) finishes
• ML-3 Pro Modern - a Tele shaped guitar with HH pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Sonorous pickups. a recreation of the old ML-3 RC model, aveilable with Lunar or Black Cherry (dark red) finishes.
• ML-3 traditional - a more traditional style Tele shaped guitar with SS pickup configuration, has an Ash body, Maple fingerboard, brass saddles and Chapman Mojohand singlecoil pickups. a recreation of the old ML3 Traditional, aveilable with Triton (bright blue) or Shadow (black) finishes
• Ghost Fret Pro - a Gibson Explorer shaped guitar with 24.75' scale length, has a Mahogany body with a Maple top, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Premordial pickups. aveilable with Dusk and Lunar finishes
• ML-V - a Flying V shaped guitar with 25.5' scale length. comes with a Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Ebony fingerboard, locking tuners, a Floyd Rose floating tremolo bridge and Chapman Stentorian pickup, designed by the fans through votes in the summer of 2015 and aveilable with Lunar or Iris (purple burst) finnishes
• ML-3 BEA - Rabea Massaad's Tele shaped signature guitar with HS pickup configuration, has a Mahogany body, Paduak neck with Bolt-On construction, Ebony fingerboard and Chapman Henchman pickups. a recreation of the old ML-3 RC model, aveilable with Smoke (dark grey burst) finish with a Wilkinson tremolo bridge or Crimson (dark red burst) finish with a Hipshot bridge as a 28' scale Baritone.

References

External links

• Chapman Guitars - Official Website
• Monkey Lord Forum - Rob Chapman's official forum
• RobChappers on YouTube - Rob Chapman's YouTube channel