Blade
Blade
Also known as: Blade Guitars, Levinson Blade
UnclaimedBlade Guitars is a Swiss electric guitar and bass manufacturer founded in 1987 by luthier Gary Levinson, whose earlier venture, Guitars by Levinson, began in 1977 while he was studying at the University of Basel. The brand debuted at a Tokyo music show in October 1987 and launched in Europe at the 1988 Frankfurt Musikmesse. Levinson's design headquarters and Custom Shop are located in Allschwil...
Blade Guitars is a Swiss electric guitar and bass manufacturer founded in 1987 by luthier Gary Levinson, whose earlier venture, Guitars by Levinson, began in 1977 while he was studying at the University of Basel. The brand debuted at a Tokyo music show in October 1987 and launched in Europe at the 1988 Frankfurt Musikmesse. Levinson's design headquarters and Custom Shop are located in Allschwil, near Basel, with instruments for the European market historically built in Switzerland and export models produced in Japan.
The company operates under the tagline "Classic Design, Creative Technology," producing instruments that draw on familiar bolt-on silhouettes while incorporating proprietary features such as the VSC (Variable Spectrum Control) active preamp and position-determined-profile necks. The guitar lineup includes the Strat-influenced Texas series, the HSS Classic series (RH-3, RH-4), the Telecaster-inspired Delta series, the retro-styled Dayton, the 24-fret XF superstrats, and the PRS-leaning Durango. Bass models include the Tetra and Austin series as well as Jazz Bass-inspired four- and five-string instruments.
Notable players associated with the brand include Steve Rothery of Marillion, who has a signature RH-4 model, along with Phil Manzanera, Stuart Adamson, Nick McCabe, and Hong Kong rock icon Wong Ka Kui.
Blade has 12 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars and Electric Basses. Their gear is featured by 6 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Blues. Notable users include Steve Rothery, Michael Palace, and Nick McCabe.
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