Fret-King

Fret-King

Also known as: Fret King, FretKing, Fret-King Guitars

Unclaimed

Fret-King is a UK-based electric guitar and bass brand founded by designer Trev Wilkinson, with the first line of three models developed in 1993 and debuted at the 1994 NAMM Show in Anaheim. Wilkinson — already known in the industry for hardware innovations such as the Wilkinson Roller Nut and a range of bridges, tuners, and pickups — built the brand around working-musician instruments that dre...

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Fret-King is a UK-based electric guitar and bass brand founded by designer Trev Wilkinson, with the first line of three models developed in 1993 and debuted at the 1994 NAMM Show in Anaheim. Wilkinson — already known in the industry for hardware innovations such as the Wilkinson Roller Nut and a range of bridges, tuners, and pickups — built the brand around working-musician instruments that drew on traditional 1950s and 1960s designs while adding modern refinements. Since 2008 the brand has been owned by Leeds-based musical instrument distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd (JHS), with Wilkinson continuing in a design and advisory capacity.

The catalog is organized around a handful of core platforms: the Corona (S-style), the Country Squire (T-style, including the Classic, Semitone De Luxe, Tone Meister, Music Row, and Stealth variants), the Eclat (offset-style, including a Paul Rose signature), the Elise (a dual-humbucker single-cutaway), and the Perception bass in four- and five-string versions. Guitars are typically fitted with Wilkinson-branded pickups, bridges, and tuners.

Fret-King instruments have historically been released across tiered series — the luthier-built Blue Label introduced at Winter NAMM 2008, followed by the Green Label and the Black Label series launched in 2012 — aimed at giving gigging players access to Wilkinson-designed features at varied price points. The brand is generally regarded within the UK guitar scene as a value-oriented alternative to the major American builders, with a reputation tied closely to Wilkinson's hardware pedigree.

Fret-King has 8 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars, and Electric Basses. Their gear is featured by 9 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Jazz, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Elliott Randall, Geordie Greep, and James Dean Bradfield.

Artists Who Use Fret-King

Elliott Randall uses 2 Fret-King products

Elliott Randall

Guitarist · Steely Dan

Geordie Greep uses 1 Fret-King product

Geordie Greep

Singer, Guitarist · Black Midi

James Dean Bradfield uses 1 Fret-King product

James Dean Bradfield

Guitarist · Manic Street Preachers

Greg Koch uses 1 Fret-King product

Greg Koch

Guitarist, Singer · Koch Marshall Trio

Cate Le Bon uses 1 Fret-King product

Cate Le Bon

Guitarist · Drinks

John Etheridge uses 1 Fret-King product

John Etheridge

Guitarist · The Secret Police

Jerry Donahue uses 1 Fret-King product

Jerry Donahue

Guitarist, Music Producer · Fairport Convention

Mike Bottiglieri uses 1 Fret-King product

Mike Bottiglieri

Singer, Guitarist

Shane Parsons uses 1 Fret-King product

Shane Parsons

Guitarist · DZ Deathrays

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