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Pricing and availability

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Description

Discover the Fret King Esprit III, a solid body electric guitar that seamlessly blends classic style with modern innovation. Designed for musicians who demand versatility and performance, the Esprit III stands out with its unique offset body shape and set-neck construction, offering exceptional playability and sustain. The Esprit III's distinctive tonal palette is powered by a trio of Wilkinson WVC humbucker pickups, known for delivering a rich and dynamic sound. Whether you're playing rock, blues, or jazz, this guitar adapts effortlessly to any genre with its comprehensive tonal capabilities.

Crafted with precision, the Esprit III features a mahogany body and neck, providing a warm and resonant tone that's well-suited for stage and studio performances alike. Its 22-fret rosewood fingerboard offers smooth playability, making it ideal for both rhythm and lead guitarists. The inclusion of a Wilkinson vibrato system ensures stable tuning and expressive pitch modulation, giving players the freedom to explore creative musical expressions. With the Esprit III, you'll find a guitar that not only looks stunning but also delivers on the promise of high-quality sound and reliability.

Key Features:

  • Solid body electric guitar with a distinct offset shape
  • Set-neck construction for improved sustain
  • Trio of Wilkinson WVC humbucker pickups for a versatile tonal range
  • Mahogany body and neck for a warm, resonant sound
  • 22-fret rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability
  • Wilkinson vibrato system for stable tuning and expressive modulation

FAQs

What is the neck profile of the Fret King Esprit III?

The Fret King Esprit III features a comfortable medium neck profile, designed to accommodate a variety of playing styles, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

What type of pickups does the Fret King Esprit III have?

The Fret King Esprit III is equipped with three Wilkinson WHHB humbucking pickups, providing a versatile range of tones suitable for genres from blues to rock.

Is the Fret King Esprit III suitable for beginners?

While the Fret King Esprit III offers features that professionals appreciate, its playability and ergonomic design also make it accessible for beginners looking for a high-quality instrument.

How does the Fret King Esprit III handle different music genres?

The Fret King Esprit III's versatile pickup configuration and solid body design allow it to excel in various genres, including rock, blues, and jazz, offering rich, dynamic tones.

What materials are used in the construction of the Fret King Esprit III?

The Fret King Esprit III features a solid mahogany body and neck, with a rosewood fingerboard, providing a warm and resonant sound with excellent sustain.

Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

SNAMM '15 - Fret King Jerry Donahue Signature, Esprit III, & Perception 5-String Bass Demos

Video thumbnail for SNAMM '15 - Fret King Jerry Donahue Signature, Esprit III, & Perception 5-String Bass Demos by Premier Guitar

SNAMM '15 - Fret King Jerry Donahue Signature, Esprit III, & Perception 5-String Bass Demos

Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

Video thumbnail for Fret King Black Label Series Esprit III Review with Rick Graham | Guitar Interactive by Guitar Interactive Magazine

Fret King Black Label Series Esprit III Review with Rick Graham | Guitar Interactive

Guitar Interactive Magazine

Guitar Interactive Magazine

Video thumbnail for Musikmesse '13 - Fret-King Esprit I Bass, Esprit III, & Vintage V6 Thomas Blug Signature Demos by Premier Guitar

Musikmesse '13 - Fret-King Esprit I Bass, Esprit III, & Vintage V6 Thomas Blug Signature Demos

Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

Video thumbnail for Fretking Esprit III -  di Alex Massari by ChitarreMagazine

Fretking Esprit III - di Alex Massari

ChitarreMagazine

ChitarreMagazine

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fret-King Esprit III.

Features and functionality

  • The guitar features a vari-coil control, allowing transition from full humbucker to single coil, providing expanded tonal options beyond traditional P-90 sounds.

    Source
  • The uniqueness of the guitar's design is attributed to Trevor Wilkinson, who combines elements of Explorer and Firebird styles to bypass design conflicts with Gibson.

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  • The guitar's pickup configuration includes a five-way selector similar to a Strat, offering positions for bridge, bridge + middle, middle, middle + neck, and neck.

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Build quality

  • The guitar has an Agathis 3-piece body and a maple set neck with a notably chunky C profile, which some may find heavy but balances well with proper straps.

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User experience

  • Owners report the reverse headstock design helps balance the guitar, mitigating potential neck dive issues, especially when used with quality strap locks.

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Use cases and applications

  • Praised for its versatility, the guitar excels in spaghetti western and surf music genres, largely due to its stable Vibrola tremolo system.

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Value and pricing

  • Despite difficulties in availability, particularly in Australia, owners find the guitar worth the investment, even with added shipping costs from the UK.

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Mods and upgrades

  • A user replaced the bridge pickup with a Dimarzio PG-13 for a Smashing Pumpkins inspired sound, enhancing its capability for 90's rock tones.

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Critic Reviews

Fret-King Esprit III

guitarinteractivemagazine.com

The Fret-King Esprit III is a versatile gem, boasting a wide array of tones courtesy of its innovative Wilkinson Vari-coil system. The guitar's sound is rich and adaptable, surpassing expectations for its price range. It delivers fantastic playability and tuning stability, thanks to the Wilkinson roller bridge. However, its hefty weight, due to the agathis body, is a minor drawback. Overall, the Esprit III offers excellent value with its unique look and sound palette, making it a standout choice for those seeking diversity in tone without breaking the bank.

positive

Fret-King Esprit III | Vintage Guitar® magazine

vintageguitar.com

The Fret-King Esprit III is a versatile guitar with a unique blend of Gibson and Fender influences, offering a striking design and impressive tonal range. Its standout features include a reverse headstock, a robust vibrato unit, and a trio of Wilkinson WP90 stacked pickups, which deliver sparkling cleans and roaring overdrive tones. While the guitar's agathis body adds weight, making it just shy of 10 pounds, the superb fretwork and comfortable playability make it a solid choice for gigging musicians. Despite its heft and lack of a tummy cut, the Esprit III delivers great value and is poised to make its mark in the U.S. market.

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Shane Parsons uses Fret-King Esprit III

Shane Parsons

Guitarist

DZ Deathrays

...
Verified via YouTube

"I love my new Esprit III! It is set up exactly how I need, with the 3 way w-90 pick ups not only being crazy responsive but also giving a versatile tone which works extremely well with my pedal board.

I am always asked about the guitar at shows and everyone including myself loves the balance of the guitar and range on the fret board, making the most of the unique shape. It's an amazing hard rock guitar!" - Shane Parsons

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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