Developing Nations Guitars (Aluminum, Made in Baltimore)
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:45 pm
In response to this comment from the EGC thread. These guitars deserve their own thread.
I've recorded a couple records with Kevin Bernsten, who owns Developing Nations Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Kevin is an incredible engineer and producer and you've probably heard a ton of his work if you listen to heavy music. He is absolutely one of the very best if you're looking for someone to record with. I've owned a handful of different metal necks over the years and Kevin has shown me the bits and pieces of his startup guitar company over the last year or so. He has his necks machined to a rough state by a contractor and then does all the finish work, machines and installs his own fretboards, and frets and sets up every guitar. He winds his own pickups and makes the bodies himself from raw lumber. I've been seriously impressed with every step I've seen along the way. I was working on a record with him when he had the first neck finished and strung up and I was blown away that his first fret job and first nut were extremely well made and finished. The dude just has a talent for executing his vision really really well.
DNGs have a hollow aluminum neck that fits into a slot in the body. The neck is visible from the front of the instrument which is unique. Sort of like a Curlee crossed with a Bean. The necks have a medium thick C shape that can be made thicker or thinner based on the fretboard dimensions. The nut width is between 1 3/4 and 1 11/16 so its wide but still feels very comfortable. Its one of the only necks on the market that isn't painfully thin and reminds me of my TB1000 with a much wider nut width.
The frets are stainless, available boards are Richlite and aluminum, and the bodies currently available are an LP DC shape and Kevin's own shape which is more of a vintage look. Prices at this point are ~$2200 which is very reasonable and delivery is measured in weeks rather than years which is a huge benefit. I know basses are the next design in the works with baritones coming after that. If you're interested its definitely worth hitting Kevin up on IG or through email. His IG handle is @developing_nations.
Olin wrote:Paging whoismarykelly.
I might be wrong but I think I saw some pics of you with the Developing Nations gear this weekend. I've got an order placed with him and am really keen to hear some feedback on what you think of them so far.
I've recorded a couple records with Kevin Bernsten, who owns Developing Nations Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Kevin is an incredible engineer and producer and you've probably heard a ton of his work if you listen to heavy music. He is absolutely one of the very best if you're looking for someone to record with. I've owned a handful of different metal necks over the years and Kevin has shown me the bits and pieces of his startup guitar company over the last year or so. He has his necks machined to a rough state by a contractor and then does all the finish work, machines and installs his own fretboards, and frets and sets up every guitar. He winds his own pickups and makes the bodies himself from raw lumber. I've been seriously impressed with every step I've seen along the way. I was working on a record with him when he had the first neck finished and strung up and I was blown away that his first fret job and first nut were extremely well made and finished. The dude just has a talent for executing his vision really really well.
DNGs have a hollow aluminum neck that fits into a slot in the body. The neck is visible from the front of the instrument which is unique. Sort of like a Curlee crossed with a Bean. The necks have a medium thick C shape that can be made thicker or thinner based on the fretboard dimensions. The nut width is between 1 3/4 and 1 11/16 so its wide but still feels very comfortable. Its one of the only necks on the market that isn't painfully thin and reminds me of my TB1000 with a much wider nut width.
The frets are stainless, available boards are Richlite and aluminum, and the bodies currently available are an LP DC shape and Kevin's own shape which is more of a vintage look. Prices at this point are ~$2200 which is very reasonable and delivery is measured in weeks rather than years which is a huge benefit. I know basses are the next design in the works with baritones coming after that. If you're interested its definitely worth hitting Kevin up on IG or through email. His IG handle is @developing_nations.
