Articles
High and Mighty
Veillette Gryphon Mark IV Hi-tuned 12-string
by Joe Gore, Guitar Player, December 2002
It's funny how many electric guitarists
who have stretched their range downward
via 7-string and baritone guitars
have been less eager to explore the
soprano register. But that may change once
a few players get their mitts on the gorgeous
Gryphon Mark IV Hi-tuned 12-String ($2,025).
The brainchild of Woodstock luthier Joe
Veillette, the Gryphon is tuned to D above
standard E. Fitted with all unison strings (as
opposed to the mixed unisons and octaves
of regular 12-strings), this guitar overlaps
with a standard mandolin's range, adding
an extra fourth below the mando's low-G
string. It's important to note, however, that
any guitarist can play the Gryphon without
having to learn a new tuning.
Less is More
One of the few precedents for Veillette's
petite, 18 1/2"-scale design is the 1960s Vox
Phantom 12 (resurrected a few years back as
the Vox Mini XII). But while the Vox featured
magnetic pickups, the Gryphon relies on an
Alvarez under-saddle piezo system -- a detail that
contributes to the guitar's knockout appearance.
Dig how the dark wenge-wood of the 21-fret
fingerboard and immaculately carved bridge frame
the body's gorgeously figured maple top. Equally
handsome is the asymetrical headstock with
its 12 mini-Gotoh tuners.
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Dig how the dark wenge-wood of the 21-fret
fingerboard and immaculately carved bridge frame
the body's gorgeously figured maple top.
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The Gryphon feels great, too. The 5.5 lb ax
balances beautifully, and the expertly rendered
jumbo frets afford great control over the
strings. But the most exciting thing about the
Gryphon is its glistening treble response. I
generally loathe the sound of piezo pickups, but
I loved the Gryphon's tone -- perhaps because
the piezo quackiness is less pronounced in the
upper registers. The 3-band EQ (with sweepable midrange) is simple
and effective, but you
must remove the entire preamp assembly to
replace the 9-volt battery.
Flying High
Crafty players will discover dozens of uses
for the Gryphon. Its strings are spaced widely
enough for fingerstyle playing, and the all-unison
tuning makes the Gryphon more suitable
for full-range, single-note work than regular
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But the most exciting thing about the Gryphon is its glistening
treble response. Crafty players will discover dozens of uses
for the Gryphon.
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12-strings. With its huge, ultra-present sound,
the Gryphon excels as a doubling instrument.
Duplicating standard rhythm guitar parts offers
an exciting variation on Nashville high-stringing,
while doubling single-note melodies at
the octave gives them piano-like authority.
But the Gryphon also has a beautiful solo
voice -- one that can easily mimic the mandolin,
bouzouki, tres, cuatro, and other doublecourse
instruments. In other words, the
Gryphon excels as an all-purpose "ethno" ax.
Bottom line: Anyone hungering for a taste of
something different will find a lot to dig about
the Gryphon. You definitely won't find a better
legal way of getting high!
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