USED SVL Custom Guitars / 61 Reserve [05]

We’ve just received a used 61 Reserve from SVL Custom Guitars, a boutique guitar brand based in the UK!

SVL Custom Guitars is a UK-based boutique guitar brand that aims to recreate “the essence of authentic vintage” and is currently garnering high acclaim, with renowned musicians such as Matt Schofield, Robben Ford, and Philip Seys among its loyal fans.

The appeal of the SVL 61 Reserve lies in its design philosophy, which goes beyond simply replicating a Strat-style guitar to recreate “the very essence of vintage condition.” A particularly distinctive feature of this brand is its use of salvaged wood—specifically, wood that has been naturally air-dried rather than artificially kiln-dried.

While new wood and artificial drying are typically used in mass-produced guitars to ensure consistent quality, SVL deliberately uses wood that has been allowed to dry naturally over time to recreate the light resonance, rich harmonics, and quick response characteristic of vintage instruments. As a result, one of the brand’s greatest appeals is that the guitar feels like a “well-played instrument” from the very first note. This is the brand’s defining characteristic.

Consequently, in terms of sound, the guitar exhibits characteristics unique to vintage instruments—clear, bell-like highs; slightly subdued mids; and a slightly loose, airy low end—resulting in a tone that is not merely “vintage-style” but closely resembles that of actual, high-quality vintage instruments.

Furthermore, the instrument’s responsiveness to touch is exceptionally high, and it’s crucial that the dynamics and nuances of your picking are directly reflected in the sound. This allows the player’s expression to come through directly in the sound, making it an instrument whose character changes significantly depending on the player.

In this way, the SVL 61 Reserve is a guitar that consistently pursues the “essence of vintage” in every aspect—from material selection to construction and electronics—and as a result, it stands as a one-of-a-kind instrument that combines a mature, aged character with rich harmonics and high responsiveness.

Body: Alder (medium-lightweight, air-dried)
Neck: Quarter-sawn maple
Fingerboard: Dark Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
Frets: Jescar (6100 size)
Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Aged)
Hardware: Custom Vintage-Style Hardware (Lightly Aged)
Pickups: Fullerton V Pickups
Strings: Curt Mangan 10 46

Condition: A: Excellent Condition

Serial Number: 110820
Country of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Case: Hard Case
Accessories: Arm
Weight: 3.41 kg
Truss Rod: No issues; rod movement tested up to 60 degrees left and right with no problems
Remaining Fret Height: Within normal range; fret height is sufficient for playing
String Height (Low String Side): 1.6 mm at the 12th fret
String height (treble side): 1.6 mm at the 12th fret
Nut width: 42.2 mm
Neck thickness near the 1st fret: 21.9 mm
Neck thickness near the 12th fret: 24.5 mm
Scale: 648 mm (25.5")
RADIUS: 9.5R
Strings at Setup: ERNIE BALL 2221 / .010-.046 set
Repairs and Maintenance Performed: Cleaning, string replacement, truss rod adjustment, octave adjustment, action adjustment, fret leveling, deburring

* As this is a used item, there may be scratches, dents, and other imperfections that are not clearly visible in the photos or not listed here. Please be aware of this in advance.

* Any listed measurements for the truss rod, remaining fret height, string action, etc., were taken by our staff during setup and are subject to change due to environmental factors such as climate and humidity.
These measurements are intended as a reference at the time of purchase; we cannot guarantee that the measurements will be exactly the same when the item arrives at your location.

* This is a one-of-a-kind item that is listed simultaneously on multiple marketplaces, including our in-store display. We strive to promptly remove product listings once an item is sold, but updates may not always be in real time.
We sincerely apologize in the unlikely event that the item is sold out after you place your order, and we ask for your understanding.