Built as an exclusive batch and kicking off our 3rd calendar year working with Connor Kelly, this Red Tail Hawk delivers some seriously cool aesthetics with some specs we haven't yet explored.

Not since our first couple of instruments arrived back in 2021 have we been this excited about a batch of new High Spirit guitars!

In collaboration with yours truly and Connor Kelly, esteemed Chief Everything Officer at High Spirit, we set out to bring an exclusive never-been-done-before batch of guitars that represent the wonderful short-scale lineup we've come to know and love.

This Red Tail Hawk along with its slightly smaller siblings was built using a small batch of beautiful Korina, a cousin to Mahogany generally found in Africa. This Korina - also known as White Limba - has some very distinctive grain and figure that makes it a little more dynamic in its presentation compared to Mahogany, especially when finished in its natural state (as seen here) or with lightly tinted with amber (think Flying V or Explorer). It shares a lot of sonic qualities of Mahogany as well, which makes it a perfect candidate for a High Spirit guitar that straddles the line between Fender and Gibson tonality.

Loaded with some excellent sounding handwound Hot Dog pickups and paired up with a gorgeous flamed Roasted Maple neck, this Red Tail Hawk has some nice midrange punch with a clear top end that sizzles with gain but never really gets fatiguing. The neck pickup has some power but doesn't muddy up, and the bridge pickup has strong definition that accents both single note leads and rhythm work equally. Of course, we can't get enough of the "lava" pickup covers which are also made in-house. These are particularly darker than others we've seen, which plays a bit more off of the Ebony fingerboard and pops against the parchment pickguard with great contrast.

The Slim/Medium C carve is quite comfortable with a moderate taper - it reminds us a bit of some of the '62/'63 Gibson neck carves. Combined with the slightly narrower nut and 12" radius, it makes for a very fast-playing neck.

The playing experience, tone, feel, and quality of construction is truly unmatched in this price range. If you want something fresh and unique that oozes personality without getting in the way of providing killer tones and playability, stop your search now.