Why We Love This

The Koll Troubadour is typically about as close to a traditional Fender style build as Portland, OR-based Saul Koll gets.

"I didn't want to make Telecasters or Stratocasters or Les Paul copies, I wanted to do my own thing. Because these are original shapes, I had the flexibility to do anything I wanted."

Indeed, the Glide body shape that Saul uses for his builds, including this gorgeous Troubadour, is incredibly versatile, lending itself to a wide range of pickups and bridge types. What moves the Troubadour more into Fullerton territory is the use of bolt-neck construction, maple neck, and either Ash or Alder body woods - in this case, a 1-Piece Portland Alder body painted in a really beautiful 1964 Volkswagen Bahama Blue (dig the Koll VW Bus, no doubt the inspiration for this color choice).

Featuring a top-only paint job (bound as well), Grenadillo fingerboard (sans markers), a Pearloid pickguard, custom Koll knobs (clear), and a pair of Lollar Gold Foils, this Troubadour gives off a decidedly mid-century vibe, which we absolutely love! Stunning, no?

Plugged in, the Lollar Gold Foils deliver the complex chime that we've come to expect from a great set of Gold Foils. Clear and open with an emphasis on upper midrange and treble chime, they're remarkable sounding played clean, and funky and lo-fi when pushed into overdrive. A great, versatile choice for players looking for a new range of tones to work with - all while looked damned good in the process.