D’Angelico Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton review: it hits a magical “goldilocks” spot between a vintage Les Paul Special and Stratocaster – with even more sparkle and brilliance
Krasno's new signature model might be strictly limited edition but its unique voice and top-class build would have mass appeal among any player looking for something different
If you’re burned out by the usual dual-humbucker, dual-P90, Strat and Tele guitars and/or are looking for the ultimate “goldilocks” tone that falls somewhere in between, the D’Angelico Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton is certain to meet most players’ discriminating needs.
Pros
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Magical tones.
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Extremely comfortable neck.
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Impeccable build and finish.
Cons
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They're only making 50 of these.
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Most guitarists with insatiable appetites for gear reach a point where it’s difficult to find a new guitar with a truly distinctive voice. Sure, every guitar has its own sound, but even experienced players can find the differences between models made of similar woods and with identical pickup configurations very subtle.
Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Norah Jones) had reached a similar crossroads, so when he collaborated with D’Angelico on his signature Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton solidbody electric guitar his goal was to develop an instrument that provided “all of the right elements combined together.”
The end result is a guitar with a unique, attractive and expressive voice, and since it’s limited to only 50 units, it’s worth a look by any player who wants to stand out from the crowd.
Features
Whereas many artist signature guitars based on a current model usually only offer slight changes like different pickups or custom finishes, the D’Angelico Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton differs quite significantly from D’Angelico’s regular Deluxe Brighton model but without sacrificing the general vibe.
(Image credit: D'Angelico Guitars)
The most notable feature is the pair of custom Seymour Duncan “Strat in humbucker” single-coil pickups, which are only available on this model. The bridge pickup has Alnico V magnets, while the neck pickup has Alnico II magnets and reverse wind/reverse phase wiring to provide true noise-canceling humbucking performance when both pickups are engaged.
Instead of individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, the Krasno has master volume and tone knobs with 250k pots instead of 500k. Other major differences include a rosewood fingerboard with 12-inch radius (instead of ebony 14-inch), a custom C-shape profile, a fully swamp ash body (instead of the Deluxe’s flame maple top) and gold hardware instead of nickel.
Other notable features include the three-piece set-thru neck with 24.75-inch scale length and 22 Jescar 47/104 frets, double cutaway body shape with slim 1.625-inch depth, Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, and three-way pickup selector toggle.
Performance
Thanks to the very distinctive tonal personality of the Duncan “Strat in humbucker” pickups along with the swamp ash body and 24.75-inch scale, the Deluxe Eric Krasno Brighton hits a magical “goldilocks” spot between a vintage Les Paul Special and Stratocaster.
The pickups’ tones are like the biggest, sweetest Strat or a Les Paul Special with more brilliance and sparkle. The tones are very expressive and dynamic, with the low notes delivering a punchy spank, treble notes providing bell-like, crystal-clear snap while the midrange and overall voice offers more than ample meat on the bone for body and sustain.
(Image credit: D'Angelico Guitars)
The craftsmanship and attention to detail are impeccable, and the playability is as comfortable as a well-worn pair of fitted jeans. Considering the very limited production, you’ll want to move fast if these features sound just right for you.
Chris is the co-author of Eruption - Conversations with Eddie Van Halen. He is a 40-year music industry veteran who started at Boardwalk Entertainment (Joan Jett, Night Ranger) and Roland US before becoming a guitar journalist in 1991. He has interviewed more than 600 artists, written more than 1,400 product reviews and contributed to Jeff Beck’s Beck 01: Hot Rods and Rock & Roll and Eric Clapton’s Six String Stories.
