While it might fall into the low tier of Huber instruments, it’s far from a cheap date. But then there is nothing cheap about this guitar, either in terms of build or the hugely evocative, characterful sounds we hear.
Pros
+
Detailed build.
+
High-level wood, hardware and pickups.
+
Diverse inspirations at play here.
Cons
-
The response of the offset-style vibrato won’t suit everyone. It’s a serious investment.
You can trust Guitar World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
We’ve never played a Nik Huber guitar that’s been anything other than spectacular. But within its surprisingly expansive range, there’s a duality that not every maker can match.
Nik seems equally at home with the ‘posh’ PRS-inspired aesthetic epitomised by the Dolphin and the blingier Orca models as he is with frankly superb rock ’n’ roll guitars such as the Krautster. The new Piet, which we first saw at this year’s NAMM Show in January, definitely drops into that latter style.
This bolt-on has delicious forearm and rib-cage contours and quite a large edge radius that lends an almost moulded style to the body, stunning in the muted green turquoise semi-gloss. On the one hand it’s standard bolt-on fare, but with so much skill, detail and quality on show there’s nothing utilitarian about this build.
Like many modern makers, pulling disparate influences into a coherent design is something Nik does extremely well
Based on that Dolphin shape, it appears almost Telecaster-ish, but next to the real thing you see its much more rounded lower bouts and there’s a substantial nod to the Junior and Special, particularly with that Les Paul Junior-style pickguard. Like many modern makers, pulling disparate influences into a coherent design is something Nik does extremely well.
The diverse inspiration continues with the pickups and hardware. The former, by German maker Harry Häussel, look like perfectly cared for antiques: the Broad-N at the neck has a beautifully dulled sheen to its cover and is very firmly mounted to that scratchplate; the ‘foil’ P-90 mounts like a typical soapbar and looks like it came off a pawn-shop prize from the 60s.
Image 1 of 3
The classy, elegant headstock is used across the Huber range. The quarter-sawn maple stock is specifically chosen for this model.(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
Like all the hardware here, these tuners are aged but not reliced. It’s an extremely stable guitar in terms of tuning – we rarely touched these tuners.(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
The geometry of Huber’s neck join has a very specifi c style and uses fi ve screws. The neck plate is recessed, too, and is given that aged treatment, of course.(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
Controls are simple, too, but it’s not a typical ‘offset’ setup in the least. “Well, I was looking at the bolt-on theme, plus, as you know, I’m a P-90 Junior guy,” Nik explains.
“I’ve been working on the gold-foil P-90 with Harry for six months… actually, way longer. At NAMM we had two Piets, one with two P-90s like that and the other with the Broad at the neck like you have there. I really like the sound of that neck pickup and I think it looks nicer.
“Looks aren’t the main thing, but I do think it suits the shape better. But I’m also thinking of tweaking the pickups a little. We’re still playing around with it.”
The Piet shows off a maker in his prime… This unique guitar is effortlessly playable, immaculately dressed and full of character
But it’s the Mastery vibrato here that substantially adds to the unique voice. This superb replacement for the Fender Jazzmaster/Jaguar vibrato not only cures the issues associated with the original but it looks like a work of art.
It’s especially evident with the bridge, with its two offset saddles held in place by two intonation screws per saddle. Unlike the originals, the bridge is solidly mounted and doesn’t rock as the vibrato is moved.
This is immensely tidy, not least the fit of the recessed tortie cavity cover with its copper foil shielding. The cavity is covered with black conductive paint that shows off the large 660V .022 microfarads Tube Amp Doctor (TAD) Sprague ‘orange drop’ tone capacitor. The pots are valued at 300kohms and there’s an unusual-style TAD treble bleed, a 250 picofarads silver mica capacitor. (Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
We have two Piets here. Under the green turquoise finish is an alder body in keeping with the Fender bolt-on recipe, of course. Our sunburst model is identical except that the bodywood is switched to okoume (also known as Gabon from where it originates), a ‘mahogany’ variant that’s used by an increasing number of makers, including Music Man and Eastman.
Perhaps surprisingly the okoume Piet is even lighter than the alder version, and the thin nitro satin open-pore finish illustrates the range of Huber’s finish options.
Fine details are everywhere: the aged but not reliced neckplate, tuners and metal output jack-plate. Even the plastic parts – the pickguard, truss rod cover and rear cavity plate – are de-sheened. There’s a subtle but quite large flamed figure on the neck back and lovely flecked figuring to the face of the headstock. Simple, subtle but oh so elegant.
This custom Häussel P-90 combines the aesthetics of a gold-foil with the guts of a soapbar-style P-90. (Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
Feels & Sounds
Why do these so-called ‘boutique’ guitars cost so much? Well, one thing is the neck. Here it’s a vintage tinted quarter-sawn maple. The tongue extends under the neck pickup and screws to the body with five (not four) screws passing through the recessed neck plate.
The combination of the thin finish and a beautiful fairly deep shape has what you could describe as an almost soft ‘V’, meaning the shoulders are thinned, and we were surprised that the measured depth by the 12th fret is a meaty 25.5mm. It really doesn’t feel it.
“I took the neck profile from my Twangmeister,” says Nik, mentioning the only other bolt-on in the Huber range. “Again, it’s more the Fender approach. Getting back to my Junior appreciation, in the 50s there were so many different neck shapes, but the one where the shoulders are taken away just so much before they become a V, that was the neck for me. It was done by hand and probably an accident. I used to own one just like that, which was stolen.”
Prepare yourself: the combined talents of Huber, Häussel and Mastery produce a sound that’s simply exceptional
Not everyone will get the back-angled three-a-side headstock on what is otherwise a six-in-a-line-style guitar, but the strings pass over the beautifully cut, polished bone nut to the Huber logo’d Gotoh tuners in a virtual straight line. Along with that Mastery bridge and vibrato, this is an ‘offset’ that plays and stays in tune.
Another plus is the headstock truss rod adjustment, although we’d be surprised if you need it. It’s a stiff neck, for sure, and setup is perfectly considered, just like every other detail, with low string height and minimal relief.
There’s good meat on the frets – they are installed into slots routed into the fingerboard so you don’t see the tangs at the edge of the ’board – which measure approximately 2.49mm wide with a good height of close to 1.3mm. The East Indian rosewood fingerboard with its classy circular sterling silver inlays is surprisingly flat for the style with Huber’s standard compound radius of 254 to 356mm (10 to 14 inches).
And there is a distinct feel: the fingerboard sides are quite square, with only a little roll to the edge, unlike the in-turned and more heavily rounded edges of a well-used old Fender.
Image 1 of 2
The Mastery bridge and vibrato is highly regarded as the best upgrade for any Jazzmaster/ Jaguar. It’s superbly engineered but comes at a steep price. The start-up Piet model features a hardtail wrapover bridge.(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
Made in Germany by Harry Häussel, this TE-Broad neck pickup combines Alnico V rod magnets with 43 gauge wire and uses a nickel silver cover. It has a DCR measured at output of 7.20kohms (the bridge unit measures 8.21k).(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
A quick unplugged strum reveals an almost funky low-tech response thanks to the low saddle-to-tailpiece string angle of the vibrato, plus there’s a lot of ‘dead’ string between those points. In combination with the pickup set it doesn’t suggest a dish we’ve tasted before.
But prepare yourself: the combined talents of Huber, Häussel and Mastery produce a sound that’s simply exceptional. Listening back to initial tracks we recorded with the Piet you’d swear that the neck pickup you’re listening to is a good Strat but with beautiful clarity at no expense of depth.
The bridge pickup is an inspired choice, too, giving definition and a little more rounded power to, say, a Tele or Strat. This is a nicely balanced set, both in terms of output and voicing.
“I have a stash of American maple that is not that heavy and not that hard compared with hard rock and Eastern maple,” offers Nik. “It’s more lightweight and that might certainly help with that clarity you’re hearing from the neck pickup. It’s nice, fairly plain American maple but more on the lighter side – it’s my Piet neck wood.”
Now, anyone who thinks bodywood doesn’t make a difference to the amplified sound of a solidbody guitar, please turn the page now. It does – and here the alder body, compared with the okoume, is slightly scooped whereas the okoume pushes a bit more in the midrange but still with that musical clarity and note separation.
While the Mastery bridge colours what we hear and is serious fun for noiseniks everywhere (pluck behind the bridge for some very other-worldly sounds), leave the vibrato arm in the case and the Piet excels as a classic twin-pickup bolt-on with clarity and some added power if you need.
The simple control setup is very well voiced, too. But it’s not just the sound. Both Piet models here feel excellent on a strap or seated, and the guitar disappears in your hands – it’s extremely absorbing. By design, it feels way less bulky than any offset we’ve played and considerably lighter, too.
Verdict
As we discuss with Nik over the page in this feature, an awful lot has changed since he began making guitars over two decades ago. The proliferation of small ’shop makers means that if you want to step away from the mainstream to this highly bespoke service, you now have a huge amount of choice.
But experience counts and the Piet shows off a maker in his prime mixing up his inspired sonic references and ending up with a unique instrument that’s effortlessly playable, immaculately dressed and, above all, full of character.
Yes, the offset-style vibrato is a very different drive from a wrapover bridge and therefore won’t be for everyone. And while it might fall into the low tier of Huber instruments, it’s far from a cheap date in terms of price.
But then there is nothing cheap about this guitar, either in terms of its build or indeed the hugely evocative, characterful sounds we hear.
Specs
Nik Huber Piet #0 3263(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
ELECTRICS: Häussel P-90 ‘foil style’ single coil at bridge, Häussel Broad-N at neck, 3-way lever pickup selector switch, master volume and tone control
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 3.24/7.13
OPTIONS: The base price is £2,676. Upcharges here are the Mastery vibrato (£595), vintage neck tint (£237) and custom color (£237). Other options (£POA): “Whatever you want, a swamp ash body, oil finish on the body, I will do it,” says Nik. “If I don’t see the sense in the request, I’ll decline.”
RANGE OPTIONS: The other bolt-on is the Twangmeister from £3,226
LEFT-HANDERS: Yes, same price
FINISHES: Custom green turquoise semi gloss (as reviewed) with vintage tint neck – nitro colour and clear coats (body); thin satin nitro (neck)
Nik Huber #0 3290(Image credit: Future / Neil Godwin)
ELECTRICS: Häussel P-90 ‘foil style’ single coil at bridge, Häussel Broad-N at neck, 3-way lever pickup selector switch, master volume and tone control
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 3.24/7.13
OPTIONS: The base price is £2,676. Upcharges here are the Mastery vibrato (£595) and vintage neck tint (£237). Other options see Piet #0 3263 (left)
Dave Burrluck is one of the world’s most experienced guitar journalists, who started writing back in the '80s for International Musician and Recording World, co-founded The Guitar Magazine and has been the Gear Reviews Editor of Guitarist magazine for the past two decades. Along the way, Dave has been the sole author of The PRS Guitar Book and The Player's Guide to Guitar Maintenance as well as contributing to numerous other books on the electric guitar. Dave is an active gigging and recording musician and still finds time to make, repair and mod guitars, not least for Guitarist’s The Mod Squad.
