Rye 2 Outlaw 2020
We are Bootlegger Guitar buy direct “Reverb 5 Star Builder”
We are a small builder in Los Angeles. We sell direct and offer excellent values for our Bootlegger family. Our gear is played on stage in studios and homes worldwide. Instead of us telling you how great our gear is please read our customer reviews and videos.
In the early 60's Harmony guitars made the Stratotone H45. A smaller body (for the era) solid body guitar that was the go to for the coolest of the cool. Later Harmony was bought by Silverstone and the style continued to define the era. We designed our Rye from this ageless style and made it our own, the outlaw, The Rye
The body of the guitar is slightly larger and bolder than the H45. The black on black is inspired by the Harley Davidson Night Train deep black on black. With our 3x3 head and single white binding it gives the guitar the vintage Bootlegger look. With black hardware and pickup covers it looks like an outlaw but plays like a modern shredder.
Unlike vintage guitars of the past all Bootlegger Guitars are built using state-of-the-art \ precision machinery that insures its modern play-abilities.
Our Bootlegger neck is best likened to a PRS JM shape, Fender modern C shape or a Gibson Slim Taper D shape for feel and playability. It is by far the most easy and recognizable shape for guitar players across the board. It delivers that vintage feel with a modern twist to keep it relevant and functional for guitar players playing any genre of music. You make no sacrifices with a Bootlegger Guitar.
This guitar rocks, plays all styles.
Rye 2 Specs
Body
- Wood Ashwood
- Finish Deep Black Gloss / Polyurethane
- Binding ABS White
Neck
- Hardwood Maple
- Set Neck
- Neck Profile C
- Dual Truss Rod
- Binding single white ABS
- Finish Black Polyurethane
Fingerboard
- Fingerboard Brazilian Rosewood.
- Fingerboard Radius 350r
- Number of Frets 22
- Scale 24.75
- Width 1st 43mm 12th 53mm Bootlegger standard
- Thick 1st 20mm 12th 22mm Bootlegger standard
- Fret width 2.7mm Silver Nickel
- Side position markers 1.5mm
- Nut Material black Graphite / Width Thick 3.4mm / Length 42mm
- Truss Rod Adjustment Location Head
- Inlay White Pearl Bootlegger Whiskey Diamond
Head
- Finish black matte front Polyurethane
- Finish back natural matte Polyurethane
- Logo custom Whiskey Bootlegger Art (borrowed from our favorite whiskey labels)
- Truss Rod Cover Plastic 98 (Proof)
Hardware
- Finish Black
- 3 way pickup switch
- Tuners Korean BMK
- Bridge LP Fixed.
Controls
- Volume & Tone metal black metal knobs
- Switch Tip black
- Jack Plate Oval
Electronics
- Pickups Alinco Hot Humbucker Boo Heung Precision Machinery S. Korea.
Strings & Set Up
- Strings 10m D’Addario
- String Setup 2mm
Miscellaneous
- Guitar weight 8 lbs
- Guitar Measurements 40 x 13 x 1 3/4
- Case With Guitar Weight 16 lbs
- Case Dimensions 42 x 15
- Case Bootlegger OHSC custom fit.
- Included Accessories Case Key & Related Truss Rod & Tuning Tools.
All hardware and pickups high quality BHK Industries Soul Korea, tuners are licensed Grovers. Guitars built by our partner Muse Inc, Soul Korea. We are a Los Angeles California company, we design and build professional quality guitars and tube amps. We have sold and shipped guitars and amps all over the world.
Chuck Wilson 310 613 2808
Review Rye
Bootlegger Guitar “Rye” Review
Cody Foster (The Exit Strategy/The Heather Roush Band)
www.theexitstrategycincy.com / www.heatherroush.com
I first learned of Bootlegger through a random stumble on Reverb. Like many musicians, I constantly and casually scroll through Reverb just to see what is up for sale that day while in search of the next “tone adventure”. My first interaction with Bootlegger was the Blues 15 tube amp. Being in the marketing and advertising business as my day job, I was intrigued by the subtle simplicity of the design and overall look. What I couldn’t understand was how someone was able to sell a 15 watt all tube head with a 1x12” cabinet with an Eminence speaker for under $600. I was skeptical but, even though I really wasn’t in the market for another amp at the time, I stuck it in my watch list to potentially purchase later.
Fast forward to about 1 ½ to 2 years later; I join The Heather Roush Band as the 2ndguitarist and vocalist and meet Roger Kohrs. Roger is the bassist and, having been a professional, touring musician for over 20 years, has had the ability to become involved with some great companies as an endorsee. One such company being Bootlegger. Roger now has a signature Ace Bass and had nothing but positive things to say about the company and its owner, Chuck Wilson. I decided to look at the site and see what they had to offer. The Single Barrel was the first guitar that caught my attention. A semi-hollow guitar with a Telecaster style bridge pickup, a P90 neck pickup, all for under $600? Sounded like a steal! I wasn’t in the market for another guitar, but I kept it in mind for later and began following Bootlegger on socials in more detail. Then came the release of the Rye.
As a guitar player I’ve always had a love for elegant simplicity. I’ve never owned super flashy guitars and seemed to always choose function over flash. Coming from a Punk and Blues background, I loved utilitarian grit. The Rye had every single bit of that and what I loved in a guitar. Top to bottom black, white binding, a dual humbucker setup with a set neck construction, an ash body, maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard all coming in at $549. That seemed crazy to me. Knowing the nature of the guitar market, I wasn’t sure how Chuck was able to make that happen. I asked Roger more about the guitars and he explained how the guitars are all precision built in S. Korea and, including by selling direct, that’s how Chuck can sell great guitars at an affordable price.
Later, Roger mentioned to Chuck in a conversation that I was interested in the Rye and Chuck was kind enough to send one from Hermosa Beach, California all the way across the country to Ohio for me to road test and get my hands on. As soon as the guitar arrived and hit my fingers, I was instantly impressed. The guitar felt extremely rugged but incredibly comfortable. The neck felt familiar and was easy to play. The body had weight, but no dive and felt like something that could easily take the stress of many all-night gigs. I took the guitar home, strung it up with my strings and set it up to my specifications. After that, it felt even better. Once that was done, all that was left was to take it to a gig and run it through the paces.
I’ll start by saying that I am not a gentle player. I hit hard, I jump around, and I really get into the music. The Rye took every single hit and gave it back to me in spades. It rocked and rolled with me all night through every single song. I don’t use an overly complicated pedal set up but do play through unforgiving amplifiers that don’t necessarily hide my own flaws. That night, I was playing through my 2000 TopHat Club Royale 20 (essentially a hand-wired, hot-rodded AC30) and, let me tell you, the Rye rocked. It produced thick, LP style cleans as well as rich, and crunchy overdriven tones but never got muddy. I was incredibly impressed with the South Korean-made Tesla pickups and how they carried the sound as well as pick attack. On top of that, they were incredibly quiet pickups. They truly did work as great humbuckers.
Whether I was playing a clean, swirling, textured rhythm part or a soaring, saturated lead line, the guitar stayed in tune and in top form all night. Again, I was incredibly impressed. It not only fit my style but also my personality as a player, without being overly flashy or making sacrifices on quality for superfluous details. As I previously mentioned, it was a utilitarian, Rock and Roll machine. Full stop.
The Bootlegger Rye ships with a solid and reliable hard-shell case and the signature Bootlegger Flask, set up and ready to go for $549. I can assure you that is one heck of a steal. Especially for a guitar with a set neck construction. What Chuck is doing with Bootlegger is exactly what is needed in the modern guitar industry: fantastic guitars at an affordable price for the working, everyman musician. As a regularly gigging musician, I can’t recommend the Bootlegger Guitar Rye enough. If you are looking for a slick, rugged guitar that sounds great, will get through many long nights, and won’t break your bank to pieces, look no further. The Rye will do and be all those things. Like I said before, it’s a Rock and Roll machine.
When you choose your next guitar, consider Bootlegger. You can go get a guitar from a big box company like many others – and if that’s your thing, no harm no foul. Or, you can take a chance on and support a small builder and business that truly cares about the products he puts out and be rewarded ten-fold. You can stick with what you know or be an Outlaw and snag a Rye. It’s got my vote. Cody Foster
