Reverend Warhawk DAW Red Burst

The Reverend Warhawk has been comprehensively upgraded for 2020, here coming with the outstanding Wilkinson WVS50 IIK tremolo. This Warhawk DAW model is presented in a Red Burst colour scheme - new on the Warhawk - complemented by a three-ply parchment pickguard. The real changes are below the surface, however. Fat tones are provided by the korina body’s new thinner wings, flanking a thicker centre ridge. To this are mounted Reverend’s hugely versatile Double Agent pickups, heretofore only available on bolt-on models. The electronics and hardware are all to Reverend’s very latest standards, resulting in a guitar which punches well above its price bracket.

Here at Merchant City Music we are extremely proud to have been a specialist Reverend dealer for many years. It’s been really exciting to have been a part of this plucky little Ohio company’s story, one which has taken the sometimes-stuffy guitar world by storm. We stock a huge range of Reverend’s, making us a go-to shop for Reverend fans worldwide. Each one is given a comprehensive check over and professional set up before it goes out the door. If you have an address - virtually anywhere in the world - we can ship one to you, fast!

THE REVEREND WARHAWK DAW Red Burst FEATURES A 24 3/4 INCH SCALE SET NECK

In-keeping with Reverend’s policy of constant improvement, spearheaded by their chief instrument designer, Joe Naylor, the Warhawk model has been thoroughly reworked for 2020. The basic ingredients are still there: highly resonant Korina is used for the solid body, to which is set a 24 3/4” scale three-piece neck, also made from Korina. The Warhawk always featured a raised centre block, but this feature is now even more pronounced, with the centre block protruding above the wings on both the front and back of the body. Reverend aficionados will note the parallels with the groundbreaking Airsonic, and the effect is similar: the tone has been thickened up for a fat sound which really complements the shorter scale length.

For this new Reverend Warhawk DA W model, two pickups have been mounted to the massive centre block, in Reverend’s hugely versatile “Double Agent” configuration: Reverend’s own Joe Naylor-designed pickups are used, with a humbucker fitted in the bridge position and P90 in the neck. This is the company’s best-selling pickup combination, and not without reason. In the bridge position, the Warhawk Double Agent W will convince you it was made for pure, punchy, overdriven tone, with all the warmth for which traditional humbucker’s are known and loved. Flip to the neck, however, and you are greeted by a refined version of that clean, open tone characteristic of a P90. Reverend has done a great job of taming the P90’s usual hum, too.

BASS CONTOUR CONTROL, KORINA BODY, WILKINSON TREM AND TOP QUALITY COMPONENTS

The Warhawk DAW in Red Burst comes with a 12” radius pau ferro fretboard, resulting in a modern feel. The 22 medium jumbo frets are beautifully finished, allowing the action to go nice and low without buzz. Reverend have obviously put a lot of thought into the ergonomics and balance of the guitar, because it is a joy to hold and play. The other benefit of Korina, apart from its brilliant acoustic properties, is that it is also much lighter than a traditional wood such as mahogany. This makes the Warhawk DAW a great working instrument, perfect for hours on stage or in the studio.

On this Warhawk DAW model, another standout feature is the Wilkinson WVS50 IIK Tremolo system. The WVS50 includes saddles that lock to the baseplate, adjustable arm swing tension, and a push-in/no freeplay arm. Combined with Reverend’s boneite nut and pin-lock tuners, it stays in tune even under aggressive whammy action. The trem is further enhanced by Reverend’s vari-claw system. This innovative claw gives you the option of 3 springs in the middle for a firm tremolo feel, or 2 springs on the outside for a softer feel. The offset hook design lets you switch between 3 or 2 springs, with little or no cumbersome adjustment of the claw needed.

In terms of components, Reverend uses top shelf hardware and electronics. The pure tone jack socket features dual contacts for much improved reliability compared to standard sockets, which only have a single contact. A treble bleed circuit is used for the volume control, preserving the trebles when you roll back the volume. Reverend also uses 10% Alpha control pots and 10% polyester capacitors. The tighter tolerances (most pots and caps only have a 20% rating), result in much improved consistency and reliability. Reverend’s outstanding locking machine heads are a joy to use and virtually eliminate string slippage, as well as making string changes a cinch.

The overall result is that the Warhawk DAW in Red Burst punches significantly above its price bracket, both in terms of tone and usability. This guitar is designed to service a heavy gigging schedule with peerless reliability, fantastic looks and world class tone.