The beautiful tone of a Solid Qld Maple soundboard with the price of Layered veneer back. As a quality Australian made acoustic guitar the SL models are designed and engineered to provide the most tone and playability available in a mid size acoustic of this type.
ABOUT PRATLEY
Internationally renowned, Pratley Guitars are handcrafted in Queensland, using stunning Australian tonewoods. The Pratley design is inspired, and the build is exceptional; with a uniquely created neck joint to enhance setup and playability and quality hardware as standard. Made for the Australian climate, Pratley’s signature bracing design means that the guitars can better tolerate fluctuations in humidity; ensuring exceptional performance in both dry and humid conditions.
FRETBOARD
Johnstone River Teak (JRT) is a topical hardwood similar to Indian rosewood in density & oil content. It makes a very stable fretboard that sits perfectly in the sweet spot of oily, hard, & with a good weight. It also holds frets very well.
NECK
The neck carve is high performing with 2-way adjustable truss rod & twin torsion bars. Both Truss rod & torsion bars run across the 14th fret body intersection which prevents any hump forming. Having the truss rod & bars run the full length of the neck allows for a more even relief arc from 1st to last fret.
Pratley Guitars use a set neck joining method which means the full thickness neck is glued into a solid timber pocket. The natural taper of the neck when fitted into the pocket creates a wedge joint similar to a horizontal dovetail. Pratley have also eliminated the 'OLD WORLD' heel which came from the Spanish heel method of construction. Removing the heel has reduced weight and allowed greater access to fretboard. Each neck is carefully fitted and glued into the body pocket to maximise resonant transfer.
BRACING
Using his Industrial Design background, Martin Pratley has developed the A-X top bracing pattern to prevent bridge roll (top belly-ing) while enhancing the articulation and sweetness of tone. The bracing is also made from premium quarter sawn Bunya and is designed in a way that improves resonant transfer between the top, sides & back. The backs also have a 4.5M radius dome joined with the sides using their proprietary laser kerf linings.