Chapman ML1 Pro Traditional in Satin Natural

The ML1 Pro Traditional is a 3 single coil, S-shaped guitar with a  modern feel, attack and sound. It's got an arched Ash body making it super comfortable to play, with a snappy sounding Maple fretboard and trem system that'll give you the ability to let those chords and lead notes really shimmer.

Pickups
The pickups on-board are 3 Chapman Venus Witch single coils. They are clear, but full sounding single coils with a 5 way position switch allowing you get those fantastic neck and middle & bridge and middle sounds.

Rolled fretboard
The Chapman Pro series guitars have all got rolled fretboard edges which involves smoothing out any fret edges so that the instrument feels 'played in' even when it's brand new. This process makes the neck much more comfortable to hold and play.

History of the Chapman Guitars
Back in 2009 Rob Chapman came up with the idea of collaboratively designing a guitar with his YouTube fans – over 5000 fans took part in a series of votes to decide on body style, neck profile, headstock shape, pickups and colours, and the original ML-1 was born.

Originally made in China & sold as a limited edition one of run in matte black, the ML-1 sold out within 2-3 months & left 100s of fans disappointed that they didn't get one. In 2010 Rob underwent the same process to design the ML-2 – a single cut, double humbucker guitar that again sold out within 2-3 weeks of arrival. In 2012 Rob decided to take the Chapman guitar brand up market, and moved the production to Korea.

The new factory introduced some new features, improved the build quality, and added new colours to the original ML designs. At the NAMM 2017 it was announced that the Chapman range would be split into 2. The Pro series are still built at the same factory in South Korea with a higher spec than before taking these instruments to new heights. And the Standard series guitars are built in Indonesia retaining the same ethos of the current Chapman range, though more affordable.

An easy way to tell the difference between the ranges is by looking at the fretboard. The standard range has got fretboard marker inlays along the fretboard, while the pro series does not.

Here's what Chapman say about the ML1 Pro

Taking the crisp, bright and woody tones of tradition and conveying them through a modern chassis, the ML1 Pro Traditional is the best of both worlds.

The specially-voiced Chapman Venus Witch single coil pickup set offer a wide palette of tones via the five way blade, transmitted through a stunning ash, satin finished, carved top body, 22 stainless steel frets and a silky smooth C-shaped maple neck.

Available in Natural and White Dove finishes, the ML1 Pro Traditional is equipped with high end features such as rolled edges, strap locks and glow-in-the-dark-side dots and comes complete a Chapman Pro hard case.

Specifications

• Model Ml1 pro traditional natural
• Pro series
• Headstock: Straight heritage headstock
• Neck: Maple with satin finish
• Neck type: C shape recessed bolt-on neck with velute
• Top: Swamp ash solid carve top with satin finish
• Body: Swamp ash with satin finish
• Body carves: Front lower spoon cut, rear tummy cut, rear lower spoon cut, rear heel contour
• Fretboard: Maple fretboard with rolled edges
• Frets: 22 jumbo stainless steel frets
• Fret markers: Glow-in-the-dark side dots
• 12th fret inlay: Black infinity
• Scale length: 648mm (~25.5")
• Tuners: Hipshot grip-lock open (18:1 gearing)
• String nut: Graph tech tusq nut
• Strings: D'addario nyxl nickel wound super light, 09-42
• Truss rod: Dual action
• Bridge: Chapman 2-point tremolo with brass block with brass saddles
• Neck pickup: Chapman Venus Witch single coil, Magnet: alnico 5 output: 6.8k ohms
• Middle pickup: Chapman Venus Witch single coil, Magnet: alnico 5 output: 6.8k ohms
• Bridge pickup: Chapman Venus Witch single coil, Magnet: alnico 5 output: 8k ohms
• Pickup switch: 5 way blade switch
• Controls: Master volume (250k), master tone (250k)
• Strap buttons: Chapman strap locks
• Case: Chapman pro hard case