The Nik Huber Krautster III in Worn Platinum
To us at Lark, Nik Huber is one of the best private builders in the guitar industry today. His craftsmanship and playability are impeccable, and his attention to detail is second to none. Pick up the Krautster III and it feels like a guitar stripped down to the essence of rock. The solid Spanish cedar body is light and resonant at 7lbs 8oz, so it sits comfortably on a strap through a long night, and it gives you a rich, complex voice with clarity and balance in every chord.
How It Plays
The set maple neck in the Standard Krautster carve, .88" at the 1st fret growing to .96" at the 12th, fills the hand without feeling like a club. The 25" scale gives the strings a slinky, relaxed feel under your fingers, and the 10" to 14" compound radius keeps chords comfortable down low and lets bends stay clean as you climb. The 22 medium jumbo extra hard frets glide under your fingertips and stay true, and the East Indian rosewood fingerboard, with its 7mm bone dots and polished bone nut, feels smooth, warm, and familiar. The double action truss rod keeps the neck dialed in, so it plays the same on the gig as it does in the shop.
How It Sounds
Dig in on the Häussel P90 “1956” in the neck and you get a bluesy, vocal voice with a lovely bite that’s all your own. Switch to the Häussel Krautster-B in the bridge and the tone tightens up with clarity and body, ready to push an amp into raw, powerful rock. The master volume, master tone, and 3-way toggle are all you need, and the push/pull coil tap opens up a brighter, snappier voice when you want a change of pace. The Nik Huber 510 open gear tuners with tulip buttons and the aluminum stoptail with brass studs keep everything steady and resonant.
The Look
The custom Worn Platinum finish has a lived-in charm, framed by cream binding on the front of the body and a black/white/black pickguard. Aged nickel hardware, a brushed black switch tip, and brushed black bell knobs add vintage character, and the ebony peghead veneer finishes the headstock. It comes home in a hardshell case.