The Guitar Player's Resource
NAMM 2023's Most Labor-Intensive Conversation Starter.
Two hundred and fifty individual pieces of wood, stone, and pearl. Let that number sink in for a moment while you consider what kind of obsessive dedication drives a luthier to spend countless hours positioning each tiny component of that "Ahu Tongariki" inlay with surgical precision. This o3 Hydrogen doesn't just reference Easter Island's famous moai statues - it channels the same monumental patience those ancient craftsmen possessed.
NAMM show floors are littered with guitars screaming for attention through flashy finishes and celebrity endorsements. This Hydrogen took a different approach: let the craftsmanship do the talking. That one-piece Honduran mahogany body paired with master-grade quilted maple top creates tonal foundations that respond to your every nuance, while the "Island colors" finish captures that Pacific paradise aesthetic without crossing into gaudy territory.
The pau ferro fretboard provides silky-smooth navigation across all 24 stainless steel frets, while that master-grade flamed maple neck delivers snap and articulation that cuts through any mix. The 25.2-inch scale length with 12-inch radius strikes that perfect balance between comfortable fretting and adequate string tension, enhanced by carbon fiber reinforcements that eliminate dead spots and ensure consistent response.
Those Häussel Custom pickups represent serious tone-chasing wisdom from German craftsmen who understand that premium woods deserve premium electronics. The custom wooden pickup rings and ebony tuning pegs complete the organic aesthetic while those Gotoh 510 components - modern tremolo, auto-locking tuners with 21:1 ratio - provide mechanical reliability that won't fail during crucial performance moments.
The ghost-installed frets with spherical ends create seamless playability, while that bone nut and flush-mount Dunlop strap locks handle the practical details that separate professional instruments from expensive decoration.
This represents what happens when unlimited creative freedom collides with master-level craftsmanship and enough patience to position 250 individual inlay pieces with archaeological precision.
Model: Hydrogen 6 String
Scale: 640mm / 25.2"
Neck: One piece Master Grade Flamed Maple
Fretboard: Pau Ferro
Inlay: "Ahu Tongariki" integral inlay with over 250 pieces of wood, pearl and stones
Headstock: Hydrogen 6 matching headstock, mother of pearl logo
Body: One piece Honduran Mahogany Master Grade
Top: Master Grade Quilted Maple
Finish: "The Island colors" with a high gloss top and a satin back
Pickups: Häussel Custom pickups with Flame Maple pickup rings
Pickup Covers: Matching wooden covers
Bridge: Gotoh 510 modern tremolo
Electronics: 5 way switch - 1 volume - 1 tone
Hardware: Chrome
Frets: 24 Stainless Steel frets, ghost install, spherical ends, 12" radius
Carbon Fiber neck Reinforcements
Flush mount Dunlop strap locks
Bone nut
Tuners: Gotoh 510 auto locking, 21:1 ratio with Ebony tunning pegs
