GEAR
COVERREVIEW
STORY
metal head bangers, but versatile enough
to coax some mournful blues, jazz, or fusion.
The attention to detail and customer satisfaction
is immediately apparent. Right out of the
box Aries 6 was set up perfectly and ready
for action.
FEATURES
Kiesel seeks out the coolest eye-popping woods
for their tops and Aries 6 is no exception. This
model has a deep honeyburst flame maple top
and matching headstock that says first class all
the way. The solid, mahogany body and bolt-on
mahogany neck produce rich tones and sustain
that complement the floating Wilkinson tremolo,
which actually stayed in tune remarkably well
after several dive bombs and harmonic screams
– thanks to the superior Kiesel 19:1 ratio
locking tuners and 80s style inline headstock.
The guitar neck is arguably the most personal
part the instrument. It’s what you wrap your
hand around to manipulate almost infinite
combinations of strings and notes. Therefore
it must feel comfortable and play effortlessly.
Aries 6 delivers such a neck that makes
shredding, sweep picking, tapping, and just
plain old playing fun! The neck is a 25.5” scale,
24-fret bolt-on with rosewood fingerboard,
and deep body cutaway allowing easy access
to work those highest frets. Kudos to the oilfinished ‘C’ shaped neck as it plays fast and
smooth without any sticky gunk buildup,
and will appeal to modern players as well as
traditionalists. In addition, the neck sports a
2-way fully adjustable truss rod partnered with
dual carbon-fiber rods that provide remarkable
stability. This neck isn’t going to move! And
three options are available for fret material –
nickel, stainless steel (my choice), or gold EVO
(which is more durable than nickel, but softer
than stainless steel).
Aries 6 is loaded with Kiesel’s own Lithium
humbucker pickups mounted directly to the
body (versus hanging from a pickup frame or
pick guard like many traditional designs) that
results in a richer tone and increased sustain.
With a bit of distortion these humbuckers will
howl, growl, and scream. Clean it up and use
DECEMBER SPECIAL
positions 2 and 4 of the 5-way selector switch
to produce single-coil tones for a convincing
Hendrix and Vaughan tone.
Comfort is addressed by eliminating some of
the 90-degree body angles common with other
popular guitar designs. Whether sitting or
standing, the contoured body feels great against
the abdomen, and the pronounced bevels
running along the upper front and back of the
guitar reduce forearm fatigue (Les Paul players
know what I’m taking about).
On the downside the guitar price doesn’t include
a case and Kiesel requires all customers to
purchase one of their reinforced soft gig bags
for $60 or hardshell for $90 to complete the
shipment. The Aries 6 for this review came
in a soft case, which had abundant padding,
handgrip and shoulder straps, and plenty of
pocket space to keep accessories – well worth
the few extra bucks to protect your investment.
To keep the cost down for the consumer, Kiesel
sells direct, thus cutting out the middleman,
and passes the savings right to you. From start
to finish, Kiesel can deliver your new custom
electric guitar in about eight weeks, but they
also have many completed models in stock that
are ready for immediate shipment. Visit their
website for more details, inventory, and photos
– www.kieselguitars.com. ■
VERDICT
Everything with the Kiesel name is top
shelf craftsmanship and quality. Whether
your eye is on the Aries 6, another guitar
from their immense website inventory, or
you’re having them create your custom
dream masterpiece, rest assured that
you’re getting a world-class instrument no
matter the size of your budget. And with
Kiesel’s 5-year warranty and 10-day, riskfree trial, you have nothing to loose.
DIGITAL EDITION
GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER
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