Fernando A. Jaén is a master luthier based out of Cuenca, Spain. His instruments are a blend of true old-world craftsmanship mixed with the passion and desire to build the most functional and forward-thinking guitar designs possible. To Fernando function is always the most important part in the design process. As you look over a Jaén Guitar, it quickly becomes evident that no stone has been left unturned. Nearly every part of this guitar was thought up and built by Fernando himself. This is the second Jaén Siracusa 16E model we have had the pleasure of selling and once again, we are blown away.
The Siracusa 16E is a fully carved and hollow Archtop with a 16" waist. It features X braces, two Jaén wound hum-bucking pickups and and a myriad of switching options, that are easy to wrap your head around. With your three way switch the first position will be the neck humbucker alone and the third will be the bridge position. In the middle, you have both pickups outer coils in series as a humbucker. Both pickups are floating on the ebony pickguard. Each pole piece is adjustable and the bridge pickup is height adjustable. You can raise or lower the height of the bridge pickup by raising or lowering the pickguards bracket. These pickups are not what most players think of when they imagine a floating humbucker. Most floating pickups can leave a lot to be desired, due to their small footprint and narrow bobbins; which can only have so many winding on them. These Jaén-wound humbuckers are big and robust, yet clear and dynamic. Weather you are looking for warm and clean Jazz tones or a Chet Atkins style thump in the middle position; it’s all there and in spades. The Siracusa 16E can even pull off Chuck Berry-like bridge position tones with ease.
The bridge is made of ebony, it is fully height adjustable and pre-compensated. Within each saddle there is a piece of graphite to increase stiffness. The tailpiece is floating and has brass reinforcements where the strings are inserted.
The sound hole is located on the Siracusa's bass side; as traditional l f-hole designs weaken the top quite a bit. Due to the thinly carved top on this model; it was necessary to put the sound hole in a different location. The end result looks classy and sophisticated, while making for a joyful experience when played acoustically. This is one loud guitar unplugged.
The playability of this instrument is off the charts. The action is setup nice and low and the fretwork is phenomenal. This guitar practically plays itself. Harmonics leap off of the fingerboard in such a way that it is almost eerie; as if the guitar is alive. The workmanship throughout is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The Siracusa is truly a master of all trades and one that will bring much inspiration to its lucky new owner. Please take a look at the Jaén Guitars website, as there are many other fascinating details and features to learn about there.
Specs:
Body: European Spruce
Back / Sides: English Walnut
Neck: Multi Piece Maple
Fretboard, peghead face, bridge and tailpiece: Ebony.
Pickguard: Ziricote w/ carbon fiber core
Pickups: Jaén Humbuckers w/ Ebony covers
Binding: Ovangkol
Purfling: Fiber
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Carbon Fibre: Truss rod access cover and tuning machine covers are both made of carbon fibre with glued laminations of ebony. The peg-head has two internal carbon reinforcements where the tuners are attached. There is also a carbon skeleton inside the bridge saddle that stiffens it. The bridge feet are hollow, made of carbon fiber and ebony, and joined by two carbon fiber rods. The pickguard has a carbon core hidden below its wooden skin.
Frets: Jescar FW47104SS Stainless Steel
Nut: Cowbone / 1 & 11/16"
lnlays: Multi piece wood w/ "Willow Tree" inlay at 12th-Fret
Tuning machines: Schertlers, modified so that their mechanisms are hidden inside the peghead
Tailpiece bracket is made of aluminum with an ebony cover
Main pickguard bracket is made of blackened steel. The neck bracket is made of brass.
Magnetic hum-bucking pickups: Jaén NSE2.4.5 (Neck) and BCE2.4.5 (Bridge)
Potentiometers: long rotational life (100.000 cycles), conductive polymer
Measurements:
Scale length: 25.5”
Nut width: 1 11/16”
Radius: 12"
Lower bout: 16"
Controls: Vol Neck, Middle-Position Master Volume, Vol Bridge, Master Tone
3-way switch: 1. Neck, 2. Outer Coils in Series, 3. Bridge
Includes: Upgraded BENEDYKT ART-CASE (Handmade in Poland) & user manual
Weight: 4lbs 11oz
