Up for sale, a 2016 Shelton Electric Instruments FireArrow prototype electric guitar, brand new and complete with a custom fit G&G hardshell case. One of only four FireArrows ever to be produced by Shelton, this instrument seamlessly blends the lines of a reverse body TBird with pickups and hardware associated with the Jazzmaster and Telecaster. It's a compelling look that's perfectly executed both visually and tonally.In a world inundated by boutique, bolt-on, small batch USA-made guitar builders, it's easy for the most gifted craftsman to get lost in the shuffle and players to get bit jaded in the search for a new instrument. Many relics feel forced and overdone, many model mash-ups aren't well thought out cosmetically or tonally, and the plethora of off the shelf parts available has led to a fairly vast range of quality from startup guitar companies. Shelton is markedly different in every respect. This is a passionately made, no corners cut, elegant and truly soulful instrument that embodies everything we love about our favorite vintage instruments here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar.To hammer home what we really mean by "no corners cut" (and without disparaging other high end builders who really cheap out in the electronics/hardware dept), Shelton utilizes hand wound Porter pickups, a Mastery M1 bridge and matching Offset Vibrato, and Emerson pots. These components ensure that the ash body and maple neck of the FireArrow truly deliver the goods, with unique five-way switching that's extremely versatile and player friendly. The "Vintage JM" Porter pickups deliver the standard Bridge/Both/Neck pickup options on settings 1-3, with a Rhythm Circuit-esque dark and meaty 4th setting, and both pickups wired in series in the 5th position (where you'd typically find the "neck" position). This proves very intuitive, for everything from snappy, detailed twang at the bridge to harmonic-rich girth that still has loads of clarity at the neck. Quickly flipping the switch forward to the series position is a great trick for extra punch during a solo, and the darker 4th position is ideal for thickening up your favorite fuzz or just getting downright swampy and thick with the guitar's low end response. Acoustically, this is a very lively instrument, balancing well on a strap and weighing 8lbs 4oz.Not to be outdone, the factory setup from Shelton is *the best* we've ever experienced from an off the shelf guitar, and these instruments are dialed in to be plug-and-play with a consistency and professionalism that's worth noting. Intonation is spot-on, action is low and slinky, and the guitar is strung with 10-46 strings.The generous, round C shape neck measures .835" deep at the first fret and .915" deep at the 12th, with full shoulders and a gloss nitro lacquer finish. This finish has been factory worn to be smooth as silk along the profile without wearing down to the bare maple. There's still plenty of gloss here, just none of that new guitar stickiness! The bound rosewood fretboard (and it's a particularly stripey and figured piece of rosewood) has pearl dot inlays and slender vintage-style Jescar FW47095 nickel silver fretwire on a 9.5" radius board. The scale length is a full 25.5", and the nut measures 1.687" in width. On the matching Pelham Blue headstock, Shelton has achieved a look that's part airplane nose cone, part scimitar. It's a look that seamlessly blends atomic age cool and modern simplicity.On the body, even the control plate and neck plate are custom, thick machined aluminum, and other aesthetic touches include black pointer knobs, a gray lucite pickguard, and of course, the Mastery Offset Vibrato UFO tip! For optimal Offset guitar luxury, reliability, and performance, Mastery is simply the tip-top, and their M1 bridge works perfectly with the vibrato unit for a notably responsive feel. The vibrato can easily achieve anything from subtle shimmies to quick flutters to deep dives and guttural warbles, all jumping back into tune with ease (and with a spring that took thousands of hours of R&D to match if not exceed the performance of the original Fender design).The gloss nitro lacquer finish is very lightly and tastefully aged from the factory, and again, the quality and restraint shown here in achieving a very believable and authentically aged lacquer finish is evident upon first glance. The checking extends in all directions across the body, and other than a few tiny chips at the neck pocket exposing the white undercoat, that's the extent of the relic job. It's all this guitar needs, and the icy blue finish has just the right amount of saturation, picking up the gray accents of the hardware.This FireArrow prototype is one of only four that will ever be made with this body shape, and with the Solar-Sonic now in production, the FireArrow will surely gain a cult following for its sparingly short initial run and perfect pairing of two beloved vintage guitar models.The original custom-ordered G&G hardshell case is included, along with Shelton's original spec sheet, COA, and case candy.