Fury 12-string
Guitarist (UK)
Autumn 1999
Reviewed by Ben Bartlett
Courtesy Guitarist / Future Publishing
Price: L1,299
Fury 12-string: This Canadian bounty always gets its twang ... It's a 12-string that addresses the problems inherent in these instruments ...
In December last year the Fury Fireball blew us away with its radical styling, unique sound and build quality. A few rave reviews later and the Fury name has built enough of a following here in the UK to warrant importing a wider selection of the range, including this 12-string. If you've always dug the distinctive 12-string sound but felt limited by a choice of either the narrow neck dimensions of a Rickenbaker 12 or the dodgy playability of more budget-friendly electric 12s, you might find the solution here.
Built with pride Every componet, save the Schaller machineheads, are manufactured on-site in the Fury factory. There are so few companies doing this kind of 'ground up' building these days, as the expense is usually too high. But one thing this process guarantees is an exceptionally high qulaity, desirable product. The Fury 12's comfortably contoured body is made in three pieces: a hard maple centrepiece with a pair of Eastern soft maple wings. The stronger centre wood accomodates a Fury high-mass bridge/tailpiece, chrome-plated, milled brass with Fury's unique 'ported' bridge saddles. Porting involves a pair of allen grub screws to lock saddle-height and ensure rattle-free performance.
The Fury 12 electronics are fairly simple with just a master volume and tone and a three-way toggle switch controlling the pair of zero distortion Fury 'ZP Pickups'. The ZP stands for zero pole; a patented Fury invention which reduces magnetic pull on the string, thus allowing the string to vibrate for longer. The result is a marked increase in sustain and a complete absence of the 'wolf' notes that can occur with more powerful pickups.
Necks please
The neck has to be the most important thing to get right on a 12-string, considering the extra space another six strings take up. This one is a single piece of eastern rock maple (no scarf joint) topped with a rosewood fingerboard and the patented, graphite Fury uni-nut. This combines the low action of a zero-fret, with a traditional slotted nut. Behind this graphite nut lives a heavy-duty string retainer bar to increase the break-angle of the strings over the nut. It's a good idea, but bear in mind that it'll need lubricating from time to time to prevent tuning problems.
Profile-wise the Fury has a palm-filling 'C' which avoids feeling too 'clubby' or 'planky' like some lesser guitars. The neck is eminently playable and easily handles my favorite metal-on-a-12 string riffs. If you've never tried playing distorted thrash riffs on a 12, you should give it a try. The octave effect created by the second course really thickens up a grinding riff and should be considered by down-tuners and metal-heads; it ain't all jangly McGuinn.
Verdict
The Fury combats neck-weight problems with an offset rear strap button. With custom options (pau ferro or maple fingerboard, left-handers etc) and a range of colours, Fury caters for every taste. If you're in the market for an electric 12-string try this. If you're not, try it anyway.
FURY 12-string
| Build quality |  |
| Playablity | |
| Sound |  |
| Value for money | |
| VERDICT | |
We liked: Playability neck, simple controls and rich tones. We didn't like: Small clicking sound from the nut, neck heavy when seated.
Spec check
Fury 12-string
Price: L1,299
Origin: Canada
Body: Eastern soft and hard maple
Neck: Eastern Rock Maple
Fingerboard: rosewood
Frets: 22 medium
Scale: 25.064" inches
Fingerboard radius: 9 inches
Case: fitted hardshell case included
Finish: Metallic charcoal grey
Bridge: Fury high mass
Machines: Schaller die cast, chrome
Controls: Master volume, Master tone, three-way pickup selector.
Pickups: Fury ZP
Left Handers: yes
Contact: Peach, Blake House Craft Centre, Blake End, Essex, CM7 8SH
tel: 01376 553016
email: peachidea@aol.com
Check out the website for more info: www.furyguitar.com