Ever since I was introduced to the brand back in 2008 I was in love with their craftsmanship and attention to detail. Having played Ibanez Guitars for a long time, I knew that Japan houses some of the finest luthiers on the globe. Their skill and Artisary are world reknown.
Thus it comes as little surprise that I had my heart set on one day owning one of those instruments and add to my collection. Well, after some time has passed and many moons rose and whained, this time has finally come! I am now one of 24 worldwide proud owners of a CAPARISON TAT Special-BM-CL, Custom Line. I look forward to all the musical adventures waiting for us!
Here is what they say about their instrument and intentions behind the making of this fine piece of art:
To continue our 30th anniversary celebration, Caparison introduces the TAT-Special-BM-CL, the second limited edition release in our exclusive series. With just 24 pieces to be made available worldwide, this model offers a refined evolution of the classic TAT-Special.
The guitar features a striking Burl Maple Radial Grain top, expertly shaped into the distinctive TAT curve, sitting atop a solid Australian Blackwood back. This combination brings a rich tonal complexity—brilliant highs balanced by warm yet focused low end. The 5-piece maple and walnut neck-through construction guarantees remarkable stability, resonance, and sustain.
Equipped with a newly developed PH-R-CA4 bridge pickup and a SH-27FC neck pickup, the TAT-Special-BM-CL offers superb articulation and dynamic tonality across all 27 frets. The Rotary Switch Mode gives smooth, intuitive control over your sound. Stainless steel jumbo frets, an ebony fingerboard with Luminlay side markers, and a carefully considered finish to complement the natural character of the wood both visually and sonically.
Available in Amber Matt and Black Amber Matt finishes, each guitar features a gold Custom Line logo and a solid ebony truss rod cover. The TAT-Special-BM-CL marks thirty years of outstanding craftsmanship — a limited edition that perfectly balances tradition with precision.
TAT-Special Curved Top – Unlike standard guitars that have a fixed neck angle relative to the body, the TAT-Special utilizes the unique arch of its carved top to determine the neck angle. This innovative design brings the neck closer to the player, promoting a more natural playing posture—especially advantageous when accessing higher frets beyond the 12th.
PH-R-CA4” Bridge Pickup – An evolution of the original “PH-R” pickup, the PH-R-CA4” was specifically developed for the TAT-Special model. Featuring an Alnico 4 magnet at its core, it delivers a balanced tone across a wide frequency range and ensures a flat output response. Caparison’s proprietary humbucking pickups are mounted on a baseplate with a three-screw height adjustment system. Unlike the traditional two-screw setup, this allows for more precise coil alignment with the strings, enhancing tonal clarity and output. The secure mounting also prevents unwanted movement during aggressive playing, maintaining consistent performance.
“SH-27FC” Neck Pickup – In 27-fret guitars, the neck pickup is positioned closer to the center of the body, which typically alters the expected tonal character. To address this, the SH-27FC was specially designed for 27-fret configurations, allowing it to reproduce the warm, full-bodied tones traditionally associated with the neck position—even in this unconventional layout.
Rotary Switch Mode – When the 3-way pickup selector switch (lever switch) is set to the center position, the rotary switch mode is activated. This enables pickup combinations chosen via the 4-position rotary switch to be output (refer to the control diagram for available combinations). When the lever switch is set to either the bridge or neck position, the rotary switch is bypassed, and standard humbucking output is provided from the respective pickup.
Bridge: Schaller S-FRT II Tremolo – This premium tremolo bridge from Schaller features a distinct design in which the bridge body and knife edges are separate components. Its dual-sided, precision-machined knife edges offer excellent return-to-zero performance, enhancing tuning stability and reducing unwanted movement during play. Crafted from high-hardness steel, these knife edges are built for long-term durability. Additionally, their separation from the main bridge body helps reduce harsh metallic overtones, contributing to a smoother, more musical tone.
Tuners: Gotoh HAP – The Dellinger model is equipped with a 15-degree angled headstock, allowing the strings to sit snugly against the locking nut without requiring a string retainer bar. It also features Gotoh HAP tuners, which allow for individual adjustment of each string post height according to string gauge. This fine-tuning capability optimizes string tension and helps maintain tuning stability when the strings are locked at the nut.
Terminal Wiring – To minimize interference from external noise, conductive shielding paint is applied inside both the pickup and control cavities, which are then grounded together via a terminal wire system. The control panel is also backed with an aluminum plate to further enhance shielding. This terminal wiring layout not only improves noise resistance but also simplifies maintenance, making it easier to service or replace electronic components when needed.