Completely Amazing!

This 1991 Zion guitar, hand built by Ken Hoover, was the first of two prototype guitars made for Ty Tabor of the band King’s X.  Ty owned this guitar for just a brief time before giving it back to Zion for modifications.

One of the crucial elements in creating Ty’s excellent, distinct tone heard on the first 4 King’s X albums was the Fender Strat Elite electronics.  Ken Hoover & Eric Earnest used the Strat Elite pickups & pre-amp from one of Ty’s Strats used on the Faith Hope Love tour to outfit this guitar.  A 2 piece, lightweight Alder body was selected and painted metallic red. 

A Rock Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard was selected as well as an extremely high quality Mann tremolo.  Ty was not impressed with the neck profile and sent it back to Ken Hoover.  It was later outfitted with a highly figured Birdseye Maple neck.  The fretboard was phenolic material and painted gloss black.  Sperzel Tuners were added as well/.

Ken made a second prototype for Ty that he liked much better and Eric Earnest came into possession of prototype 1.  Prototype #2 was later stolen and never recovered.

Eric sold this guitar to me in 2002.  It nails Ty’s tone dead on and is a great playing guitar.  This guitar has focus like no other and has the most incredible vocal tones.  It is one of the most “musical” guitars I have ever experienced. 

Build materials & Quality = 9.5

Sound = 10

Playability = 9.5

Appearance = 9

Overall design = 9.5