Blue Moon Mercury - Electro Scoop

The importance of body shape:

The strings on the Mercury ‘Scoop’ Parlour Guitar are kept at a little lower tension than on standard models because the neck joins the body at the 12th fret rather than the 14^th. It also has a slightly shifted bridge position so that the bridge is further from the soundhole than on most other guitars. These features in particular ensure that the Mercury is super-comfortable to play and transport, plus has a tone and volume that belies its smaller size.

The ‘Scoop’ refers to the small ‘cutaway section where the neck meets the body. Rather than a traditional cutaway, the Mercury’s smaller physique requires a more subtle solution when seeking those higher frets. Initially created by request for Nashville legend, Beth Nielsen-Chapman, the ‘BNC’ scoop allows just a little more access to the upper reaches of the fingerboard.

Which tonewoods are used and why?

Mango trees grow freely and abundantly across Indonesia, so the woods used for Blue Moon guitars are purchased locally in Java, Indonesia from recognised timber merchants under the SVLK Indonesian Legal Wood scheme.

Mango has an intriguing character in terms of tone. It's not as loud and forceful as rosewood nor as mellow as mahogany, but it has its own particular warmth. The tone is dark and brooding, with the frequency range beginning somewhat below that of mahogany and fading off slightly earlier in the mid-range. The lower level of resonant overtones, similar to that found on maple guitars, makes the Mango-bodied Blue Moon well-controlled, balanced, and relatively feedback-resistant, so it’s just as ‘at home’ on a loud stage as ‘at home’ itself.

How does it all come together?

Each piece of solid wood utilised will differ in natural coloration and grain patterns. One of the joys of all-solid, natural tonewoods is the inherent variation in coloration and grain patterns among individual pieces of tonewood. Upon application of the Blue Moon burst finish, certain sections of the mango with lighter pigmentation will manifest vivid blues, while the denser regions will assume an almost ebony-like appearance. When matched with the solid, Flamed Maple binding and Ebony fittings, you can be sure that your Blue Moon guitar will possess the same level of uniqueness as your music.

The Electronics:

Amplifying your Blue Moon is simple thanks to the Fishman INK3 preamp and piezo pickup system. The undersaddle piezo pickup is controlled by a side-mounted, flush-fitting preamp with 3 band EQ and a built-in tuner. The output socket is mounted into the end of the guitar with an ingeniously integrated battery box and separate strap button.

The Case:

To ensure that your beautiful new instrument is well protected and cared for, your guitar is complete with a woodshell hardcase, with padded plush interior. We recommend that you keep your guitar in the hardcase whenever not in use.