ARTIST SIGNATURE SPECS: TIM ARMSTRONG HELLCAT

For over 40 years, Tim Armstrong has been a fixture on the California punk scene, first as a founding member of the revved-up ska-core band Operation Ivy and most famously as the driving force behind Rancid, one of the most influential bands to emerge from the ’90s American punk movement. With a gravelly, galvanizing voice and a seemingly limitless reservoir of underdog anthems and gritty character studies, Armstrong has reverentially carried the torch forward from ska and punk heroes like The Clash, The Minutemen and The Specials. He is also a gifted producer, collaborator and label-owner, working with everyone from Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh to pop icon Pink (with whom he won a Grammy in 2003 for her cover of Rancid’s “Trouble”) to reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. Needless to say, Armstrong is a creative juggernaut with an endless supply of incredible songs, thrilling performances and inspiring ideas.

As is the case with any artist, that inspiration has to come from somewhere and for Tim Armstrong, he most often turns to his old Fender-style acoustic when he sits down to write songs. So when we partnered with Armstrong to create a signature model, we decided to build one based on his traditional go-to guitar. The final result is The Tim Armstrong Hellcat – an exciting concert body acoustic that looks and feels great in any player’s hands, featuring modern appointments, high-quality on-board electronics and premium upgrades – perfect for playing three chords and the truth, or whatever style of music you throw at it. Let’s dive into the specs!

BODY:

The Hellcat comes in two gorgeous satin finishes – a bold two-tone ska-inspired checkerboard and a classic natural. The checkerboard model features a solid spruce top and the natural one has a solid mahogany top. These are excellent tonewoods capable of a range of resonant sounds. Both models have scalloped-”X” bracing for greater nuance and projection, 70s F Style rosettes and laminated mahogany backs and sides. The smaller concert body shape makes this an excellent choice for beginners or anyone looking for a compact, expressive guitar that sounds amazing whether you’re strumming with a pick or playing fingerstyle.

NECK:

The satin finished maple neck features a comfortable “C” shape, as well as a 11.81” radius walnut fingerboard with 19 vintage-style frets and Tim’s signature Hellcat and Double Skulls inlays.

ELECTRONICS:

One of the most exciting upgrades to the Hellcat is its high-quality Fishman® pickup/preamp system, which gives this instrument peerless amplified performance with a variety of on-board controls for pure, rich acoustic tone. It also includes a built-in tuner, conveniently placed right where you can see it so your intonation will always be on point.

HARDWARE:

The Tim Armstrong Hellcat comes with chrome hardware and a walnut bridge with a Graph Tech® NuBone™ saddle and nut. The checkerboard model is appointed with black bridge pins with white dots, a 1-ply black pickguard and vintage-style tuning machines with black buttons, for an edgy, sleek look. The natural finish option has slightly more classic styling, with white bridge pins with black dots, a 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard and vintage-style tuning machines with aged white plastic buttons.

OTHER FEATURES:

This great-sounding and super playable concert body acoustic features an elegant headstock with Tim Armstrong’s iconic signature to inspire you every time you pick it up.

Learn more about the Tim Armstrong Hellcat (and get one for yourself) here.