PICK UPS

? released 2006. The following announcement appeared on their site:

Belman after many requests from players have finally released our own range of guitar replacement pickups, with four models to get things started. Currently on offer are Standard Vintage, Hot Vintage and Anniversary which all feature Alinco 5 magnets. For those players looking for something hotter is the Ceramic model which features you guessed it a Ceramic magnet. Full descriptions will be following soon located in a new Pickups page on the site.
(Pickups will be available with or without covers, contact Belman Guitars for pricing.)

TIMBERS

Australian timbers

Queensland Maple

The main timber of choice in the Belman guitar range, Queensland Maple has provided a very real alternative to Honduran Mahogany. Although called Queensland Maple the timber bears no resemblance in appearance, texture and more importantly tone to Maple. Having a tone more along the lines of Mahogany, featuring a thick midrange, crisp highs and and solid bottom end without being muddy sounding. Very similar in appearance Mahogany, although consistently lighter, works great for both body and neck timber.

Mountain Ash

(Eucalyptus Regnans)
Used as a top 'cap' on the guitar for its stunning visual beauty. Figured Mountain Ash while maintaining the bottom end adds mids and top end clarity when combined with Queensland Maple. With a look that can vary from very clean almost Maple looking to slightly more grainy looking figure, Mountain Ash adds to any Belman guitar both visually and sonically.

Blackwood

Being a darker looking timber Blackwood works better when stained with more natural looking hues, rather than darker overtones. Sonically it adds a very clear smooth top end and a touch of definition to the low end. Blackwood can range in appearance from thin flame to a naturally wild curl, creating a look of pure elegance on any guitar or bass.

Gidgee

Used only as a headstock overlay simply for its stunning figure to add that extra touch to the Grand models.

Imported Timbers

Mahogany

A standard within the guitar building industry. Known for its thick full tone, Mahogany will add a warm richness of tone when used as body and neck timbers. Due to recent events around the world Honduran Mahogany has become a little more scarce than ever before and thus the price for this timber has risen dramatically. Used as a body timber will produce a mid-heavy guitar weight.

Maple

Adding brightness and clarity to the tone of a guitar, Maple makes for a great match with many timbers. Used as a top 'cap' on guitar bodies, seems to expand the frequency response of the mating timber, lowering the mids and adding to the tops and lows of the guitar. Also used for necks and fingerboards or as a 2 piece body for bass it will add clarity and punch to any sound.

Flame Maple

While maintaining most of the same tonal characteristics generally speaking of Maple, Flame Maple adds a distinct beauty to the top of any instrument. Ranging from thin tight stripes to wide bands.

Curly Maple

Again maintaining most of the same tonal characteristics generally speaking of Maple, Curly Maple adds a distinct naturally wild beauty to the top of any instrument. Curly is generally a looser more unpredictable figuring of the timber somewhere between Flame and Quilt.

Quilted Maple

Quilted Maple is extremely rare and provides one of the most stunning effects found in timber. Ranging from Bubble Quilt (appearing as circular type bubbles within the timber) or Sausage Quilt (similar to what's shown below with elongated ribs producing a tubular effect) and anywhere in between, the right stain can transform it from simply a piece wood into working art.

Swamp Ash

Swamp Ash popularised by many instruments of the 50's. Swamp Ash known for its lively, full round punchy sound providing a little bit extra in the top end. A timber that really works in almost any situation (or body shape) from guitar to bass. The other major advantage being the light weight of the timber. Making for a very comfortable instrument, be it playing 5 minutes or 5 hours.

Alder

Another timber made popular in the 50's and 60's (especially in single coil instruments) for its versatility. When combined with a bolt on Maple neck provides a full round tone with a little less tops and more accentuated lower mid-range tone. Generally speaking will produce a guitar of medium weight.

Makoré

A visually stunning piece of wood when found in its highly figured form. Makoré while not commonly found on guitars actually provides a stunning top end to the range of a guitar, similar to hard Maple. Producing a defined clarity to the whole tonal spectrum, adding just the right amount of tops to allow the guitar to cut through any situation.

Belman Thomastown factory tour photos courtesy of Justin

Belman handmade logo.

Guitar models and specifications

Bass models and specifications