This is an original Karl Longbottom Guitars design, and by taking a fresh approach to the offset concept, it has quickly become a favorite among a wide range of players. Whether you play blues, modern rock, ambient, or anything in between, the Fulvia is built to handle it all. The combination of carefully chosen woods for the body and neck, paired with the pickups, results in a versatile instrument that bridges the tonal worlds of Fullerton and Kalamazoo.
Original Offset Design
There are many benefits to an offset guitar, with the most obvious being the comfort they offer due to the ergonomic body shape. Originally, offsets were designed with jazz players in mind, meaning the seated playing position influenced their shape. The Fulvia, however, has been crafted to accommodate both seated and standing players for maximum versatility. As with any model Longbottom produces, you can choose any pickups you’d like, but possibly the perfect option is a Firebird-style pickup, which strikes the perfect balance between a single coil and a full-size humbucker. Size-wise, it is similar to the S4, so transitioning between the two will feel natural. A rolled fretboard, a slightly roomier lower cutaway, and the offset shape further enhance the playing experience. The Fulvia also features a threaded bolt construction for the neck instead of traditional screws, ensuring a tighter, more precise fit that delivers the resonance and sustain many players love.
Tonewoods & Sound
The body is crafted from korina, shaped and contoured before receiving a high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The 25.5” scale neck is made from flame maple, available with either an oil or lacquer finish, and features a traditional truss rod. The fretboard is Indian rosewood, with Jescar fret wire and mother of pearl dot inlays. Korina (also known as limba) is underutilized despite its tonal properties being close to old mahogany—one of the most cherished tonewoods among guitarists. The maple neck enhances clarity and top-end brightness, which, when paired with a rosewood fretboard, produces a more rounded, harmonized tone loved by many. If you subscribe to the idea that tonewoods shape a guitar’s sound, the Fulvia offers a dynamic, balanced resonance. If you believe that pickups do all the tonal heavy lifting, you can at least appreciate that these woods make for an excellent playing and building experience.
Longbottom uses the best hardware to make sure that your guitar is always at its best. The Sunbear Firebird pickup has a clear, bell-like tone with wonderful string separation which handles gain and cleans very well. The pickups have a wide dynamic range and suit many styles of music. Small details add up and that's why we use Paper In Oil Caps, CTS Pots and a Switchcraft Jack and control switch.
- Body: solid korina, shaped and contoured, high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
- Neck: flame maple, oil or lacquer finish, traditional truss rod, 7.5”, 9.5” or 12” fretboard radius, compound radius options available
- Measurements: 25.5” scale length. 22.5mm at 1st fret, 23.5mm at 12th fret, 42.5mm width bone nut
- Fretboard: Indian rosewood, medium jumbo fret wire, mother of pearl dot inlays
- Construction: threaded bolts for a tighter, more resonant fit, offering improved sustain
- Hardware: Gotoh vintage split-post tuners, Callaham 6-saddle fixed bridge
- Pickups: Firebird mini-humbucker calibrated set
- Electronics: CTS premium audio taper pots, Paper-in-Oil capacitors, CRL switch, Switchcraft jack
Each Fulvia comes with a Hiscox hard case for protection.
The combination of design, high-quality materials, and expert craftsmanship results in an instrument that offers both playability and tonal versatility. Whether you're looking for a guitar with dynamic response, smooth playability, or a standout aesthetic, the Fulvia is built to inspire.