Reverend Greg Koch Gristle 90 MB

Overview: Signature Style, Modern Flexibility

The Reverend Greg Koch Gristle 90 MB stands as a distinct entry in the signature guitar realm. Designed with Greg Koch and introduced in November 2024, it takes a classic T-style outline and infuses it with contemporary performance hardware, a unique chambered korina body, and Fishman-powered P90 single coils. While it nods to tradition in its silhouette, its feature set departs from the ordinary, delivering tonal versatility especially suited for guitarists searching for more range and character than a standard T-style instrument.

Construction and Hardware Choices

Much of the Gristle 90 MB's character comes down to its combination of woods and hardware. The body is made from korina, a lightweight, resonant timber that brings warmth and lively response. This chambered construction further reduces weight and increases acoustic resonance, enhancing sustain and dynamic nuance.

The neck is set into the body and crafted from roasted maple, a process that improves stability and brings a subtle, dry feel to the touch. The fingerboard is ebony, prized for its slick playing surface and clear note articulation. You'll find medium oval shaping in the neck profile, a versatile contour that avoids extremes and appeals to a broad range of hand sizes.

• Body: Chambered korina (no top)
• Neck: Set-in, roasted maple
• Fingerboard: Ebony with black dot inlays
• Neck Profile: Medium oval
• Scale: 629 mm (24.75 inches)
• Frets: 22 jumbo
• Nut width: 43 mm (1.69 inches), Boneite nut

The hardware package focuses on tuning stability and expression. A Bigsby B-50 vibrato tailpiece sits with a roller bridge, essential for smooth action and pitch return. Reverend's Pin-Lock machine heads clamp the strings securely, easing quick restringing and helping the guitar hold its tuning, even with heavy vibrato use. Strings are.010 to.046, versatile for many genres.

Electronics: Modern P90 Dynamics

The defining sound of the Gristle 90 MB comes from a pair of Fishman Greg Koch Gristle 90 single coil pickups. These aren't typical P90s. With active electronics, they promise low noise and high dynamic range plus a genuinely modern edge to the familiar soapbar growl. The pickups are powered by a rechargeable system, with a USB charging port discreetly built in for the mid-boost function.

• Pickups: 2 Fishman Greg Koch Gristle 90 single coils
• Controls: Volume, tone (with Fishman Mid Range Boost), push-pull phase
• Switch: 3-way selector
• Boost function: USB rechargeable

The volume and tone layout is straightforward but advanced. There's a Fishman mid-range boost available on the tone pot, this brings additional presence and thickness, particularly useful for soloing or fattening cleaner tones. The push-pull phase feature adds biting, almost out-of-phase sounds in specific selector positions, broadening the tonal palate well beyond standard T-style territory.

In Use: Feel and Sound

On the strap, the korina construction and chambered body make the Gristle 90 MB comfortable for long sessions. Its balance strikes a midpoint, not neck-heavy, and the Bigsby setup doesn't drag the instrument down. The roasted maple neck feels immediately ready for play, its satin finish lending itself well to both chording and intricate lead work, while the ebony fingerboard offers a smooth, glassy ride under the fingers.

Plugged in, the Fishman P90s deliver a broad spectrum of tones. Clean, the pickups are articulate, bright yet warm, favoring clarity over harshness. Dial in the mid-boost and the sound thickens for blues or rock lead work, and the push-pull phase switch dials up distinctly nasal, almost quacky voices for funk or pseudo-acoustic flavors. With gain, the Gristle 90 MB avoids muddiness, maintaining definition even at high settings, and remains free from the excessive hum that plagues vintage-style P90s.

Field feedback confirms the guitar's expanded flexibility. Players appreciated its capacity for heavier, more complex rock sounds compared to standard T-Styles, noting the locking tuners, roller bridge, and boost system as standout features. The Bigsby system proved stable thanks to its paired roller bridge, and the ease of charging the boost circuit via USB was viewed as a modern convenience.

Fit, Finish, and Extras

The Reverend Greg Koch Gristle 90 MB sports a Midnight Black finish matched to a tortoise shell pickguard and chrome hardware, setting a restrained but upmarket visual tone. Its build quality, fretwork, finish consistency, and hardware fitting, lives up to its price point. However, at $1,849, there is no included case or gig bag, which stands out in this segment and is worth planning for if you're considering a purchase.

Verdict

The Reverend Greg Koch Gristle 90 MB sets itself apart as a signature instrument that's both comfortable and flexible. It squares off against classic T-styles with a richer, more complex core tone courtesy of its chambered korina body and modern Fishman electronics. Enhanced hardware choices deliver great tuning stability and expressive vibrato work. While the lack of included carry solutions is a drawback, the guitar's technical capabilities and tonal range make it appealing to experimental players or anyone seeking a T-style that covers more ground, from intimate cleans to saturated rock sounds, with modern reliability.