The Epiphone Futura RD Custom: A Guitar with a Unique Blend of Past and Present
The Epiphone Futura RD Custom is a guitar that defies easy categorization. It's a fusion of iconic shapes and sounds, a blend of the past and the present. This instrument is a testament to Epiphone's ability to take a concept that was once considered experimental and turn it into a modern, desirable guitar.
One thing that immediately stands out is the body shape. The RD Custom combines elements of the Les Paul, Explorer, and Firebird, creating a unique silhouette. The single cutaway and bass side horn evoke the Explorer, while the slightly enlarged and warped body is reminiscent of the Firebird. This combination is both intriguing and functional, offering players a guitar that is both visually striking and playably versatile.
The RD Custom is available in two finishes: Twilight Shift and Midnight Ember Shift. Of the two, the Midnight Ember Shift is the most striking. The color shifts from deep burgundy to caramel and finally to grape purple, giving the guitar an air of sophistication. The finish is elegant and eye-catching, making the RD Custom a guitar that is as beautiful as it is functional.
The neck of the RD Custom is made from mahogany and features a modern C shape. However, the neck becomes blocky at the 17th fret, which could cause some hindrance to the upper frets. The ebony fretboard has a compound radius of 10 in. to 14 in., which provides a smooth playing experience. The intonation on this example needed adjustment out of the box, but this is an easy fix.
The hardware on the RD Custom is nickel-plated, though it reads more chrome than the warm yellow-brown typically associated with nickel. The pickup covers, tailpiece, and control knobs share the same shiny finish, making for a clean contrast against the Midnight Ember Shift. The RD Custom is equipped with Epiphone's ProBucker Ignite humbuckers, which can be coil-split and phase-reversed, offering 21 different tonal combinations.
The RD Custom has a sound that is distinctly its own. The neck pickup is not dark and woolly, even when rolled back, and there's a pleasant jangle to it when the split coil is engaged. The bridge pickup has a mid-range, cocked-wah quality with a pronounced, edgy character that blends surprisingly well with the neck. The RD Custom wants to be played with gain, and the edge in the bridge pickup smooths out completely, making the guitar feel more in its element.
While Epiphone has marketed the Futura RD Custom towards players who downtune their guitars because of its longer scale length, I don't believe this should be the only case for purchasing one. The RD Custom is a modern instrument that has shaken off the vibes of the late 70s and early 80s RDs. Whether you're a high-gain, downtuning type, an experimenter, or just want a great-looking and feeling guitar with electronics that are rarely found in a guitar at this price point, the Futura RD Custom might be the guitar you're looking for.
In my opinion, the RD Custom is a guitar that deserves more attention than it's currently getting. It's a unique instrument that offers a blend of past and present, and it's one that I think will become more popular as players discover its versatility and playability. If you get the chance to play one, I highly recommend you don't pass it up.
