We are proud to be the Nashville dealer for Pensa Custom, NYC. Below is a note about this guitar and story behind the brand. Contact us with any questions or inquiries into a custom Pensa order:
Rudy Pensa opened "Rudy's Music Stop" on 48th Street in New York City in 1978 and began turning his passions into tangible artistry. It wasn't long before "Rudy's Music" became a well-known and highly-respected guitar shop to guitarists around the world.
The earliest "Pensa" electric guitar was called the "R Custom". He built the first one in 1982 and sold many in his shop. It was in 1985 that Rudy, collaborating with his then employee, John Suhr, began building many amazing instruments that are considered classics today.
Rudy met Mark Knopfler in the 1980s during the height of Dire Straits fame. They shared the same passion for the guitar and formed a friendship that still endures. In 1987, Rudy and Mark sat down in a luncheonette on 48th St. and, over a cup of coffee, drew the blueprints on a napkin for what would become one of the most sought-after custom-made guitars in the world: the Pensa "MK".
The original MK-90 was built in late 2011, and is essentially a version of the MK-1 with a non-premium top wood. This MK-90, however, has a beautiful flamed alder top and alder body. It carries Lindy Fralin Soapbar P-90 pickups and a Hipshot Tremolo bridge. The tone knob can be pulled out to engage the pickups to a partial series setting in any position. The MK-90 plays and sounds as magnificent as any Pensa MK, but with the joyous tone of the P-90.
SPECS:
Model: Pensa MK - 90 Plus
Serial #: 0876 / 030920
Finish/Color: Nitrocellulose Lacquer / Park Burst, Cherry, Natural, Black Headstock Face
Top Wood: Alder
Body Wood: Chambered Ader
Neck Wood: Hard Maple
Neck Shape: C
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fingerboard: E.I. Rosewood, Luminlay Sidemarkers, 4mm M.O.P. Face Markers
Binding: .090” Ivoroid on the Body Top and Fingerboard
Pickups: Lindy Fralin P-90 Soapbar Neck and Bridge Cream
Electronics: Volume, Tone/Pull: Neck and Bridge P.U.’s in partial series in any selector position. Three way pickup selector switch.
Nut: Bone / 1 5/8”
Frets: Dunlop 6105 /22
Bridge: Hipshot Tremolo
Tuners: Gotoh SGS 5102 MG-T
Knobs: Q-Parts w/ red Abalone Caps
Weight: 6.9 lbs
Case: American Custom Pensa Hardshell
