Grammy-nominated Afrofuturist guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actress Fatoumata Diawara marks a milestone as the first woman of color to launch a signature Epiphone guitar. This striking SG showcases body artwork celebrating her heritage, paired with premium features and a durable hard case for immediate stage readiness.
Design and Specifications
The Ember Red gloss finish covers the all-mahogany body, accented by a mid-brown rosewood fingerboard. Matching red humbucker rings and speed knobs add a cohesive, upscale look, with gold-plated hardware throughout. The LockTone bridge and tailpiece ensure reliable performance, enhanced by rear-locking tuners—a premium touch for this hardtail design.
Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers deliver versatile tones, supported by advanced controls. Volume knobs feature coil-splits, while the neck pickup’s tone pull-switch enables out-of-phase sounds when both pickups engage. Drawing from the discontinued Muse SG, it adopts the ‘Custom C’ neck profile and expanded electronics akin to the SG Modern Figured.
Playability and Tone
Craftsmanship shines in the medium-gauge frets—mirror-polished at 2.3mm wide by 1.19mm high—with precise installation. Minor sharp fret ends exist but remain unnoticeable during play. The 41.4mm nut width (34mm string spacing) feels comfortable thanks to the full-shouldered C profile, tapering from 21.2mm at the first fret to 24.5mm at the 12th for a substantial grip and zero flex.
Tuning stability excels, with a flawless setup. The heel-placed strap button and extended neck design offer balanced playability, whether seated or standing, at a comfortable weight. Unplugged, it rings clearly.
The bridge pickup bites sharply clean, tamed easily by the tone control, evoking classic humbucker sting. The neck pickup adds depth with crisp highs, delivering lively jangle in mixed positions—ideal for Chicago blues tones without muddiness. Treble bleed circuits maintain clarity at lower volumes, while partial out-of-phase pulls yield distinctive ‘Greeny’ voicings.
With grit, it channels Mick Taylor and Carlos Santana creaminess. The neck pickup shows slight microphonics at high volumes, enhancing its vibrant character. Coil-splits thin to inner slug coils for rootsy rhythms; boosting them unlocks versatile tones, especially mismatched with full power or out-of-phase options.
Verdict
★★★★½
This SG combines classy aesthetics, affordability, and thoughtful details into a pro-level instrument. Alnico Classic Pro pickups and expanded circuitry provide broad, practical voices. Locking tuners, quality case, superior neck shape, playability, and setup make it gig-ready—a standout for Epiphone models.
