Cole Clark SAN1EC-BLBL 'Australian Blackwood' Acoustic Electric Guitar

The Cole Clark SAN1EC-BLBL 'Australian Blackwood' Acoustic Electric Guitar is a testament to the art of luthiery—an instrument that seamlessly melds the organic beauty of Australian tonewoods with the technological prowess of modern guitar-making. Crafted in the classic Grand Auditorium shape, this guitar delivers a sublime tonal balance, ideal for discerning players seeking warmth, articulation, and sonic depth.

As part of Cole Clark’s commitment to sustainability and tonal excellence, the SAN1EC-BLBL is built using all-solid Australian Blackwood, one of the world’s most revered and dynamic tonewoods. This instrument follows a meticulous construction process, wherein native Australian timbers are precisely milled and processed in Australia, sent to China for assembly, and then returned to Australia for final setup and voicing. The result is a guitar that boasts unparalleled resonance and tonal complexity at an accessible price point.

The Sonic Brilliance of Australian Blackwood

Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) is a tonewood like no other—a tonal chameleon that offers the best characteristics of Mahogany, Rosewood, and Koa in a single, visually striking timber. It is renowned for its ability to shape-shift tonally depending on the player’s attack, making it a supremely responsive and expressive wood.

Tonally, Australian Blackwood possesses the rich midrange warmth of Mahogany, the crisp high-end articulation of Maple, and the deep, complex overtones of premium Rosewood. This unique combination results in a voice that is simultaneously bold and balanced, offering piano-like clarity in the upper registers and a lush, woody low end that blooms with every note.

Unlike traditional Rosewood-bodied guitars, which can sometimes overpower with bass response, Blackwood offers a more harmonically even spread, allowing chord voicings to ring with clarity and single-note lines to project with crystalline precision. The wood’s naturally occurring oils also contribute to its resonance, yielding a sound that is both full-bodied and articulate, making it an ideal choice for fingerstyle players and percussive strummers alike.

For those who crave dynamic range, Australian Blackwood is an absolute revelation. Played gently, it offers delicate bell-like highs and a rich, vocal midrange. Dig in with a pick, and it responds with explosive projection and a tight, percussive attack—perfect for live performance or studio recording.

Masterful Construction & Superior Electronics

The SAN1EC-BLBL is more than just a showcase for Australian Blackwood—it is a finely tuned performance instrument, crafted for players who demand exceptional responsiveness, premium electronics, and superior craftsmanship.

• Top: Solid Australian Blackwood – delivering clarity, warmth, and unparalleled dynamic sensitivity.
• Back & Sides: Solid Australian Blackwood – enhancing sustain, depth, and tonal balance.
• Neck: African Mahogany – for stability, strength, and effortless playability.
• Internally carved top and back for enhanced resonance and sustain.

The Cole Clark PG3 pickup system with strip piezo ensures that every nuanced harmonic of the Blackwood body translates with absolute authenticity when amplified, making this guitar equally at home on the stage or in the studio.

Exquisite Aesthetic & Playability

• Inlaid abalone rosette with timber binding, offering a sophisticated visual appeal.
• Eucalypt bridge and fretboard with abalone dot inlays, ensuring smooth fretting and rich sustain.
• Grover machine heads for rock-solid tuning stability.
• Graph Tech Tusq nut and saddle to enhance sustain and tonal clarity.
• Factory-fitted with Phosphor Bronze 12-53 strings for optimal tonality.

Effortless Playability

With a 44mm nut width and a 12-inch fretboard radius, this instrument provides unparalleled comfort, whether you are gliding through intricate fingerpicking passages or strumming with force. The 25.5-inch scale length delivers the perfect combination of articulation and sustain, making this a truly versatile instrument for any serious guitarist.

Included Accessories

The Cole Clark SAN1EC-BLBL comes with a heavy-duty gig bag in grey for protection, and a pickguard is supplied inside the case for optional installation.

Specifications:

Why Choose the Cole Clark SAN1EC-BLBL?

The Cole Clark SAN1EC-BLBL is a sonic masterpiece, an instrument that offers the harmonic complexity of Rosewood, the midrange sweetness of Mahogany, and the responsiveness of Koa in one breathtakingly beautiful guitar. Whether you're an intricate fingerstylist or a powerhouse rhythm player, this guitar will become an extension of your musical voice.

Experience the legendary Cole Clark craftsmanship with the SAN1EC-BLBL, available now at Guitar World Australia!