The Chupacabra is a legendary creature in folklore, said to attack and drink the blood of livestock. El Chupacabra from Mario Martin (aka Mario Guitars) is a monster and a vicious beast in its own right. This streamlined rock and roll machine only needs a single TV Jones Power'Tron bridge pickup to sink its teeth into its prey.
Mario Martin (aka Mario Guitars) craft custom boutique vintage recreation guitars in Murfreesboro, Tenn. At first glance, El Chupacabra may look like a straightforward T-style, but don't let the simple design. This guitar can go in a lot of different directions, and it needs nothing more than it already has.
This Mario Martin El Chupacabra was made in 2011, and it features a lightweight, single-cutaway body and a single TV Jones Power'Tron humbucker in the bridge. Its one-piece Maple neck feels stout, and it has a soft V profile, reminiscent of early '50s examples. But unlike vintage guitars, this Mario is rigged up to play fast and easy with a 9.5" radius and 6105 Medium Jumbo frets. Weighing in at 7 lbs 3.6 oz, this El Chupacabra feels comfortable and manageable. Because the Power-Tron is so touch sensitive, your picking dynamics produce a versatile array of sounds, especially with subtle volume and tone adjustments.
This 2011 El Chupacabra sports a stunning Bronze Metallic nitrocellulose finish that has been aged and relic-ed to give it vintage vibe. It doesn't appear to show much play wear, and it's hard to tell if there are any dings/scratches beyond the intentional relic treatment. The current setup is excellent—low, fast, and inviting. The black bakelite pickguard looks stunning on top of the aged Bronze Metallic.
This 2011 Mario Martin El Chupacabra includes its original hardshell case. This monster of a guitar is more than deserving of its namesake!