Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

In Pictures: Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

News
By Guitarist
Published 21 July 2014

Latest from boutique Finnish guitar-maker uses Arctic salmon-skin finish

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Shoal Music

Shoal Music

Finnish guitar maker Kari Nieminen’s hand-crafted Versoul guitars have been paraded onstage by a succession of stars, including Ronnie Wood, Kenny Burrell, Allan Holdsworth, Michael Landau and Billy F Gibbons.

Gibbons is a particular fan of the Raya Blue Light model, having purchased and played several, including custom versions with necks covered in gold leaf.

Versoul’s latest creation is a Raya Blue Light model, too, but what’s different is the finish: the top of the guitar’s body, fingerboard and headstock are covered with two-piece tanned and lacquered salmon skin.

Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

The guitar itself has a heavily chambered alder body finished in black on the back, with a 24.75-inch scale curly maple neck, finished in dark transparent brown and featuring narrow vintage frets made from a bronze alloy.

Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Versoul salmon-skin Raya Blue Light

Contributing to the guitar’s full, open tone is a new improved, hand-wound Versoul humbucker pickup, specially voiced with an Alnico 2 magnet and combined with enamel copper wire.

Finishing touches include distinctive Frost Silver plating for the metal hardware, maple bindings with wood purfling and perforated steel side.

And the volume knob is hand-crafted from moose horn – should it have been called the salmon moose?

See versoul.com for more info.

Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

Read more
Epiphone Marcus King El Dorado Limited Edition
Artists Marcus King’s signature Epiphone is a stunning dreadnought acoustic inspired by his first-ever guitar
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Fender Jim Root Telecaster Shoreline Gold
Artists Jim Root’s made-for-metal Fender Telecaster gets a makeover with a custom finish from the golden era
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Gretsch G6134T-58 Limited Edition Penguin Pale Blue Pearl
Guitars Gretsch unveils a high-end dream machine: a Penguin refreshed in limited run Pale Blue Pearl finish
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Electro-Harmonix Adrian Belew Echoflanger
Guitars “Equal parts smooth operator and agent of chaos”: EHX and Adrian Belew resurrect the Echoflanger
 
 
IK Multimedia Tonex Board
Guitars IK Multimedia launches flagship amp modeller that lets you run four Tone Models simultaneously
 
 
Brian Fallon plays a Fender Telecaster onstage with the Gaslight Anthem.
Artists Brian Fallon on how ‘80s rock lit the fuse for his star-studded solo album
 
 
Coast Highway 101 at sunset
Guitars "He didn't tap a foot or move his head or anything. He listened to it all the way through and I thought he hated it": When an Eagle, Heartbreaker, Roger Linn and an Oberheim OB-X combined forces for a pop masterpiece – the Boys Of Summer story
 
 
Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher
Guitars “It’s the only guitar that I’ve ever had stolen, and the neck was like a ’50s Les Paul. It was amazing”
 
 
Gretsch Electromatic Limited Edition Black Limba Jet and CVT
Guitars Gretsch’s play for hard-riffing rock players continues with the “exotic” black limba Jet and CVT
 
 
Latest in News
Ed Sheeran and Macklemore attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards
Singers & Songwriters “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up”: Other Sheeran support acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore
 
 
Electro-Harmonix Adrian Belew Echoflanger
Guitars “Equal parts smooth operator and agent of chaos”: EHX and Adrian Belew resurrect the Echoflanger
 
 
luna
Tech Universal Audio launches a major update to the free Luna DAW that the company is calling its “biggest software release to date”
 
 
IK Multimedia Tonex Board
Guitars IK Multimedia launches flagship amp modeller that lets you run four Tone Models simultaneously
 
 
Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris at SXSW 2023
Keyboard Players “Thankfully, he is well”: Gillian Gilbert reveals she's seriously ill with cancer, not husband Stephen Morris
 
 
 Dave Mustaine of Megadeth visits SiriusXM Studios on January 16, 2026
Guitarists “It wouldn't be a young generation”: So who would be in Dave Mustaine’s new big four of thrash metal?
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...