Draven! - Chapman ML1 Pro Modern – 2020 Pitch Black Satin MIK Electric Guitar
Draven! - Chapman ML1 Pro Modern – 2020 Pitch Black Satin MIK Electric Guitar
2020 Chapman ML1 Pro Modern in Pitch Black Satin – Made in Korea
Meet Draven, a 2020 Korean-made Chapman ML1 Pro Modern finished in Pitch Black Satin, featuring sandblasted ash, neck-through construction, a three-piece roasted maple neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard, 24 stainless steel frets and USA Seymour Duncan Pegasus and Sentient humbuckers.
Draven arrived at The Stray Chord after spending several years forgotten beneath a bed in his gig bag. He was missing strings and no longer being played, but underneath the neglect was an exceptionally well-preserved, premium-specification modern electric guitar.
Rather than requiring major reconstruction, Draven underwent a comprehensive optimisation and professional setup to unlock everything the original instrument was capable of.
He was subsequently rehomed for £600.
About Draven
The Chapman ML1 Pro Modern was designed as a high-performance modern electric guitar, combining premium materials and hardware with a fast, contemporary playing specification.
Draven's distinctive Pitch Black Satin finish sits over a sandblasted ash surface, allowing the natural grain and texture of the timber to remain visible through the otherwise stealthy black appearance.
Construction is equally interesting. A three-piece roasted maple neck runs through the instrument, joined by solid ash body wings. This neck-through design provides excellent upper-fret access while contributing to the guitar's sustain and resonance.
The dark Macassar ebony fingerboard carries 24 stainless steel frets, combining exceptional durability with the slick feel associated with polished stainless fretwire.
Electronics are handled by a premium USA-made Seymour Duncan Pegasus bridge humbucker and Sentient neck humbucker.
The Pegasus provides tight lows, clarity and articulation while retaining enough output for heavily driven tones. The Sentient complements it with an articulate neck voice capable of everything from expressive cleans to fluid high-gain lead work.
Together they make the ML1 Pro Modern particularly well suited to progressive rock, modern metal and technically demanding playing without limiting it exclusively to heavier styles.
Black and gold Hipshot locking tuners and a Graph Tech nut complete an unusually high-end factory specification.
Restoration & setup
Unlike many Strays, Draven arrived in excellent underlying cosmetic condition and didn't require significant structural or finish restoration.
Instead, his rehabilitation concentrated on refining and optimising an already accomplished instrument.
During his time on The Stray Chord bench he received:
- Complete professional setup
- Three-piece roasted maple neck precisely adjusted
- All 24 stainless steel frets levelled
- Stainless frets recrowned and polished to a mirror finish
- Every fret end individually dressed and rounded
- Fingerboard edges carefully hand-rolled
- Macassar ebony fingerboard thoroughly cleaned and conditioned
- Seymour Duncan Pegasus bridge pickup height balanced
- Seymour Duncan Sentient neck pickup height balanced
- Electronics thoroughly cleaned and serviced
- Switching and controls checked for smooth, noise-free operation
- Neck relief precisely set
- Bridge action lowered and optimised
- Graph Tech nut slots carefully refined
- First-fret playability optimised
- Hipshot locking tuners serviced
- Tuning system graphite-lubricated where appropriate
- Full tuning and playability inspection
The result was an exceptionally fast, low-playing modern instrument that retained its excellent original condition while losing the stiffness and compromises of its previous setup.
Draven didn't need rebuilding. He deserved refining.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Chapman Guitars |
| Model | ML1 Pro Modern |
| Year | 2020 |
| Country of manufacture | Korea |
| Instrument | Solid-body electric guitar |
| Finish | Pitch Black Satin |
| Construction | Neck-through |
| Body | Ash wings |
| Top/finish detail | Sandblasted ash |
| Neck | 3-piece roasted maple |
| Fingerboard | Macassar ebony |
| Frets | 24 stainless steel |
| Bridge pickup | Seymour Duncan Pegasus |
| Neck pickup | Seymour Duncan Sentient |
| Nut | Graph Tech |
| Tuners | Hipshot locking tuners |
| Hardware colour | Black / gold |
| Rehomed for | £600 |
Draven's adoption
🖤🦇 REHOMED 🦇🖤
Draven's unfinished business is finally complete.
After years beneath a bed, he was resurrected, refined and given another chance to become the instrument he was built to be.
He has now found his new home and is no longer available for adoption.
His page remains permanently in The Stray Chord Rehomed Archive, documenting his rehabilitation and providing a reference for players researching the Korean-made Chapman ML1 Pro Modern.
It can't rain all the time.
Rescue • Restore • Rehome