Messenger PRO Electric Guitar

The Messenger PRO takes our tribute to one of the late ‘60s’ most unconventional electric guitars closer than ever to the sound of the original. Inspired by the Musicraft Messenger played by Mark Farner, it captures the raw, explosive character heard throughout Grand Funk Railroad’s earliest recordings.

A pair of handwound Dagger Sonic True Vintage pickups recreates the clear, dynamic response of the original Messenger’s DeArmond single-coils, delivering crisp articulation, punchy lows, and a lively vintage top end. We’ve also meticulously replicated the original Tone Messer fuzz circuit, and expanded it with modern Gain and Blend controls. Switch it on for a gritty wall of harmonics, sustain, and snarling agression, no pedal required.

But that sound came with a challenge. Farner’s fully hollow Messenger was notoriously prone to uncontrollable feedback, leading him to tape over the F-holes, stuff the body with foam, and eventually replace its single-coils with humbuckers.
Much of that sensitivity came from the guitar’s hollowbody construction and groundbreaking aluminum-alloy neck structure. Extending continuously through the body, this “Tuning Fork” was tuned to resonate at 440 Hz. It was remarkably forward-thinking, but also highly receptive to vibration - especially at stage volume and higher gain.

The Messenger PRO takes a more controlled approach. Its all-wood, semi-hollow construction features a set maple neck and solid maple centerblock, with the pickups and bridge mounted directly to it. This greatly reduces unwanted vibrations reaching the pickups, helping resist runaway feedback while preserving the resonance and lively response that made the original so exciting.

From muscular cleans to the ferocious fuzz of early Grand Funk, the Messenger PRO captures the sound and spirit of Farner’s original, all without requiring extra modifications along the way.

Highlights


• Pickups: Dual handwound Dagger Sonic True Vintage pickups deliver crisp single-coil clarity and punchy lows.
• Built-In Fuzz: The integrated Tone Messer fuzz circuit adds modern Gain and Blend controls for aggressive harmonics without extra pedals.
• Smart Design: A semi-hollow wood body with a solid maple centerblock replaces the original's unstable hollow aluminum-neck structure.
• No Mods Needed: This stable setup stops runaway stage feedback while keeping the lively resonance of the original. From clean articulation to roaring fuzz, the Messenger PRO captures Farner's iconic sound right out of the box.