Sleep Token are bringing another piece of their mysterious world into the hands of musicians, with guitarist IV and bassist III receiving their first official signature instruments from Jackson and Charvel.
The new models translate two important parts of the band’s formidable live sound into instruments available to the public. For players hoping to venture into Sleep Token’s unusually deep sonic territory, these are considerably more than familiar guitars dressed up with new finishes.
IV’s Jackson Pro Plus Series Signature Sleep Token IV Monarkh SC is built around a massive 30-inch scale length and is designed to operate a full octave below conventional guitar tuning. That puts the instrument firmly in the subterranean range associated with some of Sleep Token’s heaviest riffs.
Keeping an instrument stable at those depths is no small assignment. Jackson has equipped the guitar with an EverTune bridge, while Fishman Fluence pickups handle the electronics. A pale moon ebony fingerboard adds another distinctive element to a guitar engineered around IV’s particular approach.
III gets an equally specialized creation with the Charvel Sleep Token III Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V.
The five-string bass uses a 34.4-inch to 35.5-inch multi-scale design intended to balance tension and intonation across its extended range. A caramelized maple neck and fingerboard are joined by custom Fishman Fluence bass pickups and an onboard two-band Fishman EQ.
There is also a visual detail Sleep Token followers should recognize immediately. A question-mark inlay stretches across the 11th through 13th frets, giving III’s model a personalized flourish without overwhelming the otherwise dark design.
Neither instrument lands in entry-level territory. IV’s Jackson is priced at $2,199.99 in the United States, while III’s Charvel carries a $1,599.99 price.
The partnership is a fitting development for a band whose rise has been accompanied by an unusually strong combination of musical and visual identity. Sleep Token’s music can move from atmospheric passages and pop melodies to crushing low-register riffs, making conventional genre boundaries increasingly difficult to apply.
Now players have two instruments purpose-built for exploring the heavier end of that equation.
The masks may remain mysterious, but III and IV’s gear is becoming considerably easier to get your hands on.
