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The Double Agent W 20th Anniversary edition is a reminder of Reverend's commitment to quality.
Let’s start with the case. Shaped like a teardrop in stark black and white, it’s kind of a monument to the hot-rod diners of the ’50s. And, once opened to reveal the sky-blue flamed-maple Double Agent W resting in black velvet, the optional hardshell case fulfills its promise of showcasing something beautiful and special.
The guitar itself is a celebration of 20 years of Reverend designs. Like some other noted American inventors, Joe Naylor—who holds a degree in industrial design and is also a graduate of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery—started the company in a garage. A lot of Naylor innovations have made the scene since Reverend’s 1997 launch in East Detroit, and there have been some business evolutions, as well—a move to Toledo, Ohio, where the company is now run by Ken and Penny Haas with Naylor continuing to provide designs.
The Double Agent W 20th Anniversary is a fantastic set piece to remind players of Naylor’s delightfully off-kilter design aesthetic and Reverend’s commitment to quality. The craftsmanship of this blue-hued stunner with exquisite off-white binding is impeccable. The fret dressing is first rate, all hardware is top notch (especially the sensitive Wilkinson WVS50 IIK tremolo), and the brushed-aluminum pickguard is both unusual and practical (it’s durable and tough). As a long-time Stratocaster player, I liked the Double Agent’s similar contours, and the easy access to all 22 frets. I immediately felt right at home with the comfortable, medium-oval neck profile that invited fast runs and other fretboard abuse. Intonation was spot-on, and the excellent locking tuners kept me in tune—even as I continually worked the tremolo for solos and chordal effects.
My tone ranges from a growling, gritty jangle to full-on Robin Trower—usually