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Guitar Review
We don't often come across a guitar that makes us stop and reconsider what a certain price bracket can deliver. The Prodipe Origin Design ST in Atlantic Green is one of those instruments. Reviewed recently by Guitar Interactive Magazine — one of the UK's most trusted gear publications — it left their reviewer genuinely impressed, and having spent time with it ourselves, we understand exactly why.
Prodipe is a French brand with roots in pro audio, founded by Jean-Luc Masson in 1996. As the UK's authorised Prodipe distributor, we've watched the brand earn serious respect in the guitar world since expanding into instrument production in 2017 — and the Origin Design ST represents the sharpest expression yet of what they can do.
Full video demo and hands-on review by Guitar Interactive Magazine.
"What stands out most about the Prodipe Origin Design ST Atlantic Green is how much guitar you get for the price. From the roasted maple neck and bone nut to the Wilkinson hardware and CTS electronics, the specification list reads like something from a higher price bracket."
— Guitar Interactive MagazineStraight out of the box, the Origin Design ST makes a strong statement. Guitar Interactive's reviewer described the fit and finish as feeling boutique-level — high praise for a guitar at this price point. The Atlantic Green finish paired with gold hardware manages to feel both classic and distinctive, sitting comfortably in Strat-style territory without feeling like a straight copy. The anodised aluminium pickguard adds a subtle industrial touch that lifts the whole look.
The headline feature for many players will be the flame-roasted maple neck. Roasted maple — heat-treated timber that is more stable and less reactive to humidity changes — is typically found on guitars costing considerably more. Here it's executed well: smooth under the hand, visually beautiful, and with a traditional varnish on the fingerboard that gives an immediately comfortable playing surface.
The neck runs at a 12-inch radius with a standard 25.5-inch scale length — flatter than vintage Strats, making it well suited to lead playing and bending without fretting out. Out of the box the setup was clean and dialled in, with low action and no sharp fret edges.
The body is alder — the same tonewood Fender has used on American-made Strats for decades, and for good reason. It's a resonant, reliable wood that suits the single-coil character of this guitar well. Weight comes in at around 3.5kg, which is on the fuller side for a Strat-style instrument.
The hardware specification is where Prodipe has really invested. The Wilkinson oil-bath tuners are a solid, reliable choice — a genuine upgrade over the generic tuners found on most guitars at this price — and they held tuning well through extended playing. The Wilkinson two-point tremolo bridge, finished in gold, operates smoothly and returns to pitch reliably.
The bone nut is another highlight. It's a small detail with a meaningful impact on tuning stability and tonal clarity, and it's rarely included as standard at this price point.
The pickup configuration is a classic SSS layout with Prodipe Alnico 5 single-coils. Controls are traditional — a five-way selector, two tone knobs and one volume — but upgraded with CTS 250K potentiometers, a significant step up from the generic pots found in most budget instruments. The guitar ships strung with Savarez Electric Hexagonal Explosion 9–46 strings.
Plugged in, the guitar delivers the classic Strat-style character players expect — but with subtle modern refinements. The low end is tighter than many vintage-inspired Strats, with a slightly scooped quality that gives chords clarity and separation in a mix. Clean tones are articulate and well balanced, with the characteristic quack in positions two and four coming through clearly.
The Alnico 5 pickups are relatively low output, but they respond well when pushed. With overdrive and distortion they retain clarity rather than getting muddy — an important quality for a single-coil setup. The bridge pickup cuts through effectively for lead work, while the neck pickup offers warm, rounded tones without losing definition.
Prodipe's model — components manufactured in Asia with final assembly and quality control handled in France — delivers real value when executed properly. The Origin Design ST is a strong argument that they're executing it very well. The brand has been trusted by artists including Pierre Lelievre, Fred Kopo and Yarol Poupaud, and their pro audio heritage means they approach instrument design with a technical rigour that shows clearly in the specification choices.
The Prodipe Origin Design ST Atlantic Green raises the bar for what you should expect at this price point. The roasted maple neck, bone nut, Wilkinson hardware and CTS electronics are all specification choices that typically appear on instruments costing considerably more. The Atlantic Green finish with gold hardware gives it a visual identity that stands out from the crowd of safe, anonymous Strat alternatives.
If this is Prodipe's premium offering, it makes you genuinely curious about what the rest of their range delivers. For players looking for a serious Strat-style instrument without the flagship price tag, the Origin Design ST belongs on the shortlist.
Available now from Red Chilli Audio — the UK's authorised Prodipe distributor. Browse the full Prodipe range here.
As the UK's authorised Prodipe distributor, we stock the full range of Prodipe guitars, basses and pro audio equipment.
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