Build and features

The Vintage AV1P is part of Vintage’s Advanced series and features clever design tweaks and Wilkinson hardware. Its body is two-piece mahogany, with a subtle flame maple veneer, and is slightly slimmer than a Les Paul thanks to a deep belly scoop and top-edge waist contouring.

The angled top-cutaway isn’t just for visual effect, it offers excellent upper fret access, while a batwing-style neck join provides ample palm comfort.

Pickups are Wilkinson stacked soapbars, with a roll control for graduation from single-coil to ’bucker. We also get Wilkinson Deluxe tuners, tune-o-matic-style bridge and stud tailpiece.

The AV1P plays as well as any of our quartet; the mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard embodies that classic Gibson sixties slinky feel. The finishing is a little untidy but these purely cosmetic issues don’t manage to take the shine away from an otherwise delightful instrument.

Next: Vintage AV1P ‘Special’ sounds, pros and cons