Six Of The Best: flame topped guitars

The FG-1 is fusion great Frank Gambale’s signature 335-alike, with a smaller body shape.

We said: “Constructed from mahogany, with a slip-matched 4A maple top, it sounds somewhere between a quality solidbody and an ES-335”

For more information visit the official Carvin website

This is the best Super Swede yet. Its Cosmic Black Burst finish is contrasted with maple binding.

We said: “An open-sounding amplified performance means it offers viable competition in the single-cutaway electric stakes”

For more information visit the official Hagstrom website.

This hybrid electric with LR Baggs piezo system for acoustic sounds is flashy, with a faded finish under blue stain revealing the maple.

We said: “If you want to add some acoustic textures to your sound, the P22 is one of the most elegant solutions available. It costs a substantial amount, but it’s very hard to find fault with”

For more information visit the official PRS website

Gibson’s latest update to the Les Paul Standard has a slip-matched AAA-grade flamed maple top beneath a nitrocellulose finish.

We said: “The new Standard is two guitars in one: a vintage- informed modern ’Paul, with expanded tones if you need them... A very well-made guitar”

For more information visit the official Gibson website

Fender’s luxury Strat teams an alder body with a 3mm flamed- maple facing and an Antique Burst and nitrocellulose finish.

We said: “A classy, big-sounding Strat with a beefy sonic range, and a classic ‘modded vintage’ vibe”

For more information visit the official Fender website

Collings’ high-end scaled-down, thinline semi has a laminated maple top, back and sides with a solid-maple centre block, and unimpeachable build quality.

We said: “Collings redefines the term ‘boutique guitar’. One of the finest thinline semis we’ve played”

For more information visit the official Collings website