Six Of The Best: flame topped guitars
Carvin FG1 Frank Gambale
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
Hagstrom Super Swede Flame
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.
PRS P22
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 Les Paul Standard 2012
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 Select Series Stratocaster HSS
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 I35LC
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