Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Easy Lover
  • Yes
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Music theory tricks
  1. Guitars

Six Of The Best: flame topped guitars

News
By Guitarist
Published 26 December 2012

Check out the beautiful figures on these flame-topped temptresses...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Carvin FG1 Frank Gambale

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

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Hagstrom Super Swede Flame

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.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
PRS P22

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

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Gibson Les Paul Standard 2012

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

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Fender Select Series Stratocaster HSS

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

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Collings I35LC

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

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

Read more
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Harley Benton refreshes its Pro Series with 41 new Fusion-IV S-styles, mid-priced but offering specs such as quilted maple veneers, sculpted heels, EMGs and locking tuners
Guitars A sub-$600 shred machine with active EMGs and roasted flame maple neck? Harley Benton expands its Pro Series with 41 hot-rodded but affordable S-styles
 
 
EVH Gear Wolfgang Special Baked Maple: the high-performance electrics are refreshed with baked maple necks, TOM bridges and Floyd Rose vibratos
Guitars Eddie Van Halen-approved baked maple necks? Check. Flagship pickups? Check. EVH Gear unveils stunning refresh of the Wolfgang Special
 
 
A Baum Guitars Verve electric guitar lying on a rug
Electric Guitars Baum Guitars Verve review
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II: these humbucker-loaded T-styles are packed with features and are offered with myriad hardware, pickups and finish options
Guitars Harley Benton throws a big ol' T party and you are all invited, as it debuts the Fusion-T II series
 
 
Latest in Guitars
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Mastodon pictured after performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021 [L-R]: Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher.
Artists Mastodon's Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders on their complicated relationship with the late Brent Hinds
 
 
Tony Iommi sits at an old table and contemplates his guitar.
Artists Hear Tony Iommi's new single World Alone as the Black Sabbath icon announces his solo album
 
 
Harley Benton Aged Series
Guitars Harley Benton is making hand-aged relic'd guitars for under 250 bucks
 
 
MXR Textures Granular Synth Pedal
Guitars Introducing Textures, the granular synth pedal from MXR that dreamy ambient tones are made of
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays a Jackson Rhoads [left]; Peter Green with the Les Paul that Hammett would eventually own.
Artists “That song has so much voodoo in it”: Kirk Hammett on the Fleetwood Mac classic that defines heavy music
 
 
Latest in News
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Steve Hackett performs at Fox Theater on November 18, 2025 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Guitarists “I would even play harmonica or do a walk on”: Steve Hackett is still open to a hypothetical Genesis reunion
 
 
Richie Sambora performs onstage at the 33rd Annual Race to Erase MS Gala held at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
Guitarists Richie Sambora offers some eyebrow-raising advice to aspiring guitarists
 
 
sub bass speakers
Samples SampleRadar: 473 free sub bass samples
 
 
(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Duran Duran at photo studio in Tokyo, May 2, 1982. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
Artists “Mick said ‘You know you really do need to stick together'”: How Jagger stopped Duran Duran from splitting
 
 
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11:  (L-R) Musicians Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden attend the premiere of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" held at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
Bands Drummer Matt Cameron confirms that a final Soundgarden album is currently being mixed
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...