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Gretsch Electromatic CVT: The bolt-on double-cut assumes a familiar form to the Jack Antonoff signature model, and features dual humbuckers, a wraparound tailpiece, and some neat vintage finishes.
Guitars Like the Jack Antonoff signature Gretsch? Then you are going to love the CVT Electromatic
The newly refreshed Classic Series from Squier reworks vintage Fender-inspired electric and bass guitars for beginners and budget-conscious players.
Guitars Squier channels the Fender archive for 10 stunning yet affordable news Classic Vibe models
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
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Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Artists Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?
Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage Series
Guitars Fender mixes old-school mojo with 21st-century playability for the American Ultra Luxe Vintage range
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Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
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Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP onstage with Metallica. In the middle of this comp'd image is the Thinline custom Triplecaster Hammett commissioned then gifted to White. On the right, White plays his Fender Triplecaster with the yellow pickguard.
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The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special – 50th Anniversary is a limited edition hybrid that combines the old Marauder and Music City Junior, and offers them in wine, tobacco sunburst and ebony finishes.
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On the left, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut, solid-bodied, in Vintage Cherry Sunburst, it looks like the archetypical singlecut. On the right, the new Les Paul Parlor, a guitar that applies the LP aesthetic to a small-bodied acoustic.
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  1. Guitars

Six of the best: quirky alternatives to classic guitars

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 29 April 2015

New takes on electric icons

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

Fender Reclaimed Old Growth Redwood Stratocaster

Fender Reclaimed Old Growth Redwood Stratocaster

The use of California redwood for this special-edition Strat’s body offers a warmer character, and American Vintage ’65 single coils and a Diamondback humbucker at the bridge give a mellow tone with a classic-rock kick.

We said: "While the redwood adds visual and sonic interest, this is a great-sounding Strat"

4.5 out of 5

Read our full Fender Reclaimed Old Growth Redwood Stratocaster review

BUY: Fender Reclaimed Old Growth Redwood Stratocaster currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Try before you buy: Fender American Vintage Stratocaster

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Guild Newark St Starfire IV

Guild Newark St Starfire IV

Guild’s diverse range of reissues, under the Newark St Collection monicker, included the semi-hollow, laminated-mahogany Starfire IV.

A distinctive addition to the twin-cutaway market dominated by Gibson’s ES-335, the Starfire IV has a wide range of voices and a competitive price.

We said: "The Starfire does a fantastic Revolver-era Beatles impression, and travels forward through time, via Cream and Jimi, into hard-rock territory"

5 out of 5

Read our full Guild Newark St Starfire IV review

BUY: Guild Newark St Starfire IV currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Try before you buy: Gibson ES-335

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
St Blues Juke Joint Mississippi Bluesmaster

St Blues Juke Joint Mississippi Bluesmaster

Made in Memphis, this stripped- down single-cut differs from more Fender-y Bluesmasters, with an inclination towards classics such as the Gibson Les Paul Junior despite the thru-body stringing, T-style six-a-side headstock and bolt-on neck.

We said: "A Gibbo for Tele players, or bolt-on twang for Les Paul owners? It sits in the middle"

4.5 out of 5

Read our full St Blues Juke Joint Mississippi Bluesmaster review

Try before you buy: PRS S2 Mira

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Case J2 Semi-Hollow Double Cutaway

Case J2 Semi-Hollow Double Cutaway

The J2 is handmade by Kent’s John Case, and its superlative design incorporates stylised f-holes, wave inlays and a smaller overall footprint than an ES-335.

A warm, dark voice and juicy tone make it an inspiring alternative.

We said: "This isn't an ES-335 clone, and its slightly thicker voice reveals that touch-sensitive, juicy tone that is older-style Robben Ford, or Larry Carlton"

4.5 out of 5

Read our full Case J2 Semi-Hollow Double Cutaway review

Try before you buy: Collings I-35LC

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
G&L Tribute Series ASAT Deluxe II

G&L Tribute Series ASAT Deluxe II

Fender’s Telecaster has been appropriated over the years by hard-rock players, and for over 30 years Leo Fender’s ASAT has been a cultish alternative.

This mahogany/maple rock machine has twin coil-tappable humbuckers for a broader range of tones.

We said: "The ASAT Deluxe II plays quick and sounds lush and thick; it’s a tough cookie that’s something of an individualist"

5 out of 5

Read our full G&L Tribute Series ASAT Deluxe II review

BUY: G&L Tribute Series ASAT Deluxe II currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

Try before you buy: Fender Telecaster Deluxe

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Gibson Memphis ES-390

Gibson Memphis ES-390

This thinline shaves 50cm off the width of the ES-330, but shares the 19th-fret neck join and hollowbody P-90 tones.

High-gloss lacquer keeps the price lower than VOS, and the compact body makes for a lightweight and balanced playing experience.

We said: "If you’re not obsessed with the size of original models, this has characterful sound and playability in a tidy package"

4 out of 5

Read our full Gibson Memphis ES-390 review

BUY: Gibson Memphis ES-390 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Try before you buy: Gibson ES-330

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
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Gretsch Electromatic CVT: The bolt-on double-cut assumes a familiar form to the Jack Antonoff signature model, and features dual humbuckers, a wraparound tailpiece, and some neat vintage finishes.
Like the Jack Antonoff signature Gretsch? Then you are going to love the CVT Electromatic
The newly refreshed Classic Series from Squier reworks vintage Fender-inspired electric and bass guitars for beginners and budget-conscious players.
Squier channels the Fender archive for 10 stunning yet affordable news Classic Vibe models
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?
Fender American Ultra Luxe Vintage Series
Fender mixes old-school mojo with 21st-century playability for the American Ultra Luxe Vintage range
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A compact series stompbox you can turn into any one of 16 classic Boss effects? Meet the Plugout FX
Don Felder plays his iconic white Gibson doubleneck electric guitar onstage. Note the double jack: that mod is crucial when playing Hotel California, which he surely is in this picture.
Don Felder on why he had to mod his white Gibson doubleneck to play the Eagles’ biggest hit – and how he got the idea from Chet Atkins
Third Man Hardware x Black Mountain Roto-Echo: the roller wheel equipped delay pedal is a compact and performance-friendly stompbox that's available in black or limited edition white. Jack White has used it onstage and in the studio during the sessions for No Name.
Jack White’s Third Man teams up with Black Mountain for the Roto-Echo, a delay controllable by foot
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker: the all-new humbucker, a reissue of its first-ever signature pickup.
Gibson goes back to the beginning with reissue of its first-ever signature pickup for Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi
John Fogerty wears a blue plaid shirt and plays his Fireglo 'Acme' Rickenbacker live onstage in 2022
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