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Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Guitars Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
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.
Guitars “A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
Fender Player II Modified Series
Guitars Fender remixes its blockbuster Player II range with the Modified Series and got IDLES to demo them
Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac: the new semi-hollow signature model is a stunning singlecut with a quilted maple build in a natural finish.
Electric Guitars “Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
Gretsch Broadkaster Jr LX Center Block with Bigsby
Guitars Gretsch’s unveils new MIJ high-end semi-hollows with redesigned bodies and Pro Twin Six humbuckers
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.
Guitars Gibson celebrates 50 years in Nashville with limited run twist on a cult electric played by KISS
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.
Guitars Gibson has just unveiled a new Les Paul like no other
  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
Guitarist
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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

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Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
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.
“A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
Fender Player II Modified Series
Fender remixes its blockbuster Player II range with the Modified Series and got IDLES to demo them
Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac: the new semi-hollow signature model is a stunning singlecut with a quilted maple build in a natural finish.
“Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
Gretsch Broadkaster Jr LX Center Block with Bigsby
Gretsch’s unveils new MIJ high-end semi-hollows with redesigned bodies and Pro Twin Six humbuckers
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.
Gibson celebrates 50 years in Nashville with limited run twist on a cult electric played by KISS
Latest in Guitars
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Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Mooer Audio F15i Li Intelligent Amp: this battery-powered take-anywhere guitar amp is packed with amp and effects models, and is an all-in-one practice solution.
Mooer’s F15i Intelligent Amp is a desktop doozie equipped with 55 amps, 69 effects and a touchscreen
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“A really vintage‑flavoured friend”: Epiphone 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue review
EVH Gear Hypersonic FR-12: The newly launched FRFR speaker packs 1000-watts, is available in black or ivory, and might just be the perfect companion to your amp modeller.
EVH Gear drops the Hypersonic FR-12 FRFR speaker – 1000-watts to get the most from your amp modeller
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Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all

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