One step down from the US-made Music Mans, two steps up from the OLP imports, the Sterling JP50 are great working guitars at the right price. Review by Martyn Casserly Sterling JP50 If you’ve ever had the chance to play a USA Music Man guitar, you’ll know just how good they are – light in […]
Vintage Guitars
Brazen Dynasty Vintage
A meeting with Elton John’s guitarist Caleb Quaye led Steve Tsai to found Brazen guitars, an imported line with an intriguing blend of features. Review by Huw Price Brazen Dynasty Vintage Presenting the Brazen Dynasty Vintage – a really attractive guitar that looks a lot better in real life than in the pictures on the […]
Brazen Eternity Plus
A meeting with Elton John’s guitarist Caleb Quaye led Steve Tsai to found Brazen guitars, an imported line with an intriguing blend of features. Review by Huw Price. Brazen Presenting the Brazen Eternity Plus, a straighter design in the superstrat mould. The Brazen Eternity Plus looks presentable with thick black gloss lacquer on a sharply […]
Martyn Booth Standard
Suffolk-based Martyn Booth Standard, one of the best in the biz, offers his classic shape in myriad formats. Huw Price checks out the stripped-down, arched-front, all-rocking Standard Martyn Booth Standard Some guitar shapes just look right from the outset, but timeless models are few and far between. When a designer nails that perfect outline, who […]
Gibson Robby Krieger SG VOS
With every component and even the shape of the neck chosen by the Doors guitarist, is it a case of second time lucky for the signature Gibson Robby Krieger? Dave Walsh finds out Gibson Robby Krieger SG VOS When G&B spoke to Robby a few issues ago, he explained that this was the second crack […]
Vigier Excalibur Bfoot 2009 Limited Edition
Vigier Excalibur Bfoot Shred king Ron Bumblefoot Thal uses a thimble for tapping and sliding up beyond the fingerboard. Could Vigier find a suitable place for it? Review by Richard Purvis They love a bit of a revolution, the French. So when Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal said that his signature guitar must include a place to […]
Gibson Nighthawk
Gibson Nighthawk Review Among Gibson’s Limited Run series for 2009 is a reissue of a guitar that appeared 16 years ago. Has Gibson Nighthawk Nighthawk time come at last? Review by Martyn Casserly The Nighthawk was originally introduced by Gibson back in 1993, with a combination of a mini humbucker at the neck and a […]
Squier Simon Neil Artist Series Stratocaster
Simon Neil Review Even if the phrase Mon the biff! means nothing, read on this Europe-only Squier Simon Neil Strat adds a custom colour and clever pickups for just a few quid extra. Review by Dave Walsh Somewhat unusually for a ‘signature’ artist, Simon Neil may require an introduction. Neil is the guitarist and vocalist […]
Electric Babes Layla 07
Layla 07 Underwear-loving Austrians Norbert Lechner and Helmut Frank launched their Electric Babes guitars Layla 07 at NAMM 2007. A brave Huw Price takes a trip into the basque region Depicting the female body in the form of musical instruments is a long-standing artistic tradition. Matisse did it, Picasso did it, and now two Austrians […]
Kramer Striker 211
Kramer Striker 211 Review The brand synonymous with large-haired names like Van Halen, Sambora, Batten, Morello, Schon and more is back with a well-priced range of rockers. Review Kramer Striker 211 by Martyn Casserly The Striker was released in the mid-’80s as the budget version of the popular American and Japanese lines. Back then they […]