Busting Out The Signature Moves

Established and new brands reveal updates and debuts ahead of NAMM

Though a lot of companies choose to keep their powder dry when it comes to new guitar announcements and wait until the NAMM show has begun, there are exceptions with PRS breaking cover with extensive updates and additions to its SE line.

The biggest news for left-handed players is they can now get their southpaws on a Custom 24 – the first time the company has ever made a left-handed model in its more affordable SE range. Down tuners can also look forward to new SE SVN 7-string and SE77 baritone offerings, and after two European limited edition versions, the impressive P-90 and 57/08-packing signature model from Black Stone Cherry mainman Chris Robertson is now available as an ongoing SE model in a new, third finish: Fire Red Burst. You’ll also notice the eye-catching new SE Standard 24 Multi-Foil, the return of a finish originally offered by PRS in the late 80s, this time sporting 85/15 humbuckers.

Elsewhere, YouTube celebrity player and The Haunted guitarist Ola Englund has left Washburn to launch signature models under his new brand Solar Guitars with four different guitar types currently totalling 15 different models. ESP has also revealed a host of new signature models alongside new multi-scale, with Mastodon man Bill Kelliher’s new Pelham Blue finish for his Sparrowhawk giving its Firebird-esque curves a distinctly classic look.