Double Hitters

More ways to get acoustic sounds from your electric…

PRS HOLLOWBODY II FROM £4,749

With the exception of the rarely seen Hollowbody I 12-string, the long-running Hollowbody II and the non-piezo McCarty 594 Hollowbody II are the only remaining USA-made guitars from the numerous models we’ve seen since the late 90s. It’s made from all solid woods (not laminates) and includes Phase III locking tuners, TCI-tuned 58/15 LT humbuckers and, of course, its piezo system on which the SE version is based. www.prsguitars.com

TAYLOR T5Z CLASSIC £2,219

Effectively a downsized version of the original T5, the T5z is more solidbody-sized but still a thinline acoustic here with braced mahogany top, a 305mm (12-inch) ’board radius, and jumbo frets. There’s only one visible pickup, the thin bridge humbucker, but there’s also an acoustic body sensor and a concealed neck humbucker. The five-way switch offers combinations of this trio plus we have topmounted master volume, and treble and bass EQ. www.taylorguitars.com

MUSIC MAN MAJESTY FROM £3,399

One of the most advanced guitars money can buy, this John Petrucci signature has a piezo-loaded bridge for acoustic-like textures. The neck-throughbody design has alder body wings and a sumptuous figured maple top, with new digital pickup switching capabilities to “eliminate the delay between pickup selection”, says Music Man. There’s a 20dB boost onboard, Dimarzio Dreamcatcher and Rainmaker magnetic humbuckers, and a seven-string option. www.music-man.com

GODIN SUMMIT CLASSIC HAVANA BROWN A/E £2,499

With more two-voice (magnetic, piezo) and threevoice electrics (magnetic, piezo, synth access) than any other brand, Godin has long seen the benefits of piezo-loaded hybrids. This model is a traditional single-cut design with a chambered mahogany body and swamp ash top, LR Baggs T-Bridge (and Control-X preamp) for its ‘acoustic’ voice, and Seymour Duncan Custom Custom at the bridge and Jazz at neck for its magnetic electric sounds. http://godinguitars.com

RELISH JANE €5,794

Another company pushing the frontiers of design, Relish has quite the futuristic vision. Jane’s piezo acoustic sound is just one feature: there’s also the aluminium frame body construction with flip-off back ‘lid’, instant pickup swapping, bolt-on maple neck with a 254mm (10-inch) woven bamboo ’board, and 17-way touch sensitive blend control switching system. The lowest-cost Swiss-made Relish is also piezo loaded: Mary One at €4,827. https://relish.swiss

DUESENBERG STARPLAYER TV+ APPROX. £2,355

Not all piezo-loaded electrics come with a futuristic stance. Duesenberg’s deliciously retro range includes this piezo-loaded single-cut semi that blends all-laminate, centre-block construction (spruce top, maple back and sides) with a Duesenberg DP90 Domino single coil at the neck and a Grand Vintage humbucker at the bridge. It’s iced with a Duesenberg Diamond Deluxe vibrato, and the price includes a hard case. https://duesenberg.de/en