SEMI-ACOUSTIC ELECTRICS

This year’s semi winners blend classic and custom features

B&G LITTLE SISTER CROSSROADS £1,550

A 14-fret, non-cutaway electric guitar is always going to have niche appeal, but that’s exactly what Tel Aviv-based B&G came to market with originally, along with a price approaching £4k. Fast forward a couple of years and B&G’s Private Build guitars are doing very nicely thank you, while this Chinese-made Little Sister – in both cutaway and non-cutaway versions – offers much of the B&G DNA at a far lower price. Clean, smart construction, good-sounding humbuckers and a very vintage-y vibe creates a roots rock, blues and slide guitar that has little equal. www.bngguitars.com

PRS SE ZACH MYERS SATIN QUILT STEALTH LTD £849

Another limited edition? It must be a PRS. Here, with its quilted maple veneer-faced maple top and an overall black satin finish, it’s a spruced-up version of a key SE model. Paint it any colour you like, but the Zach Myers is a crackin’ semi-hollow single-cut based around a shorter 622mm/24.5inch scale length with hollowed mahogany back and a contoured maple top under that veneer. The PRS-designed 245 ‘S’ humbuckers offer versatile jazz-to-classic rock voices. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of Zach, his guitar is great! www.prsguitars.com

GRETSCH LIMITED EDITION STREAMLINER CENTER BLOCK JR £519

The affordable Streamliner range comprises the lowest-tier Gretsch guitars, but it’s impressively good for the money. This satin-finished limitededition 2018 Center Block Jr downsizes the classic double-cutaway outline, adds a goodsounding P-90 soapbar at the bridge and throws in a licensed Bigsby as well. Somehow, it still sounds like a Grestch but with a punkier garage vibe – which is ideal if you take your sonic inspiration from Neil Young and Jack White. Who says ‘cheap’ guitars ain’t good? www.gretschguitars.com