FORWARD THINKERS

From avant-garde to ergonomic, these rule-breakers dare to be different

VOX BOBCAT S66 £1,279

Vox’s Bobcat S66 has all the glamour of the Italian-designed 60s original with upgraded hardware and electronics to meet modern demands. Vox has reproduced the knurled aluminium knobs, the vertical headstock logo and matched the original plastic hue, adding tons of retro cool. Meanwhile, the revoiced pickups add tonal depth and complexity. www.voxamps.com

TRINITY BY RELISH £1,599

The guitar equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, the Relish is a high-quality instrument featuring a fast 24-fret neck joined to a basswood body that’s home to a magnetic interchangeable pickup system. As well as Relish original pickups, there are adapted designs by Bare Knuckle and Seymour Duncan, making for a choice of 11 different humbuckers and P-90s. www.relish.swiss

MUSIC MAN ST VINCENT $2,799

The signature guitar for Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, blends visual impact and exceptional playability. Music Man is revered for its fabulous necks and the St Vincent has one of the best, with figured roasted maple finished with hand-rubbed wax and gunstock oil. Featuring three humbuckers and a vibrato bridge, the St Vincent is more than just an eyecatcher. www.music-man.com

.STRANDBERG BODEN STANDARD 7 £1,599

The .strandberg’s striking looks are certainly an attentiongrabber, but there’s serious design at work here and the legendary playability has won .strandberg many dedicated fans all over the world. The fan-fret multi-scale headless neck, custom bridge and pickups combine with the ergonomically balanced body for a unique playing experience. www.strandbergguitars.com

EASTMAN ROMEO £1,949

Top-quality timbers and superlative hardware – including custom-wound Lollar Imperial ’buckers – make the Eastman a very covetable take on the versatile thinline semi-acoustic format. The spruce-topped mahogany body is joined to a maple neck with an ebony ’board for a woody warmth and effortless sustain that straddles many genres with ease. www.eastmanguitars.com

MANSON MA EVO SUSTAINIAC/FUZZ FACTORY £2,219

Manson’s MA EVO builds on the MA-2’s success, featuring the best hardware and electronic wizardry, including a Sustainiac sustainer system and a built-in Zvex Fuzz Factory, opening the door to an extraordinary vista of tone. More conventional features include a Manson PF-1 PsychoPAF bridge pickup and a killswitch. www.mansons.co.uk