EVOLVED CLASSICS
Upgraded, enhanced and out of this world
GORDON SMITH GATSBY FROM £1,299
Taking things in a different direction, the Gatsby is Gordon Smith’s first offset guitar. The relatively small body is chamfered front and rear, while the neck fits like a glove, with butter-like playability. A long list of options means you can have your Gatsby the way you like it, too, creating a unique tool to enhance your music. Read the full review on page 10. www.gordonsmithguitars.com
FENDER AMERICAN ULTRA STRATOCASTER £2,049
Fender’s upgrade of the 2016 Elite series adds a new neck profile with a slightly flatter compound radius rolled-edge fretboard for a slick, modern playing experience, enhanced by a curved and scalloped heel. A trio of Ultra Noiseless pickups drives a modified control layout adding extra versatility for a contemporary vibe. A great pro choice. www.fender.com
KNAGGS ERIC STECKEL KENAI £5,399
The Kenai is Joe Knaggs’ take on the popular single-cut format, built to exceptionally high standards (as you’d expect from the former PRS Private Stock master builder). This version is tweaked for blues-metal phenom Eric Steckel and features Seymour Duncan ‘Candy’ Custom Shop humbuckers driving a vintage control layout that nails the late-50s magic. www.knaggsguitars.com
IBANEZ AZ2402 PRESTIGE FROM £1,989
The Japanese-crafted AZ2402 packs a full two-octave maple and wenge Super Wizard neck with stainless-steel jumbo frets on the roasted maple fretboard. Titanium bridge saddles and Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers connected to a Dyna-MIX10 switching system ensure this guitar sounds absolutely stellar in the right hands. www.ibanez.com
PRS MCCARTY 594 £3,999
The PRS 594 first appeared as a Private Stock model but was such a hit that it was quickly adopted as a Core model. An evolution from the original 1994 McCarty model, the 594’s controls and hardware should leave you in no doubt about its inspiration. The moniker comes from this guitar’s scale length of 24.594 inches, mirroring that of classic vintage Les Pauls. www.prsguitars.com
COLLINGS 470 JL £6,150
The 470 JL is Collings’ second signature model for jazz virtuoso Julian Lage, and this time it’s electric. While there are no f-holes, the body is hollow, imparting a unique feedback-resisting resonance captured by the special Ron Ellis pickups and Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. A truly inspiring instrument for a remarkable instrumentalist. www.collingsguitars.com