Over £3,000

VIGIER G.V. HOLLOW £3,459

Patrice Vigier and his team have been making exceptional guitars for a considerable number of years – and this G.V. Hollow might well be their finest to date. Despite its modernist features, it actually feels more like an old violin: perfectly shaped and weighted with nothing that gets in the way of its purpose. A guitar for the serious player with superb playability. www.vigierguitars.com

PRS MCCARTY £3,499

PRS’s original ‘vintage’ vision is updated to offer a very grown‑up appeal, with effortless playability. It also illustrates how far PRS has come over the past 26 years with a raft of seemingly small tweaks – unplated hardware, TCI tuned 58/15LT pickups and a new nitro‑over‑cellulose finish – that all add up to a superior and stellar guitar. www.prsguitars.com

PRS PAUL’S GUITAR £3,699

Constant improvements and new ideas mean that PRS’s Core models continue to evolve, and Paul Reed Smith’s signature guitar is no different. The 2019 model introduced the brand’s TCI pickups – the humbucking sounds ooze character, but it’s the single-coil voices that really seal the deal. This is the sort of instrument that makes you reevaluate your collection. www.prsguitars.com

FENDER CUSTOM SHOP VINTAGE CUSTOM ’58 JAZZMASTER £3,495

Aside from being a clever, fun concept, these Vintage Custom models with their new NOS finishes really do take us back to how a player might have felt picking up a Fender for the first time back in the day. If you’ve never ‘got’ Jazzmasters, this one might change your mind – if they all sounded this good then the model’s history might well have been different! www.fendercustomshop.com

ANDERSON GUITARWORKS GUARDIAN ANGEL £3,695

A superbly made ‘SuperStrat’ style guitar that takes Anderson’s 22-fret Drop Top Classic but adds two more frets and a ground-up remodel. The range of instruments and options is tantalising – and no matter what your playing style or sensibilities, we’d defy anyone not to find a guitar for life here. Heaven-sent build, playability and tones. www.andersonguitarworks.com

SETH BACCUS NAUTILUS CLASSIC £4,299

Seth Baccus, the step-son of veteran UK maker Andy Manson, builds a small number of guitars per year in the UK, each one honed to perfection and beyond. This single-cut Nautilus Classic has a Spanish cedar back, figured maple top and glued-in flamed maple/rosewood neck. Exemplary craft and a unique style that presents the perfect blend of a Les Paul and a Telecaster. www.sethbaccus.com