ELECTRICIZED

Guild X-50

1954-1970
Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood

The Guild X-50 was Guild’s response to Gibson ES-125. It was the smallest of Guilds hollowbody and the only model of the ‘X’ line to be non-cutaway. Early models were nicknamed Granada, up until 1961 when the guitar was renamed Cordoba.

Brian May Special

2006-Present
Mahogany, Ebony

Family-built by Brian May and his father, the Red Special has been reproduced several times by brands like Guild and Burns since the eighties. In 2006, May created ‘Brian May Guitars’ to market his own take on the ‘Old lady’. Loaded with three Burns Tri-sonic pups, it’s a great quality instrument for $800. 

Fender Strat Plus

1987-1999
Alder or Ash / Maple / Maple or Rosewood

By many considered one of Fender’s finest, the Plus series was released and introduced a lot of new props. It was the first Strats to featured Gold Lace Sensor pickups as well as locking tuners. Those pickups were appreciated for keeping a 50s feel, but without the hum. Hear it

Hofner President Electric Archtop

1956-1971
Spruce, Maple, Mahogany, Rosewood

Another superb Hofner. The President Electric was a variant of the acoustic model of the same name, which started off in 1953. It is easily recognized by its triple dot inlays and single cutaway (venetian or florentine). Early models had black bar pickups (pictured). Hear it

Photo from Vintagehofner

Fender Hellecasters Jerry Donahue

1997-1998
Alder, Maple

Fender has honored each of the three member of the Hellecasters band with a signature stratocaster Fender. Jerry Donahue is a Telecaster player, so he “telifyed’ his MIJ signature strat by requesting a metal plate under the bridge pickup. Overall this rarebird (450 made) is considered very well crafted guitar and simply sounds fantastic.

Photo by Cliffsjam

Danelectro model 4123

1963-1969
Masonite, Poplar, Rosewood

Also known as the Guitarlin, the Danelectro 4123 is remarkable not only by shape but by sound: Its extra long 31 frets neck adds a mandolin range.

Vox V262 Invader

1967-1968

The Invader came as a replacement of the Vox Bulldog, and just like its predecessor, it perspires Mosrite. Just like any other Vox of that time, it is stuffed with electronics. The Invader includes a E-tuner, a wah-wah effect, a percussion effect, treble, bass and distortion boosters. Very cool and rare axe.

Photo by Sploshette

Rickenbacker Tom Petty Signature

1991-1993 (circa)
Birdseye Maple, Rosewood

Poor Tom Petty had many of his guitars stolen recently, but he still has a Rickenbacker signature model. Its official name is Model 660/12TP. No surprise with such release, Tom Petty has been a long time supporter of the brand. Although it was officially introduced during the 1991 NAMM Anaheim show, prototypes were hurling around as early as 1988. A total of 1000 TPs were made, the majority with a Fireglo finish (813), the rest in Jetglo (187).

Neck through body, the TP is entirely made of Birdseye Maple, with the addition of a rosewood fretboard. It also features the traditional toaster pickups that Petty favored.

Vox V235 Spitfire

1965-1967
Maple, Rosewood

This is Vox’s take on a Stratocaster, with the same slanted pickup. Not sure what wood it is made off, but the body looks like a strat morphing into a jazzmaster. Similar shape is found on the Vox Tempest and Vox Hurricane.

This might not be your typical Eko-made italian teardrop sixties Vox, but priced at $500, it is a vintage bargain. Hear it jazz

Guyatone LG-23R

1970s

Made in the early seventies, this amazing Guyatone has an integrated drum machine with five preset drum rhythms that come out straight to the amp! Yours to choose between Slow Rock, Fox Trot, Twist, Bossa Nova and Rock ‘N’ Roll. These are probably cheesy and outdated, but got to try, just for the hell of it…

Hallmark Sweptwing

1965-1967
Alder, Maple, Rosewood

Sweptwing were revived along with the Hallmark brand in 2004. But if you want the real deal, you’ll have to be on the lookout for one of the few sweptwings that were made by Joe Hall at the time (around 100). Since Hall was a former Mosrite employee, a few Mosritish features such as zero-fret were common to those guitars.

Silvertone 1478

1964-1968
Maple…

The 1478 is based on the Harmony H-19 model, which itself was a knock off Fender’s jazzmaster body shape. The rare blue version was only made between 1967 and 1968, and the red is for sale

1969 Fender Swinger
Alder, Maple, Rosewood

Called at times Arrow or Musiclander, The Fender Swinger was born out of a CBS/Frankenstein evil plot to refurbish leftovers from the Fender factory. Less than 300 Swingers were produced, only in 1969, out of parts from Bass V and Mustangs. The model found an afterlife in the underground No Wave New York scene.

2007 Gibson SG-3 with single coil “Blade” pickups that look exactly like those Danelectro lipsticks.

Jacobacci Texas

1959

The french answer to Les Paul?