Guitars Cool Guitars

58 Comments / By /

Lots of Pictures and appraisals of beautiful, special and interesting guitars. Many by small producers and master luthiers. Links page to manufacturers sites and specialists.

58 thoughts on “Guitars Cool Guitars”

  2. Re: supposed phantom guitar
    Richard

    I have had a phantom brand guitar ,that is a copy of a BC Rich Warlock, for about 14 years. It has a Floyd Rose locking tremolo system.Can anyone tell me if it is a real phantom or a copy?????
    Help!@##$#$$

    1. Phantom guitars - Late 1980's
      Chris

      I have had several of these, including a 2 Phantom strats, and a Warlock.

      After years of searching, I don’t have much info. They were a little known startup in 1988, and were around for about 2 years then went under. There guitar trademark is a little ghost (phantom) above the word PHANTOM and then below that the word GUITARS. There is a rumor that one of the Stray Cats started or funded the company, but I could never really substantiate that. All I know is that they ARE NOT made by VOX, and ARE NOT made by the current Phantom guitar company.

      These guitars seem to be of good quality. Each one I have owned has jumbo frets, a real comfortable thin c neck, and the pickups, for some reason, seem to be very high quality. Even on the cheaper made strat I owned the pickups were very high output and had an almost 70’s Fender bell tone. I own another HSS strat with locking Floyd Rose tremolo and that is a great guitar.

      My favorite is the Warlock. The thing screams, and is a total shredder. I have pics if anyone wants to see. [email protected]

    3. Re: supposed phantom guitar
      Ross From NY

      To be honest… I have the same problem. I bought a Phantom from a kid in a town just off from my own and it looks like a Jackson DINKY. Floyd Rose||| locking trem.

      Are they real?

  3. I have the coolest guitar
    Robert

    I would probably have to say that I have one of the coolest guitars ever made. All of the readers out there are probably thinking that my guitar is no cooler than theres. That I am just saying this because I love my guitar. Well that is were you are wrong! My guitar is incredible. Not just by its performnace but by its appearance. I own a Miller Lite Fender Squier Stratocaster. If you would like to see a picture please email me at [email protected].

    1. Re: I have the coolest guitar
      ty

      : I would probably have to say that I have one of the coolest guitars ever made. All of the readers out there are probably thinking that my guitar is no cooler than theres. That I am just saying this because I love my guitar. Well that is were you are wrong! My guitar is incredible. Not just by its performnace but by its appearance. I own a Miller Lite Fender Squier Stratocaster. If you would like to see a picture please email me at [email protected].
      i own one also i got it for a christmas present two years ago love that guitar there so rare im afraid to play it but i do anyway i wanna know how money they run for

    2. Re: I have the coolest guitar
      ty

      : I would probably have to say that I have one of the coolest guitars ever made. All of the readers out there are probably thinking that my guitar is no cooler than theres. That I am just saying this because I love my guitar. Well that is were you are wrong! My guitar is incredible. Not just by its performnace but by its appearance. I own a Miller Lite Fender Squier Stratocaster. If you would like to see a picture please email me at [email protected].
      I HAVE ONE TOO

    3. Re: I have the coolest guitar
      xDzemax

      : I would probably have to say that I have one of the coolest guitars ever made. All of the readers out there are probably thinking that my guitar is no cooler than theres. That I am just saying this because I love my guitar. Well that is were you are wrong! My guitar is incredible. Not just by its performnace but by its appearance. I own a Miller Lite Fender Squier Stratocaster. If you would like to see a picture please email me at [email protected].

      i love miller….but squiers suck…..sorry man but its true…how much did u spend on that

      1. Re: I have the coolest guitar
        andy

        : i love miller….but squiers suck…..sorry man but its true…how much did u spend on that

        i agree squires suck, i have a 1991 sunburst american strat, now that rocks 🙂

  4. Re: phantom guitars
    jocelyn

    phantomguitars.com is the website. You can email them there, or also, call the company directly at 1-800-510-4131. These guitars are USA made, and it shows! The owner is very cool, also. Formerly the guitar player from the 80’s band Quarterflash. These instruments Rock! They stay in tune & sound awesome!! I am so happy with mine & glad I bought it. The company has great customer service. I have heard there are FAKES being made in China – not USA made, being sold out of Canada. You can tell because they don’t say ‘PHANTOM" on the headstock. They are in Trademark Violation from copying the body shapes

      1. Re: phantom guitars
        andy hernandez

        I just bought a phantom electric and it sounds sweeT!I really dont play(just make noise) im a drummer myself, but when someone does know how to play it sounds great!Its really heavy, well built, floyd rose tremello,great action and looks like the 80’s.All i need is my long hair back and Im rockin.where its from and how much its worth is the question.Isaw one on e bay for $100 but it was on auction
        so still to be determined. I know this posting is old ,I just thought i’d get the excitment back up if there is any body with any info i’ll check back

      2. Re: phantom guitars
        Zoe

        You’re right about the Phantom’s short lived spotlight. The bass itself had a great harmonic quality. But now they’re pretty hard to come by. The ghost and the scary font is the give away for that guitar. Hang on to that it’ll be worth big $$$$!!

      3. Re: phantom guitars
        Richard

        I have a classical acoustic guitar by Phantom. it also has the ghost above the label, but it says it was made in Korea not New York. does anyone have any other info, maybe a site where I could find out more? I looked at the new Phantom Guitars and they were started in ’92. I got my acoustic in ’89. any help would be greatly appreciated.

      4. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Rick
        Rick

        After doing some research, there are now and have been several different makers of ‘Phantom’ guitars and basses. I have a Phantom P-Bass, which was made in the mid to late 80’s by a small company out of New York City,I was told that it was started by the bassist from the Stray Cats, and folded shortly after they started. The logo on the headstock has a little ghost looking over the Pahntom Guitars label. There are currnetly 2 manufacturers on the web right now calling themselves Phantom Guitars.

        1. Phantom guitar models
          Snake

          I bought a new Earl Slick signature series phantom (with the little ghost on the logo) in about 1990. It kinda languished in the closet for a few years. I broke it out again in about 1997 and played it as my main guitar in a bar band for more than ten years. It turned out to be one of the best guitars I ever owned (I still have it). As someone else said, the hardware is top notch, the finish is good, intonation has always been spot on and it’s never been worked on or modified except for the usuial minor adjustments. The Earle Slick model features only one bridge position humbucker, it a had a Dimarzio (spelling?) sticker on it just below the pickup when it was new, a push on-pull off volume, and no tone control! Mine was finished in a dark blue body, maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. I don’t know if the body is plywood or a solid piece of something. It’s never been taken apart.

          This thing weighs a ton! The neck is thick, and plugged into a Carvin 100w tube head (groove tubes, only two of the four installed switch to 100%) and 4×12 cabinet loaded with black widows, became my favorite guitar sound ever. The only effects I use are a little delay on the dirty channel and a touch of chorus on the clean, it sounds awesome for classic rock and country.

          It sat in the closet so long because I was a bit of a guitar snob I guess. It had couple of inspection stickers on it that had been initialed and a “made in Korea” sticker on the back of the neck toward the headstock. Obviously no prep from the music store where I bought it (they had several other models at the time) so I thought of it as being below even my Jacksons and Epiphone Les Paul copy. Boy was I wrong. After peeling the tacky sticker off the front, and gigging with it few times, my other guitars took a back seat.

          I don’t know anything more about the company besides what’s posted here but I got a little curious tonight and tried to find something on it. there is little info on the company and the guitars aren’t worth significant money, some I found were very cheap, but in my experience it a good quality instrument that truly sounds very good and has served me well. If you find one in good shape, I’d have no reservations about buying one, you may get a better instrument than you think.

    2. Re: phantom guitars
      Wilker

      : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
      : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

      I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

      1. Re: phantom guitars
        Mark

        : : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
        : : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

        :
        : I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

        : I have an old phantom strat copy and it’s finished in glorious 1970’s black tiger stripes on a red background. Strnge little thing but sounds pretty good. Can’t find anything about them though.

        1. Re: phantom guitars
          Jim V

          : : : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
          : : : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

          : : I’ve got a black strat/jackson style I bought used in the late 80’s for $200. There were 2 of them exactly alike and I wish I bought both.It stays in tune really well,the neck is great and the original electronics are still flawless.I’ve been toying with the idea of replacing a humbucker in the neck pickup,the body has a cutout for it but the pickguard would have to be cut or replaced. My gut feeling has been to leave it alone, so I have. I also can’t find much about this company, I would imagine they only made them for a few years at best, and the two I saw are the only ones I’ve ever seen.
          : : I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

          : : I have an old phantom strat copy and it’s finished in glorious 1970’s black tiger stripes on a red background. Strnge little thing but sounds pretty good. Can’t find anything about them though.

          2. phantom guitars
            Dennis

            I know this an old post, but somebody has to answer it. I believe I have the largest collection of Phantom guitars and know the most about them besides company founder Lee Rocker bass player for the Stray Cats. I could not get Lee to respond to my questions so this is what I have pieced together so far and I am not 100% sure either. So if anybody knows anything ,please jump in. I believe start up was in 86 and they closed it down in 88. The bodies and necks were made in Korea in the ESP factory where they also made Kramer, Jackson, Charvel and others. The body and neck were then shipped to Staten Island for assembly, they used Grover, DiMarzio, Kahler for the good parts and had Korean jacks , switches and pots for the bad. Also a Korean made Floyd Rose that some say are junk because of inferior metal, but some people say they are ok and hold tune well but maybe do not have the tone that the USA model has. Some of the bodies were plywood and others were solid wood. They made copies of Strats, Tele’s Jacksons, Les Paul, 335,Flying V, Warlock, a few acoustics and some cool bass guitars,a regular P bass and one with an extra pickup and a switch, also a headless Stienberger model.A banjo and mandolin were also made along with amps The rarest by far would be the Les Paul, followed by the 335 and Tele. They are good sounding and playing guitars although a little on the tankish side as far as weight but great tone. Sadly they do not have much of a following since nobody knows anything about them, so they do not sell for much,so I collect them and have a couple dozen in my herd. Hope this helps

            1. Phantom guitar
              Anonymous

              Hello Dennis.
              I know this is a very old post but thought I would try anyhow.
              Is the Phantom history you quote here applicable to the phantom guitars with the ghost on the logo?
              I found one recently at a thriftstore. It is black and white zebra pattern. It needs some work on the electronics.
              Just trying to obtain more info on it.
              I see some for sale for $275 range…
              Thanks
              Keith

            2. Phantom BCR Bich
              Chris00

              Hey, I know this thread is old, but curious if you’ve run across a Phantom Guitars BC Rich copy of the Bich. It’s Neck through, has active electronics, standard tremolo, Dimarzio pickup copies.

              Would you know anything about this model?

        2. Re: phantom guitars
          matt

          : : : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
          : : : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

          : :
          : : I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

          : : I have an old phantom strat copy and it’s finished in glorious 1970’s black tiger stripes on a red background. Strnge little thing but sounds pretty good. Can’t find anything about them though.
          I also own a phantom guitar with zebra style stripes.It’s a nice strat style guitar with a jackson like headstock.I think it’s a brand made by kahler.

        3. Re: phantom guitars
          RICK

          : : : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
          : : : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

          : :
          : : I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

          : : I have an old phantom strat copy and it’s finished in glorious 1970’s black tiger stripes on a red background. Strnge little thing but sounds pretty good. Can’t find anything about them though.

          I HAVE JUST RECENTLEY PURCHASED A PHANTOM AT A PAWN SHOP FOR UNDER $100. IT’S A WHITE STRAT COPY. HAS THREE SINGLE COILS. NICE NECK. GOOD SOUND. PLYWOOD BODY. IT ALSO HAS A LITTLE GHOST OVER THE NAME AS A LOGO. CAN’T FIND OUT A THING ABOUT IT. MUSIC STORES DON’T KNOW ANYTHING EITHER. I’M PRETTY SURE THAT PHANTOM GUITAR WORKS IN OREGON IS NOT THE SAME COMPANY. THEIR NECKS, BODIES, PARTS AND LOGO DO NOT RESEMBLE THIS GUITAR. SOMEBODY HAS TO KNOW SOMETHING??

          2. Re: phantom guitars
            RockinRory

            I and my fiance have been collecting these guitars with the ghost logo on Phantom. We have a couple strats and a Flying V. I also have catalogues. One from 1987 was listing: Phantom Guitars, 399 Lake Avenue,Staten Island,N.Y.10303 I figure they were made Korea or Japan and assembled in N.Y. The Japanese and Koreans make great guitars. Peace. Hope this helps… 🙂

            2. Re: phantom guitars
              phillip

              : I and my fiance have been collecting these guitars with the ghost logo on Phantom. We have a couple strats and a Flying V. I also have catalogues. One from 1987 was listing: Phantom Guitars, 399 Lake Avenue,Staten Island,N.Y.10303 I figure they were made Korea or Japan and assembled in N.Y. The Japanese and Koreans make great guitars. Peace. Hope this helps… 🙂

              i have a p-bass clone copy of the korean phantom brand and wanted to know more about the manufacturer, is there anyway i could prolly get a copy of the catalog?

              2. Phantom Guitar Catalogs
                Mike

                I am also interested in getting a copy of the catalogue. Is it available anywhere online, or has it been scanned? If I could get a copy, I could host it online for viewing.

                Thanks, Mike

            4. Re: phantom guitars
              Jim houseknecht

              : I and my fiance have been collecting these guitars with the ghost logo on Phantom. We have a couple strats and a Flying V. I also have catalogues. One from 1987 was listing: Phantom Guitars, 399 Lake Avenue,Staten Island,N.Y.10303 I figure they were made Korea or Japan and assembled in N.Y. The Japanese and Koreans make great guitars. Peace. Hope this helps… 🙂
              Just finished playing my Phantom Bass guitar. split pickups, and i think i remember "made in Japan" being on the neck….it still sounds great

            5. Re: phantom guitars
              Vanessa

              I have this bass that I can’t seem to find any information on at all. All I do know is that that is a phantom on it’s logo. I been looking for any info for a while. It’s almost like they don’t exist. If anyone has any info on it please contact me and let me know. Thanks

            6. Re: phantom guitars
              Vanessa

              I have this bass that I can’t seem to find any information on at all. All I do know is that that is a phantom on it’s logo. I been looking for any info for a while. It’s almost like they don’t exist. If anyone has any info on it please contact me and let me know. Thanks

          3. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Dave
            Dave

            : : : can anyone provide me with any history of phantom guitars
            : : : i’ve got a tele model and know nothing about their maker

            : :
            : : I also have an old one its a elec strat copy, I dont know anything else about it. It sounds good

            : : I have an old phantom strat copy and it’s finished in glorious 1970’s black tiger stripes on a red background. Strnge little thing but sounds pretty good. Can’t find anything about them though.

            That sounds like what I have-Black tiger stripes on a white background-Looks almost a strat style Jackson. It has Grover Machines,a Kahler whammy bridge W/fine tuners,locking nut, and a single bridge position open coil Demarzio humbucker. The headstock says "Earl Slick" signature edition. The tone and playability of this piece is outstanding.

            1. Phantom stratocaster for sale in hard shell case...MINT,GROVER T
              Steve a young

              Hello I’m selling my mint condition phantom strat. Red body with black pickgaurd and all black hardware. I seen this one sell with cheap chrome stuff for 350 and scratched up. Mines all black hardware and MINT! NO SCRATHES,NO BUCKLE RASH AND GATOR HARDSHELL! FIRST 450.00 ILL SELL IT! ITS FAST AND GREAT ACTION! PLAYS BETTER THAN MY FENDER BUT I NEED THE CASH! I KNOW THEY ARE RARE. THEY WERE MADE IN KOREA,NEW YORK AND INDONESIA I BELIEVE? MINE IS THE BETTER ONE FOR SURE. AWESOME SOUND AND FFG OR 30 YEARS OLD ALL IT NEEDS IS NEW STRINGS AND IT A WOND ERR RFULL GUITAR! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF INTERESTED! 484-364-6441 MY NAME IS
              PASTOR STEVE.
              THANKS ALOT!

              1. Phantom Guitar
                Will

                Hi Steve,

                Do you still have the phantom for sale? I’m certainly interested. It’s a very valuable guitar to me for a personal reason.
                I’d love to share the story with you.

                Hope to hear back,
                Thanks in advance!
                Will

            2. Phantom guitars
              Fretted NC

              Hello!! The phantom guitar is just what the name suggest!! It seems to be a ghost in the guitar world but undeniably one of the best 80’s guitar secrets and collectibles out there… I love mine and it stays in tune like a boss!! These guitars are very rare and worth their weight IF you find one and if you do you better swipe it up!! I HAVE THE LES PAUL IN BLACK AND GOLD WITH WHITE BODY BINDING AND IT SMOKES THE REST OF MY SQUAD….
              I was thinking of putting it out for anyone collecting or had more than mine to add to their collection…
              If interested let me know…..

            3. Phantom 12-string
              Spenny

              I work at a pawn shop that deals extensively in musical instruments and someone just brought in a Phantom 12-string guitar to sell us. I asked our guitar expert and he’s never even heard of them before so I was just wondering if anyone might have some information as it looks really cool and I’m considering getting it after it’s fixed up.

            4. Seeking Left Handed PHANTOM Strat
              Kiambu

              I came upon Phantom in the mid-to-late 1980s sold to me BRAND NEW by a lovely Korean Woman who owned the small musical instrument store A-! Music in Manhattan’s Greenwhich Village. She ordered it for me and when it finally arrived I couldnt keep my hands off of it, it played like a dream. But then Phantom disappeared. Phantom should not be confused with PHANTOM GUITAR WORKS theyre 2 seperate companies with nearly identical names. But if any knows where I can buy at least 3 lefty Srat phantom guitars please let me know. [email protected]

            5. RE: Phantom guitars
              DaveG

              I actually own several of these. The Earl Slick model is an incredible playing and sounding instrument..the strat knock offs are pretty cheap. They were made by a company owned by the guitarist for The Stray Cats and another guy that was kinda famous. The higher end ones are players instruments for sure. They were made in The U.S.A., New York I believe. Hope this helps as a starting point.

            6. Phantom Guitar Catalogs (and Earl Slick Model)
              Mike

              Anyone know of an online link for the catalogue? Or, has anyone scanned it? I would be happy to host the scan for viewing via an easy link. Thanks.

          1. Re: phantom guitars
            jocelyn

            : These guitars are out of Oregon. The company was started from the lead guitarist of Quarter Flash! They do have a website! ..several. Go to http://www.searchalot.com Search for Phantom Guitars….P.S. The are awesome! You can get parts from there site also

            **There is another company making copies/knockoffs of these awesome phantom guitars. My understanding is that they are crappy look alikes & they are in TRADE VIOLATION by copying them, so, beware. Phantom’s website is http://www.phantomguitars.com. I bought one and they’re beautiful & play extrodinarily!!

              1. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... not a vox phantom, dummy
                not a vox phantom, dummy

                no, no, no- The company that makes the reissues of the phantom guitars originally made by vox is not what this guy’s talking about. there was a company in the 80’s that made fender copies and the company was called phantom, they had a ghost logo and were Korean made.

                : **There is another company making copies/knockoffs of these awesome phantom guitars. My understanding is that they are crappy look alikes & they are in TRADE VIOLATION by copying them, so, beware. Phantom’s website is http://www.phantomguitars.com. I bought one and they’re beautiful & play extrodinarily!!

            2. Re: phantom guitars
              Alessandra

              Hi,
              i am an italian girl, i bought a phantom guitar as xmas present to my boyfriend, and the sound is excellent!!!
              If someone has any doubt forget it! They sound great!
              site is: http://www.phantomguitars.com, price is good and they are very well made!
              ciao
              alessandra

Leave a Reply