Schecter returns to its roots with the new Trad Custom, featuring classic Strat style with HSS pickup configuration. Related Feature:Schecter Chris Poland Solo-6 This new guitar is part of the company’s latest vintage style guitar releases, straying from their usual edgy and non-conventional designs, this time going for something more closer to the familiar Strat style design. While the look is very similar to traditional Strats, there are subtle differences, which include the slightly modified headstock shape and the use of just two knobs, giving the guitar a familiar look that is still a bit different. The HSS pickup configuration is also an important distinction, although there are already other Strat style guitars that utilize this configuration. More importantly, this guitar comes with a very tempting street price, a feat that Schecter was able to accomplish without much compromise on the instrument’s specs. The company says, “Designed for exemplary tone and functionality, the Trad Custom is the perfect tool for the most diverse of players to represent their craft.“ Their statement highlights the functionality and versatility of this new release, achieved via the HSS pickup configuration. With its modern sounding Schecter Diamond Humbucker on the bridge position, this classic looking

Cort Guitars expand their Classic Rock single-cutaway series with the new CR230, featuring dual EMG pickups and coil-tapping. Related Feature:Cort EVL X7 This guitar combines traditional wood configuration and LP style body design, with modern humbucking pickups and tone shaping electronics. The new CR230 starts off with a black finish single-cutaway mahogany body that is based on the popular LP design. It does not appear to be a straight clone because the shape and cutaway appear to go deeper than traditional Les Pauls. Both the body and the neck feature white binding, in keeping with the overall classic look. Speaking of neck, this electric guitar comes with a set-in neck configuration, instead of the usual bolt-on configuration used on lower priced instruments. The neck is made of mahogany, and has a scale length of 24.75″. It is topped by a rosewood fretboard that has a radius of 12″. The guitar has a total of 22 frets and feature large fret wires. Rectangular white pearl inlays provide visual cues so that your fretting hand will not get lost. Cort Guitars shifted from traditional to modern design when they decided to equip the CR230 with two EMG HZ SRO OC1 pickups. These

Tyyster Guitars high-end line of instruments include an interesting guitar called Pelti, which has a sheet metal body. Related Feature:Electric Guitar Wood – Myth Busted! This is designed using an entirely different concept, able to produce both acoustic and electric tones that work well with slide, blues and country style players. The company describes this instrument as one that brings a touch of Robert Johnson into your guitar tone. And based on the audio demo, it is easy to see how the infamous blues musician inspired the tone of the Pelti. To get the old school slide vibe into this instrument, Tyyster decided to combine elements of the Telecaster and resonator guitars into a single instrument. The result is a truly unique instrument with a distinct shape and a body crafted from sheet metal. At first glance, you might not see much of a difference other than the distinct shape, but closer inspection reveals bigger differences, which includes the unique metal body and clever pickup system. This is a brave design implementation by the company, considering how the use of none-wood bodied guitars are generally frowned upon by guitarists stating tonal differences as the main issue. Even though the body

Epiphone introduces the “1939” Century Lap Steel, a re-issue of the company’s art deco inspired Hawaiian lap steel guitar. Related Feature:Epiphone Blueshawk Deluxe This new lap steel guitar is inspired by the original Epiphone Electar, as originally designed by Epiphone’s popular salesman Herb Sunshine and the firm’s founder Epi Stathopoulo. The new Epiphone 1939 Century Lap Steel 6-String Outfit follows the profile of vintage Electars, and it features the same wood combination and ebony finish as vintage specimens. The company also utilized a classic Plexiglass fingerboard for this release, featuring a traditional “1939” Art Deco replica inlay design. The company shared a quick back story of the Electar, “Herb Sunshine was one of Epi Stathopoulo’s key employees at the “House of Stathopoulo” headquarters in New York and helped to inspire Epiphone to become the leading name in affordable professional instruments. “Epi’s father had brought over their Greek traditions from the old country and Epi was just carrying on where the old man had left off. They had terrific pride. Epi personally examined every guitar and banjo,” Sunshine told Epiphone historian Jim Fisch. “We called electric guitars and amplifiers “Electar” which is a name I coined.” Now the 1939 Electar lap

Vox brings back their odd shaped classic electric guitar – the teardrop shaped Mark III and the pentagon shaped Mark V. Vox Mark V Related Feature: Vox Apache Travel Guitars Last year, Vox released the Apache series of travel guitars that carry the same two unique shapes, they ultimately paved the way for the reintroduction of these classic Vox electric guitar models. The Mark III and Mark V first appeared in the ’60s, and have made an impression to many players thanks to their affordability and unique shape. Fast forward to today, vintage Mark III and V guitars are still in demand. Vox have had limited run re-issues of the said models, but have never really brought back the guitar into full production. This year, Vox has finally decided to get this guitars back in circulation, upgrading the instruments to meet modern guitar player needs. Noticeable changes include the addition of a tremolo arm to accommodate modern playing techniques, and the use of three single coil pickups for a more versatile tone palette. The guitar’s finish options matches the sonic improvements, letting you choose between traditional sunburst to a wide selection bright solid color hues. Vox Mark III Both the

Ibanez recently introduced the new X Series Falchion, inspired by the hand to hand combat sword of the same name. [Click to Enlarge] The X Series is Ibanez way of reintroducing non-traditional guitar shapes into their production. It is also their excuse to turn their radical thoughts into guitars without any form of limitation. The new X Series Falchion continues in this tradition, it is designed to stand out both in visuals and sounds. The XF350 Falchion, according to Ibanez, was inspired by the sword that was used by the Normans during the Middle Ages. It is not only as edgy as the sword, it is also as deadly – in playability and tone. The guitar has a lightweight Mahogany wood body so you can jump and move around while you pound on your riffs. It has a neck-thru construction for stability and playability. The neck – like the blade of a real Falchion – is fast, flat and thin. It is a 3 piece Maple Wizard III neck that will let you bring out your quick and monster chops with ease. The X Series Falchion has the Edge III double locking tremolo system to make sure that you rock