As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 20 – Summer 2022
A guitar with a sweet finish can jazz up any summer set. While sound and technique are top priorities, there’s also room for exploring the visual side of things, too. Whether it’s a quilted maple top or a violet burst, a cool finish is the icing on the cake of any axe. But that’s not all…
Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s Hand Select AAA, Exclusive – Iced Tea and Bourbon Bursts
The new AAA Figured USA Les Pauls are refreshingly cool in Iced Tea and Bourbon Burst finishes — among others. A perfect tribute to Gibson’s Golden Era, these beloved classics pull out all the stops. They have solid mahogany bodies with hand-selected AAA figured maple tops and SlimTaper ‘60s-style mahogany necks and rosewood fingerboards decked out in gorgeous trapezoid inlays.
Gibson 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue – Washed Cherry Sunburst
Who doesn’t love a Les Paul—especially with a bright Sunburst finish? This 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue via Gibson’s custom shop mirrors a Summer sunrise through its Washed Cherry Sunburst finish. Not to mention the sweet tones and attributes to back it up.
PRS Private Stock Orianthi Limited Edition – Blooming Lotus Glow finish, Maple top
Looks that kill and a sweet sound! This PRS Private Stock limited edition really shines with Orianthi’s signature model. The jewel-like guitar features custom “Lotus Vine” inlays made of pink mussel and mother of pearl. Its Private Stock-grade maple top rocks a Blooming Lotus Glow finish with a pink center that fades to purple. Like the standard Custom 24, robust electronics provide a versatile guitar worthy of Orianthi’s dynamic playing.
Fender Player Plus Active Jazz Bass – Belair Blue Satin Finish
The game-changing Fender Precision bass thumped into hearts and history in the 1960s, and the addition of the Jazz bass brought added style and tone to boot. Horizontal color blocks and a silky smooth ombre-like finish kick up the wow factor on this 4-string. A+ for overall excellence. Same finish is also available in a Fender Strat.
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus – Flamed maple top Green Sunburst
The perfect nickname for this glossy Strat could be “Green Goddess.” A fierce choice on all fronts combining Fender’s legendary design, features, and electronics. You can churn out some serious blues licks on this dynamo—or rock harder with the added punch of its bridge-position humbucker. The Player Series Stratocaster pickups in HSS configuration and 5-way switch offer many options.
Ibanez S561 – Pink Gold Metallic
Pink never looked so good, especially in gold metallic. The new Ibanez model embodies the design and features players have grown to love over the years. A strong but lightweight Meranti body and an offset rosewood fretboard are ideal elements. It also has a legendary Ibanez Wizard III flat neck — known for its strength, reliability, and super smooth playability. Check out the two-octave 24-fret fretboard for a wide tonal range. For a retro color vibe, there’s a Sea Foam Green option, too.
Taylor AD27e – Flametop 
Get ready to strum around a beach bonfire with this baby from Taylor’s American Dream Series. Taylor has conjured a warm, woody acoustic vibe with this all-maple round-shoulder dreadnought featuring figured Big Leaf maple top, back and sides, a hard rock maple neck, and a eucalyptus fretboard. The body’s dusky woodsmoke finish, shaded edgeburst, and satin sheen visually match the guitar’s earthy, broken-in tone. The non-cutaway Flametop brings a fresh sonic flavor to the Taylor line.
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Electric – Caribbean Blue Fade
Tropical hues top off this Epiphone, which has a contrasting black pickguard and chrome details. The more affordable Gibson brand offers a lot of bang for the buck as well as variety. Exude a laid-back island vibe any time of the year with a Caribbean Fade-topped guitar. Ideal for a variety of musical styles, the model embraces the Les Paul aesthetic and sound.
Dean V Select – Quilt Top Ocean Burst
Sail into a fierce solo over this V’s satin-finished three-piece Mahogany neck. Well known for their matching headstock and body designs, Dean’s quilt top, Ocean Burst, makes quite an impact—as does the guitar’s solid, black V plate tailpiece. No doubt, the V Select is a firecracker for playability, perfect for rock to harder-edged metal voyages. It’s outfitted with Seymour Duncan SH-5 and APH-1 pickups. Bring out a Dean V in any finish, and show ’em you mean business. Not too bad on the finances either.
D’Angelico Deluxe Bedford SH – Vintage Cream
D’Angelico calls her Vintage Cream, but I call her “mellow yellow” — this gem is a true original. D’Angelico is offering its Deluxe Bedford SH Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar as a “Sweetwater Exclusive.” — a semi-solid take on their flagship solid-body with this three-pickup model — one mini-humbucker and two single coils. The Deluxe Bedford SH has a modern F hole design on a cool, offset body that stands out, as does its unique-shaped white pickguard. Abalone split block fretboard inlays and an eloquent headstock are beautifully regal touches.
Gear Editor’s additions: I just love these two guitars, so I wanted to add them to the list!
Taylor All-Koa 722ce
Hawaiian koa’s tropical beauty is on full display with this compact Grand Concert from Taylor’s new all-koa 700 Series. Select-grade koa sports rich toasted caramel hues that are showcased in a natural way with an ultra-thin matte finish that allows you to feel the wood texture while coaxing maximum resonance from the body. The result: an exceptionally vibrant voice with pleasing midrange punch and signature Taylor playability. One strum will transport you to your own island paradise.
Luna Vineyard Koa Bevel Folk Acoustic-Electric
Whether your foundation is rooted in guitar playing, or you are looking to make an artistic impression wherever you go, the Vineyard Koa Bevel Folk Acoustic-Electric from Luna Guitars will ignite your passion when the moment is right. For starters, this guitar brings comfort to the forefront with a folk body shape, sized between a parlor and a grand auditorium, and features a rosewood bevel to rest on while playing. Offering warm tone with every strum, the Vineyard Koa Folk is built with a solid spruce top overlaid with a beautiful koa veneer and koa back and sides. One can appreciate the attention to detail is displayed all over this guitar, especially with the vine inlays along the rosewood fretboard and sound hole – noticeable from a mile away. With a Fishman Presys II Preamp and onboard tuner, be ready to dial in your sound quickly, plug-in to an amp, and hit the stage ready to go.