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Rich Maloof
Reverend Greg Koch Signature Gristle ST
Big Time
Greg Koch is arguably the Roy Buchanan of our time, wrestling squawks ’n squeals, burning blues and some absolutely haywire chicken-picking from his guitar. Being not only a big talent but a big fella at 6’7″, he asked Reverend to build a Strat-style guitar distinguished (like the single-cut that preceded it) by a slightly increased…
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Rich Maloof
The PRS SE Custom 24 Semi-Hollow Piezo
Swiss Army Hybrid
PRS hits on its long-running trifecta – versatility, playability, aesthetic appeal – with its new twist on the electric/acoustic hybrid, the SE Custom 24 Semi-Hollow Piezo. The visuals hook you first. Our tester in Vintage Sunburst had a flame-maple veneer on its carved top, matched on the headstock and contrasted by a coffee-brown rosewood fretboard…
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Rich Maloof
Newman Guitars 5 String
Less Is More
Getting one’s hands on a five-string electric like the one Ted Newman Jones built for Keith Richards in the ’70s is a rare treat. Thanks to a partnership with the U.K.-based Cream T Custom Shop, adventurous players can now explore the road less traveled, as Keith has – that is, on an instrument built for…
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Rich Maloof
Gibson Theodore Standard
Flower Power
Named in honor of Ted McCarty, the Theodore is based on a design the legendary Gibson president penciled into a sketchbook back in 1957. Ted was angling for more radical solidbody designs at the time, departing from the curvy Les Paul and entering a phase that would soon yield the Explorer and Flying V. With…
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Rich Maloof
Fender 70th Anniversary American Professional II Stratocaster
At 70 years old, the Fender Strat is the same age as the transistor radio, the Miss America Pageant, and Elvis Presley’s debut single. Dare we say, it has aged better than any of them. Rather than building to original 1954 specs, Fender is offering the 70th Anniversary Strat as a special edition from the…
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Rich Maloof
Reddick Voyager CS
Mods Made Easy
Exploring creative designs at his shop in Georgia, luthier Ian Reddick aimed to solve a common problem – how to cover a range of tones on a gig without lugging a small army of guitars. His solution is the Voyager, a modular and highly customizable guitar that enables a player to swap out pickups in…
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Rich Maloof
B&G Guitars’ Caletta Standard Build
Small But Mighty
B&G Guitars are made in Tel Aviv by a talented shop that translates the best traits of traditional guitars into high-quality instruments for today’s player. With the Caletta, their aim was to merge a Stella and a Martin – that is, combine the compact size, playability, and tone of guitars played by early blues fingerstylists…
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Rich Maloof
Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster
Well-Bred Hybrid
The truth? Hybrid guitars are a tall order. But with the Acoustasonic line – now five models strong – Fender’s new factory dedicated to it is producing instruments boasting excellent workmanship and materials that offer streamlined functionality. Fender was clever in fusing electric and acoustic elements for the Player Telecaster. Electric guitarists will find creature…
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Rich Maloof
Fender’s Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster
Songs Not Included
Fender can’t guarantee its Jason Isbell Custom Tele will instill every player with Isbell’s talent for songcraft, but it sure does put his range of tasteful Tele tones within reach. Built in the style of a ’59 Custom, the body is an eye-catcher from the start with its warm Chocolate Sunburst lacquer finish, black pickguard,…
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Rich Maloof
Quilter Labs’ Aviator Cub
High Flyer
Quilter Labs has gained a rep for busting popular perceptions. They’ve attempted to step up their game with this single-channel combo voiced to deliver classic Fender tones – in a tubeless amp. The Aviator Cub is an open-back cube, blissfully light at 21.5 pounds. It offers three distinct voices: Tweed (based on a 1960 Deluxe),…
