All around the world, guitar players drool over the gorgeous guitar finishes they see in photos on the web. Whether they follow manufacturers on Instagram or seek out articles like this one, guitar players certainly love a gorgeous finish. And why shouldn’t they? It’s a fact that looks are a major selling point on any guitar. Whether it’s the temptation of rare tonewoods, an innovative finish, or an outstanding paint job, there’s something about guitar finishes that pulls at your heartstrings and makes your mouse hover over the “Add to Cart” button.
Here at Sweetwater, we see gorgeous guitar finishes every day. This got us thinking, “What are the most beautiful instruments we have here?” Eventually, our curiosity got the best of us, so we decided to venture into the Sweetwater warehouse in search of the most gorgeous guitars that we have in stock. Due to our massive inventory of 20,000+ guitars, we decided that we needed to limit our search to just electric guitars. Here are some of the amazing guitar finishes we found.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned collector, these guitar finishes may have you applying for a Sweetwater Card.
Note: Many of the guitars in this article are limited editions or one-of-a-kind instruments. If the one that caught your eye has already been sold, call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer to find out about what other amazing guitars have recently arrived.
PRS Santana Retro 10-Top
PRS Santana Retro 10-Top in Faded Whale Blue — it’s as comforting to the soul as a well-worn pair of blue jeans. This finish is masterfully applied to a gorgeous maple 10-Top and set off by premium touches like wood binding and MOP inlays. And, to complete the retro look, this version of the classic Santana model duplicates the original’s deeper body carve, heel style, headstock shape, and nut placement.
Spector USA NS-5XL
What can you say about the looks of this bass that it doesn’t say for itself? That’s a Spector USA NS-5XL in Radiant Gloss finish, and the combination of its vibrant colors over a gorgeously deep-looking quilt maple top is absolutely captivating — especially under stage lights. And it’s impossible to dispute that the gold hardware is the perfect fit for this instrument. Sure, it packs Spector’s eminent playability and gargantuan tone, but you’ll probably spend as much time taking pictures of it as you will playing it.
Lakland USA 44-60
If some of the instruments on this list are colorful peacocks, then this Lakland USA 44-60 is an elegant eagle. Crafted from flame koa, the elegance of this bass is enhanced by the cool oval bridge and J Bass-style control knobs. Little touches, like the wood dot inlays and the way the rosewood fretboard broaches the headstock, give your eyes more reasons to linger. But other than these simple appointments, there is little to interrupt the harmony of koa and rosewood — a class act all the way through.
Taylor Presentation Series PS14ce
As part of Taylor’s Presentation Series, the PS14ce is dressed for success. With Macassar ebony back and sides topped with Sitka spruce, the PS14ce is a great example of a guitar that looks as good as it sounds. The real star of the show here is the masterful application of Nouveau inlays, including a detailed vine on the fretboard, and torch inlays on the headstock and bridge. Even the comfortably contoured armrest is shaped from premium ebony. All Taylor guitars are designed from the ground up for fantastic tone, but it’s within the Presentation Series that you’ll find museum-quality looks to match.
Ibanez J Custom RG8570Z
There’s something about the look of an Ibanez RG that is visually versatile — it just looks right, whether it’s dressed in an ’80s-style neon finish, an understated and elegant stain, or even a natural finish. This J Custom RG8570Z aims for the subtle-yet-distinct look and nails it with a vibrant “Chrysocolla” stain over AAA flame maple. As your eyes are drawn in, they linger on the wood binding around the African mahogany body and Macassar ebony fretboard. The detailed vine inlay on the fretboard speaks for itself — this guitar is classy from top to bottom.
ESP USA TE-II HT Quilted Maple
It’s almost unfair to present the ESP USA TE-II HT in a static picture — with its exquisite quilted maple top masterfully finished in vibrant Emerald Green Sunburst, this guitar’s top looks absolutely three-dimensional under stage lights. Whether the intoxicating look reminds you of rolling waves or billowing smoke, it’s easy to lose track of time just looking at it. And, while gold hardware isn’t the appropriate look for every guitar, it’s exactly the right complement for this finish.
Relish Mary One
While there is much more going on with Relish guitars than meets the eye, what does meet the eye is impressive, indeed. Instead of rehashing a familiar body style, the Relish Mary One‘s aluminum core boasts voluptuous curves that are reminiscent of ’60s offset guitars but with an undeniably unique character. The Mary One tops its aluminum body with a 7-ply maple/alder veneer, balancing its machined look with organic character. And, if you’re after the most attention-grabbing presentation possible, remove the magnetically attached back and hang the Mary One on your wall backward — it will not be ignored.
Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard V1 VOS
A spot-on re-creation of an early 1960 Les Paul — which, ironically, had the same specs as 1959 Les Pauls — the Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard V1 VOS is like a well-tailored suit. It’s distinctive and classy, and it looks appropriate in almost any setting. The Deep Cherry Sunburst finish looks suitably vintage and authentic, especially with the added vintage patina. In other words, the 60th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard V1 VOS commands attention even though it isn’t working too hard to achieve it.
EVH ’79 Bumblebee
Say the words “Van Halen’s guitar” to any guitarist, and they’ll likely have a striped vision in red, black, and white. This isn’t that guitar — this is the EVH ’79 Bumblebee, and it’s been crafted with the same attention to detail that EVH applied to the more ubiquitous Frankenstein guitar. From the single master volume control (labeled “Tone,” of course) and the eye bolt strap “pins” to the iconic striped paint job, it’s clear that this instrument was designed for pure rock fury. And, to remove any possible doubt as to this guitar’s lineage, a set of Van Halen guitar picks are stuck to the treble side just as Eddie preferred. Among a slew of collector’s items, this guitar even comes complete with a custom Anvil hardshell case, which is rather amusing, considering most players would never let this work of art leave their home.
In Conclusion
After all the time we spent poring over the finest finishes that Sweetwater has to offer, one thing became clear: we couldn’t decide on our favorite finish. Coming to a consensus as to whether quilted maple or flame maple was more impressive was too much for our team of warehouse explorers. There is one thing that we learned, though — every player had their own disparate preference in guitar finishes. Whether it’s a tried-and-true classic from Fender or an experimental finish from ESP, each guitar is beautiful in its own way.
Want a gorgeous guitar for yourself or want to know more about any of these guitars? Give us a call at (800) 222-4700, and our expertly trained Sales Engineers will walk you through all the different makes and models we have at our facility. And if you ask them which guitar at Sweetwater is the most beautiful, they may point you to the guitar of your dreams.
