Having such an enormous range of guitars to choose from is a feeling that we know (and love) all too well here at Sweetwater — and we’ve got some real head turners coming through our doors this winter! From exciting modern electronics to stunning throwback designs, from stylish signature models to otherworldly paint jobs and beyond, we have choices that will catch the attention of virtually any guitarist! Below, we’ve listed 10 of the many amazing guitars we know you’re going to want to check out this season!
Charvel Satchel Signature Pro-Mod DK – Purple Bengal
The Charvel Satchel Signature Pro-Mod DK delivers all of the outlandish appeal of Steel Panther’s front man himself, both tonally and aesthetically speaking. Its delightfully purple tiger-stripe color theme sets the mood like only Satchel can, while reinforced with hardware that offers the reliability you need when you’re at center stage. Some of these goodies include a tight-action Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo bridge and Charvel die-cast tuners to keep intonation at the forefront, leaving you free to unleash all the hardcore dives you desire. Lightweight in design, its resonant alder body prioritizes maneuverability, and a compound-radius maple fingerboard with rolled edges allows for effortless chording and soloing. Tone-wise, you’ll get nothing short of brilliance with a pair of Fishman Fluence Classic active pickups, texturizing every song with a hot-rodded scream that will really knock the socks off your audience. Horns up!
Taylor Limited-edition GAce-LTD Grand Auditorium Acoustic-electric — Transparent Black
From head to toe, this Taylor Limited-edition GAce-LTD Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric is outfitted for unprecedented performance and playing feel. Starting with a bracing redesign that includes additional side bracing, Taylor not only developed an acoustic that’s stronger but also one that provides optimal sustain and sound response for its Grand Auditorium body shape. Its fabulous tone can also be attributed to Taylor’s stellar tonewood choices, featuring a torrefied Sitka spruce top and blackheart sassafras back and sides that combine for a very open sound with shimmering treble. Onboard, a 3-section Expression System 2 pickup awaits to deliver your amplified tone with vivid clarity while also supplying a 3-band EQ so you can fit any mix your performance calls for. The special ebony fingerboard is as responsive as you could ask for, making this acoustic a great choice for a variety of different playing styles.
EVH Striped Series Frankenstein Relic — Red/Black/White
What word can you use to describe Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat other than “legendary”? This EVH Striped Series Frankenstein Relic pays tribute to the late rock icon in stunning detail and has been treated to really make it look like it hit all those tour dates back in the day! But looking the part is only half of the equation, and you’ll be blown away by how accurately this EVH replicates Eddie’s tone. Courtesy of a direct-mount Wolfgang bridge humbucker, this axe snarls and soars with ease and supplies a graphite-reinforced maple neck with a compound-radius fingerboard that provides players the ideal landing pad for fast taps and epic harmonic bends. The superb intonation you’d expect from a guitar inspired by Eddie comes from an EVH-branded Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, even boasting a D-Tuna system that automatically retunes your Frankenstrat to Drop D and back again.
Epiphone Slash J-45 Acoustic Guitar — Vermillion Burst
Just like Slash himself, the Epiphone Slash J-45 acoustic is packed to the gills with originality. And this version of the iconic J-45 features Slash-approved appointments such as an easy-playing, rounded C-shape mahogany neck with an Indian laurel fingerboard. Cosmetic subtleties like Slash’s engraved signature in the truss-rod cover and his classic “Skully” drawing on the back of the headstock add an effortless charm to this acoustic’s appearance. Its power-duo construction of mahogany with a spruce top keeps its dynamic range wide open, producing overtones that will complement any genre you choose. And, when you want to plug in, LR Baggs VTC onboard electronics create the ideal foundation for delivering a lively and robust amplified tone every time. So, whether you’re looking for a quality live-performance companion or a champion in the studio, this acoustic will shine through with flying colors.
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster — Dark Night
You’ll find a variety of updates on the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster that are designed to seriously upgrade its playability. Its three new V-Mod II pickups still chime with all the single-coil charm and definition that Fender is known for but now offer a clearer sound with more enhanced articulation. You can now also add the neck pickup to any position of your choosing with a Push-Push tone-knob control! A 2-point tremolo bridge is next on the list of upgrades, providing you that extra bit of sustain and brightness that every Strat is entitled to. The maple neck is satin finished for a responsive feel with upper-register heel contouring and a deep “C” neck profile for a secure feel no matter where you play on it. Bottom line: It’s everything you love about a Strat with enhancements where you want them!
Gretsch G2622 Streamliner — Phantom Metallic
Since the introduction of the Gretsch G2622 Streamliner, guitarists here at Sweetwater have been blown away by its combination of quality and affordability. With a 5-ply arched laminated body of bright-sounding maple and a long spruce center block, this semi-hollowbody guitar achieves a beautifully chambered and feedback-free tone as lovingly vintage as its name! A duo of Broad’Tron BT-2S humbuckers lays your tonal foundation, but you’ll be surprised at the amount of shaping freedom the Streamliner gives you in terms of its controls. In classic Gretsch fashion, each humbucker has a volume control in addition to the master volume and tone controls, so balancing your ideal sound is a cinch. And, thanks to its double-cutaway design, tortoiseshell pickguard, “V” tailpiece, and jumbo pearloid fret markers, you can enjoy all the retro goodies for a wonderful value.
Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin Hollowbody — Cognac Burst
Since the spike in popularity of reissues and vintage-inspired instruments, few guitars have really hit the nail on the head as well as the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin hollowbody. This guitar is everything an archtop wanted to be back in the day perfected and structured for durability and maximum tonal performance to meet the standards of today. With an all–wild cherry body, this archtop features an incredibly rich tone with fantastic projection while simultaneously looking as classic as can be, courtesy of a vintage Cognac Burst finish and a tortoiseshell pickguard. Cream binding, bell knobs, trapeze tailpiece, F-holes, kingpin/cantilevered neck — the list of period-correct appointments goes on and on! Grab a slide, plug in, and listen to the timeless wail of an archtop and single-coil combo. This is an archtop done right and at a price you can’t beat!
Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s — Iced Tea
We won’t say that we’ve saved the best for last — but just humor us. This Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s just oozes class around every curve! This guitar embodies everything we love about Les Pauls into one rock-solid unit, starting with a pair of face-melting Burstbucker 61 pickups. These humbuckers are engineered with magnets that beautifully capture all the slight tonal variations and historic crunch that made the Les Paul such a long-standing rock-and-roll axe of choice. Its 3-way pickup selector works in conjunction with per-pickup tone and volume controls to let you unleash as much or as little of that vintage Les Paul snarl as you want. A SlimTaper neck fits your hand perfectly with a rolled-edge rosewood fingerboard and Plek Pro fret treatment for tremendous playability. There are vintage reissues, and then there’s the Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s!
Schecter C-1 Silver Mountain — Toxic Venom
With a color name like Toxic Venom, we here at Sweetwater expected nothing short of sheer chaos out of the Schecter C-1 Silver Mountain — and we weren’t far off! The complexity of its wild paint job, coupled with all-black hardware and offset pearloid inlays, establishes an aggressive aesthetic fit for any metalhead. An ultra-thin “C” neck carve takes your shredding to new heights across its hyper-responsive and 24 stainless steel–fretted ebony fingerboard. The Schecter USA Sonic Seducer humbucking pickups will ignite any riff with a feisty high-output growl. You’ll receive all the rich and bright top-end presence you’re craving with the creative freedom to easily shape tone, thanks to a devoted push-pull control and a 3-way pickup selector. And, if sustain is what you’re after, look no further than the Hipshot Ibby HM bridge for fantastically intonated sustained notes with superior longevity.
What’s Your Pick?
Well, there you have it! These 10 guitars are some of our favorites that will be flying out the warehouse doors this winter, and we’d love for you to check one out. And, remember, Sweetwater has a lot of other really cool acoustic and electric guitar options, as well — this is merely the tip of the iceberg! For assistance in finding the axe that suits you best, be sure to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700 or come by the store to try one out in person — we’d love to see you! Happy shopping!
