Every month in the Best of Guitar Gallery, we highlight guitars that push the envelope of artistry, design, and craftsmanship. Whether you’re a guitar collector, a player, or just an admirer of fine instruments, we proudly present this special sampling from the many thousands of guitars available to you from Sweetwater.
For the month of December, we’re mixing things up a bit by offering a retrospective of 2025. A year filled with jaw-dropping electrics, acoustics, basses, and beyond, here are the unique instruments that truly stood apart in terms of craftsmanship, creativity, and artistry. We’re also throwing in a couple of absolute stunners from our friends at Martin, who are still defining what a fine steel-stringed acoustic should be, nearly 200 years into their storied history.
Martin D-45 1934 Project 91-2
In 1933, country star Gene Autry placed an order for a custom Martin guitar. Already a loyal player of the brand, he wanted a model befitting of his status as a world-renowned performer. In this case, it meant the finest tonewoods available, superior craftsmanship, plus Martin’s most exquisite pearl inlay work.
Since the guitar Autry wanted was a dreadnought adorned with appointments found on a Style 45 — Martin’s custom, top-tier model designation since 1902 — the D-45 was born.
Because the D-45 was a special-order-only guitar, often made with custom touches requested by star players of the day, only 91 were made before World War II halted production. Since that time, the guitar has achieved “Holy Grail” status among the world’s top players and collectors alike. With a prewar D-45 recently selling for a six-figure sum, it’s arguably the most cherished and collectible acoustic guitar in the world.
To honor the D-45’s legacy, Project 91 revives the brand’s original batch of prewar D-45s one by one with museum-grade precision and authenticity. Each guitar in this 91-count collection is a mirror-exact model of a specific D-45 serial number from 1933 to 1942. This guitar, the 1934 Project 91-2, is a painstaking re-creation of the second D-45 ever made. Constructed entirely of old-growth Adirondack spruce, mahogany, ebony, and Brazilian rosewood, it provides its future owner with a genuine, direct connection to the golden era of acoustic-guitar building.
Martin D-300 Limited-edition
While Martin’s Project 91 D-45 guitars pay homage to the pinnacle of prewar Martin craftsmanship, the D-300 highlights what is possible today.
Commemorating Martin’s 2025 milestone of three million guitars, the D-300 pulls out all the stops in terms of inlay and binding work, construction, and wood selection. This stunning, museum-quality masterpiece was a show stopper at Sweetwater’s recent GuitarFest, turning the head of anyone who strolled past its showcase. And now it can be the centerpiece of even the most impressive guitar collection.
One of only 30, this guitar’s focal point is a unique top that tells the story of Martin’s extraordinary, 192-year history through the rings of a tree. Gold dots delicately placed on the rings mark pivotal moments in Martin’s past. The ebony pickguard shows a map of Martin’s Nazareth, PA, locations with rubies marking the points of Martin’s three historic factories. An abalone sycamore-tree inlay on the back celebrates the generations of highly skilled employees who have helped build the Martin legend.
Featuring the finest tonewoods and all the innovations in guitar construction that Martin is known for, it delights the ears every bit as much as the eyes.
Gibson Custom Dealer Select — “The Beauty of the Burst”
A 1959 Les Paul Standard checks all the boxes of a truly legendary electric guitar. It’s extremely rare; it’s heard on important records in blues and rock history; and, of course, it has the looks and tones to stop you dead in your tracks.
From the figured maple top to the elegant sunburst finish to its iconic, powerful sound, the “burst” is about as close to guitar perfection as it gets.
Inspired by the instruments that fueled the fiery playing of Peter Green, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, and Gary Moore, and from the pages of Yasuhiko Iwanade’s now beloved The Beauty of the Burst book, we present this exclusive collection of Dealer Select Burst models. As a special upgrade to this limited run, select models in this collection feature Gibson Custom Sugarbucker pickups, our Sweetwater-exclusive take on an underwound PAF with Alnico IV magnets.
EVH Custom Shop
Edward Van Halen’s “Frankenstein” guitars are the literal embodiment of the word “custom.” Famously pieced together from a collection of Fender and Gibson parts, routed out, rewired, and spray-painted, countless modifications were made in service of realizing the sounds Van Halen had swirling in his endlessly creative mind.
In the process, Van Halen single-handedly reinvented the electric guitar by contributing to advancements in locking tremolo systems, headstock designs, dropped-D levers, and numerous other innovations.
EVH guitars are the culmination of everything Van Halen “…built, destroyed, stumbled onto, learned, and experienced.” And in true Van Halen spirit, it’s only fitting that they offer players a chance to have a guitar that’s truly their own.
That’s why, in 2025, EVH expanded its offerings to include Custom Shop models. Here, you’ll find a collection of Sweetwater-spec’d guitars with unique pickup combinations and exotic top woods not currently available from any other dealer. We have many models to choose from, and if you want to build your own EVH Custom Shop guitar, then simply call your Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 to start the process.
Taylor 814ce Special Editions
You’ve got to hand it to Taylor; they never stop moving forward. From advancements in bracing, neck joints, manufacturing techniques, and electronics to launching their amazing Gold Label series, which seamlessly blends modern technology with authentic vintage mojo, the brand has a half century of innovation behind it and no sign of slowing down any time soon.
And while each year brings us exciting new body shapes, models, and options, the quintessential Taylor remains the Grand Auditorium. Introduced in 1994 and signified by a “14ce” model designation, the Grand Auditorium is described by Taylor as their “signature shape” that “embodies the ultimate all-purpose acoustic.” A top seller throughout Taylor’s product line, they offer a balanced sound, a cutaway for upper-fret access, and a versatile neck that’s equally comfortable and effortless for fingerpickers and strummers alike.
Celebrating this truly astounding instrument, Sweetwater and Taylor have partnered to bring you, for the first time ever, an 814ce Special Edition series featuring custom finishes, throwback inlays, and exclusive wood combinations. These guitars are all-new, unique takes on Taylor’s flagship 814 platform and are only available at Sweetwater.
Limited-edition Gold Gretsch Paisley Penguin
From the Beatles to AC/DC, the Stray Cats to The Cult, Chet Atkins to Duane Eddy, some of the biggest hits, twangiest licks, and heaviest riffs of all time were played on Gretsch guitars.
Known for their innovative electronics, unique shapes, bold styling, and truly distinctive tones, anyone who plugs one in is guaranteed to make a statement.
And few guitars make a statement quite like the Penguin, often seen onstage with modern slingers such as Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes and Josh Klinghoffer during his stint with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Originally created as a solidbody counterpart to the stunning White Falcon, the Penguin’s lineage reaches back to the dawn of rock ’n’ roll. This limited-edition model blends the best of the Penguin legacy with a unique paisley pattern peering out from beneath the gold edge burst. Additional features include TV Jones Filter’Tron pickups and a B3GP string-thru Bigsby tremolo.
Suhr Custom Modern Series
Many guitar enthusiasts place the vintage electrics of the 1950s on a pedestal, viewing their original, “golden era” designs as sacred, never to be altered, lest the magic be lost. John Suhr is not one of those people.
Suhr has enjoyed a 40-year career building and modifying instruments for legendary players including Mark Knopfler and Scott Henderson as well as modern virtuosos Guthrie Govan, Mateus Asato, and Pete Thorn. Throughout that time, Suhr has earned his sterling reputation by improving vintage designs without losing their mojo and essence.
Today, Suhr is recognized as a premier brand for discerning guitar and bass players, offering classic-inspired tones combined with modern playability, reliability, and rock-solid intonation.
While any Suhr you purchase from Sweetwater will provide a lifetime of premium tones, these limited-run Custom Modern Series models are handbuilt in Suhr’s California shop with features not found on regular production models, giving them a familiar, classic vibe with a modern twist to meet the demands of today’s guitarist.
More to Explore
Check out more of our favorite models and recent releases you don’t want to miss.