For most people, the choice between buying a car or an expensive guitar is a simple one — buy the car. But, for guitar and bass players, owning a top-of-the-line instrument is a lifelong quest. If they’re given the choice between a car and a guitar, that player will almost always choose the guitar. Why? Because guitars in this price range are playable works of art made by master craftsmen with the finest possible materials. These aren’t just high-end guitars, they’re heirlooms in the making. And they’re available right here at Sweetwater.
Fender Custom Shop Fun Truckin’ Tele Bundle
What’s better than a summertime cruise down a winding road with the windows down and the stereo cranked? That’s the feeling that Fender Custom Shop Master Builders Ron Thorn and Jim Dolmage set out to re-create with the Fun Truckin’ Tele. Paying homage to the carefree vanning culture of the ’70s, the Fun Truckin’ Tele bundle includes a Custom Shop Telecaster built by Ron Thorn, a handwired ’57 Custom Twin-Amp, and a Creepy Fingers Low Muff. Each piece is decked out in a groovy metal-flake finish done by Fury in Kolor’s Cam Davis. Plugging it all in and letting the Tele loose brings back memories of shag carpets, powder-blue suits, and easy living that will have you wishing the bundle came with a time machine, too. The choice is up to you. Do you want a one-of-a-kind Tele, Twin, and Fuzzbox bundle or a stock Toyota Prius?
EVH ’79 Bumblebee
The EVH ’79 Bumblebee is a replica of one of the most iconic guitars ever to grace the Van Halen stage and has a price tag to match. This masterpiece of an instrument is more expensive than a brand-new 2020 Kia Forte. This limited-edition guitar comes with all of the modifications of the original, including the eye-catching relic’d paint job, Floyd Rose prototype bridge and locking nut, custom neck carve, eye-screw strap buttons, period-correct Schaller tuning machines, and ’70s-style tortoiseshell picks. Only 50 of these guitars were made; and they all ship with an exclusive collector’s booklet, a copy of Van Halen Live Tour in Japan 1978 & 1979, an autographed certificate of authenticity, and even more case candy. To top it all off, each guitar has Eddie’s signature on the back of the headstock.
Fodera Emperor Standard Special
New York City isn’t exactly the most wallet-friendly place on Earth. And it should go without saying that a bass guitar made there would follow the same pattern. As such, the Fodera Emperor Standard Special comes in at about the same price as it costs to replace the engine in your car. Aside from its impressive plugged-in tone, the Emperor’s main attraction is its jaw-dropping buckeye burl top and 1-piece ash body. But why does a bass cost this much? Fodera is a smaller instrument company. They don’t have a custom shop because they are a custom shop. Each instrument is handcrafted using rare and exotic tonewoods, perfect finishes, and a dedication to excellent quality. Don’t just take our word for it. Try a Fodera Emperor Standard Special today and experience the Fodera difference for yourself.
Fodera Monarch Select
Built by hand in small batches, Fodera basses are a dream for players all around the world. The Monarch Select is built in Brooklyn, New York, where the average rent for three months costs less than this bass does. This particular bass has a finely figured flame maple top over an alder body, custom-built pickups, and an active preamp with a 3-band EQ. The top-notch luthiers at Fodera lavished all of their skill to create a bass that feels incredibly comfortable on your body and that plays unlike any other bass you’ve played before.
Taylor PS12ce 12-Fret
Want an acoustic that fits an ultra-decadent lifestyle? The Taylor PS12ce 12-Fret should be your first choice. This Presentation Series instrument is a member of Taylor’s most exclusive line of instruments. Bearing a sinker redwood top and Tasmanian blackwood back and sides, it packs a unique tonal punch that’s sweet, rich, and mellow. It has a radiused armrest that brings a completely new meaning to the words “player comfort.” Did we mention that it’s abundantly adorned in paua abalone? From the inlaid rosette and body binding to the Nouveau fingerboard, this guitar just screams luxury. And for the cost of a reasonably priced vehicle, it can be yours.
ESP Japanese Custom Eclipse
If you don’t think of ESP as a luxury-instrument manufacturer yet, then this instrument will make you reconsider your opinion. The Japanese Custom Eclipse represents the peak of Japanese craftsmanship. It utilizes premium tonewoods, including a mahogany body, a carved flame maple top, and an ebony fingerboard. Stained black, this guitar looks as mean as it sounds. Features include a real bone nut, stainless steel Dunlop 6100 jumbo frets, and Sperzel locking tuners. A pair of passive EMG Marty Friedman pickups deliver blistering-hot tones that are ideal for riffing. And if that doesn’t scream metal, it ships from the factory in D-standard tuning. An eye-catching instrument, the ESP Japanese Custom Eclipse is the Rolls Royce of hard rock guitars.
Taylor Grand Auditorium Custom Koa
Guitars made from koa are always sure to catch the eye. But the Taylor Grand Auditorium Custom Koa takes visual appeal to the next level. Among luthiers and guitar builders, koa is prized for its gorgeous figure and dynamic, bright tone. As the wood ages, more midrange creeps into the sound, and the guitar produces a rich tone unlike any other instrument out there. The builders at Taylor used finely figured koa for the top, back, and sides of this instrument to capture the ultimate in tone. The beautiful figuring is complemented by an inlaid rosewood rosette. A paua and mother-of-pearl vine inlay meanders up the fingerboard, terminating in a matching headstock overlay with a flowering vine.
PRS Private Stock #8689 Custom 24
Paul Reed Smith and the team at PRS create some of the most beautiful instruments on the market. However, the luxury is limitless when you’re talking about instruments from PRS’s Private Stock. These custom instruments are made from the finest materials PRS can get their hands on and are lavished with greater attention to detail than any other instrument that ships from their Maryland factory. This model, the Private Stock #8689 Custom 24, features a classic tonewood combination of mahogany with a striking figured-maple top. A solid ziricote neck, 2-tone inlays, and Paul’s signature on the back of the headstock make this a truly one-of-a-kind guitar. Decadent from head to toe, including matching flame-maple tuning buttons, this guitar will set you back about as much as it costs a NASCAR crew to put a new transmission in their race car.
Martin D-45 Dreadnought
The D-45 is Martin’s flagship model and a vintage-guitar collector’s dream. This particular instrument, the D-45 Dreadnought, can trace its lineage back to 1933, when Gene Autry ordered the fanciest guitar that Martin could make. Famous for its hexagon fingerboard inlays and mother-of-pearl bound top, the D-45 packs some classic visual appeal. It’s made from premium materials, including solid rosewood back and sides, a slim mahogany neck, and a Sitka spruce top. The luxurious sound, classic good looks, and detail-oriented construction make this Martin a must-have for any guitar collector.
Gibson Custom L-5 CES
For decades, Gibson has been one of the most well-respected guitar builders. The elite team of luthiers at Gibson Custom are capable of creating some of the best instruments available on today’s market. This model, the L-5 CES, showcases the true skill of these craftsmen and is ideal for jazz and swing. The bookmatched flamed maple body is paired with a carved spruce top. High-end appointments include hand-applied 7-ply body binding, 5-ply fingerboard and headstock binding, gold trapeze tailpiece, and an intricate headstock inlay. Given a choice between this L-5 and a new car, more than a few musicians would choose the Gibson.
A new guitar doesn’t have to be as expensive as a car! Sweetwater offers a wide selection of acoustic and electric guitars to fit the needs of any player and any budget. Of course, our trained Sales Engineers are more than happy to provide you with expert advice. Give us a call today at (800) 222-4700. You’ll be strumming your new guitar in no time!
