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Must-see Guitars Summer 2022

Friday July 1, 2022. 03:00 PM , from Sweetwater inSync
The arrival of summer signals warmer weather, more daylight, and — most importantly — more music! Well, more live music, specifically. From massive festivals to local band battles, summer is the time to let your music shine. Whether you’re hunkered down in the studio or hopping from stage to stage, Sweetwater’s Guitar Gallery is sure to have something for everyone in our 2022 summer selection.

Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Electric Guitar

Conceived by Josh Hurst, Fender’s Meteora originally debuted in 2018 with the company’s Parallel Universe Collection, and this shape is brimming with an almost-paradoxical blend of classic Fender panache and futuristic design direction. Like the Space Age aesthetics that never truly took over, this offset axe could be mistaken for a Jazzmaster sibling whose visual similarities beget its alternate-reality origins. The Player Plus Meteora isn’t just about classic looks, either, boasting two Fireball humbuckers whose namesake sound heats up from its predecessor’s single-coil setup. You’ll find the sonic profile of this guitar anchored in an alder body, boasting rich and robust sounds with sweet sustain, incisive mids, and solid bass. A resilient maple neck is both tonally and structurally stable, as it’s naturally resistant to warping and twisting while maintaining a bright overall sound with balanced projection, great note separation, and tight frequencies in every register. Explore 22 medium-jumbo frets across the 12-inch-radius pau ferro fingerboard, which imparts an excellent clarity to your output whose shimmering highs and boisterous lows will pair well with the Fireball pickups. The satin-smooth modern “C” neck profile accommodates numerous playing styles with the more expressive likely to find themselves grateful for the locking tuners and 2-point tremolo. Its vibrato isn’t the only thing that’s versatile — an S-1 coil switch lets you freely toggle between hot bucker and textbook Fender single-coil clean tones. For a futuristic all-around performer from a past that never was, Fender’s Player Plus Meteora delivers a truly out-of-this-world sound.

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Reverend Roundhouse Solidbody Electric Guitar

Finding the sweet spot between innovation and novelty can be tricky, especially in a world as time-tested as guitars. Despite that, Reverend took up the gauntlet with their design philosophy as they crafted what would become the Roundhouse: a modern, no-frills take on the timeless single-cutaway design, reinvented for the modern rocker. Contoured for comfort and style, the korina (limba) body blends substantial tone with light weight to deliver hefty bass, crystalline treble, and balanced note separation for clear, responsive voicing. The same wood is used in the 3-piece set neck, designed with a Modern Oval shape to accommodate versatile playing styles with ease. Rosewood comprises the 12-inch-radius fingerboard, imparting a warm, glassy veneer to your sound as you explore all 22 frets. Pin-lock tuners, a Boneite nut, and a stoptail bridge keep your tones in tune, and HA5 humbuckers deliver solid, searing sound across the spectrum. With Reverend, the devil is in the details, and they’ve spared no effort in taking the necessary steps to guarantee you get the most out of your sound. Variable pickup voicing is right at your fingertips with the bass roll-off, and the treble-bleed circuit ensures you’re never short on tone even when the volume goes down. Alpha control pots boast a ±10% rating (as do the polyester caps) to provide reliable, consistent sound, letting you focus on what matters most: the music.

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PRS S2 Custom 24 Electric Guitar

In a word, “precision” might best describe the ethos of Paul Reed Smith and his namesake guitars. Maybe it’s because the PRS letters can be found within the word, but to say these axes are engineered as anything less would be blasphemous. The S2 Custom 24 was built for blistering play and high-octane tones with an asymmetrical double-cutaway body, lending you unimpeded access to 24 frets across a Pattern Thin mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. Shredders and soloists of any ilk will enjoy the expressivity offered by the PRS tremolo and low-mass locking tuners, giving you a range from nuanced vibrato to octaves-spanning dive-bombs. The gorgeous maple-topped mahogany body boasts 85/15 “S” humbuckers, faithfully capturing every note with enriching clarity and augmenting the natural brightness and note separation of the maple as well as the crisp mids and balanced projection of the mahogany. Extend your tonal range even further with the push-pull pot, made to split the coils for an even greater degree of versatility. Though the S2 Custom 24 can handle high-caliber playing, it would be hugely underselling the sonic capabilities of this guitar to suggest that it’s a “shredders only” zone.

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Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS Electric Guitar

Speaking of shredders: the patron saint of heavy metal himself — Grover Jackson — nearly wrote the book on superstrats, spawning a legacy of high-octane axes that would lead to the formation of Jackson Guitars and the company’s own superstrat, the Dinky. This X Series Dinky DK3XR ticks every box of that vaunted ’80s panache, sporting an electric finish with contrasting pickups in an HSS configuration to ensure tonal versatility with maximum output. A poplar body boasts resounding upper- and midrange frequencies with a straightforward low end, while the maple neck imparts crystalline note separation with great balance across every register. The satin-finished bolt-on neck is topped with a 12- to 16-inch compound-radius laurel fingerboard and graphite reinforced with a scarf joint to ensure comfortable, blazing access to all 24 jumbo frets. Whether you prefer a subtler approach to vibrato flavor or massive dive-bombs, the double-locking tremolo can do it all, ensuring stable tones as you tear up the record. Eye-catching details abound, including inverted pearloid shark fin inlays and a revered headstock to match, while the omission of a pickguard allows for an elegant display of power truly befitting the ’80s aesthetics that the Dinky helped to define.

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Gretsch G2215-P90 Streamliner Junior Jet Club P90 Electric Guitar

From their humble Brooklyn beginnings in 1883 to their first foray into guitars in the 1930s all the way to finding themselves at home with some of the 20th century’s biggest names — Chet Atkins, Bo Diddley, Lou Reed, Elvis Presley, Robert Smith, Bono, and John Frusciante, to name just a few — Gretsch has been honing their craft for over a century. Over that much time, they really got a sense of what works and what doesn’t, what it really means to say something is timeless — Gretsch’s guitars are exactly that. But who says you can’t teach an old dog some new tricks? Their G2215-P90 Streamliner Junior Jet Club streamlines the company’s enduring design, adding modern twists to give the new-gen rockers a comfortable classic whose sonic output is anything but old-fashioned. A Broad’Tron BT-2S humbucking bridge pickup and a P-90 soapbar neck pickup populate the nyatoh single-cutaway body, blending classic aesthetics with sizzling tones and growling mids. The vintage electro-style knobs and Plexi pickguard might hide the fact that opposite the laurel fingerboard’s 22 medium-jumbo frets is a super-modern, thin “U” neck, ready to rock with a smooth profile that contemporary players have come to expect, and the tonal force to match. Fashion is fleeting, but style is timeless; and this Gretsch is stylish to a tee.

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Schecter Corsair Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar

Compared to the Gretsch above, it might be argued that Schecter’s Corsair semi-hollowbody electric guitar is an aesthetic inversion of the Junior Jet Club. The California-birthed purveyor of superstrats — whose historic player roster of certified shredders puts the likes of Prince, Gary Holt, East Bay Ray, and Synyster Gates into closer company than any of the mid-20th-century proto-rockers we might associate with semi-hollowbody design — was founded on a principal pursuit of quality. Schecter has spared no effort in designing the Corsair to compete with the best of history’s semi-hollow selections with a double-cutaway maple body, boasting dual F-holes in its flamed maple top for a satisfying symmetry that complements its powerful projection, balanced frequencies, and tremendous note separation. A 3-piece mahogany set neck delivers outstanding resonance, and the C-shaped profile comfortably accommodates a variety of play styles. Twenty-two medium frets sprawl the ebony fingerboard’s 14-inch radius, offering up rich, ringing tones in every register and loads of sustain. Those looking to rock it into the red will be right at home with the pair of Schecter Diamond ’78 humbuckers, which boast a dynamic range of robust sound via Alnico V magnets. Deceptively nuanced electronics include tone and volume controls for each pickup alongside push-pull controls to split the coils as well as a 3-way switch for maximum sonic sculpting. Take all this for a ride with the classic tremolo, and you’ve got yourself a semi-hollowbody electric guitar that can hold its own in nearly any part of the musical landscape.

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Guild Surfliner Solidbody Electric Guitar

Guild’s “Made to Be Played” mantra has long defined their sense of craftsmanship, earning them legendary spots ranging from 1950s New York jazz and Woodstock to John Lennon, Seattle grunge, and more. Yet, despite the swathe of genre-spanning artists to gravitate toward Guild, their Surfliner solidbody electric guitar feels like something of a dark horse for the company — exactly the type of character to make you stand out. An offset design, reminiscent of the 1960s and early 1970s, stylishly blends historic aesthetics with contemporary comfort, thanks to the precise beveling and ergonomic shaping. A resounding poplar body is complemented by a maple-on-maple neck and fretboard assembly to produce crisp highs, sturdy mids, and solid lows all with fantastic articulation. Decidedly modern electronics reimagine the HSS configuration with Guild’s LB-1 mini humbucker and two Aerosonic single-coils, affording a range from grizzly grunge to lucid clean tones. Sculpt your sound with Guild’s Rocker Pickup Switching System: dedicated on/off switches for each pickup. Combine this 7-configuration arrangement with master volume and tone controls to explore all 23 (yes, you read that right) frets down a 10-inch-radius neck with an accommodating C-shaped profile that’s as versatile as the Surfliner’s design cues. Considering the logo has been resurrected from an ’80s incarnation of the Guild brand, it’s safe to say that this axe is straight out of time and right at home in the end of history.

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D’Angelico Deluxe SS Limited Edition Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar

Established nearly a century ago, D’Angelico’s construction principles were informed by the old-world master-luthier techniques of the founder’s great uncle, an expert in violin and mandolin work. Though the company has undergone numerous transformations, the enduring design ethos would place D’Angelico’s instruments into the hands of Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and more; and their Deluxe SS Limited Edition semi-hollowbody serves as an emissary of their hallmark craftsmanship. Maple adorns the top, back, and sides of this slim, single-cutaway archtop, which sports dual F-holes that augment the tonewood’s natural resonance and balanced projection to be warm and bright throughout. A 3-piece maple and walnut neck boasts sturdy tones in every register, providing great note separation across all six strings while producing blooming overtones. The versatile C-shaped neck is topped with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, imparting a warm yet glassy sound that you’ll enjoy in any playing style. Impressive detailing abounds, ranging from the shimmering mother-of-pearl inlays and the headstock logo to the satin-finished locking tuners and the Art Deco–inspired panache. Seymour Duncan Antiquity Retrospec humbuckers elevate the natural articulation with vintage warmth, boasting nickel covers and classic PAF sound befitting D’Angelico’s maven of midcentury design. Find your sound as you fine-tune the dual volume and tone controls with a push-pull splitter that lets you enjoy single-coil tones and robust sonic sculpting on the fly.

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Taylor 324ce Blacktop LTD Acoustic-electric Guitar – Sweetwater Exclusive

Innovation doesn’t come easily in the world of guitars, but Taylor has managed to do exactly that throughout their illustrious history. From reimagining neck design and construction to the implementation of their own pickup system, Taylor’s penchant for quality and character has earned them a way into the repertoires of Richie Sambora, Dave Matthews, Jewel, David Gilmour, Taylor Swift, and countless others. This is on full display in their 324ce Blacktop LTD acoustic-electric guitar, opting for an all-mahogany body design that elicits rich harmonics and far-reaching overtones with sturdy overall sound and thick, chewy mids. Taylor’s innovative V-Class bracing provides even more projection and sustain in this Grand Auditorium’s sound chamber, making the Venetian-cutaway design an even more rewarding avenue for exploring all 20 frets. An ebony fretboard oozes with character; rich in both color and sound, this high-sustain tonewood is powerful in every register from punchy bass to ringing treble. Taylor’s internally developed Expression System is on mic duty. The ES2 includes onboard volume and phase adjustments as well as a 2-band EQ, and the pickup is mounted behind the bridge saddle to ensure consistent, faithful capture of the guitar’s dazzling sonic array. As an added bonus, this limited-edition iteration of the 324ce boasts a blacktop finish with natural back and sides. Elegant and undeniably cool — the Man in Black would likely abide.

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Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE Acoustic-electric Guitar

Breedlove’s ECO Collection of guitars holds the rare distinction of being made entirely from ethically sourced and sustainably harvested woods. Their commitment to environmental consciousness doesn’t stop there, however, as the back and sides of this ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE acoustic-electric boast their innovative EcoTonewood — a method of 3-ply laminate construction that uses African mahogany as its middle layer rather than a softwood core, allowing this concert-body guitar to reach its true sonic potential. Its top, alongside the inner and outer layers of the top and back, is comprised of myrtlewood: an exotic hardwood hailing from the American Pacific Northwest that is visually distinctive and tonally robust, powerfully projecting its brightness and clarity through every register. An African mahogany neck anchors a sturdy midrange while producing blooming overtones that are balanced and dynamic throughout the spectrum. Ovangkol sprawls the 20-fret fingerboard, imparting a warm depth to your sound and a subtle shimmer to the high end. You’ll find the slim “C” neck profile to be accommodating for most playing styles with the cutaway granting comfortable access to the full sonic scope of this Breedlove. Fishman electronics ensure your stellar tone is reliably captured with an onboard EQ for quick, nonintrusive adjustments in the studio or on the stage.

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Epiphone J-45 Studio Acoustic Guitar

Everyone can benefit from a great all-around guitar, and that’s exactly what you get with the  Epiphone J-45 Studio acoustic guitar. A member of the brand’s Advanced Jumbo family of guitars, this loud-voiced acoustic can hold its own in any genre, by itself or in ensembles, thanks to the larger lower bout and smaller upper bout, which are designed to increase projection without sacrificing articulation. A Sitka spruce top yields straightforward, responsive tones with projection that will match the velocity at which you play. Mahogany adorns the back and sides, anchoring the tones in a punchy middle register rich in harmonic depth and blooming overtones. You’ll find the 20-fret rosewood fingerboard imparts a warm, crystalline sound that dazzles across every string with the SlimTaper “D” neck profile that is both versatile and accommodating, allowing for endless, comfortable play. Whether it’s for practice, performance, or anything in between, the J-45 Studio’s diverse tones will only improve with time, thanks to the solid wood top, enshrining itself in your collection as a dependable standby, ready for all your acoustic needs.

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Well, What’ll It Be?

Sweetwater’s guitar gurus have been eyeing these for the upcoming warmer days, but this is just a fraction of a fraction of what Sweetwater has to offer. Whether you’re looking to add one of these to your collection or it’s sparked an entirely different note of inspiration, your Sales Engineer is happy to help you nail down the axe that best fits your needs! Give us a call at (800) 222-4700 or swing by and try one out in person!
The post Must-see Guitars Summer 2022 appeared first on inSync.
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/must-see-guitars-summer-2022/
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