Fresh Approach
Many of the world’s best guitars were created 50+ years ago, and following in those footsteps is undoubtedly a noble pursuit. However, significantly
modernizing the instrument through materials, technology and ingenuity
deserves recognition as well. For breaking new ground—and doing it well—
we award these pioneers.
Acme ToneShaper
The ToneShaper from Acme Guitar Works is
an electronics package that puts an abundance of Strat wiring mods into your guitar
simultaneously. While these mods are nothing new, the approach certainly is. Reviewer
Kenny Rardin remarks, “It looks like this
may take me out of the Strat modding
business altogether. It’s simply amazing.”
The ToneShaper was one of this month’s
Premier Gear award recipients. For the full
review, turn to page 167.
Street $129.95
acmeguitarworks.com
2009
Watch the video review
on premierguitar.com/video
Click here to read the full review
Voyage-Air VAOM-1C
Travel guitars have been done in a number of different ways. Master
luthier Harvey Leach’s approach is to make a high-end acoustics that
just happen to fold. The Voyage-Air (January 2009) is the result. The
guitar is a solid-wood, OM-style that folds at the neck joint to fit in
a backpack-style case. Reviewer Gayla Drake Paul summed up the
expertly executed concept: “The more compact and self-contained we
artists can be, the easier our lives get and the fewer expenses we have.
It’s a beautiful equation, and the bonus points are that this is a fantastically good guitar that sounds, plays and feels like one of the best factory made guitars out there.”
MSRP $1695
voyageairguitar.com
Fender Road Worn ‘50s Telecaster
While others were bringing forth the future,
Fender was also bringing forth the past. New
old-looking guitars have been around for a
while, but it’s generally been an expensive
affair. The Road Worn Series guitars (May
2009) took the concept to the masses by putting quality instruments with convincing aging
in the hands of players at prices many more
could afford. Say what you will about
the aesthetics of a deliberately
worn-out guitar, the neck feel of
a real vintage Fender and classic
Tele voice made this one a winner in our book. Reviewer Jordan
Wagner summed it up this way:
“Once in a while, you come across
a particular guitar that exemplifies a model you’ve played what
seems like a million times—one
that rises above the others of
its kind and truly enchants you.
This Telecaster was one of those
instruments.”
Street $949
fender.com
Watch the video review on premierguitar.com/video Click here to read the full review Click here to read the full review
Flaxwood Liekki
Flaxwood Guitars is a Finnish company who
uses injection molding and a mix of wood particles and a binding agent to produce guitars
with extraordinary resonance that are free of
moisture-related problems. The Liekki (June
2009) is their hollow-bodied P- 90 model. It
earned a Premier Gear award for its exceptional
neck and playability, and broad tonal palette.
Said reviewer Pat Smith, “I have played
guitars many times the cost of these
that can’t touch them for playability,
fit or finish. The sound is good and
versatile, and the neck is probably
the best feeling neck I’ve ever had my
hands on.”
MSRP $3093 (fixed bridge);
$3296 (tremolo)
flaxwood.com
Click here to read the full review
116 PREMIER GUITAR DECEMBER 2009
www.premierguitar.com
