"By their own words, Willie's American Guitars says that, ""Cool used guitars is almost all we do."" However, in addition to vintage and high-end used instruments, Willie's stocks new gear from Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS, Rickenbackers, and a slew of boutique amps and effects."
"Like many of the stores in our list, in addition to stocking a multitude of guitars, amps, and effects, TrueTone can service them as well."
"Pictured is the store's range of amp heads (upper left), combos (upper right), Fender and Gretsch Custom Shop instruments (lower left) and the higher gain fare (lower right)."
"San Francisco's oldest vintage guitar store, Real Guitars, has a reputation for being hard to find, but just call them and they'll guide you there! Pictured is the owner of Real Guitars, Chris Cobb, with a Peavey Razer. In addition to a great vintage selection, Real Guitars is home to noted repairman Gary Brawer's shop."
"As with the rest of the store, Willie's American Guitars' acoustic selection boasts vintage beauties and newer high-end instruments. Inset are some of the treasures found at Willie's, including a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (refin)."
"Make'n Music has been a boutique dealer since 1973. Their open-style showroom is home to many high-end and boutique guitar, amp, and pedal brands, while soundproof demo rooms are available for testing gear."
"Vintage and boutique coexist in Willie's amp selection, along with a variety of vintage and new basses."
"Norman's Rare Guitars was opened in 1975, and has since grown to fame through a laundry list of famous patrons and t-shirt appearances in movies like ""Spinal Tap."" True to its name, Norman's stocks rare vintage instruments as well as new and used ones. "
The store also stocks an impressive range of bass gear (top) and Taylor (lower left) and Martin (lower right) acoustics.
"A popular choice among the stars, TrueTone Music opened in 1996. The store stocks a wide range of big name and boutique guitars, amps, and effects. Guitar brands range from Airline to Daisy Rock to Italia to Music Man, Rickenbacker, James Trussart, and of course, Fender and Gibson. Their effects selection features all the boutique goodness a player can handle, ranging from Analog Man to Empress, Keeley, Red Witch, HomeBrew, and many more, with bigger names like MXR, Dunlop, Boss, and Electro-Harmonix represented as well."
"Make'n Music's boutique amp selection includes a who's who of boutique builders: 65Amps, 3 Monkeys, Carol-Ann, Bogner, Diezel, Friedman, Dr. Z, Mad Professor, Louis Electric, Suhr, Victoria, and more. Their effects selection (encased in the glass counter) is equally high-end."
"In addition to those rarities, Lark Street specializes in acoustic instruments, and says they are about 50/50 split between electric and acoustic. They carry classic and new luthiers ranging from Martin and Collings to Mark Campellone and Brad Nickerson. "
Make'n Music's acoustic rooms are stocked with boutique offerings as well.
"Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center is one of the stores on our list that also does big business online. It was founded in 1960, and has grown to include three buildings and four warehouses of stock. In addition to guitar and bass gear, Chuck Levin's stocks drums, keyboards, pro audio, DJ, and band and orchestra instruments and gear."
"Guitar Showcase's offerings run the gamut from a wide selection of ukes (upper left), to high-end acoustics (upper right), to a range of lefty guitars (lower left) and Gibsons (lower right). "
"Fuller's Vintage Guitar in Houston is known as Texas' largest guitar dealer. As seen as soon as you walk in, Fuller's stocks a wide range of Gibson, Gibson Custom Shop, and Epiphone instruments. They specialize in hard-to-get and limited-run Gisbon Custom Shop and Gibson Acoustic instruments."
"TrueTone's amp selection includes Bad Cat, Divided by 13, Dr. Z, Hiwatt, Kustom, Orange, Rivera, 65Amps, and more."
"Rumble Seat Music is unique in that it stocks both high-end and vintage guitars and premium Native American art and products as well as vintage western wear. The store specializes in vintage holy grail-era guitars, and currently stocks two '59 Bursts."
"Rumble Seat also has vintage rarities on the Fender side of things, including a 1951 ""Blackguard"" Tele, and a matched pair of 1968 Fender Paisley Telecaster and Telecaster Bass guitars (pictured in the case). "
"Lark Street successfully blends vintage, new, and boutique stock. In addition to their vintage amps, Lark Street carries newer boutique companies like Tone King and 3 Monkeys, as well as boutique pedal lines from Fulltone and Z.Vex."
"Lark Street Music opened in Albany, New York, in 1981, and moved into New Jersey (a five-minute drive from the George Washington Bridge) in 1999. The store stocks a wide variety of rare, vintage, and new guitars and mandolins. Pictured are main areas of the store you would see when walking in, with some super rarities. Can you spot the vintage Italian Wadre guitar and the Trainwreck?"
"Rumble Seat also has newer instruments from PRS, Gibson, and Fender, as well as other modern brands like Nash Guitars."
"Of course, Gibson isn't all they stock. Fuller's also stocks a full line of Fender instruments, including Custom Shop, and many other brands."
"Real guitars takes pride in their relaxed vibe but their selection is what you might call ""serious."" Pictured are a 1962 Fender Telecaster, a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, a 1956 Les Paul Special, a recent Turner Guitar, and a 1955 Fender Tweed Champ amp."
"Norman's stock of instruments is massive, stocking new instruments from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Rickenbacker, PRS, Danelectro, Guild, Gretsch, D'Angelico, Nash, Don Musser, Ernie Ball Music Man, Yamaha, and more."
"In addition, Fuller's acoustic lineup is broad, ranging from big names like Gibson and Guild to more boutique offerings like Gallagher and Santa Cruz. Fuller's vintage offerings are smaller, but not lacking quality: the store currently has a near-all-original 1958 Fender Stratocaster in stock."
"Guitar Showcase was founded in 1965, making it one of the oldest guitar shops on our list. They stock both new guitars (lower left) and vintage instruments (right), as well as drums and keyboard gear."
"Norman's Rickenback stock includes both new and vintage beauties. The store's ""Rare Guitars"" moniker is perhaps best encapsulated by this 1960 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst."
"With the range of instruments, as well as an instrument rental facility called the Showcase Swap Shop, and the stores vintage collection named the Vintage Vault, Guitar Showcase has grown to be the largest independent music complex in Northern California. In addition to their Gibson Custom Shop (upper left) and acoustic (bottom) offerings, Guitar Showcase has a number of Steve Miller-owned instruments for sale (upper right)."
On this episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by Chris Shiflett—best known to you as the host of Shred with Shifty or as the Foo Fighters’s foremost expert on Randy Rhoads. Since growing up with these riffs in his ears, Shifty’s been making tokens of tribute to the later guitar slinger, from bespoke t-shirts to stuffed guitars.
Join us for Shiflett’s Randy Rhoads primer, learn why you should crank the outro to “S.A.T.O.” as loud as you can, and what Ozzy song makes this Foo cry.
Use code: PREMIERGUITAR10 for 10% off.
Offer valid until Dec 31, 2024. Visit http://bullheadamplification.com.
“Hello Kitty has a global community of devoted fans, and much like Fender, has transcended generations, culture, and geography. This partnership speaks to the joy and creativity both brands have inspired worldwide,” said Edward “Bud” Cole, President of Fender APAC. “It’s about more than just a guitar—this is about giving players a platform to express their individuality, with quality instruments, gear, clothing and collectibles that spark creativity, wherever they are.”
“As a cultural ambassador, Hello Kitty has been influencing a variety of industries, including music for 50 years,” said Craig Takiguchi, Chief Operating Officer of Sanrio, Inc. “In today’s dynamic landscape, where music and entertainment are constantly merging and inspiring each other, Fender’s legacy, and deep connection to pop culture uniquely positions them to become an even bigger part of our fans’ lives. We’re excited to partner with Fender to give our community new, creative ways to express themselves through these iconic quality instruments and supercute accessories, continuing to bring our vision of ‘One World, Connecting Smiles’ to life on a global scale.
The Fender x Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Collection includes a Limited Edition Squier Stratocaster guitar and a Fuzz Pedal, alongside eye-catching accessories such as an electric pink instrument cable, gig bag, and a collection of unisex clothing. From Hello Kitty-themed straps to pick tins, hoodies, tees and trucker hats, these items celebrate the spirit of creativity, inclusion and fun that defines both brands.
Available globally, the Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster builds on the success of the original, blending substance with style. First introduced 20 years ago, this exciting update to the now iconic Hello Kitty Squier features a supercute glossy finish in pink or white with signature Hello Kitty graphics on the pickguard, headstock and body. The Fender Designed™ humbucking bridge pickup delivers powerful lead lines and smooth rhythm tones. With an ergonomic “C”-shaped neck and contoured body, this guitar ensures comfort and playability for musicians of all skill levels, making it a future cult classic for collectors and players alike. A deluxe padded gig bag with Hello Kitty stitching is also included.
The limited-edition Made in Japan Stratocaster boasts a striking Pearl White finish with Hello Kitty’s trademark ribbon, a "C"-shaped maple neck, 9.5” radius fingerboard, and 22 narrow-tall frets. The guitar is equipped with high-gain Hybrid II Custom Voiced Single Coil pickups, providing versatile tones perfect for clean or overdriven play. Comes with a white hardshell case and certificate of authenticity, celebrating Hello Kitty's cultural influence.
"This collaboration with Hello Kitty is a perfect blend of music and pop culture," said Justin Norvell EVP Fender Product. "The limited-edition Squier Stratocaster merges Hello Kitty’s playful design with Fender’s craftsmanship, offering a high-performing instrument that's as fun as it is functional. Our Made-in-Japan exclusives bring an extra level of artistry and attention to detail, making them standouts for both collectors and players. From the guitars to accessories like straps and fuzz pedals, this collection sparks creativity and celebrates individuality, while staying true to Fender’s legacy of quality and innovation."
The highly anticipated collaboration has returned! Celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th Anniversary with the Fender x Hello Kitty Collection, featuring the beloved Stratocaster. This special edition includes a “C”-shaped neck, a 9.5" maple fingerboard, 21 narrow tall frets, and red dot inlays.
Collection includes:
- Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster ($499.99) blending substance with style featuring a supercute glossy pink finish with signature Hello Kitty graphics on the pickguard, headstock and body. Available globally.
- Made in Japan Fender Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster (¥330,000 JPY) available solely at Fender’s Japan Flagship Store in Tokyo, The Made in Japan Limited Hello Kitty Stratocaster is a guitar filled with the bold and vibrant charm of Sanrio’s signature character, Hello Kitty—a leading figure in global Kawaii culture. It features a Pearl White body with her iconic ribbon, a "C"-shaped maple neck, and Hybrid II Custom Voiced pickups for rich Fender tones. Includes a Hello Kitty-engraved neckplate, hardshell case, and certificate of authenticity.
- Hello Kitty Fuzz ($99.99) A fun-loving fuzz like no other – the Fender x Hello Kitty Fuzz introduces a pop of color and charm to one of the pedal world’s most formative effects. Sporting an op amp based circuit with three simple controls, this pink-clad pedal kicks your guitar into wooly, splattering gain tones with unmistakable character. Added style points come in the form of a stand-out pink finish, white Fender witch hat knobs, Japanese translated labels, and, of course, Hello Kitty herself on the front panel. Available globally.
- Additionally, a selection of Made-in-Japan exclusive items, including the Fender Made in Japan Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster, cleaning cloth, strap blocks, home accessories, custom apparel, tote bag and more, will be available solely at Fender’s Japan Flagship Store in Tokyo. These unique collectibles, featuring adorable designs of Sanrio’s signature character, Hello Kitty, a global pop culture influencer, were created to celebrate her 50th anniversary—an icon that transcends generations and reinforces Hello Kitty and Fender’s deep global cultural presence.
This limited-edition Fender x Hello Kitty collection is a celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and self-expression through music. By blending iconic design with Fender's renowned craftsmanship, this collection invites players of all levels to embrace their individuality and make bold musical statements.
For more information, please visit fender.com.
All Metoras feature an intriguing blend of classic Fender elements (Strat-style headstock, Jazzmaster/Jaguar-esque outline) and in the case of the Player Plus Meteora HH and the American Ultra II, more Gibson-like appointments (humbuckers and 3-way selector). But whereas the Telecaster-like Parallel Universe model and Player Plus HH leaned a little more retro, the American Ultra II both tilts more modern and fine-tunes some of the original’s tonal quirks and limitations.
Diverging Contours
Available in three finishes (here we’ve got Texas Tea), the latest Meteora has Fender’s new Haymaker humbuckers, with exposed coils and matching pickup rings, that alongside the anodized aluminum pickguard and knurled metal knobs, lend a more hard rock/metal aesthetic than the original Meteora’s WideRange-styled pickups and brighter finish options. (The new avalanche and ultraburst finishes in particular, with their white and crème pickups, respectively, are reminiscent of ’70s and ’80s DiMarzio-outfitted rock machines.) Having demoed the Player Plus Meteora HH inPG’s First Look video, I’ll admit I prefer that series’ looks. But there’s no arguing that both fundamental tones and the myriad permutations proffered by the American Ultra II’s unusual tone-control array feel much more useful and well thought out this time around.
Wait, “unusual?” If you’ve googled this guitar, chances are you’ve seen the same conflicting information I found. Some sites say it has two tone controls, others (including the manufacturer’s at publication time) list a master volume, a master tone, and a bass-contour knob. Upon plugging in and twiddling knobs, though, I was immediately confused and, honestly, initially not very impressed. So I looked through the case, found the manual, and finally came to the truth: The Meteora is actually devoid of traditional tone controls, using instead a master volume, a bass-contour knob (nearest the output jack), anda treble-contour knob (middle). This setup was a first for me. Also, unlike the Jaguar, the alder-bodied Meteora has a standard Fender-scale 25.5" maple neck, with an ebony fretboard and employs the company’s “modern D” profile. There’s a Graph Tech TUSQ nut, too, and sealed locking tuners.More Offset Than Meets the Eye
I tested the American Ultra II with an EL34-powered Jaguar HC50 (with a ceramic-magnet Weber Gray Wolf), a ’76 Fender Vibrolux Reverb (with alnico Celestion G10 Golds), a KT66-driven Sound City SC30, and a bunch of drive, fuzz, delay, and reverb pedals. Through the two latter amps combined, the Meteora II’s contour controls proved most powerful, yielding a pretty astonishing array of sounds—particularly with fuzz pedals. With the traditional control scheme on my favorite offset (and main band guitar, a Jaguar with Curtis Novak JAG-V pickups), I primarily use the lead circuit’s tone knob (or the rhythm circuit) to tame fuzz pedals—and I find that setup more versatile than a lot of other guitars. But the Meteora’s contour knobs take things much further, letting you effectively revoice filth pedals in ways otherwise only possible with an adjacent EQ pedal.
With both contours full up, the Haymaker pickups still lean brighter than some dual-’bucker fans might prefer—but not as strident as the Player Plus units. And the bass contour is especially helpful for warming/toughing up the bridge unit, as well as cleaning up low-mid clutter you might encounter with the neck pickup soloed and dimed. With a clean-ish tone and both pickups engaged, dialing volume and both contours back a bit yields wiry, muscular funk tones. Boost the volume back up a bit and hit the S-1 coil tap, and you get leaner funk tones very much in the Strat realm. In all, the variety of sounds possible with this control scheme is almost revelatory. So much so that it’s a wonder more guitars don’t go this route—because you’re no longer limited to just darkening or lightening a pickup with a single knob. The crossover EQ points between the two controls are well-tuned to complement each other and open up possibilities you simply couldn’t get with standard tone controls. And the treble-bleed circuit assures that volume adjustments don’t muddy things up.
The Verdict
Whether the tweaks to the American Ultra II Meteora alleviate its somewhat vague positioning is up for debate. Fender offset fans tend to fall in either the traditionalist/vintage camp or the more modern “I like the shape but not the weird switches and hardware” camp. And, to most eyes, the Ultra II probably looks pretty modern despite the vintage neck and headstock tint. But tonally, even though the control scheme looks straightforward, the array of available tones is far more akin to the versatility afforded by Jaguar and Jazzmaster circuits than, say, a modern rock guitar. It is a bit of a bummer that the Ultra costs twice as much as the Player Plus HH (albeit with hardshell case) but has no vibrato option. Considering its sheer tonal quality and versatility, the latest Meteora absolutely has the edge over its predecessor—but I’d love to see future versions fully embrace their offset-ness with a vibrato system befitting the Meteora’s sonic forebears.
