| Breedlove Mark I Electric Guitar Best known for innovative handmade acoustic guitars, mandolins and basses, Breedlove Guitar Company introduces the Mark Series. The Mark I has a modern profile based on Breedlove’s award-winning CM design, and is built with highly-figured tonewoods. An asymmetrically chambered body gives the Mark I a lively resonance and a lightweight feel. The Mark I can be completely customized with a selection of tonewoods, finishes, custom inlays and electronics options. MSRP $5,599 breedloveguitars.com |  |
 | Avatar Vintage 212 Cab Styled after the famous Bluesbreaker 212 cab from the ‘60s, this Avatar cab has a variety of features. Available with a closed back or split two-piece back, the cabinet is covered in black tolex and wheat-colored grille fabric. The two 12s are rear loaded with T-Nuts, making it easy to swap out speakers for tone experimentation. Cabs are custom assembled with your choice of speakers, from a wide array of Celestion and Eminence speakers. Starting at $358 avatarspeakers.com |
| BG Pups P.U.F. Humbucker Set The P.U.F. is modeled off the classic PAF tone, but features all the tonal benefits of a handwound pickup. The most vintage-sounding set available from BG Pups, the neck is warm with nice bloom, and offers excellent clean and creamy lead tones. The bridge has a classic crunch with lots of definition and cuts nicely through a mix. Both pickups are very pick-sensitive and have a versatile dynamic range. This set is wired with single conductor vintage braided wire, uses an A4 magnet and is unpotted (it can be potted on request). Chrome cover is optional. $75.99 each (uncovered) $139.99 calibrated set (uncovered) norcalguitars.com |  |
 | Headstrong Verbrovibe Amp The Verbrovibe Amp is the world’s first exact replica of the 1963 Brown Vibroverb. Heyboer transformers have been custom made using original data sheets. Speakers have been custom built to closely match the tone of the original Oxfords. Features include 35 watts of tube tone through two 10” ceramic speakers, tube driven spring reverb and bias vary tremolo, solid pine finger jointed cabs, period correct tolex and grill cloth, solid steel chassis and an external bias pot. MSRP $2800 headstrongamps.com |
| T-Rex Viper This unique-looking pedal takes the original swirling vibe sound and gives it an extra bite. Made with high-quality components, the Viper will give your guitar a dynamic, vivid tone. Features Depth, Speed and overall Level, with a Mode setting that moves the Viper from rotating speaker effect to a vibrato. A trimmer control on the underside of the pedal allows you to tune the phase and intensity of the effect. Comes with a two-year warranty. MSRP $499 t-rex-engineering.com |  |
 | Port City Amps Twelve Combo The idea for the Port City Twelve amplifier was simple: create a lower wattage amp that is simple yet classy. Producing 12 watts, it uses two 6V6 Electro-Harmonix power tubes and two 12AX7 JJ Electronic preamp tubes. The Twelve is handwired using the best components, featuring a solid pine cabinet, U.S.- made transformers and Sprague and Mojo capacitors. The amp also comes with a Mojo BV-25M speaker. MSRP $899 portcityamps.com |
| Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 USB Interface The Guitar Link UCG102 interface is a practice tool that lets you hook up your guitar to your computer quickly and seamlessly. The interface allows you to jam and record using modeling amps and effects, without the need for any other gear. The compact device links your electric guitar to a PC or Mac, allowing you to utilize sophisticated software such as the included Guitar Combos Behringer Edition from Native Instruments, Kristal Audio Engine multi-track sequencer and Audacity audio editor. It also features a headphone output for silent practicing. MSRP $49.99 behringer.com |  |
 | Motion Sound SRV-212 Rotary Speakers Motion Sound introduces the SRV-212 rotary satellite guitar speakers. The SRV’s single vertical rotor provides a liquid “360 degree” sound experience that only a real mechanical rotor can produce. Features include a front panel adjustment of slow speed, fast speed, and transition time. A removable cord LED fast/slow/stop footswitch provides convenient control. The auto stop feature positions the rotor facing forward for consistent “non-rotary” sound. Two built-in microphones connect to left and right XLR outputs for convenient PA sending. MSRP $899 motion-sound.com |
| Tokai SC-2C Carved Top Guitar Tokai will be releasing five all-new models in 2007 to celebrate their 60th year of business. Manufactured by hand, this flagship model features an original single-cutaway design, a African mahogany body, and a quartersawn African mahogany neck. The SC-2C also features a Tone Pros AVR-II bridge and handwound humbuckers. This model is available in a variety of colors, including Goldtop, See-Through Red, Violin, Cherry Sunburst and Tobacco Sunburst. Starting at $1320 godlyke.com |  |
This late-’90s Masterbilt was made to mimic the feeling and look of vintage luxury.
Some guitars just feel expensive. Not in an “I shouldn't be touching this, lest I scratch it” way so much as simply exuding luxury. Maybe it’s the flawless ebony fretboard, making gliding up and down the neck feel like ice skating. Or perhaps it’s the slim, ’60s-style neck shape which felt instantly comfortable in my small hands. It may have something to do with the sumptuously low 2/32" action at the 12th fret, requiring hardly any effort to play.
Makes sense, considering this guitar’s origin story. Mac Yasuda was born in Nishinomiya, Japan. At 15, he discovered the music of Hank Snow and fell in love with country music and the guitar itself. He stole a classical guitar from his cousin (“He never played it,” said Yasuda) and started a band with his friends. Yasuda traveled to the States in the ’70s and after picking up his first vintage guitar from a pawn shop, he was hooked. He began scoping out gear for his friends, which eventually grew into a shop called Mac’s Guitar Gallery in Kobe, Japan. By the ’90s, he estimated he had owned between 4,000 and 5,000 instruments, and his collection was valued at $3 million. He has authored several books about vintage guitars and is widely considered one of the world's preeminent authorities on the subject.
Yasuda is also an accomplished musician. While in Nashville in the ’80s—perhaps for one of the half-dozen times he’s performed on theGrand Ole Opry—he met Greg Rich, an instrument designer who was then head of Gibson’s banjo division. Yasuda enlisted Greg Rich and another guitar maker named Mark Taylor to produce a line of high-quality, vintage-style instruments under the name Masterbilt. “Vintage guitars are fine, but they're limited,” said Yasuda at the time. His Masterbilt guitars would give us mere mortals the chance to get a taste of the luxurious feel of a fine vintage instrument. Masterbilt debuted at NAMM in 1997, and it’s still unknown how many guitars were actually produced. The trademark of the Masterbilt name was cancelled in 2005 and has since been used by other brands, like Epiphone.
“Some folks think anything from the ’80s or before is vintage, but perhaps the fact that time has continued to march on should be factored in.”
Fanny's House of Music believes this guitar to be an early prototype, one of six ever made. Three were sunburst and three were natural. Playing it feels like playing any fine vintage 335; funny when you consider that at 27 years old, some would consider this Masterbilt vintage itself. The notion of what is considered truly “vintage” is hotly debated on Reddit every few months. Some folks think anything from the ’80s or before is vintage, but perhaps the fact that time has continued to march on should be factored in. Some guitars from the ’80s are now 45 years old! We consider guitars from the ’90s to be vintage at this point, so this 1998 Masterbilt prototype fits right in.
This Masterbilt is now 27 years old. In your books, does that make it a “vintage” guitar?
Photo by Madison Thorn
It’s a good example of how history and passion can intersect to create something special. This guitar tells a story of dedication to quality and an appreciation for the feel of a well-made instrument. Whether or not a 27-year-old guitar qualifies as “vintage” may be up for debate, but the magic in this guitar definitely isn’t. If you’re ever in Nashville, stop by Fanny’s and take it for a spin. You might find yourself feeling a bit like I felt after my unexpected ride in a Jaguar: getting a glimpse into the world of understated elegance, where refinement isn't about flash but about experiencing something crafted to near perfection.
SOURCES: namm.com, Los Angeles Times, Blue Book of Guitar Values, Vintage Guitar, Guitar-List.
British metal icon and Bring Me The Horizon guitarist Lee Malia has partnered with Jackson to create his signature LM-87, a shred-ready axe built for heavy riffing and alternative modern metal. As a founding member and lead guitarist of the Grammy-nominated band, Malia is renowned for his aggressive playing style and intricate solos. This high-performance guitar matches his demanding musicality.
With its offset Surfcaster™ body shape and vintage appeal, the LM-87 melds classic design with modern appointments. The thin open pore finish on the bound Okoume body and neck exudes organic style, while the unique 3-ply pickguard and chrome hardware add striking accents. The fast D-profile 3- piece okoume neck allows smooth riffing across the bound amaranth fingerboard.
Custom Jackson signature pickups, including a bridge humbucker with push-pull coil-split, equip the LM-87 with versatile tone-shaping options to fulfill Malia's sonic vision. The TOM-style bridge with anchored tailpiece and fine tuners provides rock-solid stability for low tunings and heavy picking.
Designed in close collaboration with the legendary guitarist, the Jackson Lee Malia LM-87 is built for shredding. Its blend of vintage vibe and high-performance features make this signature model a must-have for players who value commanding metal tone and smooth playability.
The Tune-o-matic bridge with an anchored tailpiece and fine tuners offers enhanced tuning stability and precise, incremental adjustments. This setup ensures consistent pitch control, improved sustain, and easier fine-tuning without affecting overall string tension.
The guitar’s three-piece set-neck guitar with graphite reinforcement offers exceptional strength, stability, and resistance to warping. The multi-piece construction enhances sustain and tonal clarity, while the graphite reinforcement adds extra durability and prevents neck shifting due to humidity or temperature changes. This design ensures a solid, reliable performance with improved resonance and longevity.
Features Include:
- Okoume body
- Three-piece okoume set neck construction with graphite reinforcement
- 12"-16" compound radius amaranth fingerboard
- 3-ply pickguard
- Chrome hardware
- Custom wound Jackson LM-87 pickups
- Volume with push-pull coil-split and tone control
- TOM-style bridge with anchored tailpiece and fine tuners
- Gig bag included
The Jackson LM-87 carries a street price of $899.99.
For more information, please visit jacksonguitars.com.
Unleashing the Pro Series Signature Lee Malia LM-87 | Jackson Guitars - YouTube
Jackson Pro Series Signature Lee Malia LM-87 Electric Guitar - Open Pore Black
