r/bucker_tail_guitars

An incredibly beautiful neck made of solid rosewood and the black-on-green aesthetics make this guitar a real eye-catcher. I don't know what the original asking price was, but this is the kind of guitar I wouldn't kick out of bed. If it were mine in the first place, that is.

 

Quote from the website:

>"It's hard to find a guitar that looks half as cool as an Albert Lee, I'm a longtime fan of the Jetsons-esque shape. This one dates to 2014, and was blessed with an unusual solid rosewood neck. [...] Matching headstock, black-on-green, dark board, slick lines. The neck is smooth and round, built for speed, and the tight grain of the rosewood give it a luxurious look and feel. The body is super light too, this would be awesome if you're playing long sets or just like things to feel extra effortless. [...] These pop up used in this country approximately once in a blue moon, so here's the Albert you've been waiting for."

 

Modifications & Upgrades:

• Highwood HG bridge saddles
• black 3-ply pickguard
• original pickups reinstalled & rewired with a 3-way switch

 

Specs:

• two DiMarzio Custom 'buckers
• Music Man hardened steel hardtail bridge
• 'Mint Green' gloss finish
• okoume body
• contoured neck heel
• solid rosewood neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Slim C' neck profile
• gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend neck finish
• 10" radius fretboard
• 22 frets, high profile, medium width
• spoke wheel truss adjustment
• Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
• compensated graphite-composite nut (41mm)
• hardshell case included
• made in USA, 2014

Specs:

• Thornbucker Plus (bridge) & Thornbucker (neck) with chrome covers
• push-pull, parallel bridge pickup
• Gotoh hardtail bridge
• 'Transparent Black' finish
• two-piece alder body
• one-piece 3/16″ quilt maple top
• highly-grained maple neck
• satin neck finish
• '60’s C Vintage Medium' (.830-.950) neck contour
• Indian rosewood fretboard
• 9″-12″ compound radius
• 22 stainless steel, medium frets
• Graph Tech ivory TUSQ nut
• Suhr locking tuners
• included hardshell case

From trashy to classy (or the other way around, depending on your personal preferences) - here's a UK-made 'bucker 'tail from Gordon Smith.

Gordon Smith Guitars may not be quite as well-known as its famous namesake from Maryland, USA (Paul Reed). "The other Smith" is a significantly smaller custom shop manufacturer in Great Britain, but one that boasts almost as much experience as its American counterpart.

In case you are not familiar with the company's history: Gordon Smith has over 50 years of experience in making great guitars. The company was founded by Gordon Whitham and John Smith in Manchester, England. It is considered the longest-running manufacturer of electric guitars in Great Britain and is famous for producing no-frills, no-nonsense instruments for working musicians.

 

Specs:

• Gordon Smith-branded 'bucker with black cover (bridge) & unbranded P90 with gold cover (neck)
• CTS wiring loom
• string-through-body hardtail bridge
• Graph Tech TUSQ saddles
• 'Jet Black' gloss finish
• gold hardware
• obeche wood offset body with cream binding
• highly figured roasted birdseye maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Standard Thin' neck contour
• satin neck finish
• ebony fretboard
• 22 Jescar Evo Gold frets
• spoke wheel truss adjustment
• Graph Tech TUSQ nut with zero fret
• two-tone six-in-line headstock
• Gotoh 18:1 ratio locking tuners
• made in UK

They call this one a 'Jazz-Caster' – a lovely Warmoth offset build with a roasted maple neck and Bare Knuckle pickups.

 

Specs:

• pair of Bare Knuckle Polymath 'buckers with black chrome covers & push-pull for coil-split
• Gotoh GTC202 single-piece tele-style hardtail bridge with block saddles
• 4-screw jack socket
• 'Transparent Brown Stain' finish
• 3-ply black/white/black perloid pickguard
• Warmoth 'Jazzcaster' offset ash body with comfort contours
• bolt-on roasted maple neck with scarf joint, steel inserts, no neck plate
• 25.5" scale length
• Warmoth 'Standard Thin' neck contour (0.800"/20mm – 0.850"/21.5 mm)
• satin neck finish
• roasted maple fretboard, no inlays
• 12" fretboard radius
• 22 stainless steel, Dunlop Accu-Fret 6100 jumbo frets
• dual-action truss rod
• Graph Tech black TUSQ nut
• Warmoth black 'Tiltback' 3+3 headstock
• Planet Waves Auto-Trim locking tuners
• price it sold for:
  • $1230 USD
  • (approx. £920 GBP)
  • (approx. €1060 EUR)
• made in USA

 

Quote from the classified ad: >"A full Warmoth build assembled by a very talented local amateur tech that we've known for a while. Featuring an ash body with HSH routing bolted to a Warmoth roasted maple neck (standard profile) with 6100 stainless steel frets. Loaded with Bareknuckle Polymath humbuckers. [...] Good overall condition, only used lightly since it was assembled. Sounds huge."

One of Fender's 'Limited Edition' FMT Telecasters. Pretty long lasting limited edition if you ask me...running for 20+ years and counting. Essentially, this is a Les Paul for 'bucker 'tail players.

 

Specs:

• pair of Seymour Duncan SH-PG1b Pearly Gates (bridge) & SH-1n '59 (neck) 'buckers with push-pull for coil-split
• 6-saddle string-through-body hardtail bridge with block saddles
• black nickel hardware
• set-neck construction
• carved mahogany body with comfort contours
• flame maple top with binding
• mahogany neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Modern C' neck contour
• gloss polyurethane neck finish
• fretboard:
  • rosewood with binding (2004 – 2016)
  • Indian laurel with binding (2019 – present)
• 15.75" fretboard radius
• 22 jumbo frets
• dual-action truss rod
• graphite nut (1.62"/41.3mm)
• matching color 6-in-line headstock
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• serial number: ICF24000095
• in production: 2004 – present
• model number: 026-2101-(xxx)
• available finishes:
  • 'Amber' (520 – shown here)
  • 'Atlantic Blue Metallic' (569)
  • 'Aztec Gold' (578)
  • 'Black Cherry Burst' (561)
  • 'Crimson Red Transparent' (538)
  • 'Ebony Transparent' (539)
  • 'Natural Spalted Maple'(521)
  • 'Transparent Blue' (562)
• price MSRP when new:
  • $899.99 USD
  • (approx. £670 GBP)
  • (approx. €775 EUR)
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • $450–$650 USD
  • £350–£500 GBP
  • €400–€600 EUR
  • (depending on condition)
• made in Korea (2004 – 2016), made in Indonesia (2019 – present) — built at the Cort factory

 

Manufacturer's description: >"An exquisite high-end Telecaster experience awaits the player who gets his hands on a Special Edition Custom Telecaster FMT HH. [...] In a most unusual design element for a Telecaster—or any other Fender guitar, for that matter—the Custom Telecaster FMT HH features a glued-on set neck fashioned from resonant and darkly beautiful mahogany. > >A push/pull coil tap switch is built into the master tone control knob. A decidedly non-traditional Telecaster of peerlessly crafted style and powerful sonic substance."

A Fender Custom Shop 1963 Journeyman Relic Masterbuilt Jazzmaster.

...I hope I did get these words in the right order...

 

Specs:

• pair of Bare Knuckle Black Hawk 'buckers
• Fender 'American Vintage' 6-saddle hardtail bridge
• 'Ice Blue Metallic' relic nitrocellulose finish
• anodized pickguard
• black hardware
• alder body
• maple neck
• 25.5” scale length
• 'Oval C' neck contour
• relic nitrocellulose neck finish
• ebony fretboard
• 12” fretboard radius
• 21 medium jumbo frets
• Fender vintage-style tuners
• Fender Custom Shop hardshell case included
• price MSRP when new: $6500 USD
• Masterbuilt by Dennis Galuszka
• made in Corona, California, 2021

A late NAMM entry from Reverend.

They've essentially revamped their whole line of Charger-, Roundhouse- and Kingbolt models for 2026. New colors, new naming, new pickups ('buckers with both ceramic and alnico magnets). And new semi-hollows, like this Charger Air shown here.

 

Quote from the website: >"Reverend Guitars is introducing the Air series for 2026, featuring four new semi-hollow models. Each one is built for classic tone, modern playability, and standout looks. The highly resonant semi-hollow design is ideal for those seeking warm, rich cleans, dynamic overdrive tones, and controllable feedback. [...] > >The Reverend Air models feature the new Steelhead Series pickups, which include humbuckers and hum-cancelling P90s with oversized steel poles. Designed by Joe Naylor, these pickups deliver a punchy, dynamic sound. [...] Bold new top colors create a modern yet classic look, and transparent brown backs add a touch of class. Reverend’s signature Shooting Star f-holes adorn the top. New headstock model logos complete the concept. > >Reverend Air models blend modern craftsmanship with classic style, offering the high performance and timeless look that Reverend Guitars is known for."

 

Specs:

• Reverend Steelhead Series 'buckers with chrome covers
• treble bleed circuit, 'Bass Contour' knob (passive bass roll-off)
• string-through-body hardtail bridge, aluminum ferrule block
• gloss top finish, transparent brown back
• available finishes:
  • 'High Tide Blue' (shown here)
  • 'Powder Yellow'
  • 'Metallic Bordeaux'
  • 'Metallic Cherry'
• semi-hollow construction
• chambered mahogany body, solid mahogany back
• spruce top with f-holes & binding
• roasted maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Medium Oval' neck contour
• satin neck finish
• choice of rosewood or roasted maple fretboard
• 12" fretboard radius
• 22 medium jumbo frets (0.110"W x 0.050"H)
• dual-action truss rod
• Boneite nut (43mm)
• Reverend Triple Tree string tree (across 3 strings)
• Reverend Pin-Lock locking tuners
• Puretone 4-screw jack socket
• two-toned teardrop case (available separately)
• price MSRP:
  • $1499 USD
  • £1199 GBP
  • €1025 EUR
• made in South Korea — designed in USA

Amidst the whole Fender body shape discussions, here's a distinct, Canadian-made body shape interpretation of... err... a rectangular strat? A mutated Explorer? Bo Diddley? Has anyone seen Reverend Billy F. Gibbons around here, lately...?

Either way, a very characterful, very refreshing short-scale 'bucker 'tail!

 

Specs:

• pair of Porter USA 'Anthem' PAF-style 'buckers with gold covers
• toploader hardtail bridge with block saddles
• nitrocellulose faded sunburst top finish, transparent brown back
• gold hardware
• three-piece Honduran mahogany body
• 'Old Growth' flame maple top with pearloid binding
• contoured neck heel
• bolt-on Honduran mahogany neck with brass inserts
• 24" short-scale scale length
• 'Standard 50s' neck contour
• satin neck finish
• Madagascar rosewood fretboard
• 19 nickel silver frets
• Graph Tech ivory TUSQ nut (1.68"/43mm)
• Martin-esque style 3+3 headstock
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• price used:
  • sold for $600 USD
  • (approx. £450 GBP)
  • (approx. €520 EUR)
  • (depending on condition)
• made in Canada — built in 2005

 

Quote from the classified ad: >"Heres an incredible guitar built by DJW guitars in Calgary. DJW primarily builds high end acoustic guitars but has built a few electric over the years. This is a really cool great playing guitar."

 

Quote from luthier/owner DJ Warkentin: >"I have been modifying guitars since I owned my first electric guitar at the age of 14. It first started with custom paint jobs and slowly evolved into modifying and then to finally building my own from scratch. I don’t just build guitars though, I also like to sculpt and repurpose things…like old radios and toasters."

A Telecaster from Momose. It is green ('GR'), it has a flame top ('FM') and what Momose calls 'Vertical Graduation' ('VGR'), a color fade ...took me a while to figure that one out.

 

Specs:

• pair of handwound Momose Beano 'buckers with chrome covers
• Gotoh GTC-101 hardtail bridge
• 'Green w/Vertical Graduation' (GR-VGR) top finish, natural clear back
• three-piece mahogany body
• flame maple top with binding
• bolt-on mahogany neck
• 25.5" scale length
• Madagascar rosewood fretboard with binding
• very rounded 8.25" fretboard radius
• 22 nickel-silver, Momose-exclusive Jescar 9662NS medium frets
• bone nut (42mm)
• traditional 'F-style' 6-in-line headstock
• Gotoh SD91-05M MG-T locking tuners
• Momose-branded gigbag included
• 2020 limited edition model
• price MSRP when new:
  • ¥231,000 JPY
  • (approx. $1450 USD)
  • (approx. £1085 GBP)
  • (approx. €1250 EUR)
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• made in Japan

 

Quote from the classified ad: (translated from Japanese) >"This Premium model is a truly one-of-a-kind special. This is a masterpiece made for the Shinshu Guitar Festival 2020, a special model using rare and top-quality woods not used in regular products. > >The flame maple top changes its appearance depending on the viewing angle. [...] It shows almost no signs of use, with only a few tiny marks that are barely noticeable. The neck condition is excellent, there is no fret wear, and the truss rod is in perfect working order."

 

About Momose Guitars: (translated) >"Momose Custom Craft Guitars is a traditional electric guitar/bass brand named after Yasuo Momose, the senior master builder at the Asuka factory in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. An experienced guitar maker with over 50 years of experience in building high-quality guitars, he founded his own acoustic guitar company in 1977. Yasuo Momose's philosophy and techniques for instrument making have been refined into this product, emphasizing traditional design while incorporating meticulous attention to detail throughout.
>
>Established in 2002, Momose Custom Craft Guitars is an electric guitar/bass brand that embodies the philosophy and techniques of instrument making cultivated by craftsman Yasuo Momose. While inheriting traditional guitar forms, Momose instruments incorporate unique attention to detail in specifications and design, and we are grateful that the number of customers who appreciate them has been increasing year by year, and we have received support from many people."

One of Peavey's fancier, more obscure 'bucker 'tails from the 1980's.

If anyone has access to a mid-1980's Peavey price list that includes original retail prices, please let me know. I'd love to know what these were going for when they were first introduced.

 

Specs:

• two Peavey 'Center Tapped Super Ferrite' bar-type 'buckers
• continuous coil-split via tone control for each pickup (Peavey single-coil/dual-coil circuitry)
• Peavey-branded die-cast 6-way adjustable hardtail bridge
• polyurethane finish
• die-cast tophat knobs with distinct 'P' logo
• solid maple body
• two-piece hard rock maple neck
• 24.75" scale length
• 'Thin C' neck contour (.746"-.817")
• 'Gloss Natural' neck finish
• 12" fretboard radius
• 23 nickel silver, medium frets
• stainless steel truss rod
• synthetic bone nut
• classic Peavey 6-in-line headstock
• 'Peavey Trulok'-branded Kluson-style vintage tuners
• serial number: 01820615
• in production: 1983-1987
• available finishes:
  • 'Silver' (shown here)
  • 'Black'
  • 'Frost Blue'
  • 'Inca Gold'
  • 'Sunfire Red'
  • 'White'
• price used:
  • $500–$750 USD
  • £390–£590 GBP
  • €450–€675 EUR
  • (depending on finish & condition)
• made in USA

 

Quote from the classified ad: >"1980's Peavey Mystic, Silver. Made in USA. Some fret wear. Plays & sounds nice. Has honest play wear. What a cool guitar."

 

Quote from Vintage Guitars Magazine: >"Just a handful of years after Peavey turned the world of electric guitar upside-down with its T-60 guitar, the company was feeling its oats. While the T series caught attention [being] CNC machinery produced, consistent, durable, instruments, they also weren’t overly appealing, given prevailing tastes of the era. > >Peavey retailers were asking for something to appeal to the MTV crowd – flashy instruments were a growing segment of the market. [...] Peavey launched two new models, described as “special rock ’n roll shaped guitars”, trying to broaden its appeal beyond the country-and-western base they’d been identified with. [...] > >Interestingly, the Mystic had aesthetic roots dating back to 1958, when a teenaged Hartley Peavey sketched an idea (on butcher paper) inspired by a “rocket-shaped guitar” he had seen on a Bo Diddley album cover. He kept the drawing, and the Mystic wound up looking a lot like that outline. [...] > >Brandon Stolte worked in Peavey’s drafting department from the fall of 1982 to the spring of ’86, and was involved in the development of the Mystic. Peavey veteran Mike Powers (1950-2013) was head of guitar development at the time; he and founder Hartley Peavey monitored the evolution of new designs. > >Quote by Stolte: “The Mystic was developed as a curvaceous counterpoint to the straight-edged Razer. Mike gave me a lot of leeway. [...] Hartley was always making suggestions about ‘massaging’ the shapes of guitar bodies, so maybe he was thinking of that old sketch when he guided me with the shaping of the Mystic.” [...] > >Hartley Peavey’s credo to offer dependable gear at reasonable prices carried over to the used/vintage guitar market, even if some of his company’s creations looked rather peculiar."

Aristides guitars are located and manufactured in the Netherlands.

They are a small, innovative and cutting-edge custom shop brand. The bodies and necks are made from a one-piece glass fiber & carbon composite material which Aristides calls 'Arium'.

 

Manufacturer's description:

>"The Aristides Standard Series are [...] both fueled by advanced design innovations & crafted with the intense attention to detail of traditional guitar building. A huge variety of pickup, hardware, & finish options tailor the instrument to your exact preferences & playing style. Its comfortable neck, amazing upper fret access, & elegant body carves quickly made it a favorite among discerning guitarists [...] The Aristides Standard Series is [...] the best value way to experience the benefits only available from one-piece Arium construction.
> >The 060 is our favourite model to hand to a player who wants to try one of our guitars for the first time. It’s like meeting an old friend that got some new upgrades. [...] The neck is a perfect “Goldilocks” profile that everyone seems to fall in love with. [...] Also available left-handed, as well as baritone."

 

Specs:

• pair of black Bare Knuckle 'buckers
• Hipshot hardtail bridge
• 'Worn Purple/Red Chameleon Gloss' finish
• black hardware
• one-piece 'Arium' glass fiber/carbon composite material body and neck
• heavily contoured neck heel
• 'Comfortable C' neck contour
• black Richlite fretboard
• 25.5" scale length
• 12"-16" compound radius
• 24 stainless steel, Jescar FW57110 frets
• offset dot inlays, '060' model inlay at the 12th fret
• luminlay side dots
• dual-action truss rod
• Graph Tech black TUSQ nut
• Hipshot Grip-Lock open gear locking tuners
• price MSRP when new:
  • starts at €2445 EUR
  • (about $2800 USD, give or take)
• made in Europe — built in the Netherlands

Here's a really sweet, electronically upgraded Peavey Generation 'bucker 'tail.

 

Quote from the classified ad: >"This Peavey "tele-style" guitar is not only delivers great sounds but also is a USA-made piece of Peavey history. Solid construction and finish. Guitar has a few minor blemishes and the hardware is tarnished, this is the kind of wear and tear that you'd expect from a guitar of this age. Shipped in an original Peavey case."

 

Upgrades & Modifications:

• Originally came with a pair of active, Peavey-branded pickups (a humbucker in the bridge and a hum-cancelling singlecoil in the neck position, according to the information sources I could find).
• These have been thrown out and replaced by a pair of black Seymour Duncan pickups – a singlecoil-sized SL59-1n Little '59 (most likely) in the neck & an unspecified SD 'bucker in the bridge.

 

Specs:

• solid milled brass hardtail bridge
• gold hardware
• mahogany body with comfort contours
• flame maple top (1") with natural masked binding
• bolt-on flame maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• gloss neck finish
• rosewood fretboard
• 12" fretboard radius
• 22 nickel silver frets
• dual-action truss rod
• black graphite nut
• Peavey classic 6-in-line headstock with matching color maple overlay
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• Peavey-branded original hardshell case included
• in production: 1988 – 1994
• available finishes:
  • 'Translucent Amber' (shown here)
  • 'Translucent Black'
  • 'Translucent Red'
  • 'Translucent Blue'
• price MSRP when new:
  • $799.99 USD
  • (approx. £589 GBP)
  • (approx. €679 EUR)
• price used:
  • $450–$650 USD
  • £350–£500 GBP
  • €400–€575 EUR
  • (depending on condition)
• made in USA

What lovely guitars these G&L's are. There's birdseye and flame maple grains as far as the eye can see - just take a look at that amazing masked binding around the body.

 

Manufacturer's description: >"G&L — A Celebration Of American Craftsmanship > >Fine musicians who have played every kind of guitar over the years are feeling again long-forgotten excitement and thrills as they play G&L instruments. In this cynical era, the little G&L factory in Fullerton, California - the town where these kinds of instruments were born - seems like a throw-back to a simpler more romantic age. These Californians with love, dedication and great skill slowly and painstakingly give shape, form and voice to the G&L instruments. > >There are no computer driven robots popping out guitars with uniform precision but no soul. At G&L people make instruments, and many of these people are skilled musicians themselves. Each craftsman imparts some of his or her own personality and soul into each instrument. Guitars made this way have a life - a vitality - in them that responds to the player like no other. Instruments from G&L, founded by Leo Fender in 1980, epitomize authenticity and integrity of design, engineering and craftsmanship."

>"VOICE CHAMBERS — Semi-hollow ASAT models feature two large "Voice Chambers", one on either side of a solid center section. These chambers produce a distinctive tonal characteristic, particularly a subtly "scooped" midrange. [...] On the ASAT Deluxe version, the warm smooth influence of great jazz guitars can be heard. > >SADDLE LOCK BRIDGE — a set screw on the side of the bridge presses the saddles together, so the saddles and bridge act as a single solid mass. This substantially increases sustain because maximum string vibration energy is transferred to the body."

 

Quote from the classified ad: >"This lovingly pre-owned G&L USA ASAT Deluxe Semi-Hollow was built in 2013. It is in very good to excellent condition with minimal player wear and comes with a black tolex G&G case. It doesn't come with any certificates or documentation."

 

Specs:

• pair of Seymour Duncan TB-4 JB (bridge) & SH-1N '59 (neck) 'buckers with mini-switch for coil-split
• G&L Saddle Lock hardtail bridge
• 'Blue Burst' finish
• two-piece chambered mahogany body with comfort contours
• flame maple top with f-hole & natural masked binding
• highly-figured quartersawn birdseye maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Classic C' neck contour (.082" – .093")
• vintage tint gloss neck finish
• 12" fretboard radius
• 22 Jescar 57110 medium jumbo frets
• bone nut (1.63")
• matching color headstock with birdseye maple overlay
• Schaller locking tuners
• G&L-branded G&G original hardshell case included
• in production: 1997 – 2021
• price MSRP when new:
  • $1950 USD
  • (approx. £1455 GBP)
  • (approx. €1675 EUR)
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • $1100–$1800 USD
  • £850–£1400 GBP
  • €990–€1600 EUR
  • (depending on finish, features and condition)
• made in USA — built 2013 in Fullerton, California

I’ve never owned a Schecter before, and I’m actually blown away from the quality, the specs and the price range — at least for the Elite series.

- Body: Swamp Ash with a Flamed Maple top in Antique Fade Burst finish.
- Neck: Multi-ply Maple/Walnut/Padauk through-body with carbon fiber reinforcement rods for stability.
- Fingerboard: Ebony with 24 X-Jumbo stainless steel frets and a 12"-16" compound radius.
- Pickups: Active Fishman Fluence Modern (Ceramic magnet in bridge, Alnico magnet in neck).
- Electronics: Volume/Tone (Push-Pull) for voice selection and coil-splitting, 3-way switch.
- Hardware: Hipshot Hardtail (.125) bridge with string-thru body, and Schecter Locking tuners.

Although super biased, I really think Schecter is underrated.

An extended range Aristides 'bucker 'tail with their signature 'Raw' finish in a Dark Teal color, spotted sold on Reverb.

 

Specs:

• pair of direct-mount Seymour Duncan Pegasus (bridge) & Sentient (neck) modern medium-output 'buckers with coil-split
• Hipshot hardtail bridge
• 'Dark Teal Raw' finish
• black hardware
• pair of Schaller security lock strap pins
• one-piece 'Arium' glass fiber/carbon composite material body and neck
• contoured neck heel
• 'Comfortable C' neck contour (.750"/19mm – .790"/20mm)
• light Richlite fretboard
• 26.5" scale length
• 12"-16" compound radius
• 24 stainless steel, Jescar FW57110 frets
• dot inlays, model logo at the 12th fret
• luminlay side dots
• dual-action truss rod
• Graph Tech black TUSQ nut (1.89"/48mm)
• Aristides inline headstock with custom logo plate
• Hipshot Grip-Lock open gear locking tuners
• Quantum Industries soft case, Aristides-branded wallet w/COA card, Aristides-branded strap w/locks & truss rod adjustment tool included
• in production: November 2013 – present
• price MSRP when new:
  • starts at €2545 EUR
  • (approx. £2220 GBP)
  • (approx. $2900 USD)
  • (depending on specs & finishes, excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • €1900–€2200 EUR
  • £1650–£2000 GBP
  • $2100–$2650 USD
  • (depending on finish, features and condition)
• made in Europe — built in the Netherlands

 

Manufacturer's description: >"The Aristides Standard Series are [...] both fueled by advanced design innovations & crafted with the intense attention to detail of traditional guitar building. A huge variety of pickup, hardware, & finish options tailor the instrument to your exact preferences & playing style. Its comfortable neck, amazing upper fret access, & elegant body carves quickly made it a favorite among discerning guitarists [...] The Aristides Standard Series is [...] the best value way to experience the benefits only available from one-piece Arium construction.
> >The 070 offers a balanced 7-string experience equally suited to clean, rhythm, & lead styles. You will note an increase in tuning stability & pick attack that makes playing this 7 string a breeze. [...] 070 provides a consistent platform on which to form a unique playing style with that little bit of extended range."

 

About Aristides >Aristides Guitars is a small, innovative, and state-of-the-art custom shop brand based and manufactured in the Netherlands. The body and neck are made from a one-piece fiberglass-carbon composite material that Aristides calls 'Arium'.

Various pictures of a color-changing, stunningly finished Hellraiser Hybrid PT 'bucker 'tail. Such a pretty set-neck design.

 

Manufacturer's description: >"A convergence of our infamous HELLRAISER and SLS models featuring the most sought-after features of both! Featuring a highly figured quilt maple top designed with a defined sculpted arch, set onto a mahogany body, this guitar offers increased upper access and comfortability. Our popular SLS ultra-slim neck with compound radius fingerboard is set into the body with our ultra-access neck joint. Including Carbon Fiber binding, Glow-In-Dark side dots, and EMG 57/66 pickups, this series is ready for anything."

 

Specs:

• pair of EMG 57 (bridge) & EMG 66 (neck) 'buckers w/brushed black chrome covers
• Hipshot hardtail bridge
• 'Ultra Violet' (UV) gloss finish
• black chrome hardware
• set-neck construction
• carved mahogany body
• quilted maple top w/multi-ply carbon fiber binding
• 'Ultra Access' contoured heel
• three-piece maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Ultra Thin C' neck contour (.748" – .787")
• satin neck finish
• ebony fretboard
• 12"–16" compound radius
• 24 stainless steel, extra jumbo frets
• 'Offset/Reverse Dots' mother of pearl inlays w/'Gothic Cross' inlay at 12th fret
• spoke wheel truss adjustment
• Graph Tech black TUSQ XL nut
• Schecter-branded locking tuners
• Schecter-branded gigbag included
• in production: 2016 – 2020
• price MSRP when new:
  • $1649 USD
  • £889 GBP
  • €1069 EUR
  • ¥230,000 JPY
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • $720–$950 USD
  • £575–£740 GBP
  • €650–€850 EUR
  • (depending on condition)
• made in South Korea — built at the World Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. (WMI) factory

An affordable Ibanez S-Series 'bucker 'tail with a very nice poplar burl top. These are very lightweight (about 5.5lbs / 2.5kg, give or take) and very comfy to play.

 

Specs:

• set of Ibanez Quantum ceramic HSH pickups with chrome pickup rings & coil-split
• Ibanez F106 hardtail bridge
• cosmo black hardware
• three-piece mahogany body
• poplar burl top with black binding
• contoured 'AANJ' neck heel
• one-piece bolt-on maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• Wizard III neck contour
• satin neck finish
• rosewood fretboard with binding
• 15.75" fretboard radius
• 24 jumbo frets
• offset dot inlays
• dual-action truss rod
• RG-style 6-in-line headstock with binding
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• serial number: I141108165
• in production: 2014 – 2017
• available finishes:
  • 'Natural Flat' (NTF – shown here)
  • 'Transparent Gray Flat' (TGF)
• price MSRP when new:
  • ¥90,000 JPY
  • $933 USD
  • €559 EUR
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • $350–$550 USD
  • £275–£430 GBP
  • €300–€500 EUR
  • (depending on condition)
• made in Indonesia — built at the Cort factory

 

Manufacturer's description: >"The cutting edge of Ibanez design, the S series continues to be a marvel of form and function. Its signature body shape - sculpted, lightweight, and mahogany - is stronger and more musically responsive than guitars weighing twice as much. The S series is still a rock ‘n’ roll version of a quick, graceful, and potentially lethal weapon. [...] > >The S771PB offers you a smooth and fast action that's perfect for modern rock and metal. Its fixed bridge not only provides epic sustain, your intonation and tuning stability are rock solid. [...] One of Ibanez's fastest necks to date, the 3-piece maple Wizard III neck is an absolute pleasure to play. This slim and super-comfortable neck lets you pull off lighting-fast runs and arpeggios with ease. [...] From the first time you put your hands on the S771PB Wizard III neck, you'll know you've got a guitar that was built with performance in mind."

She purdy ☺️ And besides for the bridge saddles everything is original. Unfortunately the bridge saddles just fell apart, I think there was a manufacturing problem with the metal they used. Looked like pig iron.

Ordered this from Teran guitars in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

The body is old growth lumber reclaimed from a demolished grain elevator.
Neck & fretboard are maple, (with really nice figuring on the fretboard). Pickup is a Pegcity Pickups humbucker. It screams.

Pictures don’t do this thing justice, it’s amazing in person.

The folks at Teran were great to deal with, and provided a pretty goddamn sick handmade custom guitar for a pretty reasonable price.

Now I’ll have the coolest guitar in the band!

The Standard Series 'bucker 'tails are more bare bones, more stripped-down than PJD's top-tier custom shop guitars with their gorgeous, intricately grained woods. While the Standard Apprentice is significantly cheaper, it is still handcrafted in York, UK. Incredibly tasty, no-frills, no-nonsense guitars.

 

Quote from Andertons UK >PJD has steadily grown into one of the largest British guitar manufacturers. Originally based in London from a small home workshop [..], the operation was moved to a larger facility in York, where PJD has gone from strength to strength using the finest materials and components [...] > >Today PJD offers standardised models and offerings to suit every type of player. From their affordable British-designed Origin Series to their hand-crafted British workshop-made Apprentice, Standard and Elite models to the full-bore Custom Shop range, there is a PJD for everyone."

 

Specs:

• PJD direct-mount Wadfather bridge 'bucker with open cover, single volume control
• Gotoh hardtail bridge with block saddles
• low-gloss open-pore nitrocellulose finish
• nickel hardware
• offset-shaped obeche wood body with comfort contours
• contoured neck heel
• bolt-on maple neck
• 25.5" scale length
• 'PJD Standard' (medium C) neck contour
• satin nitrocellulose neck finish
• rosewood fretboard
• 10" fretboard radius
• 22 nickel silver, Jescar FW55090 tall narrow frets
• rectangular white acrylic inlays
• bone nut (1.65"/42mm)
• classic tele-style 6-in-line headstock
• Gotoh SD91 Kluson-style, 15:1 ratio vintage tuners
• PJD-branded premium gigbag included
• in production: introduced in 2024
• available finishes:
  • 'Pelham Blue' (shown here)
  • 'Bahama Yellow'
  • 'Cream Soda'
  • 'Firemist Gold'
  • 'Lake Placid Blue'
  • 'Midnight Black'
  • 'Nato Green'
  • 'Ocean Jade Metallic'
  • 'Purple Metallic'
  • 'Rose Metallic'
  • 'Sunburst'
  • 'TV Yellow'
• price MSRP when new:
  • £899 GBP
  • €995 EUR
  • $1149 USD
  • (excluding additional taxes)
• price used:
  • £500–£550 GBP
  • €600–€680 EUR
  • $700–$800 USD
  • (depending on condition)
• made in UK

 

Quote from Guitar World: >"PJD introduced a stripped-down but über-quality instrument with a cracked gloss nitro-finished slab body and headstock face in a PJD logo’d Hiscox case, with matching high-end price just shy of £2k. Other production runs followed and these very limited guitars found favour with plenty of tonehounds, not least Blur’s Graham Coxon. [...] > >The company then turned the Apprentice into a much more affordable Standard production model, originally direct-order only. [...] It didn’t have the cracked nitro finish or the sumptuous roasted and figured neck. But with its open-pore finish and single PJD humbucker, if you snagged one of these, well done." [...]

 

About PJD Guitars: >"PJD Guitars was founded in 2010 by Leigh Dovey. The name PJD is dedicated to the memory of Leigh's late father who was prop maker for the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden.
> >Leigh started working with knowledge of wood work picked up from his father and was fortunate enough to inherit his tools as well as a small home workshop. Leigh spent his days working as a sound and video engineer at the Royal Opera House and his evenings honing his craft in guitar building. [...]
>
>Fast forward to 2017 and a move up to York to a bigger workshop, [...] for the past 5 years Leigh has been putting his heart and soul into building & standardising his prototype models like the Carey and St John. [...] Leigh now has more models in development and wants to bring even more British hand made PJD guitars to the guitar industry."