Vintage

The black-lacquered, jazz club sophistication of the earliest LP Custom takes more of its styling cues from Steinway than Stromberg. Huw Price steps out with a grand ’56 model…

You might think that the idea of unearthing an all-original golden-era Fender that’s been kept under a bed or in a closet for decades is pure fantasy. But they are still out there, as Huw Price’s encounter with this 1963 Stratocaster proves…

With one foot in 1969 and the other in 1970, this Fender Stratocaster is proof that the company was still making great guitars after the CBS takeover.

In 1953, Les Paul asked for a guitar that “looked like a tuxedo”, but by the late 60s the Custom had built its own legend. Huw Price checks out a strummer from ’69…

There are times when an instrument is so wonderful and iconic that staying appropriately impartial and dispassionate can be a challenge. With that in mind, this gorgeous 1960 Les Paul Standard is going to be a test for more than just the guitar. Huw Price feels fit to burst…

With its diamond soundholes, the Trini Lopez is one of Gibson’s most recognisable semi-hollow designs. This original 60s example is in excellent condition for its age…

Ted McCarty’s modernist models were ahead of their time but second time around, they proved perfect for psychedelia, glam, metal and more. Huw Price test pilots a 1969 Flying V…

It may appear old and tired but this Gibson is fighting fit and ready for action. We get to grips with a late-1940s workhorse that’s still punching its weight nearly 70 years after it came out of Kalamazoo…

This 1952 Gibson Les Paul is in such wonderful condition that, at a glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming it was a modern Custom Shop VOS reissue model.

From Keef to BB, the 330 has charmed guitarists of all kinds – we take a look at a well-loved 60s original…