MYSTERIOUS: Paige davidson - What They Never Told You

“They’re so scarce. Fender only made 200 and the majority of them have been monkeyed with”: The Stratocaster was in constant flux during its first year of production – and these two 1954 models prove it

We take a closer look at a pair of Strats that might share a birthday but have quite different sounds and specs, as Fender was evolving the design in real-time when it launched in ’54

Guitar World · Aug 16

“Most people don’t get to see guitars like these”: Meet the 1968 Gibson Super 400 that was customized for Merle Travis – the ultimate artist’s guitar (even if the materials aren’t that great)

With a thinner neck and P-90s instead of humbuckers, this is the kind of unicorn that pops up very rarely on the vintage guitar market

Guitar World · Aug 1

“Very few people know these exist, and this one may be the only surviving version that is fully intact”: A 1960 Les Paul Custom in Cherry? This vintage stunner was once owned by Neal Schon – and it might well be a true unicorn

It may look like a ‘70s survivor, but this Les Paul Custom is one of six from a limited 1960 run

Guitar World · Jun 26

“It was the first production guitar with three pickups. Gibson only made 22 that year – one became the instrument T-Bone Walker used”: How the Gibson ES-5 paved the way for a new wave of electric blues (and maybe even the Strat, too)

In the vintage market, the big-box jazz guitars are less sought after but this pair of Gibson ES-5s are holy grails in anyone’s book – especially disciples of T-Bone Walker

Guitar World · Mar 13

“Demonstrates just how extreme Gibson’s custom division was prepared to get in order to make a customer happy”: When is a Gibson Barney Kessel not a Gibson Barney Kessel? This 1967 unicorn explains all...

It looks like a Kessell and almost sounds like a Kessell, but upon closer inspection we have a custom order that’s a “total freak”…

Guitar World · Feb 13

“Some might be thankful they only made one because Gibson didn’t waste any more wood”: Meet the obscure ’60s Gibsons that prove double-necks were a thing before Stairway to Heaven

Meet the ‘60s Gibson EMS-1235s that prove that doublenecks were a thing before Stairway to Heaven

Guitar World · Dec 1, 2025

“Tony was a very successful professionalguitarist who played for Frank Sinatra... he designed this guitar with Les Paul”: Through a Dumble it sounds “like Madison Square Garden” and it’s totally unique – meet Tony Mottola’s 1968 Gibson ES-355TDR

Although similar to a Gibson Crest, Tony Mottola’s guitar is essentially a rosewood ES-355 with Les Paul’s low‑impedance pickups – and it is strictly one of one

Guitar World · Oct 29, 2025

“The guitars Gibson was making during wartime often reflect a number of shortages they had to deal with”: Why the 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo is far more than a J-45 in fancy dress

Mismatched tops, laminated necks, the ravages of WWII meant the first-year Southern Jumbo was a moveable feast – but it is a real vintage treasure. Dave Davidson of Well Strung Guitars explains…

Guitar World · Oct 4, 2025

“They’re hard to sell, particularly when they have issues. The only models that fetch a premium are the White Falcon and Penguin, and the 6120”: Buying a vintage Gretsch guitar can be a gamble – but every pro should have one

We take a closer look at a pristine 1955 Gretsch Streamliner – a guitar that’s indicative of the attention to detail of the era and a reminder that everyone needs a Gretsch

Guitar World · Aug 21, 2025

“A 1952 Les Paul was not a cool guitar to own – I remember these guitars hanging around and fading in shop windows for months on end”: The story of Gibson’s “cursed” 1952 Les Paul and why it was long overlooked on the vintage market

Vintage guitar expert Dave Davidson gives us a guided tour of a very special ’52 Goldtop with a neck profile that gives it VIP status. The ’52 is one of the first Les Pauls ever made. Why doesn't it get more love?

Guitar World · Aug 15, 2025