CE 22

I'm a closet admirer of bolt-on PRS guitars after the Silver Sky experience. The CE 22 already existed in the annals of PRS' history but only the 24 fretted version remained in production. The revived CE 22 here is simply gorgeous with those silhouette inlays. Like many core models, the price of this one is semi-prohibitive. Since it's a limited edition model, let's see if it gets here at all.

Pic: PRS

CV limited edition

This was released at Winter NAMM ('24) & finally available for our consideration (Swee Lee) - The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Limited Edition Series. Prices:

• HSS Strat: $679
• Maple 'board Tele: $649
• SH Tele: $679
• Jazz bass: $679

2K Mex

The day we (Fender benders) dread is finally here; the Mexican Strat has crossed the $2K mark. The Vintera Limited Edition Road Worn 50s HSS Strat is currently listing for $2,149 (Tele version - $2,099). So... would you tell yourself to save $2k to buy a... Mexican Fender? 

The irony of it all - when Leo Fender created the Tele & Strat way back in the day, these were meant to be affordable instruments. The pickguard electronics mount & the bolt-on features kept costs down while tone remained delectable. Fast forward today, the Fender name had somehow swung to the elitist corner with prices getting out of hand pretty quickly. By the way, what's wrong with Mexican Fenders? Answer: The price. 

Pic: Fender Inetrnational

Limited biege

Fender Japan recently released this blonde Strat in limited edition satin finish (SGD1,460).

Flashback 2001 - Fender USA released the Highway 1 Strat in satin blonde (SGD1,040). Hmm... 😜

Pics: Fender Japan / Shelton

Wide jazz

Aw darn, it's always limited edition when it comes to the good stuff. Fender Japan Jazzmaster, featuring a pair of wide range humbuckers. But this is niche stuff, if you have encountered the wide range humbuckers & they sound appealing to you, this might be equally appealing. The Jazzmaster purists would scream blasphemy; a Jazzmaster not featuring the default single coil pickups. Ultimately, it's your money, yes?

Pic: Fender Japan

F-hole

This is a Japanese limited edition Telecaster aptly named the F-Hole Telecaster Thinline.  It's a direct reference to the Fender 'F' cavity opening seen above. It's a little gimmicky, you can say that, but it's something different / quirky / unique which will be acknowledged in time to come.

It's an ash body & that feature can be appreciated if we look at the guitar's flip side. Also present here is the belly cut feature to make your Tele experience more comfortable especially during long playing hours. It's an exclusive model with limited chances of appearing in the stores but being here (in this country), we are fortunate enough to see some of these exclusive models making their debut unexpectedly. Our local Fender distributor has good relations with the Japanese end so sometimes surprises happen.

Pics: Fender Japan

Antigua

On the eve of the circuit-breaker/ semi-lockdown enforcement, I managed to make a quick trip to Swee Lee to get this charming mistake. It was supposed to be a birthday present for myself but it wasn't my birthday. Today is not my birthday as well. Whatever, I don't celebrate my birthday but I do reward myself time & again when reward is due.

Anyway, FYI, the antigua finish was an accident when Fender first created the Coronado model. The burst effect turned out to be a burnt effect during manufacture & it was saved by having a mustard-ish background to create that signature look. It's not a  popular colour scheme as it reminded players of infant turd back then. The '70s saw the demise of this finish but it re-sirfaced every now & then for nostalgia's sake. The model you see here is a limited edition 2019 run & strictly Japanese. I have a thing or two when it comes to unloved & marginalized finish. 

Bumbling

I'm sure you have amassed a small fortune after three days of festivities & wouldn't mind forking out cold hard cash for this limited edition EVH '79 Bumblebee guitar, yes? It's available in the stores now for only $28,599. 

Rosy jazz

This is a limited edition model, I'm not hoping in any way that it gets here. That all dark neck you see there is a rosewood affair, we can correctly refer to this as a rosewood neck. Unlike the common confusion where a rosewood fretboard is referenced as a rosewood neck. The guitar in question is the Fender American Pro Series Jazzmaster with that special edition neck. OK, won't dwell on it too much since there's a chance it won't make it to the stores. 

Another koa top

Ibanez added another koa top AZ, this time it's the AZ2204 version. Those white single coils are out of place & look like a cheap mod was done to the instrument. It's a limited edition model but the last koa top AZ did make its way here. It listed for more than $4K so not expecting this one to be any cheaper.

Gibson 2019 CME exclusives

Gibson collaborated with Chicago Music Exchange for these colour exclusive SG Standards. In addition to the exciting colour variations, the guitars feature block inlays, tortoiseshell pickguards, non-PCB electronics & more importantly, T-Type pickups. Going down Gibson's history, the T-Types were highly rated pickups made between 1968 - late 1970s which are Alnico V-based. 

If only these were available as standard production, I would have considered one, really. The plan is to have an un-modded Gibson SG with a unique feature (colour in this case) which doesn't sound jaded (to my ears- I dislike Gibson humbuckers). Hmmph. 😒

Another golden sighting

Yet another golden edition by Ibanez- the AZ2204. 😑

Citrus

Aw, man! GAS!! 😓

Satin stealth

Limited run PRS SEs Satin Quilt Stealth finish look the works but it's only offered in Europe, it seems. These people are definitely putting in good looks to existing models. On that note, we are still dealing with manufacturers churning out differentiated products for specific geographic demand. Hmm... 

Hmph

M-II Hardtail Lacewood...

M-III 2 PT Zebrawood...

TE-II Hardtail Koa...

A trio of limited edition ESPs, recent Summer release, very limited edition (25 each...). Very enticing but unattainable. 😔

PICS: ESP GUITARS