The flawless electrics that reside at the peak of guitar design in 2022
CHARVEL GUTHRIE GOVAN SIGNATURE MJ SAN DIMAS SD24 CM
Guthrie Govan’s relationship with Charvel USA is long running, and for 2022 a new, more affordable Japanese-made model proves his recipe works wherever it’s made. The body is basswood with a thin ash veneer facing, and the neck is carbon-reinforced roasted maple with some jumbo stainless-steel frets. The vibrato system is superb, too, with a locking bridge, locking tuners and a slippery Graph Tech Tusq XL nut, while the Charvel HSH pickups and some tricky ‘single coil’ switching provide the voice. Or should we say voices? We commented that it’s “a perfectly aimed working tool that covers vast amounts of ground”.
Price: £2,449 Website: www.charvel.com
MANSON ORYX VI
Manson might be known for its spectacular builds for Matt Bellamy, but the ORYX (available as both six- and seven-strings) adds a different spin to its catalogue. Co-designed by head luthier, Tim Stark, with Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood, the ORYX has quite a sleek, modernist design and features many considered touches: the fingerboard is Richlite with stainless-steel frets, while the custom-designed three-position Free-Way blade selector switch rocks between series and parallel humbucking. Pickups are Nolly’s signature Bare Knuckle Polymath ’buckers, and while aimed at the contemporary high-gain rock/metal player, there’s a lot more to them – and the ORYX – than that.
Price: £2,899 Website: www.mansonguitarworks.com
PATRICK JAMES EGGLE MACON SC GOLDTOP
With over three decades of both electric and acoustic guitarmaking experience, Patrick James Eggle might well be considered a national treasure of the guitar world. His take on the single-cut has graced these pages on many occasions, but every one we’ve played has been nothing short of extraordinary. Here, under the Aztec gold nitro top finish is
