MOST OF US think of PRS guitars and see the beautifully opulent-looking flamed maple-topped masterpieces the Maryland-based company built its 40-year-old reputation on. We also don’t need to tell you

Originally introduced 18 years ago, the celestially named PRS Mira is back in both gloss and satin nitro finishes with a very aggressive price point. Still valid? Oh, yes!

After some considerable time, the Les Paul Custom returns to Gibson USA’s production line-up in classic 70s style, while the lesser Marauder is celebrated with a limited throwback design. Time to investigate!

If the Fender Stratocaster is such a perfect design, why – wonders Dave Burrluck – is there a whole industry of aftermarket parts and pickups to improve it?

After the fabled ‘Greeny’, this was Gary’s go-to ’Burst

More aged nitro finishes and a new US-made line-up that pares back the modernisms. Are our tastes changing? Max Gutnik, chief product officer at FMIC, tells all