Operation bridge

Epiphone Flying V

Alex Bishop journeys up to Yorkshire for the inaugural String Break UK luthiers’ summit

With a raft of recent high-spec reissue launches, is Epiphone now the home of affordable ‘vintage’ Gibsons? On paper, yes. But what about in the flesh?

Why are more and more guitar builders making their own pickups, wonders Dave Burrluck, and does it affect us players who are used to decades-old designs road-tested by giants?

1960 Gibson ES-335

Five Stratocasters, all sunbursts and all different – so what is the best vintage if you’re craving a classic?