Superstrat gone wrong, not all superstrats were sleek and sexy

[Blazer]

I guess it happens with all lines of guitars, somebody comes up with something that works and everybody wants a piece of the action and copies it and tries to make it their own.

No more is that clear with the Superstrat, in the late eighties it was as if every single guitar company had a stratocaster look-a-like with humbuckers and a double locking trem in their inventory. (Even Gibson)

But let's talk about the ugly stepsisters, the superstrats where the designers got it wrong.


The Guild Aviator for example never took off (Pun intended) and looking at it that's no big surprise. Guild was founded by former Epiphone employees and the Aviator's bodyshape reflects that heritage: it's the bodyshape of the Epiphone coronet.

But with a strat-ish pickguard, hardware set up and "dish" style output cup. It does NOT make for a pretty looking package, and the bulky, hooky headstock doesn't help either.

The Epiphone Coronet itself also got the Superstrat treatment in the late eighties.

Gibson offered these USA built axes with a built in pre-amp the option of having a Floyd Rose and a reversed explorer headstock. But I really can't say that it looked good...

[jacksoncsplayer]

Thanks for the history, but that's really ugly!

[jtr]

Guild was NOT started by former Epiphone employee!

[skorb]

Guild was NOT started by former Epiphone employee!

correct.
Blazer's always good for a few errant tidbits.

from Wiki:
The Guild Guitar Company is a USA-based guitar manufacturer founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge. The first Guild workshop was located in New York City and produced exclusively crafted guitars from carefully chosen woods, hand wound pickups and fine lacquers.

[Cygnus X1]

I like my Phantom, it's my main player, but I think it's ugly, too.
"First of the Superstrats!"
The body is just too big.

[Snoogans]

You'll have to go a long way to out-fugly the Gibson MIII!

[AfterForever]

I like my Phantom, it's my main player, but I think it's ugly, too.
"First of the Superstrats!"
The body is just too big.

This has potential to be an awesome shape.. I love the shape of the horns.

[Cygnus X1]

They got the "shape" right, but the body is as big as a cruise bass...
Great sound, though.

[Blazer]

correct.
Blazer's always good for a few errant tidbits.

from Wiki:
The Guild Guitar Company is a USA-based guitar manufacturer founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge. The first Guild workshop was located in New York City and produced exclusively crafted guitars from carefully chosen woods, hand wound pickups and fine lacquers.

But it doesn't say where Alfred Dronge learned his craft does it? In the "Ultimate guitar book" it was stated that Dronge and the others that founded the Guild guitar company worked for Epiphone before the company was sold to Gibson. You can see it in their earliest models.


This is a fifties Epiphone emperor regent.


This is a Guild Stratford. I guess the resemblance says everything here.

[Accept2]

I have 4 of those Guild S284 Aviator/Starling things. Im weird as I buy guitars for the way they play rather than the way they look. Bizarre concept isnt it?........

Black:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/accept2/914276320/in/set-72157601034910181/

EKG:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/accept2/913423385/in/set-72157601034910181/

Pink:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/accept2/914276488/in/set-72157601034910181/

Solid quilt maple:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/accept2/913423625/in/set-72157601034910181/

[jtr]

I had an Avatior seafoam green but the neck was just to small for me. Sold it to a freind for her daughter Xmas for $ 150

[patricef]

You'll have to go a long way to out-fugly the Gibson MIII!

Never saw that THING before ! When did they do that ?

[uberthrall]

Never saw that THING before ! When did they do that ?

I'll tell ya what......I've had over 200 guitars in my time and of all of them
my Gibson M III is probably my favorite. I had a red one with a maple
fretboard. It really was a great guitar. Unfortunately I had to sell it when
I found out my wife (girlfriend at the time) was gonna have our first son.
What really kills me is I only got $250 for it........ouch!!

[fuel0707]

Never saw that THING before ! When did they do that ?

It was the either the very late '80's or the early '90's. I remember an issue of "Guitar Player" around '90 that did a comparison of super strats for under a grand and they had the Epiphone version of the M-III in the shootout.

Regardless of how well they may have played or sounded, I don't think they caught on very well. I've only seen a few of the Epi versions and maybe only one or two of the Gibson version.

[Accept2]

I had one of the Epi ones, I think it was called an EM-2 Rebel. I thought it was a POS.............