Latest articles by Terry Carleton
The La Baye 2x4 sold only around 45 examples after its 1967 debut. Now it’s a cult classic. Here’s why its unusual looks are only part of the appeal
This under-appreciated vintage gem is a clean-tone machine — and (for now) a bargain on the vintage market
Designed for the Japanese surf group the Sharp Five, the LG 350-T sounds as unique as it looks
Made with bodies fashioned in the U.S., KAPA brand guitars employed necks, electronics and hardware from a range of overseas vendors, including Vox and Höfner
This custom, one-of-a-kind Jon Trickey Comet electric guitar takes its styling cues from cars and designs from 1950s American culture
The author purchased the guitar sight unseen and was surprised by what he discovered when it arrived
Add offset cutaways and an unusual body shape to all of the above features, and you’ve got a lot of weird in one guitar
Made from a blue-and-gold 1950 Crosley E-15TN tube radio, this custom build has a truly wild appearance that belies its sound and playability. No matter what music you play on this guitar, seeing it will make people smile
More attitude than Godzilla, it's a mean-in-green Japan-made classic
Even though it may seem ugly to some, this quirky-looking 1950’s guitar is still collectable and super affordable in 2023
Made for just one year, Teisco's May Queen was three times the price of its regular guitars. There's a reason for that…
A copy of Gibson's fabled Moderne, this oddball axe is a relic of rock and roll’s war against Soviet repression
Rising considerably in price, this great playing, great sounding axe is quality all the way
An early pioneer in the history of European electrics, this funky axe sounds as good, if not better, than it looks!
Featuring nine push buttons, this 1967 Goya Rangemaster Model 109 sports a beautiful German carve and Brazilian rosewood ‘board
Still in business today, Guyatone is one of Japan’s earliest guitar makers
A cool and affordable way to add a lot of mojo to your guitar palette
While it looks slightly quirky, this elegant build is a straight-ahead, no-nonsense, meat-and-potatoes workhorse.
But it all makes sense when you discover it was made by a 7-foot-tall, ex-U.S. Navy, goth-metal bombshell
The pitbull nature of its look makes you want to smack it around like Jack White or Dan Auerbach might
Located in Recanti, Italy, and still operating today, the EKO Company was the largest exporter of electric guitars in all of Europe
Weighing 13 pounds and sporting a fuzz circuit, this Soviet-made electric guitar is heavy in feel and sound
This restored and modified ’62 National Westwood “Map” puts a world of tone at your fingertips
