A few months’ gigging, recording and everything that goes with it – welcome to Guitarist ’s longterm test report
![Longtermers - Fender American Professional Deluxe Shawbucker](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5213/340058/5cadbdc7d0173/Longtermers-Fender-American-Professional-Deluxe-Shawbucker.jpg)
Strolling around the stands at this year’s NAMM show, more than ever I was struck by just how many makers seem to be, ahem, borrowing other brands’ classic designs. I’m not referring to lazy low-end lookalikes, either. It just seems that ‘new’ design is more likely to be a rerun or mash-up of fewer and fewer elements and styles. Sign of the times or ever the way? A bit of both.
Someone at Fender in the early 70s clearly decided they needed to offer a more Gibson-style guitar and the Tele Deluxe was a relatively early example – originally released late in 1972 – of one company ‘doing’ another company’s style and coming up with a guitar that’s far from a copy. It wasn’t the first Tele with humbuckers, that was the second version of the Thinline released a year earlier along with the Keef-fave Custom (again, the second version), which kept the Tele’s bridge pickup but added a Wide Range humbucker at the neck. Like the Deluxe, it included a four-control layout. But the Deluxe not only borrowed from Gibson, but it also added in the Strat’s big headstock and rib-cage contour, too. A few even came with a Strat’s vibrato. A cut-and-paste design if ever there was one.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2019 من Guitarist.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2019 من Guitarist.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![BASIC INSTINCTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/MPMlY46Ko1716554046732/BASIC-INSTINCTS.jpg)
BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
![Second String](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/sBvIB9aL_1716553429966/SECOND-STRING.jpg)
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
![PABLO VAN DE POEL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/pliVW8Gi81716553146589/PABLO-VAN-DE-POEL.jpg)
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
![THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/fTGNQAUsa1716552615812/THE-BERNIE-MARSDEN-COLLECTION.jpg)
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
![LENNY KRAVITZ](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/ne2PrIV6l1716552113747/LENNY-KRAVITZ.jpg)
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
![GEORGE VJESTICA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/PizpXRgr21716551673569/GEORGE-VJESTICA.jpg)
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
![DICKEY BETTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/S1yn6-n1d1716550402126/DICKEY-BETTS.jpg)
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
![NICK GUPPY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/oT2xY-izl1716550275271/NICK-GUPPY.jpg)
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
![Lucky Break](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/yNx8pJTlM1716550134770/LUCKY-BREAK.jpg)
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
![Tones Behind The Tracks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/vBB5zBmVh1716549877912/TONES-BEHIND-THE-TRACKS.jpg)
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms