The telecaster, it is a landmark of epic proportions. It holds the distinction of putting the solid body guitar on the map (other solid body guitars have been created, but none took hold like the Tele).

If you have not yet had the chance to visit Quebec, Canada I recommend that you book a trip immediately. And on this trip you will have to do your stomach the huge favor of eating a Montreal style bagel, oh my, they are good…

The Collings 360 arrived on a Thursday, in a bigger box than most guitars that have been sent my way, and rather heavy to boot. I opened the top and found a mountain of foam peanuts to dig through

The need to create something unique that is truly ones own is a very real desire. I would love to be a luthier, but let’s face some very real facts, my only wood working experience came in Grade 7 and only produced two objects…

One of the coolest parts of this job- reviewing awesome gear for GuitarFixation.com- is the chance to try things out in a series, not just in isolation. It's a rare opportunity to see how a guitar maker translates their vision and mission across multiple instruments, not just on one or two key models. Godin prides itself on combining vintage tone with design innovation, meticulous craftsmanship and modern playability.  This is a tall enough order for one guitar, so I was curious to see if the Richmond Dorchester lived up to the high standards set by the Belmont.

"Forward thinking" and "innovation" are hardly what you'd think of if I started out by telling you that Godin Guitars are based out of a tiny place in Quebec (Canada) called La Patrie.  But between here and several other locations in Quebec and one in New Hampshire, Godin creates next-generation guitars with old fashioned craftsmanship. Founded (and still owned) by Robert Godin over twenty years ago, Godin steps off the beaten path with their aesthetic, tone and quality.

With a Mahogany body/neck and stunning overall appearance, it is not hard to see where its design cues come from. The Collings 290 differentiates itself from the Les Paul Jr with a Tone Pro “tune-o-matic” bridge and contours for the stomach and the leg that make it comfortable to play sitting down. The 290 also has an entirely different feel to it. The LP Jr has a simple slab body with a neck glued to it whereas 290’s curves and contours give it a very slick appearance, downright sexy if you ask me. The 290 feels like an updated, refined…

This is the first Fender Relic I have reviewed and to be honest I had always been somewhat skeptical of them. Why would anyone want to pay extra for a beat up guitar? The web is certainly full of detractors of the Relic craze (look at any Fender forum); a lot of people just don’t see the use for it. To some extent I agreed with them, that was until I got a chance to really take one out for a test drive. I can now say that I see the reason why people love these guitars.