Topshelf Instruments

07/05/2026

Saito Guitars S622, Phantom Black, made in Japan 2026. The S622 is the cornerstone of Saito’s S series: S for solid body, 6 for six strings, 22 for twenty two frets. This is a stupendously good guitar, it ticks all the boxes for me. Firstly, the neck is fantastic. Saito’s ‘Standard Grip’ neck is a modern C style shape, moderate in profile, with a subtle compound 10-12” radius, bound and rolled fretboard edges and some nice tall frets, carved from some super high grade, tightly grained maple... it’s an absolute pleasure to play. This is our first Phantom Black finished example, and it’s appropriately titled: it has a bit of a ghostly look to it, with the wide wavy grain lines of the ash on full display. Paired with the black hardware, pickups and logos, it looks super slick. The body is light as a feather too, weighing in at a friendly 3.15kg. Plug it in, and it gets better. The single coils are punchy and rich, with a weighty low end, smooth gooey mids and a piquant treble; they’re clear and full and sound spot-on. The bridge pickup is fat and creamy, with a great mix of breathy wide complexity and focused midrange kick. This would easily cover everything from jazz and blues to punk and metal and sound perfectly at home all the while. To get a guitar this good from USA, you’d be up for at least $6-8k to land a Suhr or Tom Anderson; this will easily go pound-for-pound with the best of them. All hail Saito.

07/05/2026

Fender American Standard Strat, limited 2014 Channel Bound model, Dakota Red finish. This is a cool little twist on the classic Strat. The 2014 version of the long running, well regarded American Standard series was a good one: simple and effective hardware, classic styling, and a set of excellent Custom Shop pickups. The Fat ‘50s single coils are probably my favourite factory model from Fender: they’re juicy and thick down low, warm and wide through the mids with a sweet and rounded top end. They’re a little thicker and warmer than the usual Am Std pickups, and I’m a fan. This model was released as part of the Stratocaster’s 60th anniversary shenanigans, and it took an idea applied to some of the Custom Shop models from the time: the channel bound fretboard. You get a couple of millimeters of maple around the rosewood board, which means they can roll the edge a little more assertively and hide all the fret ends. It feels fantastic, and the compound radius means it’s very quick and even on the higher frets. The red looks classy too, it’s a cool 60s style look. Classy!

04/05/2026

We have this cute bunch of Paisley Strats in the shop at the moment. Keep an eye on the website for some freshies coming in the next few days ❤️

28/04/2026

Rickenbacker 360, black, made in USA 1997. The 360 is Rickenbacker’s most recognisable six string model, delivering those classic midcentury curves, chrome and class. This one dates to 1997, so it’s got some fading and play wear on the finish, but offers plenty of natural resonance for the trouble. The sound is all jangle and snarl: the Hi-Gain pickups deliver a perfect mix of chiming snap and shimmer and midrange creamy complexity. For playing big rock rhythm parts into a dirty amp, there’s very few better guitars than a 360. We haven’t had one of these in Jetglo through the shop for a couple of years, so it’s fun to be back in the game. Ric-roll yourself.

25/04/2026

22/04/2026

Vantage VX695B, transparent black, made in Japan 1982. Vantage was the house brand for famed Japanese guitar makers Matsumoku, who produced some of the most iconic models of the 1970s and 80s. This is a P-style bass, but with some extra sauce on deck: multi-ply body, brass nut and the cute symmetrical curves. This one is freshly back from a re-fret with cool Evo Gold fretwire, as well as copping a shiny new bridge at the same time. It’s playing brilliantly now, especially with the lovely La Bella flats on deck. The sound is like a more snarly, aggressive take on the P bass thump, it’s awesome. Give yourself a natural ad-Vantage.

21/04/2026

We were lucky yesterday to have our friend from Venezuela in the shop. Here he is demonstrating the best classical guitar we’ve encountered so far. Made by Pietro Gallinotti (1885-1979) in 1974.
We wrote quite a long listing about it on the website if you are curious

20/04/2026

Yamaha SA-50, wine red, made in Japan 1972. What a lovely creature. Yamaha’s early hollow bodies were an original shape, with visual nods to Gibson’s ES series as well as surf-inspired guitars like Mosrites, Fender and Teisco. Yamaha were a few steps ahead of their Japanese contemporaries in the early 70s, delivering instruments that were made with impressive precision and feel exceptional in the hands. We’ve had a few SA-50s through the shop over the years, but the rich Wine Red finish doesn’t come around too often, so I was pleased to score this one . The front has some lovely flame figuring too, it rewards a closer look. The pickups look like a humbucker but are actually a hum cancelled single coil, not too far in tone from Gold Foil type pickups. There’s a lovely deep, warm body to the tone, but it’s got a spanky, sparkling attack you don’t often hear on a hollow style guitar. The neck and frets are in good order and this plays very smoothly. Folks who get into vintage Yamaha stuff get really, really into it, and with this in your hands, it’s no surprise.

19/04/2026

The other night we decided to let play really loud with this Richie Kotzen signature Strat plugged into a special Fuzz made by here in Tasmania!

17/04/2026

Fernandes LD-85KK Love Driver, champagne sparkle, made in Japan around 2001. This is a signature model for L’Arc-en-Ciel guitarist Ken. If you haven’t heard of Ken and the band, he was a big enough deal to have six signature models in the 2001 Fernandes catalog and later land a deal for a signature Fender... L’Arc-en-Ciel are one of the most successful J-rock bands in history. There’s a lot going on visually here: super sparkly finish and the black cat inlay are pretty hard to ignore. It’s very eye-catching in the shop and will surely do it’s best work on stage... sparkles make life better, right? This was a pretty expensive guitar in it’s day, so it’s nicely appointed: deluxe iron block trem, tasty alnico single coils, push/push switch to engage the neck pickup... all nice touches. It sounds seriously good: thick and full through the low end, open and warm through the mids and (fittingly) sparkly on the top end. The neck is a moderate C style shape with a fairly flat radius, easy to move quickly on without making you think too hard about it. Now, show Ken some respect: make sure you buy some sparkly pants to match, okay?

16/04/2026

Nice to get a visit from ❤️ he put this quirky old parlour through it paces for our listening pleasure