Vintage have announced the launch of a signature model, Gordon Giltrap electro-acoustic guitar.

Based on an instrument that was custom-made by, luthier, Rob Armstrong for Giltrap in 1980, the Vintage signature model was built with the input of both Giltrap and Armstrong.

The Grand Auditorium/000 style guitar features a high-grade, solid, North-American cedar top and mahogany back and sides. We’re guessing the back and sides are laminated as they don’t specify solid in the same way it’s called out for the top. The bridge is rosewood and carries a compensated bone saddle (the nut is also bone). The fingerboard is also rosewood and the neck mahogany. The headstock is the same, trademarked, design that Rob Armstrong uses.

The electro part of this guitar is provided by a Fishman Presys Blend preamp attached to a Sonicore pickup. This pickup has a built in microphone that can be blended with the pickup signal.

I have played many great guitars in my years in the business and this one ranks alongside some of the very best,” says Gordon when asked about his new signature model, “it is an outstanding guitar by anybody’s standards and at any price.My original guitar has a very strong treble with a sort of springy and expressive sound to the bass end, the new Vintage guitar has all of this combined with an overall warmth and balance to its tonality.

The Vintage Gordon Giltrap Signature has the, rather less inspiring, designation VE2000GG and will be available for an RRP of UK £479. A similarly specced 12-string version is also available (VE2000GG-12) for UK £499.

Vintage have an interesting habit of punching above their weight on some of their guitars – especially on the acoustic side. It’ll be interesting to see how this one sounds.

Vintage distributers, JHS, don’t seem to have this listed yet but, if you’re interested, keep an eye on their site. More at Music Radar.