Xotic’s S-style guitar line pays homage to the person who revolutionized rock guitar within the ’80s. Trace: He was scorching for instructor. The most recent model is the XSS-1 Tremendous S, provided in an assortment of pickup configurations, necks, and an array of colours.

With an alder physique and C-shaped/bolt-on maple neck dressed with tall (Jescar 51108) frets on a maple fretboard with compound (12″ to 16″) radius, the guitar will get a barely bigger headstock and physique contour than Xotic’s different manufacturing fashions. Its nitro-lacquer end is given a light beauty getting old and, consistent with the theme, its lone pickup is a Uncooked Classic PAF humbucker within the bridge place. {Hardware} features a Gotoh vintage-style bridge, locking Rotomatic tuners, proprietary Xotic vintage-style vibrato, black pickguard, and a single Quantity management (no Tone). Really, it’s an ’80s-style rock-and-roll machine.

Proper out of the case, our take a look at XSS-1 caught the attention with its evenly relic’ed Key Lime Inexperienced end. Its broad neck is constructed for no-frills playability – the flat fretboard radius and broad neck are good for the extroverted lead guitarist. Effectively-balanced, it hangs properly on a strap; its mild weight and stage-worn really feel make it play like an outdated buddy that doesn’t require delicate dealing with because of the simplicity of design and sparse options that imply the participant depends on their palms to get probably the most mileage.

Plugged right into a Mesa Boogie 1×12 combo with EL34s, the XSS-1’s Quantity management allowed for modest tone variation and nice clean-up, the Uncooked Classic Humbucker was chunky, articulate, clear, and spanky – offering nation cluck however barking aggressively whereas producing an evenness throughout the EQ spectrum and holding tune even with zealous use of the whammy bar.

Total, Xotic’s XSS-1 “Tremendous S Type” Guitar is an exhilarating blast from the previous. – Oscar Jordan

This text initially appeared in VG’s February 2025 problem. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.