Single-pickup guitars are flat-out cool: suppose Leslie West, Keith Richards, Johnny Thunders, Steve Marriott, Johnny Marr, and Jimi Hendrix. As soon as fluffed off as a one-trick pony or a child’s guitar, easy items like the brand new Epiphone Coronet USA might be versatile – even nice in the precise palms – and so they’re present process one thing of a revival.

Launched in 1958, the Epiphone Coronet was manufactured in Gibson’s legendary Kalamazoo manufacturing facility, and has been reborn as the most recent providing to Epiphone’s USA assortment, made in Nashville.

Constructed of mahogany, like its predecessor, the Coronet USA makes use of the identical symmetrical physique form, three-and-three headstock with the “bikini” emblem, and similar pickguard, however with updates together with a wider 1.695″ nut, a Slim Taper neck, a slimmer physique (1.375″) and a Gibson Soapbar P-90 as a substitute of the infamously underpowered Epiphone New Yorker model. Purists could object, however these are enhancements.

Weighing in at simply over six kilos, the Coronet USA is well-balanced whereas each sitting and standing, with zero neck dive. The end on our tester was flawless, and the cream-colored pointer-base Quantity and Tone knobs are vintage-faithful. The wraparound bridge negates excellent intonation, however that has by no means stopped anybody. The tuners held tune properly even after the guitar was topic to a prolonged run of slashing energy chords and excessive string bends.

Plugged right into a reconditioned classic tube amp, the Coronet impressed with a clear, snappy Fender-like tone at decrease quantity, whereas the Tone knob proved really versatile. Cranked up with a Klon-style OD added to the sign chain, the Soapbar P-90 got here to life, snarling with abandon and providing no-holds-barred classic-rock tone beloved by so many (thanks, Mr. West).

Not everybody will probably be keen on the Coronet USA’s Slim Taper neck, however its retro-cool design – with Classic Cherry, TV Yellow, and Ebony finishes – and fashionable appointments will nonetheless make it a welcome addition for any participant trying to implement a single-pickup axe to their arsenal.

This text initially appeared in VG’s October 2024 problem. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.