u/P_a_s_g_i_t_24

If you are interested in the specs you can find them here.

We're going to visit the bargain basement again, courtesy of a bargain 'bucker 'tail by Peavey from the early 2000's.

The Peavey Retro Fire was a really cool, visually unique entry-level guitar. I've seen some people describing its body shape as an offset guitar. I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate. Be that as it may, it's a rather charming interpretation of the classic telecaster design.

As with the Peavey Rockmasters, the quality may not meet the highest standards, but important parts like the tuning machines are at least of higher quality than the cheapest, mostly diamond-shaped, no-name tuners that are out there. This'bucker 'tail features solid die-cast tuners and offers a solid foundation for further modifications.

 

Quote from the sales ad:

>"Introducing the Peavey Retro Fire electric guitar, a perfect blend of vintage aesthetics and modern performance. Perfect for a new learner! [...] > >Whether you're playing rock, blues, or any genre in between, this guitar provides the flexibility you need to craft your unique sound."

 

Specs:

• unbranded HS pickup configuration, black ceramic 'bucker (bridge), angled singlecoil (neck)
• Gotoh-style toploader hardtail bridge with block saddles
• black finish
• large 3-ply grey pearloid pickguard
• basswood body
• contoured neck heel
• bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fretboard
• 25.5" scale length
• 22 medium frets
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• in production: 2001 - early 2010's
• used price: anywhere from $80 to $200 USD

The more I search for these lovely doublecut 'bucker 'tails, the more I seem to discover. At first, I thought the combination of a hardtail bridge and a Gibson-esque set-neck design was an absolute rarity….and wouldn't you know it, lo and behold, another one pops up, seemingly out of nowhere!

Here we have a mean Schecter Devil Elite with lots of tribal inlays on the fretboard. You can immediately tell which decade this 'bucker 'tail comes from!

The Devil Elite was introduced in the late 1990s, presumably in 1999/2000, and discontinued after the 2003 catalog was published. It is no longer included in the 2004 catalog. Used models can be found quite cheaply.

Specs:

• two Duncan Designed 'buckers, black covers
• Schecter hardtail bridge with block saddles
• 'Gloss Black' finish
• black hardware
• set-neck construction
• mahogany body w/creme binding
• maple neck w/creme binding
• 25.5" scale length
• rosewood fretboard
• 14" fretboard radius
• 24 jumbo frets
• Schecter Tribal inlays
• Grover die-cast tuners
• in production: about 1999-2003
• price MSRP when new: $599 USD
• price used: $200-$350 USD
• made in Korea

Various different images of an exquisite 'bucker 'tail from Vigier, a French custom shop manufacturer.

They share quite some similarities with other European brands such as Framus, Patrick James Eggle or Blade by Levinson in the early 1990s. Unusual for Vigier's popular and otherwise unchanged Excalibur HSH design is the combination of a fixed bridge and a flamed top, as seen here. A very tasty mélange!

Specs:

• DiMarzio DP155 Tone Zone 'bucker (bridge), DP110 FS1 singlecoil (middle), DP151 PAF Pro 'bucker (neck) pickups
• 5-way switch with coil-splits, position 3 is a telecaster setting
• Vigier flat-mounted, string-through-body hardtail
• 'Deep Blue' finish
• mirror pickguard
• two-piece center-joined solid alder body
• flame maple top
• bolt-on flame maple neck with 10/90 System (10% carbon reinforcement, 90% wood)
• 25.6" (360mm) scale length
• 'D shape' neck contour
• matte varnish neck finish
• choice of maple or rosewood fretboard
• 12" fretboard radius
• 24 medium frets & zero fret
• Teflon nut & hardened zero fret technology
• matching color headstock
• Vigier-branded oversized locking tuners
• included gigbag
• made in France

A 2015 limited edition 'bucker 'tail by Fender. The body is a multi-ply construction, reminicent of old surfboards from the 1950s, featuring a rear-route design with a trem-style backplate to cover the pickups.

Specs:

• Fender Shawbucker™ 'bucker (bridge) & Noiseless™ N3 singlecoils (neck & middle)
• Fender Amercan Standard hardtail bridge
• 'Natural' hand-rubbed oil finish
• rear-routed, 'Longboard' style, multi-ply laminate body (ash, walnut, maple, rosewood, mahogany)
• one-piece, bolt-on maple neck
• special "Limited Edition" neck plate
• 25.5" scale length
• 'Modern C' neck contour
• slab rosewood fretboard
• 9.5" fretboard radius
• synthetic bone nut
• Fender-branded die-cast tuners
• original hardshell case included
• production limited to only 500 units globally
• made in USA

The first electric guitars Godin offered in the early 1990s.

These were produced from approximately 1992 to 1996. Images shown here are in 'Transparent Blue' gloss finish with gold hardware. Detailed information is somewhat difficult to find, but here are the specifications I've been able to gather so far:

• Godin HSS pickups
• Godin string-through-body hardtail bridge with block saddles
• strat shape with modified cutaways (longer bass horn, shorter treble horn), derived from the Godin Artisan ST-V model
• gold hardware
• light Canadian maple body
• bolt-on rock maple neck
• 24.75" scale length
• choice of maple or rosewood fretboard
• 24 medium frets
• six-in-line headstock
• unbranded die-cast tuners
• in production: around 1992 – 1996
• available finishes:
  • 'Transparent Blue high gloss' (shown here)
  • 'Black high gloss'
  • 'Cognac Burst high gloss'
  • 'Transparent Amber satin lacquer'
  • 'Antique Violin Burst satin lacquer'
• price MSRP when new:
  • $770 USD
  • (approx. £570 GBP)
  • (approx. €650 EUR)
  • (according to 1995 Guitar World buyers guide)
• price used:
  • $300-$400 USD
  • £230–£295 GBP
  • €265–€340 EUR
  • (depending on condition)
• made in Canada