Epiphone has added a new guitar into the Emperor series called the Swingster.  This new guitar borrows from the Emperor-II design but adds a few new features that give it a more twangy, rock-a-billy style and tone.

If you’re looking for a mid-range priced hollow body guitar for playing rock-a-billy or Chet Atkins style music this might be just the guitar.  Look out Gretsch!

The new Swingster seems to be centered at the market currently dominated by Gretsch and the Electromatic G5120.  Epiphone has added a few tricks to the Swingster to help differentiate including a new pickup design called the “SwingBucker” that is over-wound pup and uses Alnico-V magnets and enamel wire that are supposed to deliver both warmth and bit.  Added to the new pickups is a parallel/series switch to allow you to turn those humbuckers into single coil pickups.  Finally, in a homage to Chet Aktins they’ve added the classic style wire handle to the Bigsby B30, just like the one Chet used to wield.

We haven’t tested out the model yet but we do think it’s worth considering if you’re in the market for a mid-range hollow-body electric guitar to work on “Mr. Sandman” this might be the guitar you’re looking for.

Emperor Swingster Demo from Epiphone Company on Vimeo.