Suwak Custom Guitars S-Style Burgundy Mist Light Relic, EMG SA (2026, new)

'Every collection needs an active Strat!' – that's what Suwak wrote on the certificate of authenticity. And we have to admit: he's right!

If you think active pickups are only for metal, this one will change your mind. Suwak loaded this S-style with a complete EMG SA set. The SAs are active single coils with Alnico V magnets and a built-in preamp. The result: the familiar, bell-like Strat character with ringing harmonics, plus a touch more midrange, more output and more sustain – and practically no noise. No hum at the neck, no hiss at high gain, and long cable runs or big pedalboards don't take the edge off the top end. Cleans sparkle beautifully, and with some drive the tone stays smooth in the mids and still clear. The battery sits in a Gotoh battery box on the back and takes seconds to change.

It's a real eye-catcher, too: Burgundy Mist in a wafer-thin nitro finish, gently aged as a light relic, with a deep green resin pickguard and white EMG covers. The body is air-dried US red alder, two-piece.

What really won us over, though, is the neck: 3A flamed maple with a beautifully flamed back, treated with nothing but oil and wax – a Suwak speciality that feels like a played-in instrument from the first minute. The medium fat 'D' profile fills the hand nicely, and the ziricote fingerboard has lively figuring of its own and a 12" radius, so bends are effortless. The Suwak logo sits on the headstock as a resin inlay.

The ABM, Kluson and Allparts hardware is all nickel and aged to match.

Why is a brand-new Suwak this attractively priced? We'll tell you straight: in the workshop the guitar was laid on a rubber mat before the finish had fully cured. As a result you'll see slight discolouration in the finish here and there. It makes no difference to the tone or playability. In agreement with Suwak, we've generously reflected this in a reduced price.

It comes in a case with a Suwak cap, T-shirt and certificate of authenticity, as pictured.

A handmade Suwak with an active EMG heart, a stunning flamed neck and just 3.49 kg – for anyone who loves the Strat sound but can happily live without the hum.

Price€2,790 incl. VAT