Nik Huber Dolphin '59 Translucent Gold

This isn't your grandfather's goldtop.

Goldtops are everywhere. Nik Huber's transparent goldtop is something else entirely. The finish is elegant and refined, and it lets the flamed maple underneath read through, giving this iconic look a depth and character that traditional goldtops just don't have - not a better / worse thing, just different.

Visually, the Dolphin '59 takes its cues from the Les Paul tradition, but it's very much its own animal, and you pick up on that the moment you sit down with it. It's snappy, lively, and comfy in your hands, with a setup and playability that create an effortless playing experience.

One of the things we always point out to fellow players is, despite how impeccably built Hubers are, they never feel overly polished, clinical, or made to impress fellow woodworkers. They're made for players, and they remove a lot of the distractions some guitars can have (lackluster fretwork, poor setups, uninspiring tones, etc...). Speaking of tones, the Dolphin '59 pulls from both sides of the aisle, Fender and Gibson alike, without planting a flag in either. The Haussel humbuckers are coil-tappable, which means you've got everything from thick, punchy Les Paul-style grunt to clear, snappy single-coil chime under your fingers, and the in-between settings actually earn their keep rather than just padding the spec sheet.

You'll recognize where the inspiration came from, but this guitar isn't simply relying on its influences. It's got a personality all its own, and it shows up in unexpected ways the more time you spend with it.

Chalk up another win for Nik Huber. He's built something here that pulls off the trick of feeling both timeless and genuinely modern at once, which is harder than it sounds. It's the kind of guitar you find yourself wanting before you even knew it existed.