"I made my first guitar when I was seven. I worked on it for weeks and weeks. In the end, it wasn’t really a guitar. It was a guitar-shaped object. I watched it explode into pieces when I tried to tighten up the strings. But the experience sparked an interest that grew into a lifelong passion."
~ Andy Powers
Andy Powers, renowned for his groundbreaking work at Taylor Guitars, including the innovative V-Class bracing, has long held a deep-rooted love for electric guitars.
Though best known for revolutionizing the acoustic world, Andy’s extensive background with vintage electrics and his years as a gigging musician have shaped his approach to building instruments that are both deeply musical and unmistakably personal.
His debut electric, the Powers Electric A-Type, is a bold expression of that vision - drawing inspiration from the surf, skate, car, and music culture of his San Diego upbringing.
We were honored to be hand-selected by Andy in 2023 as one of the very first Powers Electric dealers in the country. Since then, we've sold dozens and dozens of A-Types to players seeking something truly original - including Andy Summers of The Police - guitars that feel as thoughtfully engineered as they are viscerally fun to play.
Original Design
The body is slim, hollow and fully enclosed. Inside, it contains two soundposts, similar to the soundpost in a violin, that allow the front and back to move together, increasing resonance and sustain while reducing feedback.
Asymmetrical Fingerboard
An asymmetrical fingerboard radius - which is slightly flatter on the treble side - makes for easy and better sounding string bends.
In-House Made Pickups
The PF42, “partial Faraday” pickup, creates a firmer, brighter sound and visually features matching pearloid pickguard material.
The FF42 are warm, full sounding and use a “full Faraday” cage made with 42-gauge wire. Visually, it’s engine turned on top, reminiscent of hot rod detailing.
Knobs & Tremolo Tip
Shop-crafted in-house from layers of surfboard resin, which originally was a byproduct of the surfboard glassing process. Because of this, no two resin knobs look exactly alike.
2 Bridge Types
Cam-tail: Ever played a chord and had it stay in tune while depressing the tremolo bar? Now you can with the Powers Camtail Tremolo and High-Carbon Steel Bridge w/Delrin Saddle.
Hardtail: Not big into using tremolo bars? Not to worry, the A-Type also comes in a hardtail version.
Custom Leather Softshell Case
The custom leather case draws inspiration from Porsche car interiors. It's safe to say, this is one of the nicest gig bags we've ever seen.
Powers Electric FAQ
Common questions about Powers Electric guitars - the builder, the A-Type design, and where to try one near Boston.
Where can I buy a Powers Electric guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Powers Electric dealer and one of the very first retailers Andy Powers hand-selected to carry the line when it launched in 2023. We keep a selection of A-Types in stock at our showroom near Boston, and players from across New England have made the drive specifically to play one. We are also a long-standing Taylor Guitars dealer, so the Andy Powers connection runs deep here.
Who is Andy Powers and what is Powers Electric?
Andy Powers is the CEO and Master Builder of Taylor Guitars and the designer of V-Class bracing - one of the most significant advances in acoustic guitar construction in decades. Powers Electric is his debut electric guitar line, built entirely outside Taylor's acoustic heritage and rooted in the surf, skate, car, and music culture of his San Diego upbringing. It is the electric guitar Andy always wanted to build.
What makes the Powers Electric A-Type different from other hollow-body electrics?
The A-Type is slim, hollow, and fully enclosed - but inside it carries two soundposts, similar to the soundpost in a violin, that allow the front and back to vibrate together. This increases resonance and sustain while controlling feedback. The asymmetrical fingerboard radius (flatter on the treble side) makes string bends easier and better-sounding. The pickups are wound in-house, the resin knobs are each made from layers of surfboard resin and are one-of-a-kind, and the leather softcase draws its design from Porsche car interiors. Every detail was deliberate.
What is the difference between the PF42 and FF42 pickups?
Both are designed and wound in-house by Andy Powers. The PF42 is a "partial Faraday" pickup - firmer and brighter in character, with a pearloid pickguard that matches the visual. The FF42 is a "full Faraday" design using 42-gauge wire for a warmer, fuller sound, with an engine-turned top that nods to hot rod detailing. The two pickups give the A-Type two distinct tonal personalities within the same body.
Who plays Powers Electric guitars?
Andy Summers of The Police plays a Powers Electric A-Type - we personally turned him onto the brand and sold him 2 - among the players who have taken to the instrument since its 2023 debut. The Music Emporium has sold dozens of A-Types to players from across New England and beyond since becoming one of Andy Powers' first authorized dealers.