Frank Brothers Sonar Swamp Ash/Vintage Amber

The Sonar is a fresh take on classic influences - thoughtfully designed, flawlessly built, and a total joy to play.

The Frank Brothers Sonar is nothing short of a masterclass in modern guitar design. Visually, it’s full of clever references: a Mastery bridge and trem nod to the Jazzmaster, the horns recall an SG, metal control plates suggest a Jaguar, and the color scheme channels late-’50s Korina-bodied Gibsons. But as striking as it looks, the real magic happens once it's in your hands.

Build-wise, the Frank Brothers are working at a level that will hang with any of the best-of-the-best companies - flawless neck joints, immaculate fretwork, and the kind of crisp detail work that separates great from exceptional. It’s clearly built by people who obsess over the small stuff, and it shows.

Tonally, the Sonar is bold, articulate, and versatile. Loaded with Frank Brothers’ own humbuckers, it delivers clear, midrange-forward tones with just the right amount of punch. Coil splits (via mini-switches) expand the range beautifully, offering usable single-coil tones, not just thinner versions of the same thing. A third blower switch bypasses the controls entirely for instant full-throttle output - perfect for solos, riffs, or quick dynamic shifts. And then there’s the Mastery trem, which adds a feel you just don’t get from wraptails or tune-o-matics. The added string length borrow from the Jazzmaster’s feel, but in a format that leans Gibson (in attitude). The result is a guitar that’s fresh, expressive, and incredibly fun to play. A thoughtful, original instrument that brings together the best of several worlds, without copying any of them.