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Electric guitars are like fine wines. Everyone has slightly different tastes, and they feel more comfortable the longer you keep them around. I’ve played dozens of electric guitar models over the years and once owned a classic Rickenbacker and a Fender Telecaster at the same time. Recently, I had a chance to review the Powers A-Type electric guitar and it blew my mind. It’s my all-time favorite axe, even though I’ve been practicing Pink Floyd licks since before time immemorial.
While it may take a little convincing—the A-Type is a custom-made axe that’s built by hand, so stay with me—the true test is that I’ve let several other guitarists try it and they also fell in love instantly. Let me also say up front that the A-Type is a bit spendy at $3,999, mostly because the wood and materials are so unique. That’s $3,000 more than my Telecaster and about the same as the vintage Rick that’s sadly long gone—I sold it to pay the bills early in my writing career. Yet, beautifully designed and rock star-worthy, the A-Type is the chardonnay of electric guitars.
What It Is
John Brandon
The Powers Electric brand is named after the founder, Andy Powers, who grew up in San Diego and actually made his first guitar when he was 7 years old. He trashed the thing and started over, but these days he instills that same surfer-dude vibe into his guitars. (His side gig is running Taylor Guitars where he is CEO and master guitar designer.) The curves on the A-Type are wondrous with what looks like a wave near the neck joint; the guitar also comes in five vibrant greens and blues that all reminded me of the ocean in one way or another. Other color options range from Jet Black and Sandalwood Tan to Cabernet Red and Summer Yellow.
Powers Electric A-Type Electric Guitar Overall Impressions
John Brandon
I can’t say enough about how the A-Type plays. Holding one in my hands the first time, I noticed it just feels right—the neck is not too wide or too thin. Amazingly, as someone who learned to play on an acoustic, the A-Type can produce a warm jangle (think: Peter Buck from R.E.M.) for rhythm guitar parts but is also well-suited for solos. For me, that’s because of the neck width. I was able to strum easily enough but there’s just enough space for blues scales as well. At 39-inches long from tip to tail, the A-Type only looks compact because the headstock is shorter than most guitars, but the neck is about the same as any Strat or Gibson Les Paul.
Key Features
At first glance, you’d think the A-Type is a solid body guitar similar to a Fender Strat. Instead, it’s an enclosed hollow body. That makes it super light at about five pounds and helps reduce feedback because notes resonate against the solid top, stay supple and clear, then go out through the quarter-inch jack to an amplifier where they belong. Inside, there are two sound posts (similar to what you see inside a violin—basically, support struts) that also help with sustain and to minimize feedback. Overall, this design produces loud but warm tones.
John Brandon
Another major design spec is related to the fretboard. It’s made of Honduran rosewood—a material that might look and sound familiar if you have ever seen or played a marimba. Increasingly rare, the rosewood is partly what makes the A-Type cost more.
One other unique factor has to do with the custom single-coil pickup. Some guitar makers use a standard pickup design like a Humbucker but the A-Type’s pickup is proprietary. Andy Powers told me it took about 7 to 8 years to design, shaping the sound like a Faraday cage. All pickups convert analog vibrations to electric tones, but the A-Type does that in a natural way to produce warmth, resonance, and clarity all at the same time—e.g., no unwanted distortion.
Pros
- Low-tension neck produces warm tones
- Honduran rosewood fretboard
- Unique enclosed hollow body design
- Single-coil pickup made of a rare-earth neodymium magnet
Cons
- A bit spendy for casual players
- Ocean colors might not suit every player
- Slightly short neck compared to other electrics
Final Verdict
John Brandon
While the price may seem high, recall that this is a custom-made guitar right down to the wood, pickups, and neck. The only thing Powers Electric doesn’t make by hand are the screws. Other brands like Suhr and Mayones are in a similar price point, as are several “signature” models by Gibson and Fender. Ignore all that, because what sets the A-Type apart is how it plays. There’s nothing quite like it, an eclectic mix of unique materials, warm tones, and fine craftsmanship.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been playing guitar for over three decades, but more importantly I’ve been reviewing them since 2001. I’ve tested almost every make and model of Fender and Gibson, and had my bony fingers on the neck of several custom-made models as well—including a Suhr Classic S. For about 10 years I was in an amateur rock band and I’ve written around 100 songs. By day, I’m a professional journalist who has reviewed around 10,000 products in almost 25 years.
