The ST Metal is not designed for subtlety. You can tell that as soon as you look at its dangerous purple sunburst finish.

It features one humbucker pickup controlled by a chrome split-coil toggle switch, a tone control and a volume control. The tone and volume controls, like all the hardware, are chrome. The neck is maple and the fingerboard is rosewood. The tremolo system features tension adjustment, a lock nut and fine adjustment at the bridge. The machine heads are smooth and firm to turn and their tension is also adjustable.

The Metal is quite comfortable to play and the sound is pure raunch. The best results are achieved with all the controls full up, the amp in overdrive and a hairdo to match the 'loud' finish.

The Ferrari, on the other hand, is a bit more classy than the Metal. The pearl red finish just adds to the image conjured up by its name. Put wheels on it and you'd be the envy of the neighbourhood.

This one's got two humbucker pickups with separate volume controls for each, one tone control, a three-way toggle switch and a chrome split-coil toggle. All the hardware is black and the tremolo system and machine heads are the same as on the Metal, as are the neck and fingerboard.

The Ferrari is more versatile soundwise, ranging from the raunch of the Metal to a biting, sharp trebly sound. The thing I like about these guitars is the power and vitality in the sound they make. The Super Tremolo system is tough and convenient and the tuning slips very little even with vigorous wrenching of the arm.

If you don't like the colours you can get the Metal in red and the Ferrari also comes in black.

HOHNER
ST Metal: £199
ST Ferrari: £225