NUNO BETTENCOURT UNVEILS NUNO GUITARS

World-renowned guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has announced the official launch of Nuno Guitars, his own guitar brand. 

This new venture marks Bettencourt’s departure from his long-standing relationship with Washburn and represents a defining moment in his career—one that gives him complete creative control over design, innovation, and craftsmanship.

“My new models, the Dark Horse and the White Stallion, lead the launch of Nuno Guitars, along with continuing the legacy of the N4. These are true workhorses built with the same passion I’ve put into every note I’ve ever played. What I’m most excited about as the Founder and CEO of my new company, is communicating directly with players and fans who will get to play the exact guitars that I play on stage and in the studio. Together we’re forming a new community where I can personally engage with you about a mutual passion… OUR guitars. Once you own a Nuno guitar, you are part of my family. LET’S RIDE.”  

With Nuno Guitars, Bettencourt is merging decades of stage and studio tested experience with forward-thinking design to deliver instruments built for the next generation of guitarists. 

The debut lineup will introduce all-new models, including the Dark Horse and the White Stallion, alongside Bettencourt’s iconic N4, the guitar that has become synonymous with his sound and legacy… as well as new Signature acoustic guitar design.

Players and fans can sign up now at nunoguitars.com to receive updates, early previews, and first access to order.

With Nuno Guitars, Bettencourt is setting a new standard—merging decades of stage-tested experience with forward-thinking design to deliver instruments built for the next generation of guitarists.

More details to come soon.

14 Responses

  2. RPS,
    Aw Shucks! I remember when those EVH 5150 guitars came out in 91. I saw them in the guitar shops. I thought they were butt ugly. The only signature guitar I would Love to own in a John Sykes Black Beauty Les Paul.

    1. The only signature guitar I would Love to own in a John Sykes Black Beauty Les Paul.

      Dana stands and applauds you.

    2. Hi Jeff

      The EVH guitar that you mentioned was in fact the Ernie Ball Music Man EVH signature. The 5150 was his amplifiers made by Peavey.

      They (Peavey) then made the first Wolfgang guitars around 1997; and then Eddie partnered with Fender to create the EVH brand – which produced the EVH Wolfgang and the EVH 5150 amplifiers. I had a Wolfgang for about a week leading up to Eddie’s passing, before sending it back because it didn’t feel right for me and I couldn’t keep the thing in tune.

      As for John Sykes’s Les Paul, being a Les Paul man I too would rather have that then most signature models. I do have the Tony Iommi SG; which I only bought because Iommi is my hero – I personally don’t like SG’S, the body is too light and the neck is too heavy which makes them very unbalanced.

    3. I owned a couple of the Wylde audio models that I played through a 5150 amp. I’m a taller man so they were very comfortable for me to play despite feeling a bit heavy. Those guitars played through that amp sounded great. I just don’t have enough time to practice so I sold them. For me to be a good, solid guitarist, I have to play several hours daily, If I go a week without playing it’s like starting over. And I never really had great chops and a natural ability, thus, sometimes my playing sounded forced rather than natural and I could never overcome that for some reason.

  3. Well, since we’re “guitar sharing”….i have two EVH striped models (one black/white striped and a yellow/ black striped), two 1985 San Dimas Jacksons (a Rhoads model and a Kelly model), a 1981 cream colored Gibson Les Paul Custom (looks exactly like Randy Rhoads’ guitar), a Gibson Flying V, and a Gibson Explorer.

    1. Hi Rattlehead

      The Wolfgang I had briefly was the black and white stripe design. I have had a Rhodes style Jackson V in the past – sold it around 2007 I believe. The ’81 Les Paul you have sounds cool, especially as it looks like Randy’s. Have played the Explorer and Flying V, liked them both, especially the Explorer (made me want to play Metallica for some reason!) but I’m very much a Les Paul man. Even if I look at manufacturers that are not Gibson / Epiphone, the first thing I do is look to see if they do a Les Paul shape.

    2. D.J.H., I got the Gibson Les Paul in 1988 solely cuz its a clone of Rhoads’ Les Paul and I got it for a “steal” of a price, $495. Personally, I find them a little heavy, but they’re beautiful guitars. I favor lighter guitars, and my personal faves are my Jacksons. I totally understand you wanting to play Metallica while playing an Explorer….Hetfield is iconic for playing his white Gibson Explorer in the mid 80’s while riffing through those great Metallica songs of that period….gosh I wish that band was still around!

    3. $495?! That’s the steal of the millennium!! Yes, some Les Paul’s are quite heavy. Thankfully, my one (a 2002 made in Korea Epiphone version) isn’t. Speaking of Papa Het; I have also played the ESP Explorer as well – a fantastic piece of equipment. It had a metal scratch guard and EMG’s. Played it through this massive made in Germany Engl amp and cabinet in a shop that I used to go in all the time.

      And the shop’s owner, who I got to know, allowed me to crank that SOB big time!!! There was a drum kit set-up close by and it made the snare drum vibrate!

    4. DJH, thx for sharing about playing the ESP Explorer through the Engl amp. Awesome it made the snare drum vibrate! The louder, the better!

      I”m not too familiar with ESP guitars, but is the ESP version of the Explorer called the Snakebyte?

    5. Hello again Rattlehead

      The ESP Snakebyte is the new James Hetfield signature. It is kind of like the Explorer, but the shape has been modified a little to give it its own identity. The one I played (nearly 25 years ago!!) was I believe the same as this one – https://www.andertons.co.uk/esp-ltd-ex-200-olympic-white-electric-guitar/?search_query=ESP%20Ex

      The only difference really was the finish.

      And here it is in black – https://www.andertons.co.uk/esp-ltd-ex201-black/?search_query=ESP%20Ex

      And here’s Papa Het’s (white) – https://www.andertons.co.uk/esp-ltd-james-hetfield-signature-snakebyte-in-white-incl-case/?search_query=ESP%20snaky

      Black – https://www.andertons.co.uk/esp-snakebyte-blks-james-hetfield-black-satin-with-case/?search_query=ESP%20snaky

      All very well made.

    6. Thx DJH! I didn’t know ESP had another Explorer type model other than Hetfield’s Snakebyte model.

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