Nothing telegraphs “audiophile” more than a beautifully designed turntable taking center stage on an equipment rack or console. Before we all went digital, it was the primary source for listening, occasionally joined by an FM tuner or tape deck. Pronounced dead and buried with the rise of CDs in the 1980s, the format has since staged a full-fledged revival: For many purists, it still delivers the finest playback performance attainable. This renaissance is evidenced by the onslaught of new and reissued LPs coming to market.

The appeal goes beyond nostalgia and ritual. Record players are endlessly fascinating devices, with hundreds of varieties spanning every imaginable plinth, platter, tonearm, and cartridge combination and nearly every aesthetic and budget. Even so, the first release in German manufacturer Clearaudio’s new Celebrity series looks like no other turntable ever made. 

Best known for its six-figure Statement model as well as less stratospherically priced analog rigs, Clearaudio recently teamed with American jazz guitarist Al Di Meola on a design shaped like a Gibson Les Paul. The iconic electric guitar, favored by Di Meola and countless jazz and rock musicians since its 1952 debut, informs everything from the model’s shape to its black or rosewood finish to its control layout.

An acrylic platter paired with a CNC-machined aluminum sub-platter spins vinyl at 33 1/3 or 45 rpm. Borrowed from the brand’s Reference Jubilee model, the DC AiR motor and flat belt work in concert with Clearaudio’s Tacho-Speed-Control (TSC) system, which continuously monitors rotational speed and adjusts for subtle variables such as stylus drag, belt fluctuations, and even temperature shifts. The motor is suspended by multiple O-rings to minimize vibration. Unlike many standalone units, the Celebrity comes ready to play, fitted with a bespoke version of the company’s Profiler tonearm and Celebrity moving-magnet (MM) cartridge. The complete system weighs roughly 22 pounds.

Limited to 1,000 numbered examples worldwide, the Celebrity Al Di Meola comes with a limited-edition rerelease of the musician’s Elegant Gypsy. The all-analog recording, pressed in flamenco-red 180-gram vinyl, was mastered and produced by Impex Records, whose LPs have achieved collector status among jazz connoisseurs. A commemorative guitar pick rounds out the $6,000 package, a small detail that feels entirely on point.