I had the inestimable pleasure recently of watching The Blockheads, Ian Dury’s erstwhile backing band. This being a private party, courtesy of Peavey, who put on a bit of a do for all the trade visitors and exhibitors at the London International Music Show (incorporating the London Guitar Show), I was able to get up close and personal. And they blew me away, just as they had when I saw them as a young man ... Read more »
Stuart Bull answers your questions
Got a guitar related puzzle that won’t go away? Need some expert advice on a lick you can’t quite master? Luckily, we have just the thing…
Marking the 50th anniversary of the 57 Strat, Fender has unveiled a limited edition of 150 George Fullerton 50th Anniversary Stratocaster guitar and amp sets. A close friend of Leo Fender, Fullerton began working for him in 1948 and was an integral part of the design team for the 1957 Stratocaster. by Gez Kahan 07/02/2008
When Fender sold out to CBS and then started working for Musicman, Fullerton went with him. After Musicman, they continued working together, the initials of their forenames forming the company name for G&L guitars – for whom Fullerton still acts as consultant. .....
Audio-Technica (A-T) has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the IGF (International Guitar Foundation), a not-for-profit organization promoting the performance, learning and teaching of the guitar in all forms and genres, and for all age groups. A-T becomes ‘exclusive microphone partner’ for events such as the two week Bath International Guitar Festival and the London Guitar Festival, which includes concerts at the Royal Festival and Queen Elizabeth Halls...
Gibson Guitar has announced a merger with TC Group, a Danish manufacturer whose catalogue includes guitar effects along with voice processors and studio hardware and software products. As well as its TC-branded products, the TC Group includes Tannoy (speakers) and Lab Gruppen (power amps). Words: Gez Kahan;
07/02/2008
"Despite this being termed a ‘merger’, the news has led to a deal of angst on Les Paul forums from doomsters convinced that this is a takeover by TC, that Gibson will move to Denmark and that this spells the end of civilization".....
A topical one to start off: Led Zeppelin's Ramble On, encapsulating all that's best about the band in 4 minutes and 35 seconds of E major and A major Read more »
iGuitar Archives
Missed an article? Looking for an old feature? Well fear not, all the old stuff is now in here…
Acclaimed by those in the know – such as Guitar Player magazine, which rated him one of ‘The Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitarists’ in an article published in 2004 – Monte Montgomery also qualifies as one of music’s best kept secrets. He headed Guitar One magazines list of the ‘Top 10 Best Undiscovered Guitarists in America’ in the 1990s, shortly before coming to prominence at least in Texas, where he won the ‘Best Acoustic Guitar Player’ award at the Austin Music Awards seven years in a row.
07/07/2008
Those who have heard him might quibble at describing him as an ‘Acoustic Guitar Player’. Yes, his guitar is acoustic. But the way he plays it isn’t...
Listen to him on record, and Jeff Healey’s blues guitar playing was stunning. Watched him perform, and it was nothing less than astonishing. Healey – born with retinoblastoma, a genetic cancer which robbed him of his sight as a baby and led to the secondary cancers which caused his death on 2 March 2008 at the age of 41 – had started playing guitar at the age of three.
11/04/2008
"His blindness, combined with the difficulty of holding a guitar at such an early age, led him to adopt a highly unusual playing method, laying the guitar across his lap, plucking the strings with his right hand like a pedal steel player.".....
Gary Cooper’s guide to choosing the right strings to suit your sound, your style and your instrument
It’s an easy trap to fall into – thinking of guitar strings as just a commodity, like socks or underpants. You find a brand you like and stick with them forever. But while re-thinking your choice of strings won’t turn you into a Steve Vai or Martin Simpson overnight, it could bring about major changes in your sound and style.
11/03/2008
"So instead of walking in to your local music shop and buying a set of whatever it is you always buy, why not start again from scratch and ask yourself whether it might be time to play around a little? You don't need a PhD in Stringology to ask the right questions but a basic understanding will help. Where to start? Well, how about gauge?".....
The Shepherds Bush Empire was rammed. Not just full – rammed. You found a place to stand and there you stood. There was no moving – not that you’d be anything other than rooted to the spot, because tonight, ladies and gentlemen, the venue is host to a man who can fairly lay claim to being the hottest new guitarist around. Put your hands together for Mr Joe Bonamassa. Words: Gez Kahan;
07/03/2008
"And put our hands together we did, and then watched in awe as Joe Bonamassa showed us what he could conjure up when he put his hands together to work on a guitar. It was the same story the previous night at the ".....
Audio-Technica (A-T) has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the IGF (International Guitar Foundation), a not-for-profit organization promoting the performance, learning and teaching of the guitar in all forms and genres, and for all age groups. A-T becomes ‘exclusive microphone partner’ for events such as the two week Bath International Guitar Festival and the London Guitar Festival, which includes concerts at the Royal Festival and Queen Elizabeth Halls...
Marking the 50th anniversary of the 57 Strat, Fender has unveiled a limited edition of 150 George Fullerton 50th Anniversary Stratocaster guitar and amp sets. A close friend of Leo Fender, Fullerton began working for him in 1948 and was an integral part of the design team for the 1957 Stratocaster. by Gez Kahan 31/01/2008
When Fender sold out to CBS and then started working for Musicman, Fullerton went with him. After Musicman, they continued working together, the initials of their forenames forming the company name for G&L guitars – for whom Fullerton still acts as consultant. .....
Paper Thin Walls, a four-piece band from the US, won the global Led Zeppelin Dream Gig contest, comprising musical equipment, tickets to see Led Zeppelin at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Show and the chance to perform at the after show party.
Words: Gez Kahan 31/01/2008
The contest, which Gibson ran in association with ziddio.com, a ‘user-generated video website’, was judged by music biz luminaries including Bill Curbishley (Robert Plant’s manager), Sir Richard Branson, .....
The Stealth Tune guitar strap with embedded tuner doesn’t plug into the guitar but uses resonance transducer technology to assess tuning from vibrations transmitted by the instrument it is attached to. As it doesn’t rely upon an audio tone, this allows tuning of both acoustic and electric guitars and basses even with the volume off, while using local resonance avoids any danger of crosstalk from other instruments. The inclusion of a backlit LCD, lighting red for ‘out of tune’ and blue for ‘in tune’, is said to allow use of the system on stage, in the dark and even while playing. The Stealth Tune is available in three styles – the webbing version is adjustable up to 67”, retailing at £27.99; leather versions costt £34.99 (55”) or £37.99 (59”).
The Gibson Robot Guitar aims to eliminate tuning problems, automatically setting itself to standard A440 tuning or one of six common ‘altered tuning’ presets. Advantages claimed include speed of tuning after string changes, truss rod adjustments or changes in atmospheric conditions.
The mechanics are handled by servo motors controlling lightweight Powerhead-Locking tuners. These are monitored by a ‘Tune-Control’ bridge which interfaces with the guitar’s Tune Core-Controller, Data-Transmitting Tailpiece and Neck CPU. There’s a push-pull tuning switch incorporated in the volume knob, while an 11-position master control knob gives access to all operating and control functionality.
The first run comprises 4,000 ‘robot’ Les Pauls in Blue Silverburst. Available via just 400 dealers globally, they have a suggested $2,499 ticket, which translates into a UK street price of around £1,500.
There are new travel guitar options in the Vintage Guitar lineup. These ultra-portable acoustics are now available in Hot Pink (comes in a black carry bag with a pink embroidered Vintage logo), Sunburst (sand-brown carry bag) and as a left-hand version in Natural (sand-brown bag). Model numbers are VTG100PK, VTB100SB and LH-VTG100N respectively, each tagged at £139 (srp).
Staind axeman, Mike Mushok, has teamed up with PRS to produce a signature SE model with a 27.7” scale length. The first ever production-model baritone from PRS, it has a solid mahogany body and neck, with a silverburst finish, a black ebony fingerboard and white binding to the body. Hardware – a string-through-body stoptail bridge, twin humbuckers, three-way toggle selector, volume and tone controls – is kept simple in keeping with the minimalist look.
Priced at £699 (UK srp) the PRS SE Mike Mushok Model is available now priced at £699 RRP.
Living up to its name, The Alternative Guitar and Amplifier Company, a new venture involving one-time BC Rich luminary, Mal Stitch, has launched the Alien. The guitar’s radically shaped body is of agathis (in red or black), with a two-piece set, heelless maple neck, while inlays to the 24.5” ebony fingerboard present a random mother of pearl tri-point design. There are two EMG-HZ humbuckers, tone and volume controls, but – a nicely alien touch –no pickup selector switch. Hardware includes mini Grover tuners, genuine bone nut, 24 nickel frets, Kahler bridge, 2-way truss rod, plus chrome knobs and strap buttons.
The first pedal in a series, the Satchurator is a new distortion unit developed in collaboration with Joe Satriani. Capable of very high gain levels, Vox claims that the Satchurator also operates more quietly and musically than other models, producing Satch’s signature tone (natch) but also incorporating new features and improvements never before combined in a distortion pedal. It also, says the company, preserves the tone and pick-attack of the guitarist plugging into it, regardless of style, from subtly distorted blues tones through classic rock and shred.
“This little red box is a monster tone generator,” says Satriani. “Following my specifications without compromise, and adding design innovations I never thought possible, the Vox team has delivered exactly what I need for the stage as well as the studio: a distortion pedal that responds to my touch, and produces a big, natural, harmonically rich tone compatible with any guitar/pedal/amp configuration.”
With controls including Gain, Tone and Volume, and switches for On/Off, ‘More’ and Pad, the pedal is powered by a single 9V battery or optional AC adaptor.
Orange’s Custom Shop has gone into overdrive to deliver what it reckons is “probably the rarest and most desirable Orange amp ever made”. There’s not just guaranteed scarcity value, with only 40 being made to celebrate Orange’s 40th anniversary, and each of them hand built, but each individual amp will also be unique – every one of the 40 amps has a different circuit. To acknowledge that uniqueness, each one has its own girl's name... Isabelle, Jennifer, Edith, Sadie, Betty, Judy, Michelle and 33 more yet to be announced...
AAA-quality quilted maple body, sealed finish, with mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays. Standard and custom colours available. Custom Shop options include additional inlays, hardware colours and Bigsby vibratos. Left-handed versions available (no additional cost).
Designer Gary Levinson recalls his work as a submarine geologist to celebrate Blade’s 20th anniversary with an abalone pearl pattern of fish and starfish inlaid to ebony fingerboards. The RH-4 California Custom and DC-2 Durango Custom are both available in anniversary editions with Starfish custom inlays.
Mahogany body with 20cm broadleaf maple top, wrap-around bridge, custom 5-way switch (outside/inside single coil plus humbucker options) plus VSC-3 Variable Spectrum tone control. Available in ocean blue, honey burst, ‘seethru’ red and tobacco sunburst. Supplied with hardshell case.
Reintroduction of the Comanche Six updated as the Comanche Studio VI in limited edition (50 in honeyburst/maple fingerboard, 50 in tobacco/rosewood fingerboard). Individual control of each coil within each of three Magnetic Field Design Z-coil pickups via 3-way mini-toggle switches, with separate on/off switch per pickup. Swamp ash body, gun oil tint maple neck, Schaller locking tuners and G&L Dual Fulcrum tremolo bridge.
Acoustically chambered premium mahogany body with solid centre block, hand-carved solid maple top with flame maple veneer, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard, nickel hardware. Wilkinson P90 stacked humbucking pickups with master volume, master tone, Vintage 'Roll Control', 3-way toggle and push-push mid pickup selection controls. Cherry Red Flame Maple or Vintage Tobacco Sunburst Flame Maple.
New Custom Shop fingerboard inlays available for Framus guitars and Warwick basses include Eagle Head, Standard Crux and Curved Crux. There is also a new Tone Chamber System option for Warwick basses: tone chambers are milled into the side flanks of the bottom of the bass body generating faster attack, reducing weight and, Warwick claims, resulting in a ‘noble acoustic nuance’. After milling, the top is glued onto the hollowed body, rendering the change invisible.
In addition, certain Warwick 5- and 6-string basses are now available with optional string spacing. Standard string spacing is 16.5mm at the bridge; ‘Broad Neck Spacing’ is 20mm. Costs from £199.
Original Celestion 'Greenbacks' – a 20W driver from the 1960s – were what Eddie Van Halen always loaded into his cabinets. For their collaboration with Fender on the EVH 5150 amp, Celestion have taken the G12M – the Heritage Series' Greenbackreproduction – and customized it, with black painted finish, Van Halen logo and EVH striped design.
Compact, lightweight tone modelling unit. 300+ presets, 32 classic and modern amp models, 16 cab models and 16 effects. Jack and mini-jack inputs, chromatic tuner, AAA battery operation. USB connection for downloading and editing patches on PCs.
Extra-compact TonePort recording interface with GearBox Silver Bundle tone modelling. Clips to a guitar strap. 1/4" input for guitar, bass or mic plus 24-bit audio USB connection to access Line 6’s GuitarPort Online. Works with recording platforms including Sonar, Cubase, Garage Band and Logic.
2x 2.5W amp for street/café muisicians. 2x 6.5” speakers, 15 hour operation via 6x AA batteries, mic and instrument channels with EQ & delay/reverb, 8 amp models; 6 digital effects; chromatic tuner. Available in black or red.
The Stealth Tune guitar strap with embedded tuner doesn’t plug into the guitar but uses resonance transducer technology to assess tuning from vibrations transmitted by the instrument it is attached to. As it doesn’t rely upon an audio tone, this allows tuning of both acoustic and electric guitars and basses even with the volume off, while using local resonance avoids any danger of crosstalk from other instruments. The inclusion of a backlit LCD, lighting red for ‘out of tune’ and blue for ‘in tune’, is said to allow use of the system on stage, in the dark and even while playing. The Stealth Tune is available in three styles – the webbing version is adjustable up to 67”, retailing at £27.99; leather versions costt £34.99 (55”) or £37.99 (59”).
The Gibson Robot Guitar aims to eliminate tuning problems, automatically setting itself to standard A440 tuning or one of six common ‘altered tuning’ presets. Advantages claimed include speed of tuning after string changes, truss rod adjustments or changes in atmospheric conditions.
The mechanics are handled by servo motors controlling lightweight Powerhead-Locking tuners. These are monitored by a ‘Tune-Control’ bridge which interfaces with the guitar’s Tune Core-Controller, Data-Transmitting Tailpiece and Neck CPU. There’s a push-pull tuning switch incorporated in the volume knob, while an 11-position master control knob gives access to all operating and control functionality.
The first run comprises 4,000 ‘robot’ Les Pauls in Blue Silverburst. Available via just 400 dealers globally, they have a suggested $2,499 ticket, which translates into a UK street price of around £1,500.
There are new travel guitar options in the Vintage Guitar lineup. These ultra-portable acoustics are now available in Hot Pink (comes in a black carry bag with a pink embroidered Vintage logo), Sunburst (sand-brown carry bag) and as a left-hand version in Natural (sand-brown bag). Model numbers are VTG100PK, VTB100SB and LH-VTG100N respectively, each tagged at £139 (srp).
John Hornby Skewes has released its V6 'Black n Blues' guitar in the Vintage 'Tribute Icon' range. A distressed stratalike in glossless Boulevard Black with serious 'wear and tear' scarring front and back, this has a stripped one-piece maple neck, pre-worn fingerboard, authentically-styled 'aged' Wilkinson hardware. UK list price is £299.
Two new models from Guild
Guild has announced two new models for its Contemporary Acoustics series. The CV-2 and CV2C utilize the Guild's traditional F-40 body shape but uses Guild's new Graphite Neck Block System. Promising a more 'woody' tone, the new models feature solid red spruce tops, solid flame maple backs and sides and mahogany bolt on necks. They are available in Antique Burst, Blonde or Iced Tea Burst listing at £1,889.99 ($2,799.99) for the pure acoustic CV-2 and £2,029.99 ($2,999.99) for the CV-2C (with D-Tar electronics).
THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE!
Digitech’s Artist Series pedals are designed to allow you to sound exactly like some of the greatest guitarists of all time, better get practicing then...
Is the Tascam MP-GT1 the answer for those itching to get their fumbling digits around elusive parts? We investigate… tentatively. Words: Chris Underwood....
Orange Amplification has announced the launch of its new Thunderverb
50 head, described as a lower powered and punchier version of the its
already popular Thunderverb 200....
FlexWave is set to become a new name in guitar amplification with the launch of Crate's latest range of affordable amplifiers. Boasting patented FlexWave Evolution 5 preamps, the combos and heads that comprise the FlexWave range cost from £53 to just £233 for the top of the range model.....
Well! I have loaded a track up at long last with the help of a friend, I hope you enjoy or have enjoyed listening to it?! Anyway... I have another one almost ready to load, which is far more shred orientated, I will try get a performance video up as well!... ... 0 Comments | View
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