Month: January 2019

Fender Broadcasters were only made between Autumn 1950 and March 1951, and are the most coveted and valuable models in the Telecaster family tree This is the insider’s story of the birth of the Fender Telecaster, the first commercial solidbody electric guitar. The Telecaster was a factory product, stripped down to its essentials, built from easily assembled parts, and made at a relatively affordable price. Guitarists of every stripe have come to love the Tele for its elegant simplicity and for its dry bite and twangy punch. Back when it first appeared in the early 50s, it was, quite simply, a revolutionary instrument. This oral history about the birth of the Telecaster comes from interviews I’ve done over the years for my various books about Fender. Bob Perine’s famous portrait…

NAMM 2019: Gibson Custom Shop showcases new models Including a Billy Gibbons Contour SG Prototype and Chuck Berry Tribute ES-350T. Billy Gibbons Contour SG Prototype, Gold & Black Today, Gibson Custom Shop held an event at NAMM showcasing their new axes. The collection had gorgeous guitars galore, but one of the standouts had to be Custom Shop Chuck Berry Tribute ES-350T, on which the brand worked with Berry’s son and grandson to create. Check it out in the gallery we’ve put together below, along with the likes of a Billy Gibbons Contour SG Prototype, Joan Jett ES-339 and more. Gibson Custom Shop NAMM 2019 Chuck Berry Tribute ES-350T Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard, Green Lemon Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard, Green Lemon Gibson 1964 SG Standard Reissue, Cherry Red Gibson…

NAMM 2019: So, here they are. They're not a surprise, given that Fender announced they were collaborating with Jimmy Page on a series of four Teles last year, but this is our first glimpse of the hotly anticipated quartet, timed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin's seminal debut album, in the flesh. Page played the famed 'Dragon' on that album, and Fender's four releases - comprising two limited Custom Shop models and two full production guitars - pay homage to the guitar in its various iterations. The 1959 Telecaster was originally a 1966 gift from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, sporting a tidy factory White Blonde finish, as cloned in the production line 'Mirror' release below. The true Mirror incarnation, now given the full Custom Shop replica treatment (and price tag), was born…

It’s rare today to find a guitar with totally unique functionality and design, especially to find one that isn’t cheesy or a novelty. Fender is really offering something special with their new Acoustasonic, a hybrid electric/acoustic guitar several years in the making. This guitar is truly an acoustic and an electric, not just an acoustic with a preamp and pickup, nor just an electric with a Piezo pickup for an added “acoustic” tone. It’s a concept all its own.Taking a broad-stroke overview, the new Acoustasonic sports the classic Telecaster body, has a magnetic electric pickup, a Piezo, and a body sensing pickup, a soundhole, a wooden bridge, two knobs, and a bolt-on neck. There’s a DSP chip inside for a diversity of tones, but the guitar sounds anything but digital…

NAMM 2019: Godin has announced the latest entry in its Multiac line of acoustic guitars, the Multiac Steel.Based on the design of the Multiac Doyle Dykes Signature, the Steel delivers authentic acoustic sounds with zero feedback, according to Godin.It’s equipped with a custom-voiced LR Baggs Electronic system, with the ability to blend an LB6 under-saddle transducer with a Lyric internal microphone, while there’s also a Seymour Duncan Lipstick pickup, which can be introduced via volume and tone knobs.Image 1 of 2Image 2 of 2Otherwise, the new model features a solid spruce top, dual chambered mahogany body, mahogany neck, Richlite fingerboard and white binding with a natural finish.We rate the Multiac Encore Nylon as one of the best nylon-string acoustic guitars on the market, so we’ve got high hopes for this…

Gibson has announced the release of a limited-edition Chris Cornell Tribute ES-335 signature guitar.The model is a reissue of sorts of the company’s 2013 model for the late Soundgarden frontman, with the addition of Cornell’s signature on the headstock.Otherwise, the spec is similar to the original, with aged Lollartron humbuckers, clear ‘no number’ Top Hat knobs and an Olive Drab Satin finish.Image 1 of 2Image 2 of 2“Chris Cornell was not only one of the most iconic singer songwriters of all time; he was a modern innovator who left a legacy that transcends music genres and generations,” says Cesar Gueikian, Chief Merchant Officer, Gibson.“It is our honor to release this tribute ES-335 in his memory. It’s a guitar Chris fell in love with and which became a part of his…

Godin Daryl Stuermer DS-1Godin has unveiled its new Daryl Stuermer DS-1 Signature Edition guitar.The new model is built to the specs of the longtime Phil Collins guitarist, and features a Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 neck pickup and a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom SH-11P in the bridge, along with a five-way switch.The guitar also features a Canadian Laurentian Basswood body with a AA Flame Top in a high-gloss Trans Red finish. Other features include a 25.5” scale length, Richlite fingerboard, Godin Tru-Loc Tremolo system and the Godin High Definition Revoicer.The Godin Daryl Stuermer DS-1 Signature Edition guitar will be available after NAMM. The price of the instrument has yet to be announced. For more information, head over to Godin Guitars. via GuitarPlayer.com http://bit.ly/2TUuy6N

NAMM 2019: PRS has announced a trio of new SE signature models, the SE Santana Singlecut Trem, SE Schizoid and SE Paul’s Guitar.That means you can now snag yourself mid-priced versions of Santana’s one-off Private Stock model, Paul Reed Smith’s own ultra-versatile signature guitar, and Jakko Jaksyk’s King Crimson electric.The SE Paul’s Guitar ships in February, followed by the SE Schizoid in March, and the SE Santana Singlecut Trem later in the spring.Read on for all the deets from PRS, and pop over to PRS Guitars for more.This news follows the company's first wave of NAMM releases, including the CE 24 Semi-Hollow, Ziricote SE Custom 24, Paul’s Guitar and new SE acoustics, plus the McCarty 594 Hollowbody II.SE Santana Singlecut Trem£799/€899PRESS RELEASE: The SE Santana Singlecut Trem pays tribute to…

NAMM 2019: Godin has unveiled a signature guitar for Phil Collins guitarist Daryl Stuermer, the DS-1 Signature Edition.Godin is promising “rocking tonal possibilities” courtesy of a Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 neck pickup and Custom SH-11P in the bridge, complete with five-way pickup selector switch.The guitar itself features a Canadian Laurentian basswood body with a AA flame top in a high-gloss Trans Red finish.Other specs include a 25.5” scale length, Richlite fingerboard, Godin Tru Loc Tremolo system and the Godin High Definition Revoicer, which alters the EQ curve of the pickups.This one is set to hit stores post-NAMM, with the price yet to be announced.In other hot Godin NAMM news, the company is set to unveil its first-ever acoustic guitar line this year. via MusicRadar http://bit.ly/2QRHOaa

NAMM 2019: Following up on its all-new Modern Deluxe Series and far-out Woodstock 50th Anniversary acoustic guitars, Martin has announced updates to its Dreadnought Junior and Road Series, as well as three new slope-shoulder models.It’s good to see upgrades appearing on Martin’s more affordable ranges, including a new body depth for the Dread Jr and the addition of Fishman’s MX-T electronics to the Road Series.Plus, StreetMaster, Black Smoke and Whiskey Sunset models are now available in slope-shoulder formats.Read on for the full story from Martin, and visit Martin Guitar for further info.Dreadnought Junior SeriesFrom $699/£579PRESS RELEASE: The Dreadnought Junior Series is designed for players looking for big Dreadnought sound in a slightly smaller body.The newly updated Junior is available with a Sapele or Sitka spruce top, Sapele back and sides…