NEWS: Thomas Corbishley Guitars introduces Takoba model
Here’s an email which popped up in my inbox over the weekend from Thomas Corbishley Guitars.
Thomas Corbishley Guitars Introduces the Takoba Handmade Electric Guitar
Thomas Corbishley Guitars is proud to announce the availability of the Takoba handmade electric guitar. The Takoba combines gorgeous looks, stunning tones and exceptional playing performance in a uniquely designed instrument.
Two variations of the model, the C-1 and C-2, are available. Both feature a mahogany body, maple through-neck and ebony fingerboard. The guitars incorporate Steinberger gearless tuners, an active EMG pickup system and chrome hardware. The Takoba C-1 is fitted with a Schaller fixed bridge. The Takoba C-2 is equipped for the most extreme playing and is fitted with a Schaller Floyd Rose tremolo bridge and locking nut. An ergonomically designed body provides excellent upper fret access and allows for exceptionally comfortable playing. The guitars are available in a range of metallic colors and are finished with polished nitrocellulose lacquer. Customization options are available on request.
Pricing:
Takoba C-1 $2500
Takoba C-2 $2800
For more information or to subscribe to the TC Guitars mailing list, please visit http://www.tcguitars.com/.
Contact: Thomas Corbishley
Email: inquiries@tcguitars.com
NEWS: TC Electronic Nova Drive
Ever thought, “Man, I love the sound of analog overdrive and distortion, but I wish there was a pedal that offered the same level of control as a digital pedal”? Yeah me too. Fortunately it seems like the folks at TC Electronic have had the same idea. Ladies and gentlemen: The Nova Drive.
TC Electronic Announces That Its Nova Drive Pedal Is Now Shipping
Nova Drive is TC Electronic’s incredible new programmable analog overdrive and distortion pedal. It features the same awesome analog drive circuit as the acclaimed Nova System and has full digital control. Nova Drive is therefore the ultimate distortion and overdrive pedal, offering the best of both worlds: sonic excellence combined with total control. On top of the superb tone, Nova Drive has excellent preset and control options that ensure guitarists don’t have to rebuild their set-ups from scratch to use it. The pedal also comes packed with 18 killer sounding factory presets, meaning that guitarists will be ready to rock in no time at all.
Nova Drive features two totally separate overdrive and distortion circuits that can be used separately or combined to offer a wealth of classic, spine-tingling, old school sounds. These are partnered with total digital control that enables guitarists to store up to 18 of their favorite sounds and to integrate Nova Drive into their set-ups and tailor their sound with total precision.
The dedicated distortion section offers a wide range of tones, from subtle, punchy driving distortion to screaming fuzz. And for added control it also features a 2-band EQ section for precise shaping of distorted sounds. Nova Drive’s distortion character is best typified as raw but, like the overdrive section, it preserves the original character of the sound.
The overdrive section delivers everything from clean boost with a little extra ‘oomph’ through Bluesy sting and smooth tube-like break-up, to heavy, all-out crunch. It is the perfect place to find added sustain for existing sounds and to supercharge any tone into classic territory.
With Nova Drive, guitarists finally have a place to create, store and recall all the distorted and overdriven sounds they could ever need.
Price: $345 MSRP
NEWS: PRS Starla Stoptail
Although I’ve always loved the quality, sound and playability of PRS guitars, I never really thought about buying one just because I’ve been more into other design types. That kinda changed with the Bigsby-loaded Starla, one of the guitars on my “I’ll buy it when I’m rich some day” list. Aand now PRS is releasing a Stoptail version of the Starla for folks who aren’t as into the Bigsby as I am. Everyone wins!
PRS Guitars Debuts the Starla Stoptail Electric Guitar
The Starla Stoptail has the same retro-inspired vibe as its predecessor with one noticeable difference: it features a two-piece, adjustable stoptail bridge that dramatically alters the look and feel of the original Bigsby fitted Starla model while bringing out more of a mid-range woodiness in the tone. Exclusive double-screw Starla Treble and Bass Pickups are currently standard on all models in the Starla series and offer a bright high-end bark that allows these guitars to cut through the mix.
The Starla Stoptail’s solid mahogany body is accented with a 24 ½” scale rosewood fingerboard, a solid mahogany neck and dot inlays or optional bird inlays. Proprietary Alnico magnets incorporated into the pickup design contribute to the guitar’s unique clean and crisp sound but are also capable of rich harmonic overtones when driven.
Other features include a uniquely shaped black plastic pick guard, tone and volume pots and a three-way pickup selector. Color options include Vintage Cherry, Vintage Mahogany, Vintage Orange and Black as well as the new metallic colors including Gold Sparkle, Silver Sparkle and the new metallic Hot Hues colors Twilight, Catalina Dream, and Sinful Cinnamon. Starla Stoptail models are currently shipping to authorized PRS dealers around the world.
“The Starla is inspiring to customers and to PRS employees. We wanted to open the door to players who might shy away from the tremolo version,” said PRS Sales Manager Rick Hodgson.
The Starla model featuring the Bigsby tremolo bridge was originally unveiled as part of the Experience PRS 2008 open house event. Similar in spirit to the double cutaway Mira model introduced at Experience PRS 2007, the single cutaway Starla and Starla Stoptail have many vintage themed appointments.
NEWS: Paul Reed Smith 50/09 pickup
Anyone tried the Paul Reed Smith 1957/2008 pickups released last year? Well here’s the next evolution of that pickup: the 59/09.
PRS Presents the 59/09 Electric Guitar Pickup
The PRS 59/09 is the newest addition to Paul Reed Smith Guitars’ 1957/2008 Series™ line of pickups. Slightly darker and more powerful in the bridge with a touch more clarity and brightness in the neck, the 59/09 provides a tonal alternative to the industry revered original 1957/2008 pickups, known for their articulate clarity and rich harmonic overtones.
1957/2008 Series ™ pickups utilize PRS exclusive wire and incorporate proprietary winding and magnet innovations to produce iconic sounds but with unique tonality.
“Guitarists are delighted by the classic sounds of the original 1957/2008. In the new 59/09 we wanted to provide the same vibe but with additional output for those players wanting to drive the amp’s front end a little earlier, while providing a wider spread of tone between the neck and bridge pickup,” said Paul Smith.
The new 59/09′s feature PRS exclusive wire produced on the original machine used to make the classic ’50s era pickups. 59/09 pickups will be available on select PRS models shipping in July to authorized PRS dealers.
NEWS: Schecter Solo-6 limited editions
Woah! Check out these Schecter Solo-6 limited editions! Only 100 of each model. I quite dig the Solo-6 series. Check out my reviews of the Hellraiser Solo-6 and Solo-6 Classic.
Hi! I'm Peter Hodgson. I write for Gibson.com, Australian Guitar, Australian Musician, Mixdown Magazine (including my instructional column, 'Unleash Your Inner Rock God,' which has been running since 2007), guitarworld.com, Tone Deaf, Beat (including their weekly hard rock/metal column Crunch) and The Brag. And I'm Assistant Social Coordinator with Seymour Duncan.
I've been playing guitar since I was 8 years old, and I've been writing for magazines since I was 18. I've also worked as a guitar teacher (up to 50 students a week), a setup tech, a newspaper editor, and I've also dabbled in radio a little bit. I live in Melbourne, Australia, and my hobbies include drinking way too much coffee, and eating way too much Mexican food.
You can check out my guitar playing at Reverbnation or on YouTube, and feel free to email me at iheartguitarblog@gmail.com