Railhammer launches the Chisel – Bridge model
You might recognise Railhammer Pickups from the Reverend Reeves Gabrels II model guitar. And chances are good that you’ve heard of Railhammer/Reverend founder Joe Naylor before. Railhammer has just released a new humbucker model called the Chisel and from the following press release it sounds like a monster!
RAILHAMMER PICKUPS LAUNCHES CHISEL – BRIDGE MODEL
Features include Ceramic magnet and 44 gauge wire.
The Chisel – Bridge model pickup is aimed at hard rock and metal players. Using a high output Ceramic magnet and 44 gauge wire, the tone is aggressive and thick, but with enhanced clarity. The rail/pole structure allows players to dial in a tight percussive tone on the wound strings without the plain strings sounding thin or sterile. Riffs are loud and clear, even under heavy distortion.
REVIEW: Fret-King JD
Jerry Donahue is an almost unnaturally talented guitarist capable of dizzying feats of technique and melody. A few other companies (Fender and Peavey) have offered Jerry Donahue artist models in the past, and they were fine instruments. But Donahue says his new Fret-King trumps them all. Let’s check it out and see if he’s speaking the truth. Continue reading
IK Multimedia iRig STOMP out now
IK Multimedia’s iRig was one of the first guitar interfaces for iOS devices, and while it’s a very handy little device, a few later products trumped it in features. IK have never rested on their laurels though, and they’ve hit back with what’s got to be the most impressively-specced and most player-friendly iOS guitar interface yet. It’s housed in a stompbox case, lets you plug your iDevice into your amp, gives you manual control of the input signal strength, and hell, it even lets you use the iPad in line with other pedals, which is great for incorporating guitar synth apps or other gadgetry into your guitar rig.
Here’s the press release:
IK Multimedia announces iRig STOMP: First stompbox-style guitar and bass interface for iPhone/iPad is now shipping
Take the stage with your mobile guitar rig – incorporate your mobile guitar amps and effects into your live performance
September 6th, 2012 – IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music creation accessories and apps announced today that iRig STOMP, the first guitar and bass stompbox-style interface for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, is nowavailable from retailers worldwide and the IK Multimedia online store.
REVIEW: Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Top
The GS Mini is like the big brother of the legendary Baby Taylor. While the Baby Taylor won a lot of hearts due to its portability, easy playability and jack-of-all-trades tone, the GS Mini is not quite a small travel guitar in the same way as the Baby Taylor – but it’s not a full-bodied strummer either. It’s a portable-but-not-too-small instrument that gives the feel of a much bigger guitar. Taylor sums it up perfectly on the box: “Real. Small. Taylor.” Taylor describe it as a modern-day parlour guitar for playing around the house, but it’s also the kind of axe you could easily take to a jam, camping or to the beach. And it’s also stage or studio-friendly thanks to a few special extras. This year a mahogany version joins the original version.
Exclusive Lesson: Paul Gilbert on Pentatonic Harmonies
Huge thanks to Paul Gilbert and Artistworks for providing this killer look at Paul’s online guitar school!
Paul’s heading to Australia soon for a masterclass tour thanks to Thump Music. Get your tickets here!
And don’t forget, his new album Vibrato is out next month. Here’s the UK press release:
Music Theories Recordings, a division of Mascot Label Group, is pleased to announce the 15thOctober UK release of Paul Gilbert’s 12th solo album “Vibrato”. The album includes 4 new guitar and vocal compositions, 4 instrumentals, and 3 live cover songs from Gilbert’s 2010 “Fuzz”tour including Yes’ Roundabout, Muddy Waters’ I Want To Be Loved and AC/DC’s Go Down.
ALBUM TRACKLISTING
01 – Enemies (In Jail)
02 – Rain And Thunder And Lightning
03 – Vibrato
04 – Put It On The Char
05 – Bivalve Blues
06 – Blue Rondo A La Turk
07 – Atmosphere on the Moon
08 – The Pronghorn
09 – Roundabout
10 – I Want To Be Loved
11 – Go Down
New Line 6 James Tyler Variax models
New offerings give guitarists more sonic and aesthetic options
CALABASAS, Calif.—September 18, 2012—Line 6, Inc. is proud to introduce two additions to the James Tyler® Variax® family. The new JTV-59P and JTV-69S guitars provide new pickup configurations and a variety of finish options, expanding the sonic capabilities of the James Tyler Variax family to meet the needs of even more guitar players.
“We’re excited to expand the James Tyler Variax line with additional models that will inspire even more guitarists to check out these amazing instruments,” says Darrell Smith, Guitar Product Line Manager at Line 6. “For the player who likes vintage P-90 soapbar pickups and is looking for a slightly lower-gain, warmer tone, the JTV-59P is a great choice. The JTV-69S offers the industry-standard three single-coil pickup configuration, which is ideal for guitarists who want that classic sound.” Continue reading
Guitar Universe 2012 Tour
09 OCT 2012 – FR – COLMAR – LE GRILLEN
COOL GEAR ALERT: TC Electronic Flashback X4 Delay and Looper
Check out this video of Rob ‘Chappers’ Chapman explaining the new TC Electronic Flashback X4 Delay and Looper.
I’d love to hear what Matt Stephens would do with this pedal.
Led Zeppelin O2 Arena show comes to DVD!
At long last, Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion show at London’s O2 Arena is being released! It’ll be screened in cinemas in October and will arrive as a home release in November.
I’m really stoked about this one. Robert Plant is one of my favourite singers. But not just any Robert Plant: specifically 1990s-and-onwards Plant, when his voice seemed to take on even more gravity and gravel.
Here’s the press release:
On December 10, 2007, Led Zeppelin took the stage at London’s O2 Arena to headline a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. What followed was a two-hour-plus tour de force of the band’s signature blues-infused rock ’n’ roll that instantly became part of the legend ofLed Zeppelin. Continue reading
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), Blunt, 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 Bandcamp or on YouTube, and feel free to email me at iheartguitarblog@gmail.com