Gibson Firebird X Launches in New York

Posted on November 3rd, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

So the Gibson Firebird X launch took place in New York City a few short days ago – here’s a vid of the guitar in action. Almost universally scathing comments from viewers, at least on the first couple of pages. I have to say, I wasn’t that impressed but I didn’t think it was that bad.

The guitar features an ash body, maple neck, three magnetic humbuckers with a piezo pickup at the bridge. The Firebird X has built in guitar effects processing and the Gibson Robot automatic tuning system.

It’s due for release on 11 December 2010 and, in the US at least, the suggested price tag is $5570. Ouch. Only 1800 units will be made – in the first run at least.

I think I’ll save my pennies for a Gibson Les Paul Standard or similar thanks all the same.

Read Music Radar’s story on the Gibson Firebird X here.

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Dream guitar

Posted on September 24th, 2010 Steve 2 comments

Dream Guitar

For some time now I’ve been looking for a new guitar, a special guitar of the up most quality and until recently I thought I had found it. The guitar I had set my heart and cash on was a Vigier Excalibur Supra, this guitar hits £1500, in fact I’ve seen them at £1800. This guitar had been tried against many others including Charvels, Caparisons, Ibanez and Suhr‘s. So on a random visit to my local store I thought, hey, I’ll pick it up and give it a wee seal of approval. I wasn’t playing well due to being cold but something else felt oddly missing. I started to blame the wee Egnator amp I had been plugged in to and as a result, a different salesman who had popped downstairs to fiddle on an acoustic changed amps to a Bognor Shiva and I must say, it was an impressive amp. So off I went blasting away on the Vigier when (as I thought) our time came to an end and it was time go head off to another store before closing time when I was told (by the little lady) that we still had time. So I turned round and noticed another guitar that I quite fancied having a go on even though I’d played them before, albeit a different model. The guitar was the expensive but handmade (like the Vigier) Suhr Modern. I cannot begin to tell you how good this guitar is, at least for me and my style of playing it was suited to a tee. This is not a review of the guitar, I’ll do that when I get my hands on it for keeps but lets just say that if you get the chance to play one, do it. The price is a bit of an eye popper at a staggering £2500 but I weighed it up against other guitar makers around at that price like the Ibanez Jem7V-WH retailing at £2350 and to my knowledge not hand built plus I’ve owned a Jem 77FP and played the Jem 7V-WH……….. Suhr all the way.

This video is not me, I’m much better looking

Steve.

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Steve (AKA Redcustard)... check out my channel on YouTube

Gear

Posted on August 18th, 2010 Steve No comments

Hey guys, today I wanna tell you about my gear. I use an Ibanez pgm 301 guitar going through either a Laney GH50L head with matching cab or I’ll plug straight into Apples Garageband, that’s where I can have fun as I run into the Laney dry (no effects). I use Dunlop USA 1.5 mm picks. D’addario strings 09-42.

So that’s what I’m using at the moment but I’m planning on a change and have been stupidly interested in Vigier guitars, specifically the Excalibur Supra range, they play SO well. I’m also on the hunt for a new amp too but that’s harder than I thought. First thing is to get an Alder bodied guitar, have to move away from the Basswood body like the Ibanez I’m using, far too bright for my tastes and then I’ll focus on the amp. I’d love to have a bash on a Cornford MK50 but for some reason the British made amp is very hard to get a hold of in the UK and a trip to Whitstable will soon be in order.

If anyone has any of the gear I’m after, let us know what you think.

This is me:

Steve (AKA Redcustard)... check out my channel on YouTube

Epiphone Emperor Swingster – Sex from a Stick

Posted on March 29th, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

This gorgeous piece of hardware is from those good ‘ol boys at Epiphone. The Epiphone Emperor Swingster archtop hollowbody electric guitar is a bit of alright – made from spruce and maple, this guitar looks almost too cool.

In their own words, Gibson.com say:

Of course the Epiphone Swingster looks as hip as it sounds, with a choice of finishes in Sunrise Orange, Translucent Black, or Wine Red on a body and neck with multi-ply top and fingerboard binding, block inlays, and classic Epiphone mother-of-pearl “vine” inlay on the headstock.

The Emperor Swingster has a nickel-plated Bigsby vibrato, a pair of Gibson Swingbucker pickups (a new pickup), Grover tuners and the gorgeous looks and reliability we have come to expect from Epiphone (it comes with the Epiphone Limited Lifetime warranty too). It really is sex on a… (or should that be from a) stick.

Check it out at Thomann (available NOW): The Epiphone Emperor Swingster comes in a choice of colours:

Translucent Black     Wine Red     Sunrise Orange
Click images above to go directly to that guitar page on Thomann.de

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5 new Gibson guitars on the way this year, so far…

Posted on March 7th, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

… and there may be more to come! So if you’ve got several g’s to burn on one of these beauties then that’s great (and I hate you ). Read on and try not to dribble…

• Slash 2010 Appetite Les Paul
• Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul
• Randy Scruggs Advanced Jumbo acoustic
• 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD
• 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard

Slash 2010 Appetite Les Paul

More details to come from Gibson on this one but the Slash 2010 Appetite for Destruction Les Paul is getting a limited numbers release so if you snooze you lose. This Les Paul guitar has been designed in collaboration with Slash to recreate the unique sound of Slash’s guitar in the Appetite for Destruction era of Guns ‘N Roses. This beast is fitted with Seymour Duncan Signature Series Alnico II Pro Slash humbucking pickups and has a 1960′s style LP neck. Additional features (from Slash 2010 Appetite LP article on Gibson.com):

Traditional style weight relief Mahogany body with AAA Figured Maple top
Unique neck profile made for Slash features rounded 60’s shape
Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
Un-burst top with faded cherry back lacquer finish
Slash signature smoking skull with top hat artwork for peghead face
New Seymour Duncan Slash Signature Alnico II pickups
Special capacitors selected by Slash for vintage tone
Tone Pro hardware with historic machine heads, locking bridge and tailpiece

Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul

This gorgeous looking red (sorry – “cabernet”) Les Paul from Sammy Hagar (frontman and guitarist with Van Halen and Chickenfoot) sports Gibson “zebra coil” humbucking pickups—neck pickup is ’57 Classic and bridge pickup is the BurstBucker 3 – great for both clean blues playing and growling rock guitar. Body is maple top/mahogany (weight-relief), neck is rosewood with 22 frets and the heastock sports the Chickenfoot logo (looks a bit like a square CND logo).
Available soon from Thomann.de:

Randy Scruggs Advanced Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

This beautiful jumbo acosutic guitar features a Sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides (vintage sunburts finish). It also features a Fishman Matrix pickup system.

When Randy Scruggs first opened the case that contained his Gibson signature acoustic, he says he felt like it was Christmas Day. You’ll probably feel that way, too, when you first lay eyes on this gorgeous guitar, modeled after Scruggs’ own beloved Advanced Jumbo.

Gibson Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD

The ever-popular ES-335 model has had, yet more significant changes made to improve upon one of the finest semi-hollow body electric guitars available. This model features a pair of Gibson ’57 classic pickups, laminated maple body/top and a mahogany neck with 22 fret rosewood fingerboard. This guitar will be available in the following colours: Antique Faded Cherry, Antique Vintage Sunburst and Antique Natural.

Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard

This guitar (which I would love to own in case anyone well off, who has got started on guitar with the help of Guitar Savvy and would like to show their appreciation – hohum) is probably one of the most collectable guitars around.

The last model from the first run of Les Pauls that debuted in the late ’50s, the 1960 Les Paul Standard model has become one of the most collectible guitars of all time, not only because of its rarity but because, in its third year of production, Gibson engineers had hammered out the best yet version of the Les Paul. This incredible guitar has now been reincarnated in the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard, which is available in three limited edition models, each with a different evolution of neck width from the 1960 run.

You can check out some of the 50th anniversary Les Pauls at Thomann.de in the following colours:

• Cherry Burst
• Heritage Darkburst
• Sunset Teaburst
• Heritage Cherry Sunburst

Read the full story on Gibson.com with links to full details for these guitars here.

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Gibson releases feature-packed Guitar App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Posted on March 3rd, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

Gibson have just announced the release of a new guitar app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Gibson App is packed with great tools for guitarists including:

• a metronome (allows tempo setting by choosing a specific beat per minute or even by simply tapping the screen three times at the desired tempo)
• a chromatic tuner (the iPhone version of the tuner can detect the notes played on your guitar whereas the iPod Touch simple guitar tuner version plays the notes specified allowing you to tune to match (because the iPod Touch lacks a mic)
• Guitar chord charts (over 30 chord charts with marked finger positions) for reference
• Video content with lessons – to teach new guitar riffs, guitar licks and chord arrangements (to be updated regularly)
• Headlines from Gibson.com about artists, new products, contests & special events, articles, news stories and factual information

Screenshot: The Gibson App Tuner

Now, I don’t have an iPhone, but if I did I’d be straight on to the iPhone App store to get my copy today. Did I mention that the Gibson App is FREE???

Head over to the iPhone App Store now or find out more at Gibson.com

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Four great entry level electric guitars to consider…

Posted on October 18th, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

If you’re after your first electric axe, you could do a lot worse than to consider one of these beauties.  All guitars shown here retail for under 300 pounds making them affordable too. The thing to remember about buying a guitar is that almost without exception, you get what you pay for.  £200-£300 is a realistic price point for a decent entry level electric guitar. So check these out:

The Yamaha Pacifica 112

The Yamaha Pacifica 112V is probably the best value entry level electric guitar you can get. This guitar looks good, sounds good and is great value for money at about 200 pounds. As you can see, it looks rather Strat-like which is no bad thing (more like the Fat-Strat given that the Yamaha Pacifica 112V comes with 2 single-coil pickups and one humbucker bridge pickup). With great tone for blues and rock guitar, the Yamaha Pacifica is well worth thinking about for a first electric guitar. It is available in a wide range of colours from:
Musicroom.co.uk, Gear 4 Music and Thomann Musikhaus.

The Epiphone ES-335 Dot

This hollow-body semi-acoustic electric guitar represents incredible value for a budget electric guitars. Not only does it look great, but you’re getting an axe that has probably the finest tone you could hope from a guitar 3 times the price. If you opt for the Epiphone ES-335 Dot, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll get less change from your 300 pictures of the Queen but you’re getting a lot of axe for your cash.

Available from Thomann and Gear 4 Music.

Squier Telecaster Classic Vibe

The Squier Telecaster Classic Vibe is based on the 1950s vintage Telecaster and looks amazing. This budget version offers an axe of impressive quality and sound, not to mention the history of the Telecaster, used by the likes of Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) and Andy Summers (The Police), the Telecaster is suited to a broad range of guitar styles.

Available from Music Room Thomann Musikhaus and Gear 4 Music.

Ibanez RG321

The Ibanez RGB321 is a classy entry level electric guitar. Some people have reported Ibanez guitars around the entry level as a bit hit and miss (their top end guitars are incredible). If ever you needed proof that Ibanez can produce a great entry level electric guitar then look no further than the Ibanez RG321 – it’s sleek lines and evil looking pointy double cutaways are more than just good looking – this guitar can hit the notes you need with some of the finest tone around for those on a budget. This axe is fitted with 2 Ibanez humbuckers.

Available from Gear 4 Music, Thomann Musikhaus and MusicRoom.co.uk

If you want a decent guitar you’re going to have to fork out for it. You could pay less but you’ll wind up with a guitar you will probably hate playing because it tries to hurt you (ridiculously high action will hurt your fingertips or worse, give you R.S.I. (repetitive strain injury)) or tries to drive you mad because it won’t stay tuned or will break your strings regularly. Cheap-ass guitars really are false economy.  If you have any of these guitars, please let us know what you think.

Good luck.

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The new Gibson Jimi Hendrix Signature Strat Guitar polarizes opinions… a Gibson Strat!

Posted on September 23rd, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

Well the new Gibson Jimi Hendrix Signature strat guitar has been unveiled and it looks pretty good although the inverted headstock looks decidedly odd on a right handed guitar (I know, I know… that’s the point so it’s just me). Oh, and the other decidedly odd thing is that it’s a Gibson “strat” (although this was reported previously).  These guitars have been engineered to help players achieve the Hendrix sound (if not the Hendrix guitar skills).  “Why isn’t it a Fender Strat” I hear you ask? 

According to MusicRadar, the guitar will come in three packages:

• The Jimi Hendrix “Experience” Electric Guitar Package

This package includes additional hardware: a Jimi Hendrix Signature “Voodoo Child” amplifier, Foxey Fuzz pedal, an electronic tuner, two guitar cables, a Hendrix-inspired guitar strap, three guitar picks and a USB drive containing exclusive Hendrix media content not to mention a deluxe gig bag and an instructional DVD!  Buyers will also get a Hendrix inspired tie-dyed t-shirt and bandana.  The price is expected to be in the region of $499 (US).

• The Jimi Hendrix “Signature” Guitar Package

Accessories are as per the “Experience” package (amp, strap, gig-bag, tuner, guitar picks) except without the Foxey Fuzz Pedal and with only one guitar lead. The tee and the bandana are also absent from this package which is expected to retail for $329.99 (US)

• The Jimi Hendrix “Little Wing” Electric Guitar Package

This package consists of the new 10-watt “Max Feedback” amplifier, an instructional DVD a deluxe padded gig bag, guitar cable, a nylon strap with the Authentic Hendrix logo and three Authentic Hendrix guitar picks. This package is expected to retail for around $249.99 (US)

So having read loads of posts surrounding the press releases and news articles for the signature Jimi Hendrix Gibson strat, opinions are definitely divided on this range of new electric guitars.   Many fans are actually angered by Gibson making a strat copy and are very critical of Janie Hendrix’s handling of the whole process of this guitar’s release from conception, design, engineering, manufacturing to the release of the final product).  I’m going to sit on the fence for now until I’ve actually heard the guitar played – I’m not really familiar with the politics surrounding the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and the running of Authentic Hendrix LLC so I will only say this: Jimi Hendrix remains arguably the most influential guitarist of modern days and it would be a great shame if any guitar released in his name was anything short of spectacular.

Sorry for the poor quality vid -sounds great though.

Learn to Play Jimi Hendrix DVD (Lick Library)

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Kurt Cobain’s appearance as fully playable unlockable character in Guitar Hero 5 has upset surviving Nirvana members and

Posted on September 12th, 2009 GuitarSavvy 1 comment

Courtney Love, widow of the Nirvana frontman and guitarist.  Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl said that while they were aware that Kurt’s avatar appeared in the game, playing two Nirvana songs (Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lithium), the problem lies in the fact that this is an unlockable character that can and will be used to play freely throughout the game, potentially playing any song in the game (there are 85 tracks in total – including Iggy Pop‘s Lust for Life!).  Love has herself been publicly condemning the game saying that Cobain would have despised the notion not to mention the game itself.

A statement from Activision, publisher of Guitar Hero 5, claimed that a written agreement on behalf of the Cobain estate and signed by Love (rather than signed with Love) gave permission to use the image of Kurt Cobain as a fully playable game character.  Despite this, Courtney Love is threatening to sue Activision.  What will happen next?  Tune in next time.

Source: Yahoo News

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Line6 releases 6 new amps: Spider IV series ranges from…

Posted on September 8th, 2009 GuitarSavvy 2 comments

… a 15-watt practice amp to a 150-watt head. Line6 amplifiers are well known for their great sound and powerful processing capability and the the Line6 Spider IV range promises a whole lot more than the earlier Spider range including auto-wah and pitch shifting effects.

Check them out at Amazon.co.uk or Dolphin Music.

Thanks to Total Guitar Magazine for this news.

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