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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Limited edition Hotrod Inspired Dean guitars and the Dime Crest Hotrod at NASCAR

Posted on April 18th, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

Image via Wikipedia

So these gorgeous looking guitars with go faster stripes are from Dean Guitars. The chances are, by the time you read this, you won’t be able to lay your hands on one of these for love nor money – they were produced by the Dean Guitars Woodshop to celebrate a new partnership between Dean and Stratus Racing Group and in support of RideforDime.org (remembering Dimebag Darrell, Pantera and Damage Plan guitarist). It was anticipated that the guitars would sell out at a NASCAR event where the #73 car, driven by Derrike Cope, features the full “Dime Crest”. The bonnet (hood) of the car will be auctioned off at the Ride for Dime Concert and Motorcycle Rally later in the year.

If you’re keen to check if there are any of these guitars left over, you can try emailing e...@deanguitars.com.

Good luck!

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Four new Epiphone guitars to add to the 2010 Epiphone lineup

Posted on March 17th, 2010 GuitarSavvy 2 comments

Four guitars have been added to the 2010 lineup of new guitars from Epiphone. They are, in no particular order,

• The Jeff Waters Annihilation-V electric. Jeff Waters of the band Annihilator and Epiphone bring you the Epiphone Annihilator-V – “The Ultimate Metal Guitar”
  
• The Epiphone Les Paul PROFX. A Les Paul with a Floyd Rose Trem!
  
• The Masterbilt DR-500MCE. This gorgeous acoustic guitar produces an incredible tone and range thanks to the solid wood build the Masterbilt range can boast.
  
  

• The MM50E Professional. OK… this is a mandolin but I’d have a whale of a time playing it, as I’m sure you would as well. It looks The Business!
  

This is in addition to the amazing range of guitars for 2010 previously announced by Epiphone.

If you’d like to know more, visit Epiphone.com.

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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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The Gibson Dusk Tiger – ugly waste of dead wood or tonally-impressive beast of a guitar?

Posted on January 25th, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

BEST PRICE GIBSON DUSK TIGER IS £2,345 FROM THOMANN.DE

The new robot-axe from Gibson – the Gibson Dusk Tiger is here.  This Gibson guitar has a rather “interesting” appearance that has split popular opinion.  One MusicRadar.com reader pulled no punches when he or she remarked:

“…it’s the most awful looking thing I have ever seen. Looks like a roll of cheap plastic veneer has been applied to a LP Studio. Dreadful.”

What do you think?  Only 1000 Gibson Dusk Tigers are available worldwide, so you’d better be quick if you’re interested in buying one from Gear4Music or from Thomann.de. See the guitar in action courtesy of this helpful YouTube vid from Mi11:

I have to say that I’m impressed with both the looks and the sound of the Dusk Tiger – although the Music Radar reader quoted above makes a reasonable point about it’s “veneer”, I have to say that I actually quite like it. I mean the classic Les Paul lines are there, the “veneer” is actually quite eye catching, the tiger tooth fretboard markes are a nice touch and the chrome crescent moon pickguard is gorgeous, so thumbs up from me.   The tonal possibilities with a guitar like this (and the included software) make it very appealing, assuming the price tag doesn’t scare you off (retails for around £2,345 (Thomann.de) to £2,799 (Gear4Music).  This new model will hopefully address many of the shortcomings of previous robot guitars such as the Gibson Dark Fire or the Gibson Robot SG (tuning difficulties, fiddly controls, bulky headstock/tuning pegs) and the video reviews I’ve watched so far are generally positive in this regard.

I’ll have to rely on the opinion of others since sadly, my budget won’t stretch that far.  Unfortunately the friendly staff in my local music shop also know this so will take some convincing to let me have a go.

Check it out at Gear4Music or at Thomann.de now

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• CEO: Gibson was wary of Les Paul guitar (cnn.com)
• Les Paul Dies at 94 (blippitt.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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2010 is going to be a bumper year for Epiphone fans: 14 new models announced. Commence drooling…

Posted on September 2nd, 2009 GuitarSavvy 1 comment

The forthcoming range of Epiphone electric guitars (solid and hollow body), acoustic guitars and bass guitars has been announced on Epiphone.com.  There will be 14 new Epiphone models in the 2010 range:

• An Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard (50th anniversary)
• “Tribute” Les Paul Standard
• Worn 1966 Wilshire
• Emperor Swingster
• “1965″ Lennon Casino
• “Inspired by” Revolution Casino
• Special II GT
• Graveyard Disciple
• Inspired by 1964 Texan acoustic
• The Roy Orbison Signature 12 string acoustic
• Explorer GT
• LP Express (a reduced-size Les Paul)
• SG Express (a reduced-sized SG)
• Triumph-II Bass

Epiphone has been making guitars for a long time and is now part of the Gibson Co.  If you’re looking for a great quality Les Paul or SG but can’t afford to pay Gibson prices, then an Epiphone Les Paul or SG is the guitar for you. 

Epiphone 2010 New Products Video from Will Jones on Vimeo.

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