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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Check out this Gibson acoustic guitar-the Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard

Posted on May 29th, 2010 GuitarSavvy No comments

This gorgeous looking acoustic guitar is the Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard. It’s actually an electro-acoustic with a Fishman Ellipse Aura pickup and preamp unit (factory installed), as well as a Sitka Spruce top, rosewood back and sides and a mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard. Tuners are gold Mini Grover Rotomatics and fingerboard inlays are mother of pearl “Diamond Eye”. This guitar looks stunning and is available in two colours: Vintage Sunburst (left) and Antique Natural (right):
  .

Now this is a very high spec guitar (it’s a Gibson!) so don’t be too surprised when you see the price – you can check them out on Thomann.de by clicking the preferred image above (note the Vintage Sunburst Songwriter Deluxe is marginally more expensive than the Antique Natural Songwriter Deluxe). The Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard acoustic guitar is here to empty your wallet and all your bank accounts but at least you’ll still have the guitar. You could always busk.

If you’re starved for details or simply want to have a look at some more lovely images of this guitar then check out the propaganda for the Songwriter Deluxe Standard on Gibson.com.

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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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Les Paul Tribute concert – tickets and guitar to be won at Gibson.com

Posted on November 6th, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

The Les Paul tribute concert will take place at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN on November 19, 2009.  Guests include Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde, Jennifer Batten, Steve Miller, Josh Kelly, Chalie Daniels, JD Souther, Sarah Partridge, John Rich, Anna Wilson, Steve Wariner and more.  And you can win tickets by visiting the Gibson guitars website here or by clicking the graphic below.  Not only that but you’ll also win the gorgeous Gibson Les Paul Studio (wine red).  Enter before 12 November 2009.

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Rolling Stones – bookmakers favourite to headline Glastonbury 2010. David Bowie also gets a nod…

Posted on October 7th, 2009 GuitarSavvy 2 comments

Following the news that Glastonbury 2010 tickets sold out within hours of going on sale (how many to genuine music fans, I wonder?), NME reports that the Rolling Stones are 4/1 bookmakers’ favourites to be next years Glastonbury headline act. So if you did jump the gun a bit and managed to land a few tickets, good on you! You could be in for a real treat (the full bookmakers list is at the bottom of this post – again thanks to NME for this info:  I notice that David Bowie is on there - I hope that this just goes to show that it takes more than a low-flying lollipop to keep the great man down – last saw him as cameo with Ricky Gervais in Extras – also below. Hilarious.)

This gives me an excuse (as if I need one) to talk about the opening guitar riff from Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones (see below) – this riff qualifies as one of the finest opening riffs of all time for me.  It’s right up there with AC/DC’s (who will play the Download 2010 Festival – 30th Anniversary of Monsters of Rock and AC/DC’s Back in Black album – there’s a petition underway to get Angus and the boys to play the entire Back in Black album for their set) For Those About to Rock.  Check it out.

The odds Bookies are giving for Glasto acts:

Rolling Stones 4/1
Coldplay 8/1
David Bowie 8/1
Muse 10/1
U2 12/1
Arctic Monkeys 12/1
Radiohead 14/1
Prince 16/1
Elton John 16/1
Red Hot Chili Peppers 16/1
Kings Of Leon 16/1
Green Day 20/1
Robbie Williams 20/1
Stone Roses 20/1
Madness 25/1
Spandau Ballet 25/1
Manic Street Preachers 25/1
Take That 33/1
Oasis 33/1

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Learning to play guitar? Fingertips hurting? Don’t let sore fingertips ruin your guitar technique…

Posted on September 27th, 2009 GuitarSavvy 1 comment

Painful fingertips is something all new guitarists experience in the beginning. It is a major reason why so many people give up playing in the early stages. New guitarists should note that this is only a temporary thing and there are steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of pain and/or its duration. Read more about new guitarists painful fingertips here.

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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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39 years on since the death of Jimi Hendrix – a new Gibson Jimi Hendrix Signature model guitar to be released…

Posted on September 19th, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

Today is the anniversary of the death of the inspirational guitarist Jimi Hendrix.  And the day was marked by the announcement from Gibson Guitars that there will be a new Gibson Jimi Hendrix Signature Guitar.  This soon to be unveiled Gibson signature model has been designed by Authentic Hendrix and Gibson.  Janie Hendrix, sister of Jimi Hendrix and president/CEO of Authentic Hendrix, spoke at Gibson News about how the new guitar would reflect the passion and stage presence of the guitarist and would thus be “very colorful”.   This guitar will be unveiled soon – GS will publish an updated post so you  have a good look for yourself.   Jimi’s famous style of taking right handed guitars and inverting them (which can affect their tone due to the different way in which the pickups and strings interact apparently) gives the unique sound we now associate with Jimi Hendrix and his work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (not to mention the man’s sheer dedication and talent for playing guitar.

Janie Hendrix also goes on to discuss the dizzying amount of the recorded but unreleased music material of Jimi is likely to be released over the next decade or so.  There is so much material that Hendrix music releases could occur as frequently as every 12 to 18 months for 10 years or more. 

Keep checking back for updates on the latest Gibson Jimi Hendrix Signature guitar model.

Source: Gibson Lifestyle News

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Emerging artists – check out Phoenix Williams, talented singer/songwriter from UK…

Posted on September 12th, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

See/hear Phoenix for yourself:

Phoenix Williams is a talented singer/songwriter from the UK (born in Blackpool, Lancs.). You can follow her on MySpace where you’ll see that she lists her musical influences including: Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age (what – no Rammstein?) – although Bucks Fizz is pushing things a bit.

There are several songs to check out on Phoenix Williams MySpace page and you can also find several acoustic versions on YouTube where  you can hear her amazing bluesy singing voice (while you’re on MySpace, you might as well add Guitar Savvy as well, if you haven’t already, ta).

We’re confident that we’ll be hearing a lot more from Phoenix Williams.

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Who wants a free guitar lesson (fingerstyle) with Alter Bridge and Creed guitarist, Mark Tremonti?

Posted on September 12th, 2009 GuitarSavvy No comments

Then head over to  Music Radar (link at the bottom of this post) where the Alter Bridge guitar hero (and soon to be one of our influential guitarists) himself will tell you about his approach to fingerstyle playing in this free guitar lesson.  Now Mark isn’t playing what we could call traditional fingerstyle as he uses just his thumb and index finger but it clearly works for him.   Anyone familiar with Mark’s playing in Alter Bridge and Creed will recognise his unique sound in the original piece of music featured in the lesson.  And if you’re like us, then you’ll really get a kick out of learning this. Tremonti plays PRS guitars and has his own signature model.

The lesson consists of a video and the accompanying guitar tab – head over to Music Radar to check it out.  Hope it’s useful to you.

Here’s a clip of Mark and the Alter Bridge lads playing the excellent Ties That Bind live at the O2 Academy (or the Carling Academy as it was then known) in Glasgow in January 2008.  I was at this gig!

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