Guitarsite News

PRS Private Stock Custom 24 8-String

PRS unveils their August Guitar of the Month, the Private Stock Custom 24 8-string with Seymour Duncan Alpha and Omega pickups. Related Feature:PRS SE Mark Holcomb Signature The Private Stock department of PRS was born after the company finished their “Guitar of the Month” special releases in 1996. So it is only fitting that they celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Private Stock with a year long release of limited run Guitar of the Month models, which include this new Custom 24 8-String. The new PRS Private Stock Custom 24 8-String guitar is inspired by the 8-string that PRS co-designed with one of their artist endorsers, Mark Holocomb of Periphery. It will only be available within the month of August, and only 8 will be produced for the month, so it sure will be an exclusive release. PRS Director of Private Stock Paul Miles said, “When we were building Mark Holcomb’s 8-string model, the Private Stock team knew it was something special that we wanted to explore in The Guitars of the Month program. With each Guitar of the Month model, we celebrate our 20th Anniversary of Private Stock by exploring new designs and exceptional materials. The results are heirloom quality

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PRS CE 24 Standard Satin Electric Guitar

The new CE 24 Standard Satin is PRS’ follow up to the bolt-on neck model that they re-introduced earlier this year. Related Feature:PRS CE 24 After almost a decade of absence, PRS has brought back the CE 24 guitar, with its bolt-on neck design. The announcement and release was made earlier this year, but it looks like they are not yet done because before the year even ends, a second model has already been announced, this time carrying a different finish and a more traditional wood configuration. While bolt-on necks are nothing special for many manufacturers, especially in the entry level market, it is a rarity among PRS guitars. So when they finally brought back the bolt-on neck model earlier this year, many were interested, so much so that PRS had to release a second model after just a few months. PRS mentions that their breed of bolt-on neck guitars are meant to deliver sound and feel of traditional bolt-on guitar, while introducing their level of sound quality and playability. And it’s not surprising that many were interested, especially when considering that many guitar players learned on traditional bolt-on neck guitars themselves. The PRS CE 24 Standard Satin carries over

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PRS Mark Tremonti Baritone Limited Edition

PRS Guitars introduces the new Mark Tremontii Baritone Limited Edition model, with a longer 25.5″ scale length. Related Feature:PRS SE Mark Holcomb Signature Longtime PRS endorser Mark Tremonti of Creed and Alter Bridge fame gets another signature guitar under his belt – a long scale “Baritone” guitar variation of his original signature guitar that makes the instrument viable for down-tuning to C#, which is Mark’s preferred tuning. Much of this limited version is based on Tremonti’s signature PRS model, including the body shape and the hardware used. But what sets it apart is its longer 25.5″ scale length which prevents buzzing when tuning down the guitar. To be specific, this configuration will let you swap out the “wound” G string for a thinner non-wound one, and do so without encountering unwanted buzzing and fret noise. And since the G-string is now non-wound, the Tremonti Baritone LE configuration allows for bending the 3rd string, much like you would on a standard tuning guitar. This translates to more solo and riff options for Mark, and other guitarists who will get perfect fit with an aggressive, articulate tone limited run instrument. The guitar’s body is crafted from mahogany and figured maple for the

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PRS SE Mark Holcomb Signature

PRS introduces the SE Mark Holcomb Signature, a 25.5″ scale guitar with Seymour Duncan Alpha & Omega pickups. Related Feature:PRS John Mayer Super Eagle This guitar is based on the previously released US-made PRS Mark Holcomb Limited Run, following its shape and specs, albeit produced in a way that’s more cost efficient. This release makes the signature guitar more accessible and affordable, giving more guitarists and fans of the artists the chance to take one home. Mark Holcomb is known for his “Djent” metal guitar style with his band “Periphery”. He is known to employ complex rhythmic patterns and interesting melodies into their tracks, and does so on his PRS guitar. Thanks to Periphery’s popularity, a relationship between PRS and Mark has formed, resulting in a premium limited run instrument. This time around, the company and the artist have joined forces yet again to create this new production line model. This signature guitar extends the brand’s reach into metal music territory further, especially with the lower price point. And it serves as a testament to how versatile the brand can be, able to provide instruments for artists that play widely different styles. According to Mark Holcomb, “With my SE signature

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Gibson Nick Lucas Grande

Gibson just unveiled their 2016 lineup of guitars, which includes the limited run Nick Lucas Grande with its English walnut back and sides. Related Feature:Acoustic Guitar Tuners For the 2016 edition of this guitar, Gibson focused on getting the playing feel of the neck just right, enhancing the finish and improving the guitar’s acoustic and plugged-in tone. Known as the grandfather of jazz guitar, Nick Lucas was a famous guitarist and singer from the 1920s to the 1940s. So much so that Gibson approached him so that they could build him a signature acoustic. The result was the “Nick Lucas Special” which had a deeper body to accommodate his complex playing style which required more upfront lower frequencies. This year, Gibson is bringing back this special acoustic in a limited edition model called the Nick Lucas Grande which they dub as a historic “once-in-a-lifetime” instrument. As expected Gibson went all out in designing, implementing premium materials and ensuring quality build. This guitar comes with a more old school look and feel, having a traditional 12-fret neck joint design with a slightly smaller body. What truly separates it from other acoustics however is its deeper body, which gives it the same

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Cort Sunset Nylectric

Cort Guitars introduces the Sunset Nylectric, a nylon string guitar with the playability and shape of an electric guitar. Related Feature:Cort Frank Gambale Signature Acoustic As the name implies, Cort wanted this hybrid instrument to bridge the gap between classical and electric guitars, and it does so by fitting nylon strings and classical guitar features into a traditional single-cutaway electric guitar body. Cort Guitars continue to enjoy worldwide popularity, thanks to the many big name guitar manufacturers that have outsourced their production to the company. With all the different designs that they produce, the company’s experience and expertise continue to ramp up, and as expected they put this skill build up to good use with their own brand of instruments – of which the Cort Sunset Nylectric is included. Because of its hybrid features, I found it hard to categorize the Sunset Nylectric – is it an acoustic guitar or electric guitar? The single-cutaway body makes it appear very much like your typical LP style guitar, while the slotted headstock and nylon string setup gives you the appearance of a classical guitar. Since there is no hybrid category here at Guitarsite, I decided to go with acoustic, because it will

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Mitchell ME1ACE Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Mitchell Guitars expand their Element Series with the ME1ACE, an affordable solid spruce top acoustic-electric guitar. Related Feature:Best Acoustic-Electrics under $500 Known for their entry level priced instruments, Mitchell describes this guitar as one of the most well-appointed and high-quality guitar they have produced, combining good specs, tonewoods, cosmetic embellishments and modern construction techniques. The ME1ACE is part of Mitchell’s latest line of acoustics called Element, all of which feature improved specs and aesthetics while maintaining a very accessible price tag. This guitar features an auditorium body shape with Venetian cutaway, and it comes with onboard Fishman electronics. The body of this acoustic guitar features a solid spruce top that is supported by shifted scalloped X bracing pattern, which allows for improved resonance, that in turn increase projection. The back and sides feature striped sapele, a more cost effective alternative to mahogany, that retains much of its tonal quality and appearance. This combination results in familiar acoustic tones. The neck is crafted from mahogany and topped by a 20-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard with a standard scale length of 25.5″ and abalone dot inlay fret markers. It joins the body via a dovetail joint. Playability should be similar to traditional acoustics,

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Ovation Applause Elite AE44

Ovation introduces the revamped Applause Elite AE44, featuring a sleeker modern look with upgraded specs. Related Feature:The Best Acoustic Guitars This guitar is part of the updated 2017 Applause guitar line which debuted at the recently concluded Summer NAMM 2016. It joins the Applause Balladeer model, all of which follow Ovation’s distinct body design while keeping the price point more accessible. 2017 is still 6 months out, but this does not stop Ovation from looking forward to next year, to the point that they used it to label the revamped Applause guitar line. Being their more affordable line, the new Applause instruments will be made outside of the US, but each one will be built according to the design provided for by the main Ovation facility in California. Ovation Brand Manager Bill Xavier said, “Our goal in the redesign of the 2017 Applause line was to update and refresh the line’s aesthetics to make it a stand out visually in the entry level price category and to demarcate the line from the highly recognizable look of the Ovation Elite and Balladeer models. What we accomplished is not only a sleeker, more modern look for Applause – but the line also

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Breedlove USA Concert Moon Light

Breedlove introduces the USA Concert Moon Light, featuring the lightest concert guitar body that they’ve ever designed. Related Feature:Breedlove Pursuit Concert Koa And it’s not just about being lightweight, because according to the company, the use of lighter materials and parts allow sound frequencies to travel more efficiently, resulting in guitar tones that are more resonant and open. Breedlove is known for taking their guitar designs beyond conventional so coming up with ideas like designing a super light and responsive body is to be expected. To achieve the lowest weight possible without compromising structural stability, Breedlove designers developed a way to reduce the thickness of the top and finish via non-conventional means. One of the most noteworthy feature of this guitar is its thin finish, which is measured at 5 mils for the top and 2 mils for the back and sides, described as the company as their thinnest to date. Breedlove also researched on more efficient body designs by conducting extensive “sound profiling”, testing different body configurations for the thinnest possible shape without sacrificing stability. The result was a thinner top, a smaller sound hole, and a thicker back, all of which are used on the USA Concert Moon

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Veillette Aero Electric-Acoustic Guitar

Veillette Guitars introduce the Aero, an acoustic guitar with the thin body and ergonomics of a solid-body electric. Related Feature:Acoustic Guitar Tuners This model is basically a hollow body acoustic guitar that comes in a thinner compact shape that feels much like a solidbody electric, giving you the comfort and playability of an electric guitar, while retaining the sound and look of an acoustic model. The company describes this guitar as a a dramatic new approach to providing a solution for the need to have a comfortably compact guitar that can still deliver the tonal properties of an acoustic guitar when amplified. To achieve this, the company followed traditional acoustic guitar builds, starting with a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany for the back and sides. The bridge/top connection and the mechanics do not stray too far from conventional acoustic builds, the main difference being the thinner and shallower hollow chamber. This smaller body makes the instrument more resistant to feedback and viable for high volume stage performances. Veillette Aero describes the guitar body as a “solid-body guitar with very sophisticated chambering to give it the heart of a true acoustic.“ The Veilette Aero comes equipped with a Duncan/Turner D-TAR

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Bias Desktop Artist Amp Match Presets

Positive Grid updates Bias Desktop with new “amp matched” presets that were personally created by popular guitarists. Related Feature:Bias Desktop The new presets are made by well known artists that include Ola Englund, Rusty Cooley, Periphery’s Mark Holcomb and many more professional recording artists. This update follows up on the successful release of the desktop version of Positive Grid’s amp modeling software Bias. It started out as an iOS app that gained much acclaim thanks to its uncanny ability to let you fine tune deep settings of your virtual amp models. Instead of just being an amp modeler, Bias is actually an amp “designer”. The app has since expanded into the realm of professional desktop recording, with improved functions and more features. The premium version Bias Professional carries the most notable new feature of the software, called “amp matching”, where the software can automatically match the tones of existing amps and reproduce them in plug-in (AAX/RTAS/AU/VST) format. These amp matched profiles are said to be the close approximations of actual tube amps, so if you have the Professional version, you can immortalize existing tube amps in digital format that you can conveniently apply to your tracks as a plug-in. To

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Positive Grid Bias for iPhone

Positive Grid finally releases the iPhone version of their amplifier “designer” app, featuring sonic improvements and ToneCloud preset sharing. Related Feature:Positive Grid BT-2 and BT-4 Bluetooth MIDI Controller This new iPhone/iPod Touch version brings follows up on the success of the original iPad version release, carrying the same in-depth tone-sculpting and amp designing features, with the advantage of being used on smaller more portable devices. After only three months, Bias has amassed quite a number of good reviews from users as well as recommendations from high-profile players. Periphery and Trivium, along with guitar wizards Ola Englund, Jeff Loomis and Keith Merrow, were all impressed with BIAS, and have since used it as their main tool to practice, songwriting, recording and even for live performances. Now Positive Grid is capitalizing on the app’s success by releasing the much requested iPhone version. Aside from making the app fit the smaller screen, they added some nifty features to make the release of this version more exciting. Like the original, the app carries 36 amp models that are divided into 28 guitar amps, four bass amps and four keyboard/vocal amplifiers. More importantly, the ability to personalize or build your own amp topology – the

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Positive Grid Bias Desktop

Positive Grid unveils the Windows and Mac OS X plug-in versions of their innovative amp designer and modeler Bias. Related Feature:JamUp Multi Effects Update It is now available in VST, Audio Unit (AU), RTAS and AAX formats, for quick integration with your favorite digital audio workstation. Bias Desktop carries the features found in the original iOS app and comes with an innovative addition called Amp Matching. The feature that popularized Bias, Amp Designer, is still at the heart of this plug-in. To start with, you have 36 recreations of popular vintage and modern amps, which you can then use to customize your own amp. Instead of merely shaping the tone with EQ controls, Bias lets you modify the virtual parts of your amp by changing the tubes, preamp, transformer, tone stacks, cab and mic. It lets you alter the design of your virtual amp until you find the sound that you want. Sharing of presets is now becoming a standard feature of many amp modelers, and the upcoming Bias Desktop is not an exception. You can upload or download custom amp creations to ToneCloud, Bias’ own amp-sharing platform. This means you can share your custom presets with other users, or

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Bias iOS – Amp Match Update

Positive Grid updates their popular iOS amp designer/modeler Bias Amp to v1.5.12, now Amp Match compatible. Related Feature:Positive Grid Bias Desktop This free update for existing Bias Amp users allows the iOS app to download the Amp Match models that were created using the desktop version Bias Professional. This further opens up the sonic capabilities of the app to include tones that are “amp matched” from actual hardware. Amp Match is Positive Grid’s version of the “Profiler”, a technology that goes beyond amp modeling by giving end users the ability to model existing amps. This lifted the previous limitation of just choosing from manufacturer provided amp models, allowing everyone to model their favorite amps conveniently and giving them the ability to use, share or trade these models as they choose. Bias Professional for Desktop was the first Positive Grid software to get the Amp Match feature, and the company describes the process as follows, “Amp Match accurately captures the tone of any tube amplifier by analyzing and compare a currently designed BIAS amp model with the sound of a real mic’d amp or file source. It then executes the tonal compensation and enhancement needed to make this current amp model

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Positive Grid BIAS Rack

Positive Grid introduces the BIAS Rack, a portable, rack-mountable version of their popular digital amp modeler BIAS. Related Feature:Amp Modeling Software Roundup This new release follows after the BIAS Head, carrying over all of its features and packs them into a form factor that is easier to incorporate into existing studio and live rack gear setups. From its initial launch as a software app that provides desktop and mobile amp modeling, Positive Grid’s BIAS have gone a long way. This is mostly thanks to their component modeling design philosophy, in which their algorithms digitally emulate actual components, rather than merely mimicking the resulting sound. This ability to digitally reproduce the components of amplifiers resulted in not just improved modeling, but more importantly, allowed users to mix and match parts of an amplifier. This allows for deep tone shaping, which translates to more personalized tones. Because of the app’s popularity, BIAS have crossed over into the hardware realm, turning it into an actual amp-head that guitarists can pair with their favorite speaker cabinets. And this new release signifies that BIAS is not stopping with just amps, and because BIAS Rack been made to be easier to integrate into rack setups. BIAS

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BIAS Distortion Pro Pedal

Positive Grid unveils the latest beneficiary of their Tone Matching technology, the BIAS Distortion Pro Pedal. Related Feature:Top 10 Distortion Pedals This pedal carries over the same tone matching and component designing features of their popular BIAS amp technology, albeit in a compact form factor and specifically designed for distortion pedals. Since guitarists can never have enough dirt pedals, the new BIAS Distortion Pro will be a tempting new piece of gear for many players. With its ability to “tone match” existing pedals, you can easily assimilate your favorite distortion pedals and carry them inside the unit for convenient loading whenever you need it. This means that you only need to bring this one pedal, and it will let you load up the sound of all your distortion pedals, which you can now leave inside the safety of your home. Be it overdrive, fuzz or high-gain distortion pedals, the BIAS Distortion Pro will analyze and replicate the sound of your pedals and save their tones in your library, ready to be digitally called upon when needed – without having to worry about carrying the hardware and the multiple wires and power supply requirements that multiple dirt pedals entails. This how

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G&L MJ-5 5-String Bass

G&L introduces the MJ-5, a 5-string electric bass that combines traditional P/J style looks with modern active pickups. Related Feature:The Best Bass Guitar Brands! This bass is the 5-string version of the MJ-4, both of which follow G&L founder Leo Fender’s vision of taking guitar building and technology to the next level, while retaining desirable features. The standout feature of this bass is the use of re-engineered G&L Alnico “Bi-coil” pickups, which at first glance may look like an average Alnico single-coil. Underneath its classic appearance, the company was able to fit two coils in a side-by-side configuration, resulting in a single-coil sized pickup that actually works in “series-humbucking” mode. The company says that this will allow for a wide range of single-coil tones without the single-coil hum. To better harness the capabilities of the pickup’s unique design, G&L developed a specially tuned active preamp and control system that they called MJ-spec. The instrument’s 18v active electronics system is powered by two 9v batteries, and gives you control over volume, pan and EQ controls. The EQ section lets you shape your tone with +/- 14dB 3-band control knobs with center detents, turning this seemingly classic looking instrument into a versatile

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G&L Tribute Series MJ-4

G&L introduces the Tribute Series MJ-4 bass, an affordable version of one of the company’s most popular basses. Related Feature:Best Bass Guitar Brands According to the company, the original USA made MJ-4 bass quickly gained popularity when it was released. Now they are making this bass more accessible by releasing an overseas built version. The G&L Tribute line started in 2003 and were introduced as a cheaper alternative to their USA built counterparts. It featured the same body shapes and designs as their US made instruments, while keeping the price point low. The Tribute Series started out being made in South Korea by Cort Guitars, who also builds affordable models for a number of other guitar manufacturers. They have since moved the production to a Cort facility in Indonesia. The MJ-4 is the latest US-made design to join their affordable Tribute line, carrying over the same shape and specs, as well as the innovative Bi-Coil Alnico V pickups. It starts off with a swamp ash body carved into the familiar double cuataway shape, which is available in conventional natural gloss finish or a more unique looking blueburst finish. Contrasting the instrument’s traditional look is its modern pickup design and preamp.

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Fender Flea Jazz Bass

Fender assimilated Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Flea into their roster, and they came up with the new Flea Jazz Bass. Related Feature:Best Bass Guitar Brands This signature instrument is based on Flea’s Shell Pink ’61 Jazz Bass, which he recently used to RHCP’s recent albums, recreating important aspects of his main instrument and making it more accessible for his fans and other bassists. The Red Hot Chili Peppers would be dramatically different without Flea’s funk and jazz style bass lines. Instead of the usual supporting roles that bass players play, Flea was one who loved to take the spot light and do so tastefully, resulting in tracks that continue to influence bassists and musicians in general today. So it’s no surprise that big name manufacturers continue to court him into having his name stamped on their instruments. Before this signature guitar, Flea have played a number of different bass guitars through the years, and he even started his own company called Fleabass back in 2009, which aimed to provide affordable quality instruments for musicians. It is said that Flea was not happy with the business side of things and decided to close the company off just a few years after

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Fender Dee Dee Ramone Precision Bass

Fender introduced their latest signature instrument, the Dee Dee Ramone Precision Bass, a modern reproduction of the bass he played with the popular punk rock band The Ramones. Related Feature:Fender Adam Clayton Jazz Bass This instrument is designed to honor Dee Dee’s legacy, meant to be slung below the belt line with feet planted in a wide stance, ready to churn out steady punk bass lines. If you don’t know Dee Dee Ramone says, the official description provided a brief story, “Punk bass starts with Douglas “Dee Dee Ramone” Colvin. As the pounding heart of the Ramones, he pioneered a no-frills sound and style that left a permanent mark on rock music. On a white Fender Precision Bass slung impossibly low, he defined punk bass with simple but breakneck bass lines delivered with such pulverizing sound, speed and conviction that he singlehandedly set the template for generations of punk bassists to come.” This bass guitar follows the ’70s P-Bass Profile, starting with an alder body wrapped in olympic white gloss finish. It has a maple neck carved into a “C”-shaped profile and vintage-style heel truss-rod adjustment. The neck features a classic 9.5”-radius maple fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets. Continuing with

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