Guitarsite News
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
G&L Kiloton Bass
G&L unveils the Kiloton Bass, a surprisingly versatile single humbucker pickup equipped bass, thanks to its split/series/parallel switching. Related Feature:Best Bass Guitar Brands This bass guitar features Leo Fender’s Magnetic Field Design bass humbucker, packed into G&L’s SB-2 model, and routed to a modern circuit that allows for various combinations of the two coils within the humbucker. The Kiloton Bass starts off with the familiar double cutaway body shape that Leo developed further for G&L. The wood used for the body will depend on the finish, solid finish versions will have an alder body, while the premiere finished models will feature a body crafted from swamp ash. For the neck, G&L went with the familiar, using hard rock maple carved into a medium C shape. The company will let you pick between maple or rosewood for the fingerboard, but the measurements will follow standard specs, including a scale length of 34″, 1.5″ nut width and 9.5″ fingerboard radius. It has a total of 21 medium jumbo frets that are made from Jescar 57110 18% nickel silver, while the headstock follows G&L’s subtly different shape. The most interesting feature of this bass guitar is its MFD (Magnetic Field Design) bass humbucker
Eastwood Guitars Search for the World’s Ugliest Guitar
Help Eastwood Guitars find and recreate the World’s Ugliest Guitar, from among some odd looking vintage instruments. Known for their unique and unconventional designs, Eastwood goes against the norm again by planning to recreate an instrument that others would consider as ugly. To help them make their decision, they have put up an interactive voting system where in you can pick your favorite(or least favorite), from a bunch of weird looking instruments. The voting page will let you pick from among eight instruments that Eastwood considers to be “extreme mistakes” in mass produced guitars from the past 50 years. This collection of vintage instruments represent the worst (or best) of the kooky retro vintage era, and it includes instruments like the 1969 EGS-650 dubbed as the “Soviet answer to the Telecaster”, the 1970 Jolana Star IX dubbed as the “Czechoslovakian rocker”, and the Wandré Sacrabeo, a unique guitar design from Italian guitar maker Antonio Pioli. The guitar with the most votes at the end of May 2013 is to be recreated in a limited production run of 24 numbered guitars. And one lucky voter will win their own copy of this Eastwood “World’s Ugliest Guitar #1”, or their choice of
Eastwood Marksman 5
Eastwood Guitars releases the Marksman 5, a tribute to the now rare Paul Bigsby designed 1957 Magnatone Mark V. Related Feature:Eastwood Airline Jupiter Pro The guitar mimics the look and sound of the original while implementing intonation and playability improvements. Since the ultra-rare 1957 Magnatone Mark V is currently selling for around $7,500+ in the vintage market, Eastwood decided to make a more accessible and affordable replica. The result is the Eastwood Marksman 5, a classic looking guitar that would look nice in a glass display and at the same time be gig-worthy, thanks to its modern durability and playability improvements. To start off, the guitar’s curved double cutaway mahogany body is tone chambered to make it lighter and more comfortable to carry and play. It comes in a vintage sunburst finish that wraps the guitar with a vintage appeal. The guitar features a set mahogany neck with a 24.75″ scale length. It is topped by a rosewood fretboard with 22 frets. This combination of mahogany body and set neck is commonly found on expensive LP style guitars with humbuckers, but this guitar has two single-coil pickups – allowing for a distinct bright vintage sound. The tone is delivered through
Eastwood Airline Map in Sunburst Finish
Eastwood Guitars release limited run Airline Map electric guitars in Sunburst finish, with only 16 made in production. Related Feature:Eastwood Airline Jupiter Pro This new finish contrasts the flashy colored finishes that are currently available, providing a classic looking alternative. The Eastwood Airline Map is based on National Map Guitars that were produced by Valco in the USA from 1958-1964 and sold through Montgomery Ward. To be specific, this guitar is a tribute to the National Newport Guitar from 1962. Although not as popular as other guitar designs, the Map has been played by the likes of White Stripes, David Bowie, The Cure and many more. It is said that condition vintage Res-O-Glass Map models now sell for $3000 to $5000. The Eastwood Airline Map makes this design more affordable and accessible for working guitarists that are looking for unique looking instruments. The new Sunburst finish Airline Map comes with tone chambered mahogany body carved into a peculiar cutaway shape. It is then paired with a bolt-on maple neck with Rosewood fretboard. The guitar has a shorter scale length of 24.75″ and a nut width of 1.687″. It gives you 22 frets to play with and features a “zero fret”
Eastwood California Rebel
Eastwood Guitars bring back another classic design with the new California Rebel, a remake of a ’60s era surf guitar. Related Feature:Eastwood Marksman 5 The design replicates the now rare 1967 Domino Californian Rebel, it is described as a hybrid of the Vox Phantom, EKO Violin and Mosrite. Important details are faithfully retained while certain improvements have been introduced to make the instrument viable for modern day use. The uniquely shaped body of the guitar is the first thing that will catch your attention. It has a lightweight and compact tone chambered mahogany body that comes with a carved top. Completing the body’s distinct look is a full size wood grain pickguard on top of the body and a single f-hole to denote that it is chambered. The guitar is currently available in white or redburst body options. This 24 ¾” scale guitar has a 21 fret rosewood fingerboard on top of its bolt-on maple neck. The guitar measures 1 5/8” at the nut. To give the guitar its surf-friendly voice, Eastwood equipped the guitar with a pair of custom designed EW RTG Single Coil pickups. It is wired to a 3-way switch along with independent rhythm/solo switches per pickup,
Eastwood Airline ’59 Newport
Eastwood Guitars bring back another classic with the new Airline ’59 Newport guitar, based on vintage ’50s era National Newport Val-Pro 88. Related Feature:Eastwood Airline Map Sunburst This retro looking guitar is brought to life with modern tonal flexibility, courtesy of the two mini-humbuckers and a piezo bridge pickup. The new Airline ’59 Newport starts off with a lightweight tone chambered mahogany body that follows the Airline series’ distinct shape. It is available in two finishes – Seafoam Green and Black. The guitar’s bound maple neck is bolt into the body for convenient maintenance and adjustments. The Rosewood fingerboard features zero fret and vintage style National inlaid fret markers. The scale length of the guitar is 24 3/4″, and has a nut width of 1 11/16″. Giving the guitar a wide variety of tones are two NY Mini Humbuckers and a Piezo bridge pickup. The mini humbuckers cover everything from surf to rock, while the piezo will give you the ability to conjure acoustic-like clean tones. Part of the guitar’s distinct look is the line of knobs just below the pickguard. The six smaller knobs let you control the volume and tone of the three pickups independently, while the bigger
Eastwood Link Wray Tribute Guitar
Eastwood Guitars teamed up with UK based graphic artist Vince Ray to create and release the Link Wray Tribute guitar. Related Feature:Eastwood Airline ’59 Newport This instrument is a special tribute to Link Wray, described by many as the “Father of the Power Chord”, and hailed by many rock icons as a major influence to their music and playing style. Only 24 Link Wray Tribute guitars are scheduled for pre-production, scheduled for shipping on December 18, 2014 on a first come first served basis. Depending on the success of this pre-production line, more Link Wray Tribute guitars will be produced in April of the next year. The highlight of this guitar is the special tribute graphic artwork by Vince Ray. The top artwork features Link Wray’s face along with guitars, cards, a knife, a classic car and other ’50s style graphics. Also written between the bridge and tailpiece is the phrase “THE RUMBLE KING”, a tribute to his guitar instrumental called “Rumble”. The back side of the guitar is also used as an art canvass by Vince, along with the guitar case. Although not as well known as other guitar legends, many of the who’s who of rock guitar know
Rivolta Combinata from Novo and Eastwood Guitars
Eastwood Guitars and Novo Guitars introduce the first guitar that they came up with, the new Rivolta Combinata. Related Feature:Best Electric Guitars for under $500 The first model to come out of this line is the Combinata, and it is a mass production version of one of Dennis’ boutique hand-built guitars. This joint effort aims to make Novo Guitars’ unique guitar designs more accessible to guitar players, by utilizing the production and distribution capabilities of Eastwood Guitars. The story goes that Dennis Fano was looking for a way to make his guitars widely available, and so he partnered with Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars. And the Rivolta line of guitars is the result of this collaboration, featuring the Fano’s unique shape designs, built and distributed by Eastwood Guitars. Dennis Fano explains, “I’m excited to partner with Eastwood to launch the Rivolta brand. These guitars will offer fans of Novo and my previous designs a chance to get the guitar they’ve always wanted.” The first model to come out of this new line of guitars is called the Combinata, a unique looking double cutaway guitar with a chambered mahogany body and a uniquely carved top. While it does have a double
Suhr Rufus ReLoaded Fuzz
Suhr Guitars further expands their line of effects with the new Rufus ReLoaded, a fuzz pedal with octave-up effect. Related Feature:Suhr Reloaded Pedals This pedal carries over the EQ versatility and multi-function switch of its predecessor, the original Rufus Fuzz. As part of the “Re|Loaded” line, Suhr added an extra feature, along with circuit improvements. Just like the first Rufus, this new pedal provides a wealth of fuzz effects that you can shape to your liking, and it does so while providing amp-like dynamics and feel. I would describe the pedal as a fuzz pedal that can double as an overdrive/distortion, able to have clean and transparent tones, contrasting traditional fuzz pedals that are usually harsh sounding at higher gain settings. By simply playing with the fuzz knob, you get a wide variety of fuzz tones, described by the company as going from the historic late ’60s fuzz tones to the more aggressive sounds of the Grunge era. Complementing the fuzz control are three knobs that control the bass frequencies, mid frequencies and the output level. The bass and mid knob lets you shape guitar sound to give you tones that cover modern scooped mid distortion to angry vintage style