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Loaded Pickguards from Seymour Duncan

February 4th, 2012 No comments

Strat® players can customize their sound and upgrade their electronics in minutes with Seymour Duncan’s new series of Fully Loaded Pickguards.

Seymour Duncan Pickguards

The Triple Rails Pickguard is locked and loaded for those that play rock or metal using the ferocious Hot Rails for Strat® pickups. The Classic Pickguard features a Custom Stack plus in the bridge, a Classic Stack in the middle and a Vintage Hot in the neck, giving you the sound of a Classic Strat® and then some. The Bring Your Own Pickups Pickguard allows you to choose your pickup combination so that you can create the tone you desire.

Install any combination of pickups in minutes thanks to the Liberator which is installed in the Triple Rails, Classic and Bring Your Own Pickups Pickguard and will allow you to change your pickups in minutes using only a screwdriver.

The Antiquity Pickguard features an artfully aged look with true vintage tone and each is personally signed by Seymour W. Duncan.

Watch this video for more information:

My Gigliotti GFB Tobacco Burst FIREBIRD

January 28th, 2012 3 comments

Those of you who know me, know I’ve been holding out on some really big news.

I’m not sure how I kept from blabbing this the day it arrived, but somehow I kept it all to myself.  No more! Take a gander at my new Gigliotti GFB Tobacco-Burst Firebird!

My Gigliotti Firebird

I know what you are saying… what’s a Gigliotti?

Gigliotti guitars are some of the finest custom guitars in the world. Great craftsmanship, great tone, and each one is an individual work of art and a thing of beauty.

Gigliotti guitars feature a unique and patent-pending Gigliotti Voicing System and unique metal plate top insert. This system allows the tops to resonate like a fine acoustic guitar, giving a rich and luscious tone with or without an amp.

The first time I saw a Gigliotti Guitar was back in 2008 at my first Joe Bonamassa concert.

Joe switches out guitars every couple of songs at his concerts and when his tech handed him his tele-shaped Gigliotti, a lot of heads turned. When the stage lights hit these, they look like they are on fire!

I remember sitting there with my buddy Michael Somma and I looked over at him and said: “I have to have one of those!”

The truth is, I purchased a tele-style Gigliotti a few months ago from Wes at Rebel Guitars. I LOVED the look and feel of the guitar but the more I played it, I realized I could not get the tone I wanted from a single-pickup Tele.  So a few months later, Wes got this Firebird version in his inventory and he was gracious to allow me to exchange…or shall we say, UPGRADE! The Firebird has 3 Humbuckers and the tonal variations are endless. Wes is a great honest guy to deal with and he sells a lot of custom guitars. If you are in the market for something unique, check out the inventory at Rebel Guitars.

So I have had the Firebird for about 2 months and have decided to make it my main guitar (for now!).  Seriously, I love the look of it so much, I think I will replace the Les Paul “logo graphic” on TheGuitarBuzz site with this guitar.

What do you think?

Seymour Duncan Announces Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

January 22nd, 2012 No comments

Seymour Duncan Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickups

[PRESS RELEASE]

The Seymour Duncan Custom Shop has teamed up with blues-rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa to produce the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set.

This immaculately crafted and calibrated dual-humbucker set accurately replicates the P.A.F. pickups in Joe’s beloved 1959 sunburst Les Paul.

Their rich, dynamic, and nuanced voice will appeal to all tone connoisseurs who cherish the passion and power of the original humbucker. There are only 1,959 sets available and they are all signed by Seymour and Joe and contain extra features such as a special USB flash drive with special interviews, features and more.

For more information visit: http://www.seymourduncan.com/joeb

GuitarDaddy’s Comments:
My questions are 1) Will these pickups be used in the next version of Joe’s signature Les Paul? and… 2) 1959 sets total? I can only imaging the street price of these PUPpies…

New Olympus® LS-100 Linear PCM Recorder

December 14th, 2011 No comments

New Olympus® LS-100 Linear PCM Recorder Features
Best In-Class Microphones, XLR Inputs and Multi-Track Capability

An ideal device for anyone looking to capture the highest quality audio recording

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., December 14, 2011 – Olympus, the world’s number one manufacturer of portable digital voice recorders and professional dictation devices, has created an ideal tool for musicians and audio enthusiasts with the new LS-100 linear PCM audio recording device. The latest edition to the popular LS series features two internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones that capture lower-bass frequencies and louder sound with less clipping, two quarter-inch XLR/standard phone combination inputs and multi-tracking with two-channel simultaneous recording and eight-channel playback. Packed in an attractive, well-built portable device, the Olympus LS-100 combines these new features with uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz Linear PCM digital recording to offer users incredible audio quality in a multi-track recorder.

Olympus LS-100

“The Olympus LS series has been a favorite of musicians, artists and music lovers, and the LS-100 is an evolution in this series designed with the working musician, specifically, in mind,” said Amy Leslie, Sr. Marketing & Business Development Manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “For songwriting sessions, band rehearsals, live performances, broadcasting, or really anything that requires the highest quality of audio recording, the LS-100 is an ideal, all-encompassing recording solution.”

Supersonic Sound
The hallmark of the Olympus LS series has always been superior sound quality, and the LS-100 takes that reputation to a new level. Two internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz allow the user to capture all audible lower-bass frequencies. Engineered to capture sound at a wide range of decibel levels, the Olympus LS-100 is an ideal recorder for an incredibly loud environment. Its microphones support sound pressure levels down to 140 decibels, more than enough to capture extreme sound from a rock band without experiencing clipping issues.

With the new high-quality microphones comes new high-quality amplifier circuitry. The audio and system circuitry are separated on the Olympus LS-100 to minimize sound degradation and keep the signal true. A switchable low-cut filter enables users to eliminate low-frequency sound at two different settings, 100Hz or 300Hz. Unwanted background noises like talking or the rumble of a distant car, can be greatly minimized.

Plug N’ Play
The Olympus LS-100 features two quarter-inch XLR / standard phone combo jacks, which support phantom power at 48/24 volts to power a variety of high-quality external microphones.

These inputs can hook into any line-output device, including guitars, soundboards and keyboards. Both the microphones and XLR inputs feature independent recording levels. This allows the user to reach the right balance or blend on the fly. A balanced line provides a noise-free signal.

Eight Track Heaven
The LS-100 is the first Olympus recorder with multi-tracking capabilities. Whether you want to record in just one take, or you prefer the versatility multi-track recording offers, the LS-100 provides the power and flexibility to meet all demands. Up to eight tracks are at users’ disposal. Each can be separately volume adjusted and panned, then mixed down to create the complete composition.

Musician’s Toolbox
Other essential tools easily accessible on the LS-100 include a tuner, metronome and Lissajous measurement. The metronome feature allows users to keep perfect time, and the tuner function ensures accurate tuning for each musical instrument selected. Users can also invoke the Lissajous function, which detects and displays the phase difference between the left and right external microphones from the sound source on the 2.0” backlight LCD – ideal for broadcasting studios. When burning a CD, the Olympus LS-100 can be connected directly to a CD drive for fast and easy mastering.

Overdubs are also in the repertoire of the Olympus LS-100, allowing sound recording to take place over the original sound while simultaneously monitoring it. Meanwhile, the Playback Synchro Recording feature enables recording of an additional track while listening to another.

Files are saved to the internal 4GB memory or on SD (up to 2GB) / SDHC (up to 32GB) / SDXC (up to 64GB) cards. The LS-100 operates on one rechargeable lithium-ion battery – ideal for lengthy recording sessions.

Never Miss a Note
The first vital sounds of a recording will never be missed thanks to the innovative Pre-Recording function, which lets the two seconds prior to hitting the record button be captured. Additionally, with Voice Sync, users can set the Olympus LS-100 to automatically commence recording to file once sound hits a certain level. Index marks can also be placed at specific points on a track letting particular sections to be located more easily later. And various repeat modes, including A-B Repeat, allow users to listen to precise track sequences at will.

Making Recording Accessible for Everyone
Another key LS-100 feature is voice guidance, whereby the recorder can provide audio prompts for users with assistive needs. This helps the user operate the device without needing to see the menus or buttons. Artists with visual or learning disabilities have long been faithful Olympus users, and the LS-100 was built with their needs in mind.

Professional Look and Feel
The durable and compact Olympus LS-100 Multi-Track Linear PCM recorder bestows musicians and broadcasters a high performance, mobile multi-track recording studio to fulfil all their needs – from a single track to a complete composition – boasting highest possible audio qualities. Jam-packed with cutting-edge technology and ready-to-use hands-on features, this metal-bodied masterpiece will hit stores at a recommended price of $399 in February 2012.

The Cult Like Following of the Jazz III Guitar Pick

October 18th, 2011 No comments

So many guitar heroes use this pick – Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci and countless others. Many famous metal guitar players also use Jazz III’s. These guys could play using any pick they want, yet they all play the Jazz III.

I started using the Jazz III about 2 years ago and while my “pick jar” has a variety of shapes, sizes and thicknesses, I find myself looking for the Jazz III every time.
-Joe Bonamassa

In this video, Joe Bonamassa shares his story behind the Jazz III, how he arrived at his signature pick, and the freedom it add to his playing.


Premier Guitar Mag Releases Rig Rundown for Keith Urban

July 27th, 2011 No comments

Jason Shadrick is “On Location” at the Mark in Moline, Ilinois.

Guitar tech Chris Miller shows Jason a few of the guitars that Keith Urban uses on the Get Closer World Tour.

Be sure to check out part 2 where Chris shows Jason around Keith Urban’s ever changing array of amps and effects!

For more Rig Rundown videos or to view Premier Guitar’s COMPLETELY FREE digital edition magazine, be sure to visit PremierGuitar.com.

And here is Part 2…

How The Reverend Billy F Gibbons gets his TONE

June 19th, 2011 1 comment

The ToneQuest Report - Billy Gibbons

It’s all about TONE.

Want to know more about ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons and how he creates one of the most unique tones in Blues/Rock?

Check out “The ToneQuest Report.

Click this link to read a free issue that includes a 10 page interview from 2002 where Billy describes the secrets behind his search for the ultimate tone.

The interviewer starts with this introduction:

“Welcome, Señors and Señoritas. We resume our exploration into the mysterious realm of tone, and this month our journey begins midway between Houston and San Antonio in a little town called La Grange. You know how that story goes… The creepin’ shuffle boogie intro to “La Grange” exploded into one of the most unique and recognizable guitar tones on the planet, compliments of Billy F. Gibbons and that Little ol’ Band from Texas. You gotta hand it to the Rev… with just one note stroked from Pearly Gates, there is no absolutely no doubt who’s in charge, and that’s a high wire act matched by a mere handful of players in the long and colorful history of the guitar.”

Subscribe to The Tonequest Report by CLICKING HERE.

So how did Billy start defining his tone? As I learned from the report, it started when he found the guitar that ultimately became knows as “Pearly Gates”. Check out the story…”

…a friend called and said he knew a farmer with an original Les Paul. He kept it under his bed and rarely played it. At that time I was driving an old 1930s Packard automobile, and I gave it to a girlfriend so she could get out to California to audition for a part in a movie. She made it and got the part, and swiftly sold the Packard and sent a check to me. I remember the day her letter arrived, and immediately struck out toward the farmer’s place and said, “How ‘bout $250 for that guitar?” He said, “Fine,” and that’s Pearly Gates.
- Billy F. Gibbons, The ToneQuest Report, 2002

Even though that interview was from 2002, not much has changed for “The Reverend”.

Here is a link to a recent video from Premier Guitar where Billy’s tech, Elwood Francis, runs through Bill’s live rig. This is 17 minutes of pure heaven for tone searchers… enjoy!

…and remember what Billy says: “You gotta have the TONE!”

The Korg Pandora Mini

April 25th, 2011 No comments

Korg calls it “A Pocket-Sized Powerhouse of Tone”.

With Korg’s REMS technology, the Pandora mini delivers an armada of world-class amp models and fantastic effects into a processor no bigger than your average MP3 player.

Loaded with 158 types of amps and effects—with up to seven effects at once—Pandora mini ensures you’ll never run out of sounds. 200 presets get you started right out of the box, with another 200 slots for saving your own creations. It’s also got a built-in metronome and 100 rhythm patterns so you can get the most out of your practice sessions.

Plug in your earbuds and jam or practice anywhere, anytime. Plug Pandora mini into your amp and share your sounds with the world, or take it into the studio and make each track a masterpiece.


With all of the new portable options for playing, practicing and recording, there is no excuse for guitar players to flounder in mediocrity. You can practice anywhere you can imagine. Get yourself a good, portable travel guitar like the Traveler Escape EG-1, a Korg Pandora mini and a set of headphones (or use the earbuds from your iPod) and you have a the ultimate portable practice studio. Add an iPhone or iPad with Amplitube software and you can record you own CD. What are you waiting for — get on with it! –GuitarDaddy

The Ernie Ball Gig Bag Amp with Marshall Electronics!

February 18th, 2011 No comments

Check out Ernie Ball’s newest product–the Gigbag Amp!

This new Ernie Ball accessory allows a guitarist to plug and play anywhere. It has a built-in custom two-channel Marshall amp that features three controls–Tone, Volume, and Gain. It also has a dedicated MP3 input so you can jam along to your favorite tracks and a headphone jack so you can practice privately. And it doubles as an amp stand because when it is empty the bottom of the bag and be clipped to the top, creating a triangular amp stand that can help project your tones.

Pretty ingenious product if you ask me.

Joe Bonamassa and His Amazing Guitar Cam

January 25th, 2011 1 comment

Here is a fun video that takes you “up close and personal” to watch JoeB’s hands in action on an acoustic guitar.

This was filmed at the Hard Rock in Hollywood,FL with a Go Pro Camera on Joe’s Guitar.

Watch more on Joe’s “JB TV” Channel on YouTube.