Frankfurt Musikmesse 09 Review
Our Frankfurt-based reporters are back in Blighty, and they’ve brought back the highlights from the final day of Musikmesse 2009.
Unable to get to Frankfurt this year? Then let us fill you in on what went on, on the Marshall stand over the four days. Product launches, dinners, arranged artist performances as well as impromptu performances, artist signing and even God Save the Queen! Marshall continued the year in the same vein as we had started it at NAMM. On the first day of the show, people were able to see the new MG Series in its full glory. This had of course been launched at NAMM by Kerry King and Doug Aldrich, but we had added to the range for Frankfurt with the incredibly small but powerful MG2FX. A battery or mains powered 2 Watt portable amp, featuring 10 custom designed voices amongst other features. Also on the stand, but yet to be launched, was the Haze Series, consisting of a mid sized stack with a 15 Watt head and two 1×12” cabs and a 40 Watt combo. Next to the Haze was the very imposing Dave Mustaine Signature cabinets, sealed 4×12” cabs with a tough metal grille.
Dr Jim Marshall was back this year and the queue for his signature was as long as ever. The first artist appearance came in the early afternoon when Doug Aldrich of Whitesnake plugged into the Haze in our sound booth. Those of you who were lucky enough to see the performance will agree that he is an awesome guitarist and to see him play in a small booth is incredible. After Doug played he and Dave Mustaine had a brief chat in the back stage area of the stand before Dave had to step out to the signing area, much to the relief of his waiting fans. Dave could have been there signing all night, but we had to cut the queue short to get Dave and Doug away to a sound check in preparation for the evenings events. For those of you not aware, every Frankfurt Marshall host an evening and an artist or two often join us, this year Doug and Dave both did just that.
The evening got under way with Doug Aldrich officially launching the Haze Series. Doug spoke about the versatility and amazing tone of the range before treating the select 170 guests to some great guitar playing. Then Dave took to the stage and launched his signature cabinets, Marshall’s first signature speaker cabs. This was a very rare solo performance from the Megadeth front man, but he took to introducing the world to his cabs with aplomb. He explained why they are different from standard cabs and then shredded his guitar through them, much to the delight of the guests, demonstrating the tonal power and tightness of the cabs. There was some relative quiet after this whilst everyone enjoyed the dinner, then Dr Jim Marshall took to the front to give out some awards to the distributors and then the Chris George Band played and were joined onstage by Doug Aldrich.
The second day seemed to start quietly, but the previous evening’s consumption of alcohol may have had a bearing on this. Dr Jim Marshall had the usual long queue and signed autographs for a few hours. Doug Aldrich played in our sound booth for the second day running before going out to the signing area to meet his waiting fans.
The third day saw an amazing show in the Marshall booth. Very often when a guitarist plays at a trade show he will do so with a backing CD, but when Paul Gilbert talked about coming over, he asked if the Chris George Band could learn some tracks to play with him. Of course they were much obliging, so he joined them on stage for an hour long set. It was incredible to see Chris George and Paul Gilbert trading guitar solos and both playing with their teeth!! Not a show to miss. During the afternoon a few artists came over to say hello, Phil Campbell, Bernie Marsden and Dario Lorina all popped in.
The final day of the show was no anti climax as Dr Jim Marshall kicked off the day by signing for a couple of hours again. Then in the booth Chris George and the guys were joined by Robb Flynn of Machine Head for an impromptu performance. That was something to behold and if you were one of the few who happened to be in the booth at that time, you were treated to a very special performance from one of metals hottest frontmen at the moment. Robb had just launched his signature Epiphone guitar and then came down early for his signing session. He then went out and signed for an hour, but again we had to cut the queue short as he would have been there all evenin. No sooner had we cut the queue than one started for our next guest on the stand, Matt Heafy of Trivium. Matt has recently come back to using a full Marshall backline and wanted to appear on our stand to show the world he was back where he belongs and to see him play with Marshall behind him again seems like he has come home.
That was pretty much it. The show was coming to a close and there were one or two people with stands there still making a little noise, so someone on the stand made a suggestion. Well, it was the end of the show, so why not. We wheeled a JVM410 full stack into the middle of the stand, Chris George plugged in and turned the volume up to 10 (where’s the 11 when you want it) and after a few heavy riffs went into a very loud and powerful God save the Queen, which must have been heard in most of the halls in the heart of Frankfurt!
Jeff Beck Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Geoffrey Arnold “Jeff” Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three noted guitarists — the others being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page — to have played with The Yardbirds. He was ranked the 14th on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Much of Beck’s recorded output has been instrumental, and his releases have spanned genres ranging from blues-rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion and (currently) a blend of guitar-rock and electronica. Beck has earned wide critical praise[2] and four Grammy awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and had two hit albums in the mid-1970s as a solo act. Read more
New ESPs at 2009 Musikmesse Show!
April 23, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Electric Guitar
Seriously: when do you have enough guitars? Some of us here at ESP have been playing longer than many of you have been alive, and we still could use an extra guitar or two. Or three. Or five. So even though we just introduced dozens of new ESP models at the NAMM Show in January, we still found room to add some killer new guitars and basses at the worldʼs largest music products show, the Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany. In no particular order…
Epiphone Announces NEW Limited Edition Roy Orbison Signature Guitar
April 23, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Acoustic Guitar
The Epiphone Guitar Company of Nashville, Tennessee announces the release of the new limited edition “Oh, Pretty Woman” 12-string acoustic guitar. Produced in cooperation with the legendary singer/songwriter Roy Orbison’s estate, this signature guitar is based upon Roy’s own 1962 Epiphone “Bard” 12-string acoustic guitar. Orbison used his original Epiphone acoustic guitar to write and perform many of his most well-known songs including perhaps his biggest hit “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
Spring Fling Set for May 9 Epiphone
If you’re a shopper get down to Magazine Street on May 9 for Spring Fling, the Magazine Street Merchants Association, annual festival of shopping.
The street is alive with music, food and refreshment. It’s the perfect opportunity to browse through the shops, and a great time of year to buy something for your house, your spouse, your friends or – yourself.
Spring Fling is the perfect time to shop for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays graduations weddings, and more!
The House of Guitars in Rochester, New York held their “Spring Fling” last weekend and Epiphone was on hand for the HUGE event. Here are pictures of a few that went home with brand new Epiphone guitars! The last picture is of guitarist Joe Stump who is currently on the “Holy Hell” tour with his Epiphone Goth V’s.
If you are in the Rochester area, be sure to drop by the HOG on May 16th when the great Marcus Henderson teams up with Epiphone for a live performance!
Electro-Harmonix Releases ‘Voice Box’ Pedal NAMM 2009.
The original Deluxe Memory Man is considered to be the finest analog delay ever designed. Organic and musical, it has been used by rock and Roll legends and countless musicians since its introduction in 1978. With the desire to make a flawless and smooth transition, Electro-Harmonix proudly announces the “new” Deluxe Memory Man in our rugged and pedal board friendly die-cast enclosure. Read more
Best 10 guitar amps of all time
The best 10 amps ever made? That is a hard list to determine, but here is my list of the top 10 amps of all time. I have based this list on the reputation, legendary status and tone these amps have. This list may change at any time!
FS720S Packs Big Sounds in a Small Body
April 17, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Acoustic Guitar, News
BUENA PARK, CA — Responding to many inquiries from players and dealers who loved the full-scale guitars in the highly-successful FG line, but wanted something more compact, Yamaha has introduced the FS720S, a smaller-body version of the FG720S.
“Learning to play guitar can be a frustrating experience if the instrument isn’t proportional to the player’s frame,” says Bryan Savage, marketing manager, Yamaha Guitars. “Capitalizing on our 40 years of guitar-building experience, the FS720S features all of the same great specs found in the wildly successful FG720S but in a smaller, more comfortable body style.” Read more
Troy Van Leeuwen Signature Guitar Brings vintage
Buena Park, Calif. When the worlds of classic instrument design and progressive and heavy rock collide, the result is the SA503 TVL limited edition signature electric from Yamaha Guitars. Developed at Yamaha’s USA Custom Guitar shop, the SA503 TVL is a semi-acoustic, double-cutaway electric designed in the tradition of classic archtops and named for Queens of the Stone Age axeman Troy Van Leeuwen.
“Troy has been affiliated with Yamaha for some time now and the SA503 TVL merges Troy’s custom features with a proven classic design,” says Ken Dapron, director, Yamaha Guitar Development. “It has the look and sound that is both vintage and sophisticated, but still appropriate for today’s music.” Read more
My Dying Bride Releases 10th studio Album
Seminal U.K. doom ensemble My Dying Bride has reached a recording milestone with the March 23, 2009, release of tenth studio album For Lies I Sire.
The long-awaited follow-up to 2006 hit A Line of Deathless Kings, For Lies I Sire presents nine “songs of crushing doom” recorded throughout the latter half of 2008. There are a couple of firsts this time around—For Lies I Sire is the band’s first album since re-signing to longtime home Peaceville Records, and is the first album with new members Dan Mullins (drums), Lena Abe (bass) and Katie Stone (violin, keyboards). Read more