ESP Guitars Celebrates 35th Anniversary in 2010
Matt Masciandaro, ESP President, says, “When I oldest joined the ESP group, the USA separation consisted of six people. Today, ESP products are distributed in 60 countries encircling the globe. ESP could not compel ought to reched this 35-year milestone without the dedication and supprt of our customers, the artists who confirm our guitars, and the passionate and gifted team of people employed by ESP both days of old and present. the success of ESP is unquestionably a team effort, and I fancy privileged to be part of that set.” Now a world-celebrated, highly respected whatnot manufacturer, the ESP Guitar Theatre troupe had humble beginnings as a humiliated custom shop started by Japanese businessman Hisatake Shibuya. It was 1975 when Shibuya founded a chain of music/ audio retail stores called Electronic Undamaged Products, or ESP for short. In 1983, the stores started making replacement parts and accessories for the booming guitar peddle. Two years later, in 1985, ESP began construction entire custom guitars for one of a kind customers.
By 1986, ESP’s guitars had gained such an ripsnorting excepting reputation that the company opened an responsibility in New York City to make custom guitars for players in the US. Presently thereafter, Dokken’s George Lynch and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett chose ESP to develop intensify new guitars to their respective specifications, and the suite quickly became the first choice for astonish and metal players who wanted more than an off-the-shelf axe could put one’s money where one’s mouth is. With ESP’s detail-obsessed levy design and manufacturing, the company has since attracted a tremendous artist endorsee roster, and some of the levy guitars created for the artists have adorn come of top-selling signature models. These cover models by George Lynch, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield (also of Metallica), Ron Wood (Rolling Stones), Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Jeff Hanneman and Tom Araya (Slayer), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), On Adler (Lamb of God), Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), and profuse others.
With the lust to maintain their repute as a high-end, custom guitar maker, but broken to offer a more in some measure priced brand for wider dispersal, ESP added the LTD brand in 1996. Sacrifice many of the superb features of ESP guitars via less high-priced manufacturing techniques, the LTD disgrace has allowed a much broader travel over of musicians (including beginning-time buyers) to affordably win advantage of the company’s products. In 2003, their Xtone series of semi-hollowbodied guitars debuted to bash reviews, and opened the door for an undiminished new group of players to make allowance for ESP as a serious choice.
Hirano Gakki Rockin Kariya Receives Epiphone Dealer Award!
Congratulations to Hirano Gakki Rockin Kariya pile up who has been awarded the Japan Epiphone Distributor Award! Hirano instance founded in 1980, is a non-exclusive musical instrument retail gyve with 3 stores based in Aichi prefecture (Kariya stow away, Nagoya Sakae stock and Toyota store). Aichi prefecture is unexcitedly-known as Japan’s automobile toil city and center of Chukyo metropolitan yard. Its capital Nagoya is the third largest burg in Japan next to Tokyo and Osaka. Hirano Gakki not single operates a full-hire musical instruments value but also operates a description studio and music tutor and as one of the largest authorized Epiphone dealers in Aichi prefecture, offers a fully range of Epiphone issue.
General Manager Mr. Tadafumi Nishio says, “We offer a large selection of Epiphone products from solidbodies, archtops, basses and acoustics. As we are one of few authorized Epiphone dealers in the Aichi region, we are confident we can assist you in choosing your new gear from our large selection of Epiphone instruments.”
The store will soon be celebrating their 30th anniversary so stop by and check them out or visit them on-line at www.rockin.co.jp.
Gibson Guitar Corp. Press Statement
Gibson Guitar is fully cooperating with agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service regarding an issue with wood procurement. Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO takes the issue of responsible wood sourcing very seriously. Gibson Guitar makes every effort to ensure that all its wood purchases are legal and is also working to increase the amount of wood purchased from certified sources, including FSC-certified wood. The company will continue to cooperate fully and assist our federal government with all inquiries and information.
“The Natural Resources Defense Council, one of America’s leading environmental advocacy organizations with 1.3 million members and on-line activists, has been collaborating for years with Gibson on environmental initiatives. Together with Gibson, NRDC has promoted protection of landscapes, endangered forests, and drinking water quality. We have also worked with Gibson to educate corporations, public officials and the public at-large about the risks we face from environmental threats, in particular those related to the risks posed by mountaintop removal coal mining and global warming. NRDC knows firsthand that the leadership at Gibson is committed to and informed about environmental issues and we look forward to continuing our collaborations with this good and upstanding organization for many years to come.” -Allen Hershkowitz, Ph.D.
“Global Green USA, a national environmental organization, has worked with the Gibson Foundation for several years in its initiatives to promote smart solutions to global warming including the building of green schools that create healthier and more productive classrooms for kids. Gibson has helped raise public awareness of global warming issues and has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable business practices. We know Gibson will continue to be a leader in promoting environmental practices and look forward to our continuing work together.” -Global Green USA
Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton And Aerosmith to Form ‘Supergroup’?
Though it’s shrouded in mystery, news of yet another “supergroup” project is brewing — this one involving some of rock’s greatest guitar royalty.
Writing Monday (Nov. 23) in his online diary, engineer Kevin Shirley says he’s been recording with Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and “many other” guitarists for some “high profile projects” about which he’s “sworn to secrecy.”
Shirley, who engineered Led Zeppelin’s How the West Was Won, goes on to say that in January he’ll be “producing what has the promise to be one of the most exciting ‘supergroups’ to come around in a long time.”
“[However], theory is just that,” Shirley writes, “until we see how the dynamics play out in the studio between these superb musicians. And of course the songs will make the real difference.”
Shirley also says he’ll soon be “remixing one of Classic Rock’s seriously classic albums.” Given that next year marks the 40th anniversary of such landmark discs as Santana’s Abraxas, Led Zeppelin III, and Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs, the range of possibilities is wide.
In yet another teasing nondisclosure, the veteran engineer said he’s set “to record one of guitar’s great legends” in December.
Epiphone Amplifiers Celebrate 75 Years of Great Tone
Epiphone proudly celebrates a remarkable event in our history, boasting 75 years of amplifier production. We are now the oldest amplifier company in the world currently in production, and to celebrate we’re giving you a look at our incredible history in the amplifier business. Every three weeks, we’ll give you another chapter. Here’s Part 1. Enjoy!
When Epiphone entered the electric guitar market in 1935, we also launched a new series of amplifiers under the Electar name and consequently set the benchmark for others to follow. Electar was a name invented by Herb Sunshine, an Epiphone employee who played an integral role in the development of various electronics for the company. Herb made contact with a young Nat Daniel in 1934 and employed him to design the first Electar models. The amplifiers were aimed at the New York dance bands and were produced in both AC and DC versions to accommodate lower Manhattan’s dual electric system at that time. Epiphone moved to its new location at 142 West 14th, New York, NY for the 1935 launch.
Full-Scale Stratocaster® Guitar Rock Band™ Controller
In a case of videogame art imitating musical life to near perfection, you can now get a Rock Band™ videogame controller that has what is in effect a real Stratocaster® guitar body.
Available as of September 2009, the Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster guitar controller is an actual wooden replica of a Stratocaster guitar and is compatible with all three versions of the hugely popular top-selling game—Rock Band™, Rock Band™ 2 and the Beatles: Rock Band™ (and other rhythm and music video games). The controller was co-developed by Fender and San Diego-based Mad Catz® Inc., which is the official third-party developer of Rock Band™ peripherals and accessories.
The device is a full-scale replica of the real instrument, with a body, neck and headstock made from real Stratocaster wooden “blanks” and bridge and tuners built using genuine metal parts and fittings. The controller is assembled at a Fender facility comes in hand-painted gloss Three-color Sunburst—perhaps the most classic Stratocaster finish—buffed and applied to each model in the same manner as a real Stratocaster. The “fingerboard” boasts a high-resolution “rosewood finish” decal, concealing two sets of premium fret buttons.
On the front of the controller, the tremolo arm (or “whammy bar”) sits near the “start” and “back” buttons, which are disguised as volume and tone controls. The premium fret buttons and strum bar deliver quiet operation and reliable game play, and the traditional Stratocaster ¼” output jack can connect to an optional Rock Band™ overdrive pedal. The back of the controller has a headset jack for online play and communicating with friends.
The Rock Band™ Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster guitar controller (the only wooden replica controller compatible with Xbox® gaming systems) uses the same secure wireless technology found in the official wireless Microsoft Xbox® 360 controller. It connects directly to the system and doesn’t require an external dongle or adaptor. Finally, the controller comes with three AA batteries and an official Fender guitar strap.
Aerosmith Cancels Summer Tour
Aerosmith is the latest big name act to cancel the rest of its summer tour this summer, just a week after frontman Steven Tyler fell from the stage during a concert in Sturgis, SD.
According to a statement sent out by the band’s representatives, “Doctors have advised the lead singer to take the time to properly recuperate from the accident that resulted in a broken shoulder and stitches to his head. In his current condition, Tyler is unable to tour and the band wants to give him time to get healthy.”
Tyler was injured on Aug. 5 after he lost his footing while the band was performing “Love In An Elevator” at a Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Western South Dakota.
“Words can’t express the sadness I feel for having to cancel this tour,” said guitarist Joe Perry. “I would like to thank our loyal fans for sticking by us through thick and thin and all the good energy they are sending our way. We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible.”
He added, “I sure am going to miss playing with ZZ Top just as I’m sure the fans are going to miss seeing them playing with us as well. Hope to see you sooner than later. My hat’s off to our crew for putting up with this crazy stop and start tour. In my estimation, it was one of the best looking and best run tours we’ve ever had.”
Live auction for signed JVM210C
Stars at the Kerrang! Awards gathered round our JVM210C combo to sign their names across it for charity. That charity was YoungMinds and that very amp is now available to buy on Ebay. The JVM210C, worth over £1000, has been signed by Limp Bizkit, Buckcherry, In Case Of Fire, Mastodon, The King Blues, The Wildhearts, Lacuna Coil, Machine Head, Fightstar, Bring Me The Horizon, My Passion and Cancer Bats.
The bidding has been started at 99p and the auction runs until Monday 17th August and finishes at midnight.
Click here to take you straight to the live auction.
Marshall JVM Series JVM210C 100W 2×12 Tube Combo Amp Features:
* 100W power
* All-valve, with 5 x
* 12AX7s and 4 x EL34s
* 2 x 12″ Celestion speakers
* 2 totally independent, footswitchable channels
* Each channel has 3 footswitchable modes
* Footswitchable, studio-quality digital reverb
* Independent reverb controls for each channel
* 2 footswitchable master volumes
* 2 FX loops, one series, and one parallel
* Parallel FX loop is footswitchable on/off
* Speaker emulated XLR output
* 4-way footswitch (with memory) supplied
* All switching can be done via MIDI
* Made in England
Good luck and happy bidding!
The World Has Lost Les Paul Passes
New York, NY…August 13, 2009…Les Paul, acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor, passed away today from complications of severe pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones. He had been receiving the best available treatment through this final battle and in keeping with his persona, he showed incredible strength, tenacity and courage. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the thoughts and prayers from his dear friends and fans. Les Paul was 94.
Guitar maker Gibson announced his death, detailing that the legend was surrounded by family and loved ones at the time.
Credited with pioneering the development of the solid-body electric guitar and “the sound of rock ‘n’ roll”, Les Paul was also considered the father of multi-track recording recording and the eight track and is the only person to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
One of the foremost influences on 20th century sound and responsible for the world’s most famous guitar, the Les Paul model, Les Paul’s prestigious career in music and invention spans from the 1930s to the present. Though he’s indisputably one of America’s most popular, influential, and accomplished electric guitarists, Les Paul is best known as an early innovator in the development of the solid body guitar. His groundbreaking design would become the template for Gibson’s best-selling electric, the Les Paul model, introduced in 1952. Today, countless musical legends still consider Paul’s iconic guitar unmatched in sound and prowess. Among Paul’s most enduring contributions are those in the technological realm, including ingenious developments in multi-track recording, guitar effects, and the mechanics of sound in general.
Jackson: Take Your Pick
Jackson fans will be pleased to note that they can now pluck, strum, rake and otherwise pillage those strings with three wicked new Jackson guitar picks.
The Jackson “Bomb,” “Sick Skull” and “Leaning Cross” matte-finish black picks are available in standard 351, 451 and 551 shapes. Further, each one comes in six durable thicknesses—thin (.50mm), thin-medium (.60mm), medium (.73mm), medium-heavy (.88mm), heavy (1mm) and extra-heavy (1.14mm).
