Music is the universal language
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”. - John 3:16
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Cort Guitars Solencanto Classical Guitar
| PRESS RELEASE: Cort® Guitars invites you to soak in the warmth and allure of the new Solencanto classical guitar. With a moniker derived from the Spanish for “sun” (sol) and “charm” (encanto), this finely crafted, premium instrument delivers unparalleled performance and tone sure to satisfy even the most selective of players. Boasting distinctive aesthetics and exceptional materials, the Solencanto is an ambitious and detailed build. Distinctive striped wood binding, a custom multi-component “Abstract” soundhole inlay, and Cort inlay at the 12th fret combine to make this model a truly eye-catching instrument. Further decorative detail is on offer via a dark black Macassar ebony fretboard contrasting in striking fashion with the creamy White Blond Gloss (WBL) Engelman Spruce top and deep-amber mahogany neck, back, and sides. Meanwhile, the Solencanto’s hardware and engineering assure that this guitar performs at a level of excellence befitting its top-grade appearance. A side-mounted sound port enables players to better hear themselves, regardless of setting, while a soft Venetian cutaway provides easy access to the higher frets allowing for multi-octave runs and chord progressions. A sophisticated Fishman® Flex Blend preamp system and S-Core pickups facilitate the best of mic’d and piezo functionality, equally suited to both recording and gigging. Additionally, supportive fan bracing, Macassar ebony bridge, and bone nut provide the optimum balance between structural support and resonance. Playability is where this guitar truly shines and, paired to its industry-leading fit and finish, the Solencanto is sure to be a go-to choice for players of many types. All the hallmarks of a truly high quality instrument are baked into the Cort Solencanto: ample projection with naturally balanced tonality throughout, high-tech features, and show-stopping looks. Charm and warmth are foundational to this guitar that is bound to resonate – quite literally! – with the market at large. Street Price $1299.99 USD |
| About Cort Guitars Cort designs, manufactures and delivers some of the finest guitars and basses to musicians and music enthusiasts all around the world. Over the past 50 years, the company has worked with some of the largest and most well-recognized guitar companies in the industry, as well as artists of international recognition. Cort remains focused on providing instruments that will last generations with the best workmanship possible, the best materials and components, and the best service long after the instruments have been purchased. For more information, visit www.cortguitars.com. |
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No, You Don’t NEED To Mod The Bejesus Out Of A Squier Bass VI
One of my favourite instruments in my collection is my Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI. I wanted a Bass VI ever since I first learned about the instrument via its appearance in This Is Spinal Tap – remember the guitar that Nigel wouldn’t even let director Marty Di Bergi look at? – and finally pulled the trigger when funds allowed a while back.
The current Squier model is part of the Classic Vibe series and it’s an affordable way to get in on the Bass VI phenomenon. But what you’ll soon notice is that as soon as you begin to search online for info on these beauties, you’ll be bombarded with Facebook and forum posts about how many things you have to change on them in order to have a functional instrument in your hands. Replacement bridge. Neck shims. New pickups. New vibrato. LaBella strings. With that amount of financial investment, your affordable Bass VI is now a money pit! And all to get a usable instrument out of something you paid like $800 bucks for (in Australian dollars anyway).
Naaaah.
Look, you can improve any instrument by upgrading its parts to higher-quality ones. And the Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI can definitely benefit from a replacement bridge with a wider intonation range if you find that you can’t quite dial in the perfect intonation with your choice of string gauge. The Fender Vintera II Bass VI comes from the factory with a longer saddle baseplate to give you this greater range of intonation precision, and it’s a very welcome feature. The Classic Vibe Bass VI would be a better buy if it had this feature too.
But here’s the thing: the online chatter about these instruments has created a false impression that you’re basically buying a husk of an instrument with a bunch of placeholder parts that you need to replace. And it’s just not true. The pickups feature Alnico magnets (not cheaper, flatter-sounding Ceramics or something) and they sound pretty nice for the price. The vibrato is gonna give you the same charmingly rustic action as a typical Jazzmaster or Jaguar, more or less, and yeah, there are better upgrades out there but you’ll be fine if you don’t want to do that. You may want to shim the neck if you’re unable to get the perfect action for your needs, but that’s also a matter of taste.
Personally I’ve made a few little tweaks to my Bass VI. I’ve installed a trio of Seymour Duncan Hot For Jaguar single coil pickups. They didn’t drastically change the character of the instrument, just made it a bit more beefy and warm. And I shimmed the neck so I could achieve a more even action across the whole fretboard. Doing that – which is so easy you can do it yourself with a little slice of cardboard or plastic – also allows you to achieve a steeper break angle of the string over the bridge saddle, preventing the string from popping out when you pick too hard. That’s a problem that has plagued this design since the beginning of time but has been easily fixable for exactly as long. Or you can go for a fancypants bridge like the Mastery which will seat the string much deeper than the standard bridge. I may or may not do this with my Bass VI one day. At the moment I don’t feel the need.
But y’know what? If doing all this stuff makes you feel better, sounds like fun and connects you more to your instrument, go absolutely nuts! That should go for any guitar though. It’s your instrument, nobody else’s, and you need to be happy with it for your own sake, not to impress some dudes on a forum or in a Facebook group.
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COOL GEAR ALERT: Ibanez j.Custom RGRAMG50TH
Here’s one for the hardcore Ibanez collectors. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of distributor Australis Music Group, Ibanez has created the RGRAMG50TH, a limited edition j.Custom instrument limited to 14 pieces.
Exclusive to the Australian market, the RGRAMG50TH features an Australian Blackwood top on an African Mahogany body, 5-piece Custom Super Wizard 5-piece Maple/Wenge neck with Macassar Ebony fingerboard, Seymour Duncan Custom 5 and Jazz humbucking pickups, Lo-Pro Edge bridge, and jumbo Stainless Steel frets.
From Australis:
“Highly prized for its beautiful, naturally lustrous timber, it is most commonly used in the crafting of high-end furniture, boats and decorative pieces. Blackwood owes its popularity not only to its incredible appearance but also the fact that it has excellent sustainability. It is prolific across southeast Queensland and about a third of total Blackwood Forest types are reserved.”
- Body: Australian Blackwood(4mm)/African Mahogany (40mm)
- Neck: RG reverse headstock j. Custom Super Wizard5pc Maple/Wenge neck
- Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony w/No inlay
- Frets: Jumbo Stainless Steel
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan® JAZZ model
(H) - Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan® Custom 5 (H)
- Bridge : Lo-Pro Edge bridge
- Includes Hardcase, Tremolo arm, Multi tool, Strap lock pin, Certificate
- Exclusive to the Australian market – Only 14 available for sale
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NAMM 2024: Devin Townsend’s new Kiesel signature
In addition to having a gorgeous line of Framus signature guitars, Devin Townsend also uses Kiesel guitars, and one of the big surprises this NAMM is Devin’s all new Kiesel model, the NEO.
From Kiesel:
NEO is here. Working with the acclaimed Devin Townsend, Kiesel Guitars meticulously designed and crafted the guitar into a compact, unique, headless instrument.
The model is available in two editions: the Circle, a color-finished, 27-fretted guitar with a single Devin Townsend Fishman pickup and the Circle inlay, and the Om, a natural-aesthetical, 32-fretted guitar with three Kiesel S60A pickups paired with custom switching, and the Om inlay.
Both NEOs feature a counterweight, custom-covered Hipshot bridge, Dunlop flush-mounted strap locks, and a recessed jack.
I like how utterly singular this is. There’s really nothing else like it out there, it looks portable as hell, and that triple pickup situation is intriguing.
See full specs here.
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NAMM 2024: New Music Man Axis colours
If you know me you you know I’m a huge nerd for any and all Eddie Van Halen-associated guitar designs. The Music Man Axis is, of course, a slightly modified version of Eddie’s old Ernie Ball Music Man guitar, and for the last several years the colour options haven’t really done it for me at all. It looks like 2024 is gonna turn things around because look at these babies.
Available midyear, Music Man says “The Axis and Axis Super Sport are offered with a roasted, figured maple neck, 22 stainless steel frets, and 4 exciting all-new finishes. Available with your choice of flame or quilt maple top over a basswood body with DiMarzio humbucking pickups, this tonewood/pickup combination is the perfect recipe for a timeless rock guitar tone.”
I’m also super into all of these John Petrucci Majesty models. I would cheerfully play any and all of those.
For more, including a gorgeous Kiwi Green Stingray Special bass that has to be seen to be believed, head over to the Music Man blog.
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‘Mikkel Lives’
On Friday I was at work in a local guitar store doing my regular techin’ and repairs thing. We’ve had a gorgeous left-handed Fiesta Red Fender American Vintage II 61 Stratocaster on the wall for quite a few months, and while rearranging the lefty display, the guitar department manager noticed that the action was super high on that guitar. So I took it to the tech room to give it a little bit of love. It was clear the neck needed a truss rod adjustment after going from winter to summer.
So I removed the strings, popped the neck off and saw this:
‘Mikkel Lives.’
Who was Mikkel? This was clearly written by a Fender factory worker (probably Javier if I’d venture to guess), probably to memorialise somebody who they lost. Was Mikkel a fellow factory worker? A friend? A family member? A pet?
Whoever Mikkel was, Mikkel is now the name of this guitar, and whoever buys it will be told the story and provided with the photo above, and their memory can live on in the music this instrument goes on to play.
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Solar Guitars expands European production
Solar Guitars, founded by renowned guitarist and online celebrity Ola Englund has launched another instrument from its “Made in Europe”, European Master Series. This model, a bolt on Type AB in Carbon Black with Evertune bridge is the most popular Solar Guitar configuration to be offered from the European made series to date. As with previous European Master Series models, the company again offers players ‘Best in Class’ quality and appointments.
Solar Guitars VP and product developer, Joe Delaney states, “To start the European production program we first focused on innovative new types and shapes like the X and AC models. Now we are adding some inspirations of the brand’s most successful implementations such as this Evertune equipped Carbon Black A Type. The AB6 SVART is an aggressive statement of elegance.”
The new AB6 SVART comes with custom molded case and is in stock and available to ship from solar-guitars.com.
The new European Master Series Type AB offers the best of what can be put into an electric guitar including stainless steel frets, Richlite fingerboard, black Tusq nut, Luminlay fret markers, Solar 12th fret logo inlay, Locking tuners and Evertune bridge. The custom wound SA56BEU and SA56NEU Solar Modern humbuckers were painstakingly voiced to perfection by Ola and the Solar product team. With a more modern and aggressive take on the classic Solar Alnico V, our energy was focused to ensure these new European made pickups would be the most perfectly matched set for these new instruments. Each pickup is installed directly into the wood with brass countersinks to create a harmonious tonal marriage between body resonance and electrical output. Schaller Megaswitch, CTS potentiometers with a Push-Pull for coil splits and PureTone output jack complete the electronics package. Each guitar ships in a custom MCAS flight-ready molded case with certificate of authenticity personally signed by Ola Englund.
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Boutique Luthier Jon ‘Sully’ Sullivan Debuts The Astro: An Eye-Catching Retrofuture Set Neck Guitar Built For Shred
Little Elm, TX – January 19, 2024 – Small builder Sully Guitars are back with the Astro – a unique set neck 24 fret model focused on upper fret access & “inspired by beloved moments in classic rock history.” The Astro is a Custom Series model, made to order in the USA in an array of hardware configurations & unique finishes. You may have noticed another Astro recently – longtime Sully artist Perfecto De Castro partnered with Soldano to use the Astro prototype guitar in demo videos for Soldano’s own Astro amplifier. Sully is attending the NAMM show, Astro prototype in tow, at booth 4717-19 as part of the Boutique Guitar Showcase. If you’re attending, you have to try the Astro for yourself to see why Sully’s neck profile, fret work, & attention to detail are the talk of the guitar building community.
“The Astro is a total labor of love. I always wanted to take a swing at this shape, & after a lot of fine tuning it really took on a life of its own. What I love about the Astro, & something that surprised me, is that it’s sort of a musical Rorschach test. When I hand a guitarist an Astro, everyone plays a different riff & tells me a different iconic musician it reminds them of. I think the shape connects with your early musical memories & helps channel them into your own music.”
-Jon Sullivan, President/Founder Sully Guitars
The Sully Guitars Astro Model Features:
- Shoot Your Playing Into The Stratosphere – Inspired by iconic Rock & Roll heroes, the Astro features a modernized, carefully offset body for comfort & balance.
- Built By Rock & Roll – Sully’s critically-acclaimed neck profile w/ 24 stainless steel frets.
- Playability Comes First – Sully has a strict “no-clunk” rule. The Astro may look oldschool, but its sculpted set neck heel & enhanced upper fret access provide effortless playability.
- No Compromise Construction – Industry-standard components including Hipshot, Floyd Rose, FU-Tone, Fishman Fluence, & more.
- Make It Your Own – The Astro is available for custom order w/ a wide variety of premium timber, hardware, & finish options.
- All USA Custom Series Sully Guitars are built by a small team in Texas, PLEK’d, & include a custom G&G hardshell case w/ COA.
The Sully Guitars Astro starts at $4299 & is available directly at sullyguitars.com.
Jon ‘Sully’ Sullivan builds high performance custom shop instruments in Texas combining modern features, boutique craftsmanship, & a focus on playability. His attention to detail, striking designs, & fast neck profile quickly developed a fanbase among custom shop aficionados, acrobatic shredders, & artists like Michael Sweet & Nikki Sixx. With the 2018 launch of their Conspiracy Series affordable high quality production lineup & multiple collaborations with Grover Jackson, Sully Guitars was solidified as the premier custom shop dedicated to giving every guitar the personal, “small builder” touch. Sully Guitars kicks off 2024 with the NAMM debut of their head-turning Astro model, a set neck 24 fret guitar combining retro aesthetics with modern playability.
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