Guitar Noize

Bluesfest 21st Anniversary sideshows announced, including Buddy Guy!

2009-11-08T22:20:15Z

Some exciting news for Aussies, just a week or so since Bluesfest 2010 announced some of the artists secured for the festival sideshows have been announced for Buddy Guy, The Gipsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club have all announced sideshow dates in Sydney and Melbourne. No word on Joe Bonamassa or Jeff Beck yet but I still have my fingers and toes crossed. In the meantime I’m off to book my Buddy Guy tickets for the Enmore!

November 06, 2009 –The immensely talented and inspirational Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal, both in the country for Bluesfest over Easter 2010, will play theatre sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne as part their Australian musical journey. Buddy Guy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound, and a living link to that city’s halcyon days of electric blues.
Enmore Theatre Sydney - 1/04/2010 Tickets go on sale 9th of November and can be purchased through http://www.ticketek.com.au and 132849 or The Enmore Box Office for all ticketing enquiries please call (02) 95503666
Hamer Hall Melbourne - 31/04/2010 Tickets go on sale 11th of November and can be purchased through The Arts Centre Box Office 1300 182 183* or http://www.theartscentre.com.au (transaction fee applies)

The Gipsy Kings are that rare thing – a household name famous solely for their music. Without peer, they are the planet’s most successful world music artists, and probably the best flamenco guitar artists in the world too! While they are the most successful French music group in history and they have sold more than 18 million albums worldwide, the Gipsy Kings make music as communion, artistry rooted in the past yet focused on the future.
Enmore Theatre Sydney - 4/04/2010 Tickets go on sale 9th of November and can be purchased through Ticketek.com.au and 132849 or The Enmore Box Office for all ticketing enquiries please call (02) 95503666
Palais Theatre Melbourne - 31/03/2010 Tickets go on sale 11th of November and can be purchased through http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Responsible for the highest ever selling world music record, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® is the formidable thirteen-piece band direct from Havana, featuring legends of Cuban Music and the stars of the Buena Vista Social Club film and World Circuit’s much acclaimed albums! Each of these fantastic artists has their own take on the gamut of Cuban music, and they’ve put their individual stamp on son montunos, danzón, cha cha cha, boleros, and Cuban jazz. Having honed their skills over many years their passion for the music has remained undimmed, and this remarkable group of musical giants perform with an exuberance that is as vital as ever.
Enmore Theatre Sydney - 28/03/2010 Tickets go on sale 9th of November and can be purchased through Ticketek.com.au and 132849 or The Enmore Box Office for all ticketing enquiries please call (02) 95503666
Hamer Hall Melbourne - 30/03/2010 Tickets go on sale 11th of November and can be purchased through The Arts Centre Box Office 1300 182 183* or http://www.theartscentre.com.au (transaction fee applies).

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5 for the weekend 1995

2009-11-06T10:51:35Z

Tender Surrender (Steve Vai ‘Alien Love Secrets’)

I love Alien Love Secrets but don’t know why it appeals to me more than Vai’s other work. I adore lavish and complex productions and yet this is almost only Vai, bass and drums thoughout. There’s some amazing stuff on this album and Vai is on fine form, from amazing filter effects, blinding runs, grinding riffs, sharp and gorgeous chord work and doubling baby talk to playing some of the most expressive rock guitar I’ve ever heard. If God wanted to play guitar he would ask Stevie round. Tender Surrender will forever break my heart. Absolutely phenomenal stuff.

The Galactic Ballerina (Warren Cuccurullo ‘Th@nks 2 Fr@nk’)

This was one of my favourite albums of the 90s and possibly my favourite instrumental rock guitar album ever. That’s right, even more so than Satch, Vai etc. Cuccurullo (and the sublime and always awesome Vinnie Coliauta) are just phenomenal on this record from the start to the end. It’s as good a rock guitar album as you’re ever likely to find. I’m not sure I could live without this one. Any of the tracks on the record could have been my pick but Galactic Ballerina is maybe my personal fave as it weaves chords through different time sigs until breaking down to a stunning solo section. Highly recommended.

Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream (King Crimson ‘THRAK’)

What a riff this is! Ok, technically it was first heard the year before on the Vroom EP but for me it was the highlight of Thrak. The instrumental section on this is just immense. Even more so when you’re lucky enough to get to see the double trio do it live. Just amazing stuff. Other highlights on the record are the Vrooms and the displaced 5s-til-yer-sick THRAK.

Lifter (Deftones ‘Adrenaline’)

I didn’t get into Deftones until a few years ago. I am soooo freakin’ slow on the uptake sometimes. Much heavier then than now and arguably less articulate, Adrenaline is a brilliant album that paved the way for an awful lot of not so good copycats. Lifter reminds me of something Tool might do but is awesome in a way that maybe only Deftones could manage. Deftones are one of my fave acts and I wish I’d been a fan for longer. One of the inspirations for running this 5-for-the-Weekend thing!!

Baluchitherium (Van Halen ‘Balance’)

I think by the time Balance was released patience was either run out or running out with fans and the Hagar Halen. OU812 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge had been disappointing and so expectation for Balance wasn’t that high. Balance was a much better effort, maybe even the best of the Hagar era but it was plain to see the VH mojo was AWOL. These records weren’t particularly bad… it was just that VH had produced such magic in the past. There were some magic moments on Balance in my opinion. A little too late, I’d ran out of patience and I never really got into the album even though I could see it wasn’t too bad. Baluchitherium was a little guitar instrumental where Ed got to play some lovely stuff and remind us why we love him so much and why we will never ever give up on him!

I’m slowing up because it is getting harder and harder to find my 5 inspiring guitar recordings as we step through the 90s. That’s not say there aren’t any good albums or guitar players, it’s more a failing of my listening habits through the 90s. Which was effectively Frank Zappa and little else.

So all recommendations are more than welcome!!

Have a good week folks!
P.

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PRS Guitars 25th Anniversary models

2009-11-05T22:11:50Z

PRS Guitars have updated their website with the 25th Anniversary models and I was immediately drawn to the 25th Anniversary 513, I always like a trans black, sorry “Charcoal Burst” finish on a glossy Flame Maple top. But what really interests me about the 513 is the pickup configuration, rather than 2 Humbuckers and a Single Coil in middle position, this guitar actually features 5 Single Coil pickups and some clever electronics. This combination of pickups and 2 selector blades makes it possible to achieve 13 different combinations, hence the name, 5 pickups, 13 combinations - 513. One blade switch is a 5-way pickup selector, and the other is a 3-way mode switch that allows you to select between the single coil, clear humbucking and heavy humbucking modes. Aside from the tonal possibilities the 5 Single Coil Pickups look very cool too, and markedly different from a Humbucker. 25th Anniversary appointments include shadow bird inlays, anniversary headstock eagle, bound rosewood fretboard and a unique palette of colors including one called Angry Larry and another called Mateo Mist, full colour chart here.

Other notable 25th Anniversary models include the 25th Anniversary Custom 24 which just oozes class and of course is the guitar that started it all for Paul Reed Smith, also the unique looking 25th Anniversary Swamp Ash Special Narrowfield with its Maple neck and headstock and Narrow Field pickups which combine the tone of a Single Coil but are hum cancelling, Paul Reed Smith says that they blend features of single coil, soap bar, and humbucking pickups and these are controlled by a 5 way selector blade switch. Also there is a 25th Anniversary Santana model which seems to have a bit of a fat butt and not as slender looking as the newer PRS guitars. You can see the full product list of 25th Anniversary PRS Guitars here.

PRSGuitars.com

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Guitar Toilet Seats

2009-11-04T21:52:38Z

Guitar Noize is no stranger to the odd toilet seat guitar, in fact check out this one I featured back in September 2007 however these products I found in Jammin’ Johns Shop are not actually toilet seat guitars but guitar toilet seats. The Strat shaped sunburst seat is called the “Screamer” and costs $169, yes you heard me right $169… for a toilet seat. But that is not all, the acoustic guitar shaped toilet seat costs $179! The thing I don’t understand is that it says you can choose between Round or Elongated shape? Surely they mean Jumbo or Dreadnought? I did laugh at Jammin’ Johns tagline though, “Music to your rear!”.

www.jamminjohns.com

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Alex Skolnick announces his signature Heritage

2009-11-04T13:14:48Z

When I think of Alex Skolnick I have to admit the first image that springs to my mind is Alex wielding an Ibanez 540S like in this live video of Trial By Fire, I couldn’t find the original video but that song was my introduction to Testament when I saw it on the late night rock show Raw Power. Well a lot has changed since those days and more recently you would have been more likely to see Alex playing a Gibson L5 or similar with his trio but recently Alex rejoined Testament and a big ol’ Jazz box just wasn’t going to cut it in a Thrash Metal band but Alex didn’t return to his faithful old Ibanez but rather to a Heritage Les Paul. Well after a year of development the first ever Alex Skolnick signature guitar is ready, now I’m not sure if the Heritage Alex Skolnick will look the guitar pictured above left or whether it will be like the only image I could find on the Heritage website here which as you can see features Alex’s signature on the headstock. There aren’t any details available on the website yet but this is how Alex describes it in his blog:

I’ve used this Heritage in recording sessions where it has a sound that stands up to the best vintage instruments. Even one of the most brilliant and stubborn producers I’ve worked with (who shall remain nameless) agreed. After ‘A/B’ing it with a Black Beauty Les Paul Custom purchased from Carlos Santana in the 70’s, my Heritage was used for the session. It was a close call but we won.

Check out Alex Skolnick’s blog for more information about his choice to go with Heritage.

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Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook

2009-11-03T22:10:07Z

The other day I was reading a review on the always excellent Stratoblogster about a guitar teaching ebook called “Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook”, aside from the great title I thought the book cover was pretty cool too and after reading the review decided to head over to Rob’s website Heartwood Guitar Instruction for a few more details and decided to buy the ebook for myself. Originally I hadn’t even intended to review the book I just thought it would be a good read as I’m thinking of taking on some students once I move house and actually have the space. Now I have taught guitar before including teaching at a high school but it has been a while so I figured any advice Rob could offer would be helpful.

The book is broken up into 3 Chapters, “To Teach Or Not To Teach?”, “Money Makin’” and “Teaching 101”. Chapter 1 is fairly short and basically poses a few questions about whether you should teach, if you are capable and patient enough, if you are knowledgable and whether you can cope with running your own business. As Rob points out, setting up a guitar teaching business costs next to nothing so even if you find out down the track it is not for you after all, you are likely to only lose out on the cost of a few flyers. Rob includes suggestions for lesson pricing, how to set up a waiting list and advice on how to stop teaching overtaking your life. Rob was an English teacher at an Elementary School before embarking on a guitar teaching business where he now has a 5 year waiting list for students so he has a good amount of experience with both teaching, motivating kids and running a business.

Chapter 2 is all about the main goal, making money and this includes how to set up your teaching space to begin with. Rob also talks about something probably often overlooked, gaining the trust of parents of younger students which is more important these days and the last thing you want are any accusations from disgruntled parents so don’t skip this section. Other subjects in this chapter include branding your business, advertising, alternative income ideas and accounting.

Finally the 3rd and largest chapter covers everything you ever needed to know about teaching your students. How to set up a teaching plan, how to steer distracted students back to the task in hand, how to break down tasks for students. Actually this subject is very useful, it covers how to teach a simple skill. It might be something second nature to you and therefore frustrating to see someone struggle, so Rob explains how to use his formula which you can then apply to anything you need to teach. Rob also goes into muscle memory and making sure students don’t let their muscle memory remember a mistake by slowing things down.

Along with the eBook you also get access to some of Rob’s teaching aids from his website which include song tabs for loads of tracks that you can use for your own students, he also includes downloads of blank Tab, a practice list, practice sticker chart for kids and a milestone chart. There are also student payment tables which you can use for your own business.

The eBook costs $30 and is available direct from Rob’s website Heartwoodguitar.com, if you are thinking of becoming a guitar teacher and think that $30 sounds a bit steep, just remember you will get that money back in 1 lesson and like Rob points out music books, music, gigs, tabs etc. are all tax deductible to guitar teachers so that makes this book even more of a bargain. I found it really helpful not as a bunch of lesson plans but as a teaching aid and motivational book and it is something I will definitely be re-reading once I am ready to take on some students.

Thanks to Stratoblogster for the heads up.

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Bell Custom Guitars SS Series

2009-11-02T21:56:36Z

Bell Custom Guitars’ product range mainly consists of hybrid guitar designs that fuse traditional wooden materials with Plexiglass, many of the guitars in the product range cost upwards of US $2500 which is why Bell Custom Guitars have introduced the SS Series with simplified body contours to lower production costs without losing the look or tone of the higher priced instruments. The guitar shown to the left is the SS-V which features a Maple/Plexi body, vintage humbuckers (although no brand name is mentioned), a Tune-o-matic bridge, a 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard and set neck construction and all for $1300. Also available in the series is the SS-E which is an Explorer shape variation in white with gold hardware and there is a slightly cheaper version by $100 called the SS-ER which features Chrome hardware and a Mahogany/Plexi body.

To see the other ranges available check out Bell Custom Guitars website, Follow them on Twitter or check out some video samples on their YouTube Channel.

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Playable Guitar T-Shirt

2009-11-01T22:16:45Z

Yes you read that title correctly, ThinkGeek have created a T-Shirt called The Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt which has a 7 fret fingerboard where each fret contains 2 buttons, top and bottom containing different Major chords. If you strum without pressing a button it plays an E Major of course! Now it says Major chord but I would have thought a power chord would be more appropriate, maybe it does? Using both sets of upper and lower buttons you can play a full octave of chords using the included magnetic pick. You might be wondering where the sound comes from? Well you plug into an included mini amp of course! The amp clips on to your belt so you can annoy people at the bus stop with your Black Sabbath riffs. And yes the amp goes up to 11… how original.

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Review: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 4

2009-10-29T22:38:44Z

I have used a few software amp modelling applications before but I had never tried Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig even though I used to use one of their Synth modelling programs years ago called Generator. When I saw that Native Instruments was about to release the 4th version of their amp modelling application I was keen to finally try it out for myself.

I have been running Guitar Rig as a VST plug-in for Ableton Live 7 by the way which was a seamless installation. The first thing that went through my mind is how nice the user interface is for Guitar Rig. There is a collapsable browser where you can select Presets, or individual amps, effects, modifiers and of course cabinets and mics. The amp models are pretty amazing based around classic amps such as the Plex, the wonderfully rich Hot Plex, Lead 800, one of my favourites the Jump, of course the AC Box, the Citrus, classic amps like the Tweed Delight and Twang Reverb and then there is a high gain modern amp called the Ultrasonic. Thats a lot to take in and the best way is to start playing around with the Presets and see what is available and possible with a little bit of dragging, dropping and tweaking. You can even adjust the sag, tube bias, the voltage and the power supply (50hz/60hz). I’ve personally never seen this level of control before amp modelling software, very impressive.

When you add an amp to the rack you get a matched cabinet by default with 2 mic’ing possibilitiesa and the ability to blend the 2, however there is also a cabinets and mics module that you can use to customise your setup further. With this module you can add cabinets, mic and mic position as well as distance and individual eq and pan controls. However there is another option which is new to Guitar Rig 4 and is a very cool feature called the Control Room module which “features 5 classic cabinets picked up by 6-8 legendary microphones, each perfectly in phase! They have been painstakingly positioned by studio legend Peter Weihe, delivering pure ear candy and endless facets of sound for you to mix.” and you can mix these mics however you like for that particular amp with the Control Room faders and pan controls.

There is just about every conceivable effects units at your fingertips from classic boost, overdrive and distortion pedals to modulation, time-based and freaky filter effects. There is also 2 modules which are very important called the Split and Crossover modules.

The Split Module allows you to create parallel (instead of serial) effects chains which means you can process the split the sound and process it with different effects and then mix the results back together at the end. Serial, parallel, and mixed serial/parallel combinations offer a practically limitless range of possibilities for combining effects, for a truly original sound. The Split Module can be inserted anywhere in the rack.

This device is similar to the Split Module - it splits the signal path into two. However, in this case, you can set a dividing line (“crossover point”) in the frequency response, and send lower frequencies to one split and higher frequencies to the other split. With the Split Module you can, for examle, create rich effect chains that only affect the high frequencies and mix with a more solid natural foundation of the sound.

These are both very powerful features and make using multiple amp setups really easy.

I have the Guitar Rig Kontrol edition which also includes the Bradshaw-esque looking foot controller which also doubles as a high quality audio interface and preamp called Rig Kontrol 3. This compact controller includes powerful software which allows you to assign the switches and expression pedal to any parameter in your rig. I could list all the features but I would simply be regurgitating the website so have a quick browse of this page which explains the controller in detail.

I think if you watch the videos above in high quality mode you will hear just how outstanding this software is, I was not really expecting Guitar Rig to be anything particularly new but I have found the amp models inspiring and reactive just like a real JCM800 or AC30 would be. As a recording tool this software is almost essential, as a live tool I think it would hold up pretty well especially with the solid Rig Kontrol 3 unit. I’m still too old fashioned to move away from a tube amp for a live situation but it certainly is tempting with such an amazing array of amps and effects available at the stomp of a switch!

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Colossal first announcement for Bluesfest 21st Celebration Event

2009-10-28T22:37:39Z

OH MY GOD! I can’t believe the lineup for Bluesfest 2010! Usually the lineup is pretty average and there are a lot of fillers, well there still are like Jessica Mauboy… sigh… anyway back to the colossal announcement. Bluesfest 2010 has a new home in Tyagarah near Byron Bay in NSW Australia and happens over 5 days April 1 - 5 and this year sees some big names!

Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Pete Green & Friends, Al Di Meola and Jeff Beck among others! I hope that Joe, Buddy and Jeff are going to book some other dates while they are in Australia.

October 29th 2009 - The first round of artists to perform at the 21st Anniversary Bluesfest has today been announced! Australia’s most awarded and internationally renowned festival officially begins a new era (and with any luck another excellent 21 years) with the purchase and move to its permanent new home for the 2010 event – the Tyagarah Tea Tree farm just off the Pacific Highway, 10 minutes north of Byron Bay.

Bluesfest 2010 takes place over Easter from Thursday April 1 through to Monday April 5, 2010. The first artist announcement includes a massive array of the best local and international blues, roots, folk, soul, and world artists – with an emphasis on some of the best guitar players of all time.

The first Bluesfest announcement for 2010 includes:

Crowded House, Buddy Guy, Roger Hodgson from Supertramp, Gipsy Kings, Orquesta, Buena Vista Social Club®, Jeff Beck, Lyle Lovett, RocKwiz, Jimmy Barnes Plays the Rhythm & the Blues, Jessica Mauboy, The Swell Season, Newton Faulkner, Dr John & the Lower 911, Bèla Fleck’s African Project Featuring Oumou Sangarè & band, Blue King Brown, Al Di Meola World Sinfonia, Gogol Bordello, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Green & friends, The Flatlanders, Avett Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Renee Geyer, Colin Hay Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lil Band o’ Gold, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, AND Robert Gordon & the Gang They Couldn’t Hang - featuring Chris Spedding (Roxy Music), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats).

http://www.bluesfest.com.au/

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Download Orianthi’s new single free

2009-10-28T20:26:24Z

If you play guitar there is no way you have not heard of Orianthi by now, although this talented Aussie has been around for a while, played with Santana and supported Steve Vai she was suddenly projected into the limelight recently because she was Michael Jackson’s latest guitarist and was in rehearsals for the “This Is It” tour. Well Orianthi is about to launch her debut album Believe and for this week only iTunes is featuring her single “According to You” as Single Of The Week and is available for free download if you live in the States. Here is the link - http://bit.ly/OriAcc.

Having listened to the single on her site I think that she will do really well in the US, she has a great voice and poppy rock songs that are kind of like Kelly Clarkson but with more guitars and a shredding solo.

Official Orianthi site - www.orianthi.com

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Jeff Babicz Signature Series Guitars

2009-10-27T22:08:56Z

You may have seen yesterday that I featured Ken Parker Archtops, well when I found out about those guitars I also found about Jeff Babicz’s Signature Series guitars. Like Ken Parker, Jeff Babicz already has a successful guitar company Babicz Guitars which feature not only a very unique design and innovative features such as the Lateral Compression Soundboard, the Torque Reducing Split Bridge and Continually Adjustable Neck. Oh and if you don’t know who Jeff Babicz is, before starting Babicz Guitars he worked at Steinberger as the Plant Manager and built guitars for Eddie Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth and David Gilmour.

Pictured left is a Collosal Model which is the largest of all the Babicz Signature Series guitars. It’s a full size Jumbo and the pattern for construction was taken directly from a 1949 Gibson SJ-200. The model shown in the photo is made from African Mahogany with Side Sound Ports, German Spruce Soundboard, Vermilion Binding and Ebony Fretboard, Bridge and Retainer. The signature series guitars are all hand built by Jeff and are therefore very limited edition. Check out the construction process on the site with a series of photos that take you from start to finish.

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Ken Parker Archtops

2009-10-26T21:46:56Z

You’ve all heard of Parker Guitars but I imagine most of you will be unaware that Ken Parker also makes Archtop guitars under the similar moniker Ken Parker Archtops and they look absolutely stunning. You can immediately spot that they are designed by Ken Parker due to the familiar Parker headstock although with a small difference as you can see in this photo. Pictured above is a guitar called Olive Branch made from a combination of Red Spruce and highly figured Koa, there is also a bit of Pernambuco here and there too including those tuning pegs. The string height can be adjusted by the player with a simple hidden screw that elevates the neck, adjusting the action without the need to retune. The tailpiece is anodized aluminum, and also is adjustable for height.

Check out the other guitars that are available from Ken Parker Archtops here.

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Guitar Noize launches Gear Factory

2009-10-25T22:20:50Z

Guitar Noize is now an authorised dealer in Australia and will also deliver to New Zealand for Suhr Effects and Pickups and Mad Professor Effects and Amps through my new section Gear Factory. I have only listed effects for now as I think these will be the most popular request but if you are interested in Suhr Pickups or Mad Professor Amps just send me an email and I can give you prices.

Gear Factory will evolve with more video demos as and when I get a chance to record them, I have the Koko Boost and Shiba Drive on order from Suhr so I will record a demo for those soon. I will also be getting a few Mad Professor pedals to record some demos too so keep an eye on my YouTube channel, Twitter and the Gear Factory page for updates.

So if you live in Australia or New Zealand and you are interested in buying either Suhr Effects & Pickups or Mad Professor Effects head over to the Gear Factory! I am offering Free shipping anywhere in Australia and only $10 to New Zealand.

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The Soul of Tone

2009-10-23T11:36:21Z

The Soul of Tone

Recently I’ve been absolutely obsessed with my guitar rig. Maybe a little bit too much. Actually, it’s probably been definitely too much. I’ve been searching everywhere for little bits of secrets here and there and whilst doing that I stumbled on a book released by Fender, The Soul of Tone, which was published to celebrate 60 years of Fender amplifiers.

Now, I’m not going to pretend I know anything about writing books and review but this book is absolutely lovely! It’s how a book is meant to be! It’s got some incredible photography of some extremely beautiful Fender amps in there and also comes with 2 CDs. The first takes you through Fender’s Vintage amp range and the second takes you through Fender’s Modern range. Both of these CDs are absolutely fantastic and give a really brilliant sonic insight to what are quite honestly some stunning amplifiers. The CDs complement the book extremely well making this one of my favourite guitar books.

It’s been fascinating for me to read about how something we take for granted, the sound of the electric guitar, was almost entirely crafted by Leo Fender and his teams 60 years ago. It truly is phenomenal that these 60 year old beasts still sound so incredble. These amps are still copied today.

Be warned, if you read this book and listen to the tone demos you will want to get your mits on a vintage Fender amp!!

Highly recommended and not just for Fender fans but rather for anyone with an interest in understanding guitar tone.

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