Guitar Blog

Ultra-rare one-off 1980s Mosrite Axe Bass which may or may not have been made for Gene Simmons

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:37:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

The eBay seller of this one-off 1980s Mosrite Axe Bass claims that it must be the rarest of the rare amongst Mosrites, but when that company is known for its various one-off guitar creations, such a claim is hard to substantiate. I guess it's more a case of how desirable a particular guitar is, and I'm guessing the seller is assuming that the Gene Simmons/Kiss connections (even if Simmons never even set eyes on the bass - was it made FOR him or just inspired by him?) would make serious Mosrite collectors reach for their chequebooks.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $25,000.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Double Florentine cutaway Japanese Kay semi with slider controls

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:19:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Following on from our recent post about a Japanese-made Silvertone with slider volume and tone controls, here's another (probably) Japanese-made guitar with slider controls, this time it's an attractive double Florentine cutaway semi carrying the Kay brandname. The seller dates it between 1968 and 1972, which sounds a fair enough assessment to me.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of £400, which depending on playability may or may not be optimistic.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Brian Eastwood "Bender Distortocaster" melted Strat with "Gouranga" finish on eBay UK

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:28:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

...from the ridiculous to the... errmmm... ridiculous. (But at least these guitars are made to play well).

And what could be wilder than a Bender Distortocaster from Brian Eastwood? Other than a Distortocaster with a wacky paint job, that is. And should I know what "gouranga" is supposed to mean? (Answers in the comments please).

This particular guitar is currently being offered for sale on eBay UK and has a Buy It Now price of £1,399.

For other Bender Distortocasters please see here and here.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Ghastly heart-shaped guitar covered in illuminated skulls: please feel free to point and laugh

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:04:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I've said it before and I will say it again: I really seriously HATE skulls on guitars. It's just such a appallingly naff cliché that I can't imagine anyone wanting such a thing unless they are part of a comedy metal band. Not only has this heart-shaped guitar got skulls all over it, but also their eye sockets light up with red LEDs. Spooky, eh?

I mean, really, WHO is it supposed to appeal to? Even most 12-year old have better taste.

Also, check out that action. OUCH! The pink strings don't help, only serving to draw attention to it.

This horror is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $549.99. (Oh look, the auction number ends in 666... it must be a sign or a prophecy or something!)

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Pagelli Redwood Special Custom Hollowbody

noreply@blogger.com (bertram D) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:19:00 +0000

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You can't miss a Pagelli guitar with its characteristic ergonomic shaped designed for Eastman and the curved headstock - and everybody says that the sound is as good as the looks...

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1940 vintage Gibson ES-300 hollowbody guitar with the longest slanted pickup you ever saw!

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:23:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Slanted pickups on guitar were around a long time before Leo Fender designed the Telecaster and Stratocaster. Here we see a Gibson ES-300 from 1940 with a long slanted pickup which is very nearly 7 inches in length. Later examples had a shorter pickup, which was still mounted at a slant.

This guitar comes in the original Geib 5 latch hard shell case (the seller claims that the case alone is worth $1,000), and is currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $6,500.

Thanks to Andrew K for bringing this guitar to my attention.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Japanese-made Silvertone with a serious Mosrite vibe going on and sliders!

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:39:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I couldn't possibly comment on how this vintage Silvertone guitar might sound, but it's certainly a head turner with several Mosrite-inspired design elements (reverse offset body with German carve, angled neck pickup and angle to the top of the neck) and with those crazy slider volume and tone controls. It looks like the original trem is all present and correct too.

Despite the Silvertone brandname it's certainly a Japanese-made instrument, although with the various Japanese manufacturers of the 1960s era, it's often hard to pinpoint who made what as hardware and designs were often common to more than one factory. Personally, I think it looks more Kawai than Teisco, but that's just a hunch.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a starting bid of £299, and with just over a day to go before the auction finishes (as I type this).

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Have you ever seen a more out-of-place headstock on a guitar?

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:27:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I take one look at this 1980s B.C. Rich acoustic guitar and can't help but demand "What were they thinking?"

A pointy headstock? On a dreadnaught? Madness!

I'm not averse to 6-in-a-line headstocks on acoustic guitars. Fender, for example, have used Strat-like headstocks on their acoustic guitars since the 1960s, and I always quite liked that look. But a pointy 1980s jobbie like this? Perhaps my lack of approval stems from the fact that I never liked pointy headstocks like these on ANY guitars, let alone a poor unsuspecting dreadnaught-styled acoustic.

But of course such things are subjective. Even though I hate it, someone else will probably love it. If that person is reading this blog entry, they may like to know that this guitar, located in Georgia in the USA, is currently listed on eBay and has a starting price of $145.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Gperc - the missing link between guitar and percussion - crowdfunding campaign on Ulule

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:57:00 +0000

Gperc is a percussion for electric guitar. It is a removable plate attached to the upper part of the guitar. Various percussion sounds are made by the standard guitar playing, and strumming techniques used by guitarists.

This is an innovative musical concept, and a totally new musical instrument invented by French guitarist/guitar teacher Frédéric Riedel.

The Gperc sound is a natural percussion sound. It is the result of the percussion plate vibrations captured by a piezoelectric pickup. Gperc does not involve any simulation nor any percussion sound samples of any sort.

Imagine how Gperc could open up new musical horizons... Imagine a Gperc guitarist playing guitar, and singing on an intimate stage... Imagine the dialog that could rise between a Gperc guitarist, and a percussionist... Imagine the source of inspiration of a guitar/percussion arrangement at the very first stage of songwriting...

That's the kind of horizons that Gperc could open up.

Why a crowfunding campaign?

Launching a innovative product is more than ever a real challenge. So we thought we could seek help from the guitar lovers, and innovation lovers out there. The principle of crowdfunding is simple. The owner of an innovative and/or a creative project call people for contribution to their project following 2 principles :

Any contribution is important to build a project, even the smallest.
Any contribution deserves a compensation.

The goal of the crowdfunding campaign on Ulule (http://www.ulule.com/gperc/) is to fund:

The production of a first batch of Gperc kits for electric guitars.
Research & development fora more flexible Gperc attachment system.
Research & development for the future versions of Gperc, especially a version for acoustic guitars.

If the goal is not achieved at the end of the campaign, then the contributions are fully repaid to the contributors.

If the goal is achieved at the end of the campaign, i.e. July 2nd 2013, then the Gperc will come to life to conquer the world and open up new musical horizons!

More information about the Gperc crowdfunding campaign on Ulule

Link : http://www.ulule.com/gperc/ - Goal of the Campaign : 10 000€ - Campaign Deadline : July 2nd 2013

Ulule is the first European crowdfunding site.

Compensations available for contributors

The value of the compensations increases as the level of contribution increase.

First levels of contribution: Gperc goodies and accessories.
Intermediate levels of contribution: a Gperc unit for electric guitars (stratocaster and telecaster body shapes).
High levels of contribution: an electric guitar equiped with a Gperc. The Gperc will be installed by a luthier. (The guitars equiped with a Gperc are: a Cort G210 or a Tom Launhardt TC61 -Telecaster body shape - or a Tom Launhardt ST612 -Stratocaster body shape)

To follow the news of the project: http://www.ulule.com/gperc/news/

Gperc videos:

Pictures of the Gperc: Voir fichier joint

Gperc on social media:

Contact for Gperc testing: Pascal Riedel - riedel.pascal@gmail.com

Contact for questions and information: gperc.contact@gmail.com

Meinel und Herold jazz guitar

noreply@blogger.com (bertram D) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:20:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com

Meinel und Herold was a renowned German late 19th century accordion and harmonica company that later turned into a music instruments mail order distributing company - though they didn't build them, their violins, flutes or mandolins were as sought after as their previous instruments.

They eventually got involved into electric guitars and had them built by East-German Migma - as I assume was this beautifully eccentric electro-acoustic archtop - the finish is original and quite cool.

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

One-off Gordon Smith fretless SG guitar, plus Guthrie Govan on a Vigier Surfretter fretless guitar

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:46:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

If you've ever considering dipping a toe or two into the world of fretless guitar, then you could do a lot worse than snap up this Gordon Smith SG-styled fretless guitar, currently listed on eBay UK with a starting bid of a very reasonable £299 and with no bids at the time of writing (approx 13 hours to go before end of auction). It's a one-off handcrafted custom build from this acclaimed British maker from Partington, near Manchester. What's not to like?

And while we're on the subject, check out the below video by Guthrie Govan in which he answers all the questions you may have had about playing a fretless guitar but were too afraid to ask. It really is an excellent introduction to the subject.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Now that's one heck of a big ol' bass!

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:26:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Pictured next to a Fender Jaguar Bass (which I believe has a 34" scale length), I'm guessing that this extremely long fretless electric bass is intended to be played as an upright. It probably wouldn't be great as a double bass replacement as the fingerboard does not have the necessary radius nor are the strings high enough from the top of the body to allow playing with a bow. But as a fretless electric upright bass played finger-style, I'm sure it'd work fine. It does sort of look like a giant bass guitar what with the P-Bass pickup, the fingerboard position markers giving the impression of frets, and the Fender-esque 4-in-a-row headstock. There must be an awful temptation to try to play this horizontally as if it was a bass guitar. Imagine how crazy that would appear on-stage.

I am reminded of Mark Rubel's Giant Jazz Bass, built to the scale length of a double bass, and which we featured in the Guitarz Calendar for 2012 (long sold out, but then it was last year's calendar). I was going to let all the calendar pictures remain as exclusives, but if enough of you want it, I'm tempted to show the Giant Jazz Bass pics here. (Vote NOW in the comments below!)

Anyway (I went a bit off-tangent there), the pictured electric upright bass, which I'm sure must be a one-off creation, is currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £499.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

More from Pure Salem guitars - just look at these beauties!

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:50:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Just under a year ago we looked at a couple of prototype designs from Pure Salem, a new guitar company offering retro-styled guitars with modern production standards and playability. Pure Salem have recently unveiled their range of guitars (although not all the prototypes made it to final production models in case you were wondering what became of design based on the Meazzi Zodiac).

However, just look at what they ARE offering (pictures above), all of which are available in all finishes in both LEFT and RIGHT-HANDED versions. Lefties, take note!

Some of the guitars are obviously Fender inspired (the Wood Soul, Sad Fester, and Reverberation models), whilst the Tom Cat is a modern take on the Guild S-200 Thunderbird. As for the other designs, sharp-eyed readers may recognise some of the influences from vintage guitars featured here on Guitarz.

If you want a closer look, you could do far worse than check out this video demo of the Pure Salem Wood Soul by John Way:

Pure Salem guitars are priced between $625 and $825 depending on model. See their website for further info and/or their very busy FaceBook page. I think they look and sound fantastic, and would love to get my paws on one.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Watkins Rapier 33 - a classic 1960s vintage British guitar

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:14:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We've looked at a similar Watkins Rapier 33 before on Guitarz, not to mention an earlier incarnation of the Rapier. However, this fine example of a Watkins Rapier 33 in rare white finish has just turned up on eBay, and its a real beauty in fantastic condition and includes two tone controls, one volume control, individual pickup on/off switches and rhythm/solo switch, plus the original Watkins Hi-Lo tremolo with the original arm and original non-adjustable chrome Watkins bridge. Note also that this Rapier 33 has a bolt-on neck whereas the example we looked at previously appears to have a set neck.

For further info I once again would refer you to the excellent Watkins Guitar World website.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £365.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

The Scant Regard plays Kraftwerk's "The Model" on the Teisco Spectrum 5

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:54:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here at Guitarz quirky old Japanese-made guitars like the near legendary Teisco Spectrum 5 are held in very high esteem, so it's great to see one of these idiosyncratic 1960s twang-machines in action courtesy of Will of The Scant Regard!

By the way, I've been playing a guitar version of Kraftwerk's "The Model" with a band I play with, but now I'm beginning to wish that our arrangement was more like the above.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Effects Review [with video]: Magnetic Effects ELECTROCHOP pedal

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 19:46:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Magnetic Effects are a small company in the UK specialising in handmade boutique effects pedals. Their latest pedal, the Electrochop, has a really cool vintage-sounding vibe. To quote from their own press release:

The Magnetic Effects Electrochop is a super choppy tremolo that features the classic, unique LFO section from the Vox Repeat Percussion. A new audio circuit has been designed around the LFO, resulting in a tremolo that sounds like the Repeat Percussion but with a fuller, louder sound and more controls. All the classic throb but with more user friendly features!

The controls are: Volume, Depth and Speed plus a toggle switch that alters the overall speed range.

The speed range goes from very slow to crazy fast. At higher speeds the sound morphs into a ring modulator type effect.

Features:

High input impedance and low output impedance

True Bypass switching

9V DC adapter or battery powered

Rate Toggle switch

Volume, Depth and Speed controls

Magnetic Effects very kindly let us borrow an Electrochop for review, and I can honestly say I've had great fun playing with it. I'm going to be sad to have to box this one up and send it back. Having had a taste of what it can do, if I wasn't so utterly broke right now I'd buy this immediately.

The Electrochop is housed in a sturdy metal casing, and the three control knobs are of excellent design allowing even those of us with rapidly failing eyesight to be able to ascertain the various settings at a glance. I also like the use of a blue LED for the power indicator (i.e. pedal ON) as opposed to the usual red we see on effects pedals. The blue nicely complements the colour scheme of the casing too.

Now, while I freely admit that I am not overly comfortable about getting myself out in front of a video camera, I decided that what we really needed here was a demo video, so please watch the below YouTube clip. Please note, that for review purposes I am using the Electrochop as the sole effect on the guitar's tone. Even though Magnetic Effects recommend using it in conjunction with a quality fuzz pedal, I wanted to demonstrate the sounds as produced by the Electrochop alone. As I say in the video, of course you can use it with other effects, you are only limited by your imagination.

By the way, in the video I mention the clarity and silent operation of the Electrochop. Please note that the hum you hear in the video is from my amp, NOT the effects pedal.

The Electrochop is priced at £89 and is available from the following retailers:

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Bert Kwakkel luthier-built 12+12 string acoustic (with sympathetic strings)

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:44:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This highly unusual one-off luthier-built guitar by Bert Kwakkel is currently being listed for sale on Marktplaats.nl, a trading site based in The Netherlands, and is priced at € 2.250,00.

It is essentially a 12-string acoustic guitar (even though the main part of the guitar has only been strung with six strings in these photos) with 12 sympathetic strings situated inside the guitar's body. It's certainly a weird-looking instrument with that secondary headstock emerging from the shoulder of the guitar. I can only try to imagine what it might sound like; it's not going to be quite a sitar sound seeing as don't have any buzz bridges. Nevertheless, tune it in DADGAD or similar, and I can imagine the guitar could produce a fair imitation of a sitar.

Bert Kwakkel is a name unknown to me. Apparently this guitar dates back to the 1980s, and it has suffered a few cracks, which we are told have been expertly repaired.

Thanks to JAldo who brought this guitar to my attention via the Guitarz Facebook page.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Trussart SteelTop Antique Silver Dragon Engraved, rare southpaw version

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:52:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's another one for the lefties... Or maybe I should say the loaded lefties. It's a left-handed 2008 James Trussart SteelTop Antique Silver Dragon Engraved model originally made as a one-off for a Nashville-based artist, and now being made available for sale on eBay. To borrow from the eBay listing (which in turn borrowed from the Trussart website):

The SteelTop has the look and feel of a vintage instrument while also featuring another James Trussart original invention: the recessed steel top plate. The metal plate sits in a recessed area on the face of the instrument, which keeps the edge of the metal plate covered, adding comfort as well as styling.

In addition to the recessed steel top plate, our exclusive chambered wood body and custom metal appointments are beautiful to look at as well as being functional. For instance, the recessed steel head cap adds mass to the headstock and increases sustain. The steel, while also being the perfect medium to display the beautiful Trussart custom finishes and engraving, also has tonal advantages. The SteelTop tone is a uniquely classic sound that, combined with the resonant qualities of the chambered body and steel top, can range from sweet thick classic tones to the heaviest lead tones.

Equally at home being played on stage or on display as a piece of art, you will know you have something special the moment you lay your hands on this instrument, as every Trussart is loaded with unique custom details. The construction of these instruments is only half of the story; the other half is the finish. SteelTops are available with distressed finishes that come with a history and a slight element of neglect-of decay-so it has a personality all its own.

This Trussart has found its way into the hands of many guitarists including Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Pete Stroud of the Sheryl Crow Band, Kirk Douglas of The Roots, and Brian Ray of the Paul McCartney Band, to name just a few.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $4,299.99.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1999 Gibsonesque Fender Toronado

noreply@blogger.com (bertram D) — Tue, 28 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

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I find it strange that the Fender Toronado, introduced in 1998 and discontinued in 2006, didn't become a standard Fender model, in addition to their more classic guitars. It is clearly an incursion on Gibson's territory with its humbuckers, tune-o-matic bridge and stop tail, shorter scale, four knobs, switch on the upper horn and in the case of this one even a very SG-like pickguard, but why not, it is a fine looking guitar, and it deserved to be given a chance (what if the rules of current capitalism had been applied at the birth of electric guitars? - we'd probably still play accordion).

Though it was short-lived, there've been many versions of the Toronado, with different pickguards, finishes, electronics and pickups - as you can see on the Toronado Tumblr.

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Burns guitar and bass doubleneck, one-off possibly employee-made

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Mon, 27 May 2013 22:15:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's another bizarre doubleneck instrument, this time it's a Burns guitar/bass combination. Although it has genuine 1960s Burns parts, we do not know for sure its back-story. The seller believes that it was possibly made by an employee of Burns or else was a prototype or one-off tradeshow model, but freely admits that he is unable to offer any proof to these theories.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a starting bid of £1,050.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Cyan Guitars - made in Germany

noreply@blogger.com (bertram D) — Sun, 26 May 2013 13:55:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com

The other day I posted about the Farin Urlaub signature guitar by German company Cyan Guitars - well there are some neat guitars on their website - I picked up a few (the Hellboy, the Hellcaster and the Zodiac) (I chose white models because of the black background on the pictures but there are other colors of course). I love the pointy Mosrite style of the horns, the slanted outline, the German carve, the aligned tuners, the bridge plates and pickup rings - well, everything...

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Jim Rodford's doubleneck behemoth comprising Fender P-Bass and Strat

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Sat, 25 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I was looking on YouTube for some footage of Argent's Russ Ballard playing his customised Holy Stratocaster (which also featured a cut-down body so that the top horn echoed size and shape of the lower horn), and found an interesting clip of Argent playing "Hold Your Head Up" on The Midnight Special TV Show in 1973 with an introduction from none other than John Denver (see below).

Sure, there was Russ playing his Holy Strat, but I was also intrigued to see bassist Jim Rodford thumping away on an enormous doubleneck seemingly composed of a Fender Precision Bass and a Strat. Alas I've not been able to turn up any better quality close-up photos of the instrument itself and so I though I'd have a little shout out to the faithful Guitarz readership to see if anyone has any more information about this remarkable instrument or knows where we might find some better photographs.

A Google search reveals various guitar and bass forum discussions in which this instrument is mentioned. Apparently the P-Bass making up one half of this doubleneck behemoth previously belonged to Chris White of The Zombies (keyboardist Rod Argent's previous band).

There are other clips of Rodford playing the bass as a single necked instrument (e.g. another performance of "Hold Your Head Up", this time from 1972) where the bass is clearly shown to have an enlarged or secondary pickguard on the upper portion of the body. One forum mentioned something about the doubleneck being convertible into two separate instruments, so possibly this upper pickguard was there to hide the join in the body with the upper horn section of the bass.

This is all conjecture on my part. I just think it's an interesting instrument worthy of further investigation.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Cyan FU Virgin

noreply@blogger.com (bertram D) — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com

This FU Virgin by German company Cyan Guitars is the signature guitar of Farin Urlaub, the frontman of Die Ärzte, one of the most famous German punk-rock bands. Classic and classy (Urlaub's personal model sports a skull, fortunately non standard), it combines an elegant outline with an impression of strength and efficiency I'd call German if I didn't want to avoid pointless clichés. And I love these modernist soundholes!

It's not only the looks, the pickups choice is special, on the same guitar you have a Di Marzio Megadrive in bridge position and a Duesenberg Grand Vintage in neck position - that probably allows a great range of sounds.

Bertram D

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Gitison Holy Explorer with more than a touch of the Blade Runner to it

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:34:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Take a look at that headstock logo. It looks a lot like "Gibson", doesn't it? However, it actually says "Gitison". This guitar is a Gitison Holy Explorer handmade in Budapest, Hungary, by Tibor Turcsak. Although the name and logo would suggest a connection with a famous American manufacturer, the body design is a near identical replica of the Guild X-100 Blade Runner guitar. The guitar supposedly is equipped with two Kent Armstrong mini humbuckers and DiMarzio humbucker in the bridge position which ought to make it more versatile than the Blade Runner.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £880.

Thanks to Zirig Árpád for bringing this guitar to my attention.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1960s Japanese-made Guyatone Victoria: one to turn heads with!

noreply@blogger.com (G L Wilson) — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:06:00 +0000

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's a magnificent example of a seldom seen Guyatone Victoria currently listed on eBay. Here at Guitarz we first looked at this model guitar back in September 2010.

It's a 1960s-era Japanese-made guitar, has quite a unique shape, lashings of chrome and an intriguing pickup selector system: a rotary control pot with positions for Off/Low/Mix/High and a Solo/Rhythm switch. Quite how these function in conjunction to control the three pickups, I could only hazard a guess. It's good also to see that the tremolo appears to be all present and correct. All in all, the guitar appears to be in remarkable condition for an instrument that is around 50 years old.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $650.

Thanks to Steve C for bringing this guitar to my attention.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.