Month: March 2011

  • JBG Unveils The Supertone Solidbody

    Joe Bochar’s JBG Supertone solidbody has a sculpted neck heel and patented Sliplock Neck Joint design comprised of an nterlocking mortise-and-tenon joint.  Its body is shaved to 1 5/8 inches thick, with contours and an average weight of approximately 7 pounds. It is available in three versions: standard, with an alder body and maple neck with rosewood fingerboard; the SD has an alder body with maple top; the XT has a limba body, neck, and other exotic-hardwood options. Other features of the line include:

    • Solidbody construction (with optional chambering for XT and SD models)
    • 25.5” scale length neck, 1
      JBG Supertone XT
      JBG Supertone XT

      11/16” bone nut, 22 jumbo nickel silver frets

    • Dual-action truss rod
    • A pair of DiMarzio 36th Anniversary pickups, Volume, and Tone control with coil-tap push/pull switch
    • Gotoh hardware and tuners

    Learn more at jbguitars.com.

  • Nordstrand Guitars Releases Nordy vS

    Nordstrand Guitars Releases Nordy vS

    Nordstrand Guitars’ Nordy vS i has a maple neck carved to a large, soft V shape. Its maple or rosewood fretboard has a 7.5” to 12” compound-radius, It’s available with single-coil or hum-cancelling pickups, and its bridge has bent-steel saddles and a steel block. Finish options include modern polyurethane or lacquer.Learn more at nordstrandguitars.com.Nordstrand vS

  • Morley Releases Twin Mix ABY Box

    Morley’s new Twin Mix  is a handy switching device that allows a user to route two input devices to two output sources. Each input has an independent Level control for the perfect mix of both inputs. Each input has its own footswitch to engage or mute the signal. When using only channel 1 output, the Twin Mix combines both input sources to channel 1 output destination. When using both Morley Twin Mixchannel outputs, each is automatically routed to its own output channel (channel 1 input goes to channel 1 output, channel 2 input goes to channel 2 output).

    The Twin Mix is manufactured in a rolled-steel housing and can be powered from one 9-volt battery or Morley 9V adapter. It uses LED indication and our TrueTone Bypass buffer circuit to maintain signal integrity. Learn more at morleypedals.com.

  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd

    Kenny Wayne Shepherd

    While we may wish he’d step further out of the shadows of his influences (especially Stevie Ray Vaughan), there’s no denying the guitar skills of one Kenny Wayne Shepherd. That said, his latest effort is so rollicking you forget all that.

    On this live set, Shepherd plays host to several notable guests (Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Buddy Flett, singer/guitarist Bryan Lee, and more). His bold, brash sound dominates shuffles like “King’s Highway,” where he shows off his chops while the intensity builds to a full-scale blues/rock assault. On “Sell My Monkey,” with its uptempo West-Coast-shuffle feel, his jazzy playing fits perfectly and offers a glimpse of what he can do when he steps out from behind his influences. The melodic, loud solo and passionate vocal let his personality shine through. “Deja Voodoo,” which was featured on his debut album 15 years ago, gets a jazzy kickoff and a big-toned solo before morphing into a minor-key rock song with wonderful leads. The licks and the sound are the star, with Shepherd’s Strat serving up a throaty sound.

    Between the guests and Shepherd’s amped-up performance, there’s a lot of excitement in a set that shows a guitarist paying tribute to his influences while still continuing to grow as a player.

    This article originally appeared in VG‘s Feb. ’11 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

  • Val Bonetti

    Val Bonetti

    Val Bonetti
    Val Bonetti
    A first listen to guitarist Val Bonetti’s Wait makes one respect his playing. Subsequent listens make you appreciate his music, too. This is simply Bonetti and his acoustic, focusing on jazz but employing many other styles including classical, world music, and the blues.

    Cuts like “3.25” are immediately likeable for their gorgeous changes and walking bass lines. “A Frog in the Kitchen” shows an intimate knowledge of harmonics, as Bonetti mixes them with bends, percussive notes, and a bluesy middle segment with great changes and a walking bass line. While many of the pieces are uptempo, reflective pieces like “Blue Friend,” are highlighted by lovely chord changes, while the haunting “Night Will Be Light” invokes a classical feel. “Three Views of a Secret” almost feels like an ensemble number; a jazzy piece, it floats on great chord changes while the rhythm and bass parts swing. Like the entire album, it’s an impressive solo outing.

    This article originally appeared in VG‘s April ’11 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

  • Gathering of the Vibes Announces Lineup

    Gathering of the VibesGathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s premier summer music festival, announces initial lineup including: Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Jane’s Addiction, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, moe., The Levon Helm Band, John Butler Trio, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Dr. John and the Lower 911, Taj Mahal Trio, The Rhythm Devils with Keller Williams, Steve Kimockand Reed Mathis, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Toots & The Maytals, Dark Star Orchestra, Ryan Montbleau Band, David Gans, Assembly of Dust, The McLovins, King for a Day and Bridgeport’s own Deep Banana Blackout. The New Mastersounds, Big Gigantic, and others to headline the Late Night Stage.

    The second round of artist announcements will be made within the next two weeks. Vibes continues its tradition of embracing new, undiscovered artists, alongside legendary performers by reviewing 2,400 submissions via the Vibes website and Sonicbids, for an opportunity to perform in front of 20,000-plus music enthusiasts. Over 40 bands will perform on multiple alternating stages at Seaside Park’s 370-acre beachfront venue.

    “Gathering of the Vibes continues its musical evolution and remains true to our roots with this year’s lineup,” says festival founder Ken Hays.

    The Vibes is an all ages, family friendly event, offering an exclusive Family Camping area, Kids Corner, and a Teen Scene that includes interactive workshops and a “Teen Vibes Stage” offering musical instruction and jam sessions with main stage artists. Learn more at gatheringofthevibes.com.

     

  • Guitarist Nick Perri Launches Guitar Brand

    Guitarist Nick Perri Launches Guitar Brand

    Nick Perri, former lead guitarist for Shinedown, Perry Farrell, Silvertide, and others, has announced the creation of Perri Ink. Guitars. Perri designed his Protostar and Solostar models, and each guitar is handmade and built-to-order

    “I have owned lots of guitars over the years, and built and destroyed many of them,” Perri said. “But this time, I am setting out with the confidence and knowledge of what really works, not what people have tried to sell me.”

    The Protostar is available now, while the Solostar is slated for release in May. Each comes with a signed certificate of authenticity. “Both have an array of high-fi and forward-thinking ideas, yet they have been molded into a traditional package that is sure to grab both fans of past and future guitars,” Perri added. Learn more at perriinkguitars.com.

  • Guitarist Melvin Sparks Passes

    Session guitarist Melvin Sparks died March 13 at his home in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He was 64 and battled diabetes and high blood pressure. Sparks got his first guitar at age 11 and, as a teen, worked in R&B bands in his hometown of Houston, including a stint in the Upsetters, a group founded by Little Richard. He later moved to New York and worked as a session player for the jazz labels Blue Note and Prestige, where he played sessions for several noted artists. He later released three solo album, on Prestige, and eventually, 10 albums as a bandleader, concluding with Groove on Up in 2005. Sparks is survived by his wife, four daughters, a son, and 13 grandchildren.

  • Eric Johnson Wins Three Austin Awards

    Eric Johnson collected three awards at the 2010/2011 Austin Music Awards, held March 19 at the Austin Music Hall. He was recognized in the ategories”Best Electric Guitar,” “Best Acoustic Guitar,” and “Best Instrumental Band.”
    Johnson has recorded six studio albums , his latest being 2010’s Up Close, which included guest appearances from Sonny Landreth, Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan and Jonny Lang. Since 1982, he has won an unprecedented 33 awards at the Austin Music Awards.  He is perhaps best known for his 1990 release, Ah Via Musicom, is platinum-certified, and its single “Cliffs of Dover.” He won a Grammy for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance” in 1991. Learn more at ericjohnson.com.

  • Guitarfetish Introduces Slickstraps

    Guitarfetish.com‘s new Slickstraps is a line of leather guitar straps designed by guitarist Earl Slick, whose career spans three decades and includes roles as guitarist for David Bowie and John Lennon, as well as his own project, Phantom Rocker and Slick. Slickstraps are 5-mm tanned strap hand-painted in one of several base coats, with Slick-designed artwork applied by hand. The strap is then subject to an “aging” process. Each is extra-long, and fully adjustable. Learn more at guitarfetish.com.