Month: October 2011

The TC Electronic Röttweiler Distortion is an all-analog high-gain pedal with a circuit based on soft clipping for authentic response and tone. Its Voice toggle selects between two midrange voicings, while its separate Treble and Bass allow easy fine-tuning of its tone. Other features include true-bypass switching, a one-screw battery-access cover, and custom die-cast aluminum casing. Learn more at tcelectronic.com/rottweiler.

Lollar Pickups’ new El Rayo (The Thunderbolt) humbucker is designed to deliver strong output without heavy midrange bump, while retaining the qualities for which Lollar is known. The neck pickup measure 3.5K, while the bridge is 4K. Check it out at lollarguitars.com.

Daddy’s Junky Music Stores today announced it ceased operation as of yesterday. The chain had closed eight outlets in the past year, and in late July, founder/CEO Fred Bramante framed the reduction in storefronts as a “restructuring,” saying, “Daddy’s was most successful when we had 12 retail locations within reasonable proximity to our headquarters and warehouse…We will provide a better presentation in markets where our experience tells us a brick & mortar presence still works for Daddy’s. Our online presentation will continue to play a larger role and, in tandem with our 12 stores, presents the appropriate format to service our customers and position Daddy’s for success in the future.

In a report in the Union Leader (Manchester, New Hampshire), Bramante cited the economy and Internet sales as the main factors behind this week’s closing and described Wednesday as one of the worst days of his life: “I had to tell people who had been working with me for decades they were losing their jobs, and it was heartbreaking.”

Daddy’s was founded by Bramante in 1972. With partner Chris Gleason, the operation eventually expanded to storefronts in six New England states and New York. The chain received a number of regional and national awards.

Get’m Get’m Wear has signed on as exclusive U.S. distributor of Loxx strap locks, which use an easy engage-and-release action the company claims has a pull-out force above 220 pounds.

Loxx are derived from Tenax locks used for decades to fasten convertible tops to cabriolets, as well as on boats. More than 100 million have been used for this purpose. They found their way into the music industry when the current owner’s son dropped his bass due to the poor strap locking system. The owner, with an extra lock in his pocket, locked it on his son’s bass, found that it performed great, and the Loxx strap lock was born. Learn more at loxxusa.com.

.

Martin’s The Mamas and The Papas Custom Artist Edition D-28M pays tribute to the ’60s folk group and is inspired by the vintage Martin D-28 that provided much of the rhythmic underpinning for its hits, such as “California Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday.” It’s a 14-fret dreadnought with a top made of Carpathian spruce, back and sides of Madagascar rosewood, and a mahogany neck. Its ebony headstock faceplate features group members’ silhouettes inlaid in mother of pearl above the nut. The guitar is finished with a gloss lacquer with vintage-inspired aging toner. Learn more at martinguitar.com.

Dynamo Amplification’s Grand Tour Series amplifiers have an all-tube two-channel design with Plitron toroidal transformer, audiophile-grade components, and is wired to military specs. Dynamo designed these amps to drive high-power cabinets with Fane and EVM 12L guitar speakers. The GTS head is powered by four KT-90 tubes, while the GT-6 is powered by 6 KT-77 or EL34 tubes. Learn more at DYNAMOAMPLIFICATION.COM.

Truetone Music, Santa Monica, is set to open a Fender Factory Store it is calling Club Fender. The 2,000-square-foot addition will have a music-museum feel complete with memorabilia, and will stock rare, unusual, vintage, and Limited Edition guitars and basses by Fender, Guild, and Gretsch. A grand opening is set for October 20-23, which will be highlighted by artist performances and giveaways. For more, go to http://about.me/TruetoneMusic.

Scott Dailey, Farmington Hills, Michigan, told VG that on or about August 21, several of his guitars were stolen from a storage unit. If you could list these in your magazine, I would be grateful. The guitars include a 1992 Gibson Les Paul Standard, Wine Red, with serial number  92122481 with original case; a ’71 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with a humbucker pickup in the bridge, position, very weather-checked and worn, in original case; a 2000 Gibson SG Special Ltd., white, ebony fretboard, black pickguard, gold hardware, pickups changed to gold-covered Burstbucker Pros, with serial number 02980577, in a black TKL case; a late-’80s/early-’90s Fender Stratocaster in Sshell Pink, with two humbuckers, pearl pickguard, and “Scott” inlaid on the fingerboard. Pictures of Dailey’s daughter are set under the finish on the back. Anyone with information about the guitars is asked to contact Dailey at  (248) 877-7671, or the Farmington Hills Police Department.

Fender’s EC Series guitar amplifiers—the EC Twinolux, EC Tremolux, and EC Vibro-Champ are specific variations based on late-’50s tweed amps favored  by Clapton for specific sounds at various points throughout his career. All are handmade in the U.S. with mods specified by Clapton, including a ’50s-era output-tube-bias tremolo circuit and a switchable power attenuator.

The 2×12” EC Twinolux, 1×12” EC Tremolux and 1×8” EC Vibro-Champ are single-channel amps with high-gain and low-gain inputs, hand-wired all-tube circuitry on eyelet boards with premium components, custom transformers, and premium tubes and speakers. The EC Tremolux has fixed bias for increased headroom and an internal speaker disconnect that allows use of an external 8-ohm speaker enclosure. The EC Vibro-Champ has an internal speaker disconnect that allows use of an external 4-ohm speaker enclosure, and a footswitch jack for an optional tremolo footswitch.

All three have finger-joined solid pine enclosures, and each evokes Fender’s ’50s era with lacquered tweed covering, vintage-style brown/gold grille cloth and a leather handle. Each bears an EC Series badge and Clapton’s signature on the control panel. For more, visit fender.com.