Month: June 2010

Fender has introduced two new acoustics – the Dirty Donny Franken-Bucket and T-Bucket 400CE.

Fender has now upgraded all of its acoustic guitar preamp systems to Fishman, the leading U.S. manufacturer of acoustic pickups and preamps. Among these instruments, the Sonoran SCE models now have preamps with built-in tuners thanks to their new Fender Fishman Isys III™ systems.

Frankenstein’s monster himself glowers from the custom-pinstriped top of the green-sparkle "Dirty Donny Franken-Bucket" guitar, straight from the twisted but talented psyche of San Francisco hot rod artist extraordinaire "Dirty" Donny Gillies. Fender recently invited Gillies, who is well known for his graphics work with cars and skateboards, to work his monster magic on a single-cutaway dreadnought, and the resulting guitar was dubbed the "Franken-Bucket."

It’s not only cool looking, but also solidly built. The Dirty Donny Franken-Bucket features a laminated spruce top with scalloped X bracing, laminated mahogany back and sides, ivory neck and body binding, a laminated mahogany neck with a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard and dual-action truss rod, pinstripe inlay motif on headstock and rosette, a Fender Fishman® Presys™ preamp with a built in-tuner, rosewood bridge with compensated saddle, black bridge pins with white dots, chrome hardware, die-cast tuners and a green-sparkle gloss polyurethane finish.

The new Hot Rod Design series T-Bucket 400CE model boasts some of the most beautiful touches yet seen on a Fender acoustic guitar. Most notably, the T-Bucket 400CE features a gorgeous natural finish flame maple top, back and sides. A closer look reveals an inlaid Fender "F" and pinstriping motif at the 12th fret, designed by noted graphic artist and rockabilly musician Vince Ray. Fender fans will note that Ray was the creative force behind the 2008 "Unlucky 13" limited edition acoustic guitar model. The T-Bucket 400CE also features an elegantly inlaid pinstriping motif on the headstock and rosette, and ivory neck and body binding.

Structurally, the guitar features scalloped X bracing, a dual-action truss rod, all-solid rosewood bridge with compensated saddle, side dot position inlays, factory-mounted forward strap button with internal block reinforcement, chrome end pin, white bridge pins with black dots, and a Fender Fishman Isys III preamp with built-in tuner.

See more at fender.com.

Taylor Guitars new GS Mini is a scaled-down version of the company’s Grand Symphony body shape and has new Taylor-designed pickup accessories.

It has a scale length of 23½" and a deeper body than the Baby Taylor, especially in the lower bout. To add to the guitar’s "pick up and perform" appeal, Taylor also wanted to offer an acoustic pickup for the Mini, but one that could be purchased after-market and easily installed by anyone. Designed exclusively for the Mini, the ES-Go is a proprietary magnetic soundhole pickup inspired by Taylor’s award-winning Expression System. Part of the ES-Go’s design simplicity is that each Mini is pre-fitted for easy installation of the pickup, and can be plugged in with the guitar’s discrete, snap-in interior clip. Another accessory that was designed to make it easy to plug in and play is the Taylor V-Cable: a quarter-inch cable with a built-in master volume control. Because the Mini was designed without tone or volume knobs, The V-Cable gives players a volume control where it plugs into the guitar, putting volume control at every player’s fingertips any time they plug in. "It’s brilliant and simple," shares Bob. "It allows anyone with a guitar but no volume knob to add volume control. You can find it in the dark, you can turn your cable off to unplug noiselessly, and you can use it on any guitar you have."

The GS Mini has a solid Sitka top, a back and sides of sapele laminate, an ebony fretboard and bridge, and a tortoise shell pickguard. The Mini comes ready to go anywhere in a specially engineered Taylor GS Mini Hardbag and will be available at domestic Taylor dealers starting in late July.

Go to taylorguitars.com.

HardWire’s new TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary Pedal offers effects ranging from traditional tremolo to a highly detailed rotary cabinet simulator. It also features true stereo I/O, allowing for complex connections and sounds with extreme flexibility.

The TR-7 features seven effects including; Tremolo, Opto-Tremolo, Bias Tremolo, Duo Tremolo, Rotary, Vibrato, and VibroPan. The TR-7 also includes HardWire’s standard extreme performance features like true bypass and high-voltage rails.

Each HardWire pedal also features an assortment of tour-worthy accessories, including green gaffer tape common to pro pedalboards, Stomplock knob guards to maintain pedal settings and a hook & loop pad to fasten the pedal to a pedalboard. Learn more at harman.com.

The new EVH Wolfgang Special guitar based on the U.S.-made EVH Wolfgang guitar designed by Eddie Van Halen.

The Wolfgang Special is a pro-level signature guitar, handmade in Japan, featuring many of the same exclusive custom appointments as its U.S.-made counterpart for less than half the price.

Some of these unique features include a basswood body with maple veneer flat top and single ply body binding, and a quartersawn maple neck complete with an AA birdseye maple compound radius fretboard and 22 vintage-style stainless steel frets.

Additional features it shares with its U.S.-made counterpart include custom-designed "EVH Wolfgang" humbucking pickups, an EVH branded Floyd Rose locking tremolo system with D-Tuna, a 3-position toggle switch, two Bourns® low-friction controls (1 x 250k, 1 x 500k), EVH tuning machines, and a custom SKB molded striped case. Available in Vintage White, Tobacco Burst and Black polyurethane finishes.

For more, go to evhgear.com.

Organizers of the Sunset Strip Music Festival have confirmed that The Smashing Pumpkinsf will headline the street festival on Saturday, August 28, with a live performance on the legendary Strip, which is being closed to traffic for the second time in its history. The iconic band will wrap up the third annual SSMF, set to include a special tribute event for SLASH at House of Blues on August 26; live performances in The Roxy Theatre, the Whisky A Go-Go, Viper Room, Key Club, Cat Club and House of Blues on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; plus more than 50 bands, two outdoor stages and a full day of music in the venues on Saturday, August 28.

The Smashing Pumpkins — who have created one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in musical history and sold more than 30 million albums–are touring this summer in conjunction with their <em>Teargarden by Kaleidyscope</em> project. It’s a collection of 44 songs being released online for free one at a time as well as in installments of specially packaged four-song EPs for sale in record stores. In late May, the Pumpkins released the project’s first EP <em>Teargarden by Kaleidyscope VOL.1: Songs for a Sailor</em> (Martha’s Music/Rocket Science Ventures) to critical acclaim, with Jerry Shriver of <I.USA Today</em> hailing the music as "a delicious swirl of howling psychedelic rock and melodic ballads (5/25/10)." Look for leader Billy Corgan and his band mates–guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and new bassist Nicole Fiorentino–to hit the road for an array of intimate shows across the U.S. beginning July 6 in Cleveland, to be followed in August by two headline festival appearances in Tokyo and Osaka.

As in year’s past, the SSMF will honor a figure who is synonymous with The Sunset Strip for their contribution to the history of The Strip as well as the music industry. This year’s honoree: Slash. Previous recipients of this honor have been Ozzy Osbourne (2009) and Sunset Strip club owners Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine (2008).

Last year’s street fair drew 10,000 people to The Strip, which was closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive and filled with two full-scale stages, fans, food vendors and a VIP beer garden. "We are ecstatic to be able to bring this caliber of talent to the street and create what will undoubtedly become the ultimate end-of-summer music festival experience for our attendees," says SSMF Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. Following the Smashing Pumpkins’ show, bands will continue to play into the night in venues within the street closure, all of which will be free of charge to SSMF attendees.Learn more at .sunsetstripmusicfestival.com.

Legendary rock icon Steve Miller will celebrate the release of the highly anticipated new album BINGO! by sharing the stage with longtime friend Kenny Chesney on CMT’s hit show "Crossroads." Performing each other’s songs and sharing stories on the popular series, the two icons filmed the show in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The show will air Friday, July 9 at 10pm/9pm central. Songs featured in the hour long episode will include Miller’s classics such as "The Joker" and "Abracadabra," as well as "You Got Me Dizzy" from the new album <em>Bingo!</em>. The performance will also include Chesney hits "Living In Fast Forward and "I Go Back."

"From the first time Kenny invited me to play with him in San Francisco at AT&amp;T Park, until this minute he has been a refreshing and wonderful friend," Miller said. "I love the way he conducts himself, treats his band, crew, fans, and friends. Artists this busy barely have time for saying hello, yet Kenny takes the time to get to know you and shares himself. That is a very rare and endearing quality. He is a great performer, a great writer, and a great guy to roll with. He’s the real deal."

Fans can also expect to see Miller on NBC’s "Weekend Today Show" as the show follows the band on their U.S. tour. Miller will show anchor Lester Holt the rules of the road and they will chat about his new album. The Today Show will also get to see an exciting new set design by acclaimed Broadway director Rob Roth.

Released on Miller’s new label Space Cowboy Records in partnership with Roadrunner/Loud &amp; Proud Records, <em>Bingo!</em> is in stores now. <em>Bingo!</em> was recorded at film producer George Lucas’ infamous studios at Skywalker Ranch. A true return to Miller’s roots, <em>Bingo!</em> echoes his early years in the Chicago music scene and features carefully chosen and crafted tracks performed in distinctive Steve Miller Band fashion.

Rolling Stone magazine calls BINGO! "a return to his blues roots with the slick party pop vibe of his classics The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle." Miller is also gracing the covers of Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines talking about BINGO! and the upcoming summer tour. He also showcases his new set and extensive guitar collection. Fans can hear Steve Miller discuss his new album on syndicated radio specials, Rockline, Nights With Alice Cooper, Greg Kihn and In The Studio.

The album is co-produced by Miller and engineer Andy Johns (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix). The sessions introduced new band member Sonny Charles, a veteran vocalist of the Checkmates, who will join Miller on the road this summer. These were the final sessions by harmonica player and vocalist Norton Buffalo, Miller’s "partner in harmony" for 33 years, who died of cancer in October 2009.

Having sold more than 30 million records, The Steve Miller Band’s trademark sound is a mainstay of rock radio. His yearly summer tour extravaganza has become an anticipated annual event for millions of rock fans playing 60 or more shows every year. He is the Gangster of Love. Some people call him Maurice, the Midnight Toker or the Space Cowboy. And with BINGO!, a masterpiece album by one of the greats, Steve Miller shows he still speaks of the "pompitus" of love.

Read more at stevemillerband.com.

Elixir Strings announces that it is joining the Nashville Musicians Association (NMA) in the ongoing Nashville flood relief efforts. Like many of its peers at this year’s Summer NAMM show, Elixir Strings (Booth 728) is doing its part to help restore the Nashville music scene after the recent flood, believed to have caused nearly $1 billion in damage throughout the city.

Efforts by Elixir Strings include a direct donation of one thousand 15-foot instrument cables to the NMA’s flood relief fund, which will be provided to musicians who lost gear in the flood. The company is also providing additional motivation for its fellow retailers and other Summer NAMM attendees to join in the relief efforts. Hoping to raise funds for the NMA, Elixir Strings will be offering a free cable to anyone who provides a suggested donation of $20 or more to the organization. Donations will be collected at the Elixir Strings booth and presented to the NMA at the close of the show.

"We appreciate the efforts of Elixir Strings to help our brother and sister musicians try to recover from this devastating event," says Craig Krampf, secretary and treasurer of the NMA, American Federation of Musicians Local 257.

"We are glad that we could find our small way to help restore the great musical community in Nashville," says Craig Theorin, Elixir Strings product manager. "We hope that our combined efforts with the NMA, and all of our friends in the industry, will enable the city and its musicians to experience a quick recovery."

Mountain Jam, the three-day music festival held at the base of Hunter Mountain in Upstate New York, co-promoted by Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band, The Dead) and local radio station WDST, came to a close on Sunday with Levon’s Helm’s 70th Birthday Celebration, a nearly 3 hour set of music which included guests such as Haynes, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagan, Ray LaMontagne, Alison Krauss, Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan’s band), Patterson Hood from Drive-By Truckers and his dad, bassist for the legendary Muscle Schoals rhythm section, David Hood, Steve Earle and Jackie Greene joining the legendary Band drummer and local Woodstock icon and his Ramble on the Road band.

Record numbers made their way to Hunter Mountain for the festivities, making Mountain Jam VI the most attended edition of the festival yet. Highlights of the weekend included Gov’t Mule’s two powerful, epic headlining shows. The band dove deep into their catalog and welcomed guests such as Les Claypool, Derek Trucks, Grace Potter, Matisyahu and many more to the stage on Friday and Saturday night. Both shows are now available for download through the band’s Mule Tracks site http://www.muletracks.com

Alison Krauss &amp; Union Station, Michael Franti &amp; Spearhead, The Avett Brothers, The Derek Trucks &amp; Susan Tedeschi Band and Grace Potter &amp; The Nocturnals were among the 40+ acts who performed over the weekend.

Jakob Dylan has announced plans to extend his current nation-wide tour into the summer with this band Jakob Dylan and Three Legs. The band, which will feature new member Nora O’Connor as well as veteran Kelly Hogan on vocals, will be back on the road starting June 19th in Morton, Illinois, with dates running through July.

Dylan’s US tour kicked off in April and is happening in support of his critically acclaimed sophomore album <em>Women and Country</em>. The album debuted at #12 on the <em>Billboard Top 200</em> chart, marking his highest chart debut to date. Striking and ripe with sublime beauty, Jakob reaches new majestic heights on this release with his distinct voice and unparalleled songwriting. Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, Women and Country finds Jakob reuniting with acclaimed Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe winning producer T Bone Burnett (Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Crazy Heart), who produced the Wallflowers’ 1996 breakthrough album <em>Bringing Down the Horse</em>. Jakob is also joined by Neko Case and Kelly Hogan on the release, who provide back-up vocals on 8 of the album’s 11 tracks.

Jeff Beck performed last night at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club in a tribute to the late Les Paul on what would have been his 95th birthday. Beck performed with Imelda May for invited guests, as well as celebrity friends. Brian Setzer joined Beck onstage.