Month: January 2013

Boz Scaggs has put the finishing touches on his latest studio album, Memphis. The multi-platinum selling musician has signed with 429 Records, which will release the album March 5. Showcasing original songs and choice covers, Memphis was produced by Steve Jordan (John Mayer) and was recorded at Willie Mitchell’s legendary Royal Studio in Memphis, where the late Mitchell recorded Al Green and other Hi Records artists. Joining Scaggs on Memphis are Willie Weeks (bass), Ray Parker Jr. (guitars), Spooner Oldham (keyboards), the Memphis Horns, Lester Snell (string arrangements) and Steve Jordan (drums). Scaggs is set to tour the U.S. throughout 2013, dates will be announced shortly.

Railhammer’s Chisel neck pickup uses a high-output ceramic magnet, 42-gauge wire, and reduced winding. Designed by industry veteran Joe Naylor, Railhammer pickups employ rails under the wound strings, poles under the unwound strings. Other features include universal spacing, six-screw German silver baseplate, four-conductor wiring, and height-tapered rails which contribute to consistent volume from string to string. For more, visit railhammer.com.

Aguilar Super Singles soap-bar-sized DCB bass pickups use dual ceramic bar magnets and are usable in either a passive bass or in conjunction with an onboard preamp. They are wound in Aguilar’s factory in New York City. Learn more at aguilaramp.com.

The Electro-Harmonix HOG2 carries many of the same specs as the the original HOG (Harmonic Octave Generator), which can generate 10 polyphonic voices ranging from two octaves below to four above the instrument’s pitch, and adds new algorithms to improve the quality of the tones, as well as the Freeze function, MIDI control over all parameters and pre-sets, Master Volume, and save/recall up to 100 preset programs with the optional foot controller (versus six with the original). Learn more at ehx.com.

Capturing Couture guitar straps are made in the U.S. with a nylon webbing base, 20” velvet-lined shoulder pad, custom embossed leather ends, and nickel-finish hardware. Each is 60” long and fully adjustable. Learn more at capturingcouture.com.

Guitarist Steve Howe has parted ways with Asia, choosing to focus on his work with Yes, his trio, and solo-guitar work. Howe founded the prog-rock band in the early 1980s with bassist John Wetton, drummer Carl Palmer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes. Its self-titled ’82 debut album produced two MTV-video-propelled megahits, “Heat of the Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell,” and is certified quadruple platinum in the U.S. Howe will be replaced by British-born guitarist Sam Coulson. Yes is slated to tour the U.S. beginning in March.

Celestion’s new G12H-75 Creamback is a 12” ceramic-magnet loudspeaker, with a 1.75” voice coil, offering 100dB sensitivity and, thanks to the same H-type magnet used in the G-12H Greenback, 75-watt power handling. Like the relationship between the original G12H and G12M, the G12H-75 has a tighter low-end response than the G12M-65 Creamback, with a less-prevalent midrange and more-pronounced highs. Learn more at celestion.com.

Tish Ciravolo of Daisy Rock Girl Guitars will be recognized at the first annual She Rocks Awards show, which kicks off at the Women in Music Network (WiMN) breakfast at this month’s NAMM show. The award designates women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry.

Ciravolo is being recognized for founding Daisy Rock Girl Guitars in 2000, with a desire to “level the playing field” for dedicated female guitarists and bassists of all ages. Over the past 12 years, she has garnered museum inductions, awards, billions of media impressions touting the girl guitar revolution, appearances in Guitar Hero/Band Hero games, and more. She has also propelled the girl’s rock empowerment message far beyond the music industry through licensing partnerships—on top of rocking stages all over the country and most importantly, being a mother of two.

The WiMN Breakfast will be hosted by Laura B. Whitmore, founder of the Women in Music Network. Sponsors include Peavey Electronics and Daisy Rock Girl Guitars. For more on Ciravolo’s company, visit daisyrock.com.

TC Electronic’s Ditto Looper is true-bypass and analog dry-through, offers five minutes of looping time with 24-bit uncompressed audio quality, an Undo/Redo function, unlimited overdubs, and an ultra-small footprint. Learn more at tcelectronic.com.