Year: 2014

  • Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX

    Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX

    RAWHIDE_XXX_01

    Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX
    Price: $175 (Raw Hide); $230 (Hard Core XXX)
    Info: www.metalpedals.com    .

    For many discerning players, Dave Pantaleone at Metal Pedals is a well-known stompbox builder. His latest offerings are two distinctly different animals that offer pro-level sound and carry on with his established M.O. of solid construction, die-cast aluminum housings, top-notch attention to detail, and artwork depicting sexy pinup girls.

    The Raw Hide is a straightforward overdrive, with controls for Volume, Tone, and Gain, and a mini-toggle that engages what Pantaleone calls “Kick,” which takes the pedal from a low-gain overdrive to a grittier distortion. Its design is basic – mono input and output jacks, Switchcraft footswitch, 9-volt barrel jack for the power supply, and its functionality is utilitarian and user-friendly.

    In live and studio settings, the Raw Hide exhibited a nicely pronounced breakup and plenty of warmth in most settings. The voicing of its Tone knob was a welcome surprise – no matter where set, its sounds are musical and very usable. This relatively simple box is versatile enough that players from nearly any genre will find likeable tones.

    The Hard Core XXX is the “evil twin” to the Raw Hide. Not about subtlety or being nice, it’s designed to rock, with plentiful gain and distortion at the ready. Its Gain control is voiced to suggest multiple gain stages and can go from raucous to searing in short order. With that kind of horsepower on tap, the Volume control is a big help in tailoring the crunch.

    Two features set the Hard Core XXX apart from the crowd – a five-band EQ and a two-way Noise Reduction switch. Each knob in the EQ stack is voiced with guitarists in mind (though the pedal works surprisingly well on bass, too), but anyone who plays in notoriously muddy drop-D and drop-C tunings should check out the Hard Core, as it will greatly aid in fine-tuning low frequencies that can get away from you (heads up, you seven- and eight-string players!). With such a high degree of EQ control, the Hardcore’s tone is always musical, and does not detract from the guitar’s natural sonic properties.

    We were impressed by both Metal Pedals offerings. In the often-pricey realm of boutique overdrives, they are reasonable, and provide mountains of tone.

    This article originally appeared in VG January 2013 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

  • Dave Hunter

    Dave Hunter

    Dave Hunter
    Here is a coffeetable book and then some! It’s a 224-page hardcover, with 400-plus exquisite photographs chronicling the rise and fall – and rise again – of the Gibson Les Paul. All its permutations are displayed in this detailed history, along with technical information and photos of some of the most celebrated “star guitars” in history.

    Author and VG contributor Dave Hunter takes the reader on a guided tour beginning with founder Orville Gibson, through the birth of the archtop, the evolution of live music, and the technology that changed with it. Pristine photographs of gorgeous instruments and the musicians who brought them to prominence offset the informative text.

    Early models like the Gibson 1927 L-5, 1935 Super 400, ES-125, and ES-150 from the 1930s are displayed in glorious color. Guitarists Sam Gaillard and Charlie Christian are shown making good use of these instruments in rare photographs. And you couldn’t have a book about the Les Paul without the story of the legendary jazz virtuoso, pop icon, and inventor himself.

    The book gives a brief synopsis of Paul’s career and search for tonal perfection, along with dozens of photographs. His tempestuous relationship with Gibson is highlighted, along with CEO Ted McCarty entering the picture, shedding light on their much-debated contributions to the first “playable” Les Paul guitar.

    The evolution of the instrument is documented, from Les’ solid-body prototype, to the development of various woods, and pickup models. The origin of the Standard, Custom, Junior, and TV models are also explained.

    The book features a number of blues, rockabilly, and rock artists including Hubert Sumlin, Carl Perkins, and Keith Richards. There’s also a comprehensive section about the guitars used during the British blues boom.

    The sheer volume of Les Paul models is jaw dropping. It’s guitar porn at its finest. Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, and Mick Taylor get face time, and the SG is discussed along with the departure of Paul from Gibson.

    The last quarter of the book intersperses photos and short biographies about famous Les Paul users, with company ownership transitions. The good, the bad, and the ugly are covered, including the company’s near-death in the mid ’80s.

    The Gibson Les Paul is a visually appealing book, and a great educational tool for the novice – yet it’s still substantive enough for the guitarist interested in tone woods, schematics, and pickups.

    This article originally appeared in VG‘s October ’14 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

  • Committee Breaks Ground for Jimi Hendrix Park in Seattle

    Hendrix Park groundbreaking cmte
    Bernadette (Bernie) Matsuno, Seattle’s Director of Neighborhoods, Noah Reardon, Garfield High School student, Janie Hendrix, Rosanna Sharpe, Executive Director of the Northwest African American Museum, Scott Murase, Design Principle at Murase Associates.

    After more than three years of planning and fundraising, ground was broken last month for a  park named in honor of Jimi Hendrix. The occasion was marked with a program at the 2.5-acre site adjacent to the Northwest African American Museum, in Seattle’s Central District.

    “Every project endorsed by our family which bears Jimi’s name is meaningful to us, but this park holds special significance,” said Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix. “This  area is where Jimi grew up, where his dreams were cultivated and his creative energy awakened.  To see this place of beauty dedicated to Jimi and his artistry blossom is indescribably fulfilling.  Having been involved in each facet of the park’s creation, I can honestly say that this musical garden is a fitting representation of Jimi’s imagination. It is truly inspired.”
     
    Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park, under the auspices of the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation, conducted a campaign that raised more than $1 million to finance initial construction. The plan, supported by a $500,000 grant from the Seattle Parks and Green Levy Opportunity Fund, aims to create a vibrant space that celebrates the life, music, and legend of Jimi Hendrix. Phase 1, designated “Little Wing,” includes a  stairway and entrance at the southeast corner, paved pathways, a timeline of Jimi’s life and career, landscaping, seatwall benches, ADA-accessible walkways, rainwater-filtered gardens, and a butterfly garden.  The bulk of construction is expected to occur in spring, 2015.

    Donors have included Hard Rock International, Fender Musical Instruments, King Conservation District, KISW Radio, Northwest African American Museum, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Seattle Parks Foundation, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Parks and Green Spaces Levy Committee, and numerous private donors.

    Contributions to the Foundation, a 501c3 non profit, are tax-deductible. To learn more, visit www.jimihendrixparkfoundation.org.

  • Acoustic Amplification Launches A20

    Acoustic A20Acoustic Amplification’s A20 amplifier uses a full-range 8″ coaxial speaker, a ported /wedge-shaped cabinet, and produces 20 watts of clean power. It has two 1/4″ XLR inputs with independent Level controls, three-band EQ, digital reverb and chorus, effects loop, and Acoustic’s Vari-Control feedback eliminator, plus, it has an 1/8″ Aux input and headphone output for practice, as well as direct-out with pre/post EQ and Level control. Read more at www.acousticamplification.com.

  • West Coast Pedal Board Intros Little Rock Model

    West Coast Little RockWest Coast Pedal Boards’ Little Rock board is designed to hold from one to five pedals. It measures 7″ by 12″ and weighs 3.5 pounds. Hand-made in the U.S. using locally sourced materials, it is available in larger dimensions and in flat or wedge configurations. Learn more at www.westcoastpedalboards.com.

  • Wall-Axe Offers Soloist Guitar and Accessory Hanger

    Wall-Axe SoloistWall-Axe Custom Guitar Hangers’ Soloist uses a configured triangular shape to hold one guitar plus common accessories including straps, clip-on tuners, capos, picks, fingerpicks, finger slides, and instrument cable. It’s made in the U.S. from solid oak and fitted with a premium hanger. See more at www.wallaxe.com.

  • EVH Introduces Stripe Series “Circles” Guitar

    EVH Stripe Series CircleEVH’s Stripe Series “Circles” guitar is a replica of the axe made famous in Van Halen’s video for the 1981 song, “Unchained.” It has a black-and-white “circles” graphic gloss finish on a basswood body, with a quartersawn maple neck given an oiled finish, compound-radius maple fingerboard with rolled edges and 22 jumbo frets, a single EVH direct-mount pickup with black master Volume knob, EVH Floyd Rose with D-Tuna bridge and locking nut, and EVH tuners. For more, go to www.evhgear.com.

  • Vox Offers Limited-Edition Lil’ Night Train set

    Vox’s limited-edition Lil’ Night Train set includes the 15-watt/EL84-poweredVOX_NT2Hz_Gold_SET NT15C1-CL head in matte-gold finish paired with a speaker cabinet sporting the traditional Vox diamond grillecloth and basket-weave leather. The amp has Bright and Girth channels, digital reverb, and Thick mode, which bypasses the tone circuit and provides a gain boost. Check it out at www.voxamps.com/.

  • Jensen Intros P10R-F Speaker

    Jensen P10RJensen Musical Instrument Speakers’ P10R-F was designed by Jensen for Fender’s ’57 Bandmaster and 20th Anniversary Vibro King. It uses an Alnico speaker and is intended to create  a broken-in/worn sound with full-bodied low-end response and classic tonalities. For more, visit jensentone.com.

  • Charvel Offers Pro Mod Super Stock Special Edition

    Charvel Super Stock SD1Charvel’s Pro Mod Series Super Stock SD1 FR Special Edition wraps a Sunset Orange Flake gloss finish around a classic body. It has a quartersawn maple neck with an oil finish and Pro Mod profile, compound-radius maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, Seymour Duncan ’59 (neck) and JB (bridge) humbucking pickups with cream bezels, three-position chrome-tip pickup switch, and knurled knob for its master Volume control, top-mount Floyd Rose double-locking vibrato bridge and locking nut, and Charvel tuners. Go to www.charvelguitars.com.