Praise be to Gibson! Gibson has pulled off yet another awesome hybrid of a classic. Their Custom Shop engineers got the bridge right too; they routed out a recess for the FR vibrato. Now if Fender could get it right on the FR Strat.
As everyone from Jeff Beck to Jimmy Page to Joe Bonamassa to Slash already knows, the Gibson Les Paul Standard has been one of the most playable electric guitars in rock for more than 50 years. Now, with the release of the new Les Paul Axcess Standard from the Gibson Custom Shop, the “ultimate player’s guitar” just got more playable.
Carrying all the elegant styling, fluid body lines, and rocking attitude of a classic Les Paul Standard from the golden era of 1958 to ‘60, the Les Paul Axcess reveals a handful of upgrades upon closer examination—all modifications made in the name of maximum playability and versatility. The most noticeable addition is the Floyd Rose tailpiece, a unit optimized for anything from subtle vibrato wobbles to dramatic, rumbling divebombs. Adding a Floyd Rose to a Les Paul in the past was always a major headache, and could seriously damage the stability of the instrument if not done right. On the Les Paul Axcess the vibrato is installed right at the Gibson Custom Shop as part of the manufacturing process, so this potent piece of high-performance hardware interacts seamlessly with the design of the guitar. Partnered with an R4 locking nut, it also guarantees outstanding tuning stability and return-to-pitch accuracy.
Continue reading ‘Les Paul Axcess Standard: The Ultimate Player’s “Player’s Guitar”’
My only question is, “Why a Kahler vibrato?” Why not stick with a tune-o-matic tailpiece or a Floyd Rose vibrato?
Gibson USA’s new Shred-V Flying V—the Guitar of the Month for August 2008—takes the style and attitude of the fearsome Flying V a step further. Two EMG 85 pickups deliver high-ouput, screaming tone, perfect for aggressive hard rock and metal, and a new Kahler 2215K tremolo system allows stable tuning and dive bombs. The Shred-V is outfitted with black chrome hardware, and an Ebony finish that captures every detail and sharp style of the classic Flying V. The neck is one-piece mahogany with Gibson’s traditional Flying V profile—a hybrid between the standard ’50s rounded contour and the ’60s slim-taper profile—and an ebony fingerboard with black acrylic dot inlays unique only to the Shred-V. Locking Grover tuners keep the guitar in tune when pushing the Kahler tremolo system to its limits. Gibson’s new Shred-V Flying V—offered with a custom Guitar of the Month case—combines classic Flying V style with sonic intensity and a sleek look. Production is limited to just 1,000 guitars.
Check out the Shred-V Flying V here!
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It seems like an obvious move: Apple’s little pink 8GB iPod nano ($199) comes out in time for Valentine’s Day, and perhaps before most pink second-gen nanos have kicked the bucket. But there’s a problem: if you’re trying to impress your lady friend by buying her a nano that contributes money to some worthy cause, you’re going to have to stick with the (PRODUCT) RED one, which fights against AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa and around the world. As pink as this nano is, there’s no mention of an accompanying breast-cancer charity benefit, in an industry where pink gadgets usually mean precisely that. Let’s get it going, Apple! [Apple]
Continue reading ‘A Pink iPod nano in time for your Valentine’
Apple does it again, all in one week too!
First off, they release the new iPod nano, a new tiny version of the iPod. Available in a 2GB and 4GB model, the iPod nano can store up to 500 songs or 1000 songs respectively.
Continue reading ‘Dear Apple, how do I love thee?’
Now with Podcasting!
New stuff includes:
- Browse, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts
Podcasts are downloadable radio-style audio shows delivered by the iTunes Music Store or over the Internet.
- Watch music videos
You can purchase and download some videos as part of an album or other offer from the iTunes Music Store. You can watch them in iTunes or in full screen mode.
More at http://www.apple.com/itunes/.
Download iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.
I drove to Atlanta, GA, with my friend Jason to see Steve Vai as a birthday present to myself. It was an amazing show. There was a long line waiting to get in when we got there. I ‘just knew’ that we were going to somehow be stuck in the back of this little club. Much to my surprise, we were very close. We were about twenty feet from the stage. I was completely awestruck by Mr. Vai the entire time.
I was hoping “I Know You’re Here” would be thrown in somewhere. Steve played several songs from his new album Real Illusions: Reflections. If you are a Vai fan and you haven’t picked this up yet, you need to go get it. It is by far his best, most diverse work to date.
He inserted the live solo usually played during “Bad Horsie” into “Midway Creatures” and the live solo (Tony MacAlpine duel) usually played during “Erotic Nightmares” into “Answers”. Very cool indeed!
Eric Sarindas opened the show with an hour-long set. I really enjoyed his set. I’ve never heard Eric before, but I bought his album the following Monday at a local record shop.
Continue reading ‘Steve Vai & The Breed - 03/19/2005 Atlanta, GA USA’
