Fender has been spewing out a staggering amount of new gear for NAMM. I’ve been trying to just hit the highlights so that Guitarify doesn’t start looking like “Fenderify”. But these new amps are just too cool to pass up. The Machete I posted a few days ago was pretty unexpected, but I think these two are even more of a surprise.
I think I will have a real hard time not buying the Excelsior. I mean 2 6V6 power tubes through a 15″ speaker, in a cabinet that really does look like some old dusty, off-brand vintage amp you’d find in a pawnshop. Oh, and did I mention the MSRP on this is only $299. The Greta is even more unusual. Probably not as practical, but I like the fresh thinking Fender is starting to finally throw into their product line.
Here’s a video by Matt Warnock showing how to play a popular jazz lick. Don’t be turned off if you think you have no use for jazz. This lick is actually very bluesy sounding and as Matt points out, it’s been used by players of many genres. The base lick is really simple and easy to learn, but stay tuned as each variation Matt teaches by Johnny Smith, Pat Martino and Charlie Parker, gets cooler and more interesting.
Even if you don’t like jazz, it’s worthwhile studying at least some of it’s lessons. It will definitely help you think a little different about the fretboard and maybe help you break out of some improvisational ruts. I’ve been following Matt’s blog for a while now and He’s excellent at explaining this stuff and putting the lessons into good musical context. He has a ton of great lessons on his site so go check it out.
Click —> Matt Warnock’s Blog
Fender has just released a bunch of videos demoing their new Machete amp. It looks like they are trying to do something a bit different then the usual Twin Reverb, Tweedy, vintage type stuff everyone loves. This amp has a modern sound and seems geared toward hard rock and metal. It’s 50W with one 12″ Celestion speaker, 2 channels and many more tone shaping options then your typical Fender amp. It’s also has a list price of $2599.99.
Using a Fender Telecaster Deluxe, this video shows off several of the unique features found on the Machete amp. The TUNE control helps dial in the desired midrange EQ notch. DAMPING can be selected for tight, accurate speaker response, or looser, harmonically richer response. GAIN BOOST adds grit and drive in Channel One, and can also be selected with the included footswitch. The BRIGHT switch adds sparkle to Channel One, especially useful for creating clean tones with humbucker-equipped guitars.PAD switch reduces input gain, useful for obtaining cleaner tones with high-output pickups. For more product info, visit http://www.fender.com/products/machete/.
Joe Naylor, most known for starting Reverend guitars, Naylor Amps and a few other ventures, has just announced this new Patent Pending pickup design. The press release explains the concept behind these pickups, but basically they are half rail, and half pole piece humbuckers.
Another unique thing about theses pickups besides the design is that each one comes with a 60 day trial period. You don’t like them, send them back. You don’t even need to call them, just get a return code from their website. Guitarists are always swapping pickups trying to find their “”tone”, so I think this is a great strategy on Naylor’s part.
And right now they are discounted from $99 to $79, but only for the first 100 buyers. They are also giving away a Reverend Sensei RA, the first production guitar to use RailHammers.
Press Release
Award winning designer and guitar industry veteran Joe Naylor (Reverend Guitars, Naylor Amps, All-Tone Speakers, Armor Gold Cables) has launched a new line of pickups aimed at the rock market. Railhammer pickups feature a patent pending design that takes advantage of a unique combination of rails and poles.
Thin rails under the wound strings sense only a narrow section of string, reducing note smearing and muddiness. The resulting tone allows aggressive fast riffs and palm muting to be defined, clear and cut through the mix.
Oversize 6mm diameter poles under the plain strings sense a wide section of string, increasing thickness and sustain. This fatter tone keeps the plain strings sounding fluid and full.
The unique tonal balance allows the player to adjust their amp for a tight percussive tone on the wound strings without the plain strings sounding thin, harsh or sterile.
The current line includes five different humbucker models. Features include: height tapered steel rails, 6mm dia. steel poles, polycarbonate bobbins, six screw German Silver baseplate, vacuum wax potted coils, alnico 5 or ceramic magnet depending on model, four-conductor wiring with independent ground, and universal spacing that works with most any guitar.
So there’s starting to be some really cool guitar apps for iPads, iPhones etc. Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to easily use these apps with your live rig. IK Multimedia thinks so, having just announced the new iRig Stomp. It looks and acts just like a normal stompbox in that you can plug it anywhere in your FX chain like any pedal. But it gets it’s sound from the guitar signal processing apps you have on your iOS device.
I could see using this with an iPhone or iPad mounted on a mic stand to easily switch out sounds and make adjustments. And it says it will work with any iOS sound processing app. I think we are going to be seing a lot more devices like this in the near future. Imagine being able to download a new pedal! Even being able to demo it before buying.
iRig STOMP
The first stompbox guitar interface for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad
iRig STOMP is the first stompbox guitar interface for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. For the first time, guitar and bass players can now integrate their favorite iOS signal processing apps into their existing live pedalboard setup for enhanced tone shaping and effects processing.
iRig STOMP is based on the wildly popular AmpliTube iRig interface and is compatible with any iOS guitar / amp / instrument app. With its compact, standard stompbox shape, iRig STOMP is packed with many smart features found here for the first time in an iOS audio accessory.
Features:
Compact, durable yet lightweight, aluminum-cast enclosure integrates easily into any traditional pedalboard.
Can be used inline with other effects pedals, or directly connected to amplifiers or PA systems using regular 1/4″ guitar cables, with no need for adapters.
Allows precise adjustment of the signal for perfect guitar and bass levels with its large input gain knob.
Active battery-powered output circuit improves headroom, especially when used with high-gain amplifiers in the AmpliTube app, reducing feedback and crosstalk when recording.
The bypass switch allows engaging or bypassing the AmpliTube app chain of effects – like a traditional stompbox – for seamless integration into any existing rig.
Ultra-compact form-factor can be easily carried on the road.
Features a 3.5mm/1/8″ jack for silent practicing with headphones.
Includes AmpliTube FREE app and can be used with any other guitar processing app that uses the iOS mini-jack
Has an ultra-small, compact profile that can be carried anywhere with ease.
Compatible with iPhone/iPod touch/iPad.
Available soon from electronic and music retailers.
