By: Staff
Ernie Ball Music Man, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of strings, instruments & guitar accessories, including the iconic Slinky® guitar string line, unveiled The Game Changer®, a ground-breaking, all analog pickup switching system that unlocks an extensive library of natural guitar tones previously unavailable in traditional pickup technology at this year’s NAMM show.
Available in select Reflex guitar and bass models in 2011, this progressive innovation leads a host of new and exciting products Ernie Ball launched at the 2011 Winter NAMM Show.
The Game Changer® fundamentally changes the guitar player’s experience. Rather than relying on pre-set pickup configurations traditionally provided by instrument manufacturers, The Game Changer® gives guitarists unrestricted access to a vast library of tones via a true analog pickup switching system.
Available on select Music Man Reflex models, this patent-pending system electronically rewires a guitar or bass instantly, combining any order of pickup coils in series, parallel, and in or out of phase to create tones unique to the individual creating them. Imagine having complete tonal control of your instrument with more than 250,000 pickup configurations*, without rewiring anything.
With The Game Changer®, the audio signal is never digitized or modeled in any way, providing a transparent analog signal path for the absolute purist. In conjunction with The Game Changer® website http://gamechanger.music-man.com, musicians can also create, save and share their tonal selections with other players from around the world.
“The Game Changer® is the most significant innovation our company has developed,” said Sterling Ball, CEO of Ernie Ball Music Man. “I’m truly proud of this technology and am looking forward to sharing and creating new and unique tones with musicians and artists alike. This really paves the way for musicians to personalize their tonal options like never before.”
The Game Changer® is currently offered in Music Man H-H, H-S-H Reflex guitar models, as well as the Music Man H-H Reflex bass model.
*More than 250,000 with a 5-coil instrument
Continuing the tremendous success of the JPX, Ernie Ball Music Man® introduces the latest evolution in the John Petrucci line of signature guitars. The JPXI is the newest collaborative effort between John Petrucci and the Music Man research and development team. The JPXI features a combination of top appointments from JPX and BFR Petrucci signature instruments.
Most notably, the JPXI neck has been streamlined to a symmetric, extra slim profile featuring a flatter 20″ radius, medium jumbo stainless steel frets with a finished mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard. Combined with a solid alder body, mahogany tone block and maple top, the JPXI has become the ultimate rock machine.
Similar to that of the JP BFR line, controls include two three-way toggles perfectly wired for the Custom Dimarzio LiquiFire and Crunch Lab humbuckers, in addition to a redesigned Wide-Spread Pivot tremolo with a Music Man/Fishman piezo system bridge pickup.
The JPXI guitars will be available in 6 and 7-string versions, adorned with chrome hardware, mother of pearl inlays and a new onyx finish.
Powered by Marshall, the new Ernie Ball Gig Bag Amplifier is a one-of-a-kind product that provides musicians with a portable and practical way to plug and play their electric guitar. The compact, lightweight battery-powered amp comes in a convenient backpack incorporating a built-in stand, bringing live music to any location from park to street corner to train station.
Each Gig Bag Amplifier features two channels with independent gain, tone and volume controls. Also included is an MP3/iPOD input for jamming along to any backing track, as well as a 1/8” headphone jack for private practice. List price: $199
Ernie Ball is introducing three new Slinkys® string sets to the string line trusted by musicians around the globe:
Two Super Long Scale Bass sets for 35”+ scale length basses—a 4-string and a 5-string (45-105 and 45-130).
A new 8-string electric guitar string set (.10-74 gauge). Increasingly popular among jazz and metal musicians, 8-string guitars expand the instrument’s range and broaden its tone.
“Our newest products reach out to a growing segment of the guitar player market,” said Brian Ball, of Ernie Ball Music Man. “These new strings extend the legendary Slinkys playing experience to a group of players looking for more options. The Gig Bag Amp gives guitarists the freedom to plug & play on the go with Marshall tone within arms reach.”
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Steve More Demos the Ernie Ball Game Changer
Steve Morse Demos the Ernie Ball Game Changer
Steve Morse Demos the Ernie Ball Game Changer
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
Ernie Ball Guitars NAMM Show 2011
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