NAMM 2012: Gibson Displays Traditional Axes
From its early guitars from the 1930s to the current line-up of electrics today, Gibson Guitars has been innovative and a formidable competitor in the music industry.
From its early guitars from the 1930s to the current line-up of electrics today, Gibson Guitars has been innovative and a formidable competitor in the music industry.
Hailing out of Tampa, Florida, Dean Guitars has set the pace for metal guitars and have been used by high-end musicians, including: Dimebag Darrell, Dave Mustaine, Bret Michaels, Michael Schenker, Leslie West and Michael Angelo Batio. Along with Dean Guitars, the parent company, Armadillo Enterprises. also produces those fine Luna guitars and Ddrums. One of the coolest things about Dean Guitars is the fact that the head honcho there, Elliott Rubinson, is an excellent bass player and has been known to get the groove going for the Michael Schenker Group, as well as many more kick-ass groups.
We all know by now that Van Halen is heading out on tour this year and as guitarists, we’re pumped about seeing Eddie Van Halen back on the street riffing, bending and tapping in his legendary ways! So, when we were at NAMM yesterday we had to stop and check out the EVH Wolfgang axes designed by the master flash guitarist and patent holder.
Heavy-hitters PRS Guitars arrived at NAMM with a full force gale of axes to drool over, as well as their remarkable line-up of stunning amps. Over the years we’ve come to admire this guitar company that keeps punching out new product lines to meet the needs of musicians at all levels. Whether you’re looking for an acoustic or electric guitar or a boutique styled amp, PRS always seems to pull out the stops and bring us something – or many things – quite magical.
Although it was just officially launched in 2009, the PRS amplifier division has quickly matured into a comprehensive product line (exclusive pics below). From the core family of Maryland-made PRS amps to the exclusive Custom Amp Design (CAD) program to the SE amplifier line, PRS now has an option for every musician. As has become expected, PRS artists have signed on in support of all three tiers of PRS amps and are flying the PRS amp flag with vigor.
Fender’s amp division is proud to introduce three all-new members of the popular Super Champ series. The new Super Champ X2, SC112 Enclosure, and the Super Champ X2 Head (pics below) bring the latest in amp modeling and user-friendly features, providing great tone for rock, blues, country and more.
The PRS SE Custom, the flagship guitar of PRS’s more affordable SE line, has been updated for 2012 with a new body carve and pickup control configuration, and we have exclusive pics from the 2012 NAMM show below! Previously, the SE Custom had a flat style body, but for 2012, the popular SE model has received a beveled top carve, which looks and feels much more like PRS Guitars’ original Custom 24 model.
Announced in September 2011 at Experience PRS, the PRS SE Angelus Standard and Custom acoustic guitars are made with high-quality components, including a solid back and solid spruce top, a bone nut and saddle, and PRS designed tuners. Unveiled at NAMM 2012, however, is a PRS pickup system (pictures below) that is now an added option on the SE Angelus in 2012, designed to highlight the instruments’ rich, resonant, and responsive tone. The pickup system is an under-saddle design with three bands of EQ and an anti-feedback loop.
Fender’s acoustic division proudly hails the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and transports players back in time to 1967 with the introduction of the Elvis® Kingman acoustic guitar—a sharp looking, rich-sounding version of the carefree Fender acoustic that Elvis Presley® wielded with consummate cool in the late ’60s. Check out the pics from NAMM 2012 below!
Unveiled at NAMM 2012: Fender is proud to introduce three highly distinctive new additions to its acclaimed Blacktop series of guitars, a family that expands the sonic horizons of the Fender classics with high-powered features and design mods. The three new instruments are the Blacktop Telecaster Baritone, Blacktop Stratocaster HSH and Blacktop Jaguar 90 (exclusive pics below).
