HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY - ESP George Lynch Skulls & Snakes

Here's another one that goes back to my very first guitar magazine, the March 1991 issue of Guitar World with ZZ Top on the cover. George Lynch appeared in a Seymour Duncan ad for his Screamin' Demon pickup, posing with this guitar. Naturally it was the coolest f***ing thing in the world to my 13-year-old self, and I've never stopped lusting after this guitar.

Features include a blot-on maple neck on an alder body, rosewood fretboard, 45mm neck width, George's custom neck conour, 22 extra jumbo frets, Gotoh tuners, Floyd Rose bridge, George's Screamin' Demon bridge pickup, and an ESP SH-100 Rail pickup in the neck position.

CLICK HERE to buy George Lynch's 1993 solo album 'Sacred Groove'

CLICK HERE to buy the ESP George Lynch M-1 Tiger electric guitar, since I couldn't find a link for the Skulls & Snakes guitar

HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY - ESP Shinigami

Got $20,000? Then perhaps this ESP Custom Shop Shinigami is for you. Specs are pretty hard to come by but does that even matter, with a guitar as demonic as this? Click on the image to see its evilness in greater detail. That's no printed graphic either - this sucker is carved and painted.

This pic is from Bmusic's website, which is well worth bookmarking for their huge selection of ESPs, a lot of which aren't available in America, like this, this, this, this, and this.

Also, while googling for more info about the Shinigami, I found that Guitar Noise reported on this puppy back in January.

HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY - Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine has had more than his fair share of signature guitars – various Jackson models, the ESP DV8 and Axxion, and now the Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT. One thing Dave’s guitars have in common is their aggressive styling – this is not a dude that you’ll see strapping on a Les Paul. The DV8 is not drastically different from the King V-based Jackson Dave Mustaine model of the 90s, and it has a few design refinements including through-body stringing and a tune-o-matic bridge (his Jackson had a fixed Kahler bridge).

Most VMNT variants also have Seymour Duncan Dave Mustaine Livewire active pickups. Voiced to sound like a Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz set but with twice as much output, these 9-volt active pickups run on low noise, discrete class A circuitry, and can be operated at up to 25 volts for extremely high headroom.

My favourite version of the VMNT is the ‘Angel of Deth’ model, but check out the double neck version of the VMNT too. I guess this one is more of a Flying W than a Flying V.

CLICK HERE to buy the Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT Angel of Deth Electric Guitar

HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY: Ibanez Xiphos

The Ibanez Xiphos was first released as a 6-string version with an Ibanez Edge III Floyd Rose-style bridge. The Xiphos gets its evil from looking like some kind of medieval weapon, but it also has a touch of glam with its eye-catching colour-change paint. Pictured is the extra-deadly 7-string version, which features Dimarzio D Activator 7 pickups, (designed to sound like actives, D Activators are also on the 6-string Xiphos), and a very heavy, sturdy Ibanez Gibraltar Custom 7 bridge.

Some players are a little anti-Xiphos because the shape is similar to the Jackson Warrior. Being an Ibanez fanboy, it doesn't bother me one bit, and I hope some day they release a Japanese version with an Edge Zero bridge and prestige finishing.


CLICK HERE to buy the Ibanez XPT700 Xiphos Blue Chameleon

HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY - The Most Evil Albums Ever

Click on any title to buy the album.

Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer Rhino
There are many evil Sabbath albums, but the demonic alliance of Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio was never spookier than on this 1992 release. The production is swimming in natural reverb, making it sound like you’ve stumbled across the band playing in a crypt or something, and you can practically hear Dio throwing the devil horn hand gesture as he sings. Try to get through the opening riff of ‘After All (The Dead’ without getting the creeps.

Slayer - Reign in Blood Sony Legacy
30 minutes and 20-something seconds of thrash carnage. Topics include death, dying, mortality, killing, and being killed. Aside from a whole bunch of songs with running times less than two and a half minutes, there’s also ‘Raining Blood’ and ‘Angel of Death,’ each at almost 5 minutes, for those who like their evil to be bigger than snack size.

Paul Gilbert - Burning Organ Shrapnel
This album as a whole isn’t evil, but it includes the track ‘I Am Satan’ which begins with the count-off “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6!!!” and goes on to tell the tale of Satan falling in love with a chick, but freaking out about what she’ll do when she finds out who he is. Will she stay or will she go? ‘Burning Organ’ also includes the track ‘Suicide Lover,’ which features the classic line “She’s a suicide lover. You could say her love’s the bomb.”

Megadeth - United Abominations (Japanese version with 'Out On The Tiles' Led Zeppelin cover) Roadrunner
Any album loaded with as many puns as this one has got to be evil. Puns are the most evil form of humour there is. This one also gets bonus spooky points for lines like “The angel of death is pissed off with me again, just because I got to put you out of my misery.”

Devin Townsend - Ziltoid The Omniscient Hevy Devy
What could be more evil than a demented alien who attacks earth because he needs a caffeine hit? Nothing, that’s what. Devin recorded and performed all of this monster album single-handedly, and it features some of his best melodic songwriting since Ocean Machine, as well as lots of brutal Strapping Young Lad-style metal.

Jonas Brothers - A Little Bit Longer Hollywood Records
This is obviously the most evil album of all time.

INTERVIEW: George Lynch on distortion

What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a few words from Mr Scary himself, George Lynch as part of I Heart Guitar's ongoing series on the glory of distortion? The following is a little teaser of my interview with George for the upcoming edition of Mixdown magazine, out next week. A few weeks after that, I’ll post the extended version of the interview here.

PETER: What is your philosophy on distortion?
GEORGE LYNCH: Less is more.

PETER: How do you generate your distortion?
LYNCH: I’m always switching out overdrive pedals. Right now I’m switching between Analog Man King of Tone, Naked OD, Keeley hand-wired point-to-point time machine boost (Lynch Model) and a Cusak Tube Screamer.

PETER: Tell us about the Lynch Box amp with Randall. How does it adapt to your different musical personalities?
LYNCH: Dave Freeman, Bruce Egnator and I worked from the bottom up, designing modules that matched some of my favorite amps: early Boogie Recto's, Marshall Plexis, Vox AC30s, etc.
I started out with Randall in the very early 80's. I worked with Gary Sunds on the RG 100. So I’ve come full circle with them by getting on board again 25 years later. We plan on re-releasing the RG 100 amp in the next couple years. It was a very unique amp with a signature sound, and it was all transistor!

CLICK HERE to buy the Randall MTS Series Lynch Box 100W amp head with modules
CLICK HERE to buy the ESP George Lynch M-1 Tiger electric guitar
CLICK HERE to buy George Lynch: The Lost Anthology on CD

Photo by Gabrielle Geiselman

NEWS: New Schecter V

Schecter has just unveiled the new-for-2009 Damien V-1 (fixed bridge) and Damien V-1FR (Floyd Rose). I couldn't find any specs on these yet, but they appear to have EMG-HZ passive pickups and a matte finish, which leads me to believe they won't be mega-ultra-expensive models. I like the offset carve at the treble side of the neck/body join. I think lot of players are into more traditional V shapes but want modern playability, and this is the perfect way to get it. I'd like to see this model with a pickup upgrade, but ya gotta dig those bat inlays.

NEWS: New Megadeth live DVD

Megadeth will soon release "Blood In The Water: Live In San Diego," recorded on the 2008 Gigantour tour. This is the first official recording featuring new guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) and the guy is a freaking monster. Check out his sweet Ibanez LA Custom Shop 7-string in this video.

If you can't wait for a release date for the DVD, there's this:

PREMIERE! HDNet TV Concert Series: Sunday, November 2nd 8:00 PM ET - Megadeth "Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego" - "Pioneers of the American thrash metal genre, Megadeth has become one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands of all time. Watch as they perform to a raucous hometown crowd at the Cox Arena in San Diego, California on the 2008 Gigantour tour. Dave Mustane and Megadeth push the limit, playing faster and heavier than ever in the ultimate Megadeth experience." Repeats Mon., Nov. 3rd 2:30 AM ET

Megadeth will hit the road in Europe and the UK during February and March with Judas Priest and Testament. Dates are here.

HALLOWEEN BRUTALITY: Jackson Demmelition King V

This Halloween, I'll be looking at some of the most evil guitars known to man. This demonic beast, the signature model for Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, takes the already brutal Jackson King V and adds even deadlier edges.

The Demmelition King V has a sharp alder body, witha  through-body quartersawn maple neck capped with a bound compound-radius ebony fingerboard (12” to 16”) and 24 jumbo frets. Shark fin inlays are one of the most metalworthy accoutrements a guitar can have, so of course they make an appearance on the Demmelistion, in mother-of-pearl form, and the Jackson logo is also inlayed in mother-of-pearl for extra metallic bling factor.

Pickups are an EMG 81 in the bridge and an EMG 60 in the neck position, each with its own CTS volume control. Other brutal features include a Floyd Rose Original double-locking two-point tremolo bridge, black hardware and die-cast tuners. Available in red with black bevels, black with silver bevels and white with black bevels. Grrr.

CLICK HERE to buy the Jackson Phil Demmel Signature King V

NEWS: Death Angel, Armored Saint Oz tour

Aussies, set your heads to ‘banging.’ Death Angel and Armored Saint are touring next year.

Here’s a bit of the press release: Death Angel’s 1987 debut album ‘The Ultra Violence’ sold 40,000 copies in its first 4 monthsn paving the way for the thrash movement to hit the mainstream in a way that opened the floodgates for an entire genre to rise to the top of the musical food chain for the remainder of the decade.

Armored Saint are back in top form once more with the return of one of metal’s most dynamic vocalists, John Bush after his time away fronting Anthrax. With John at the helm and the legendary bassist Joey Vera by his side, its a very good time to be a fan of The Saint!

In 2009 both bands will head to Australia for the very first time in either of their careers to play for their fans across the entire nation! With both bands crossing the generational gap, this tour will see metal fans young an old come out to experience a night of thrash just like it was 1985!!

TOUR DATES - Tickets on sale 9.00am Nov 7
Tues, March 10 – Brisbane – The Tivoli Theatre
www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849
Wed, March 11- Melbourne – Billboard The Venue
www.ticketek.com.au www.moshtix.com.au & www.billboardthevenue.com.au or or 132 849
Thurs, March 12 – Sydney – The Forum
www.moshtix.com.au & www.custommade.com.au or ph 1300 762 545
Friday March 13 - Adelaide - HQ
www.venuetix.com.au or 08 8225 8888 or www.oztix.com
Sunday, March 15 – Perth – The Capitol
www.heatseeker.com.au & www.moshtix.com.au Mills, Star Surf & Planet

Check out video of Death Angel’s Rob Cavestany talking about his Jackson Custom Shop signature model.

NEWS: New QUEENSRŸCHE album details revealed

The following is a press release on the QUEENSRŸCHE website.

QUEENSRŸCHE is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its twelfth studio album, "American Soldier". The concept effort, due this spring from Rhino/Atco, finds the band once again tackling some heavy subject matter, this time focusing on telling the story of war from a firsthand perspective. Singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate has spent the last few years conducting extensive interviews with veterans and has crafted their thoughts into this epic tale. "American Soldier" examines American wars from World War II through Iraq from the viewpoint of those in the trenches and on the frontlines. Following the album's release, QUEENSRŸCHE plans to present tracks from the album live on an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The first date of the tour will be a hometown gig at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino on April 16.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has always had incredible support from members of the Armed Services," says Tate. "It seems like after every show, I'd end up speaking with a fan that was or had been involved with the military. The more and more I began to hear their accounts and feelings, the more I really felt a conviction to tell their story. Over the last two years, I've conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with veterans of many different American wars. I listened to their amazing and moving recounts and did my best to examine war through their eyes."

Sweet. My favourite QUEENSRŸCHE stuff is when they're working to a theme, such as the Promised Land album, not to mention the classic Operation:MINDcrime pair of albums.

CLICK HERE to buy ‘Take Cover’, Queensryche’s recent cover album including songs by Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Queen, The Police and more

CLICK HERE to buy Queensryche’s ‘Mindcrime At The Moore’ live DVD

NEWS: New Billy Sheehan album out now

Billy Sheehan’s new album, Holy Cow, is now available in Japan. The album features guest appearances from Doug Pinnick of King's X, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, and Billy's former Mr Big bandmate, Paul Gilbert.

Holy Cow was released in Japan on October 22, but it's not yet showing up on the Amazon.com release schedule, so I’m not sure when it’ll see a wider release.

In the meantime you can pick it up from CDJapan here and you can hear samples of each song here.

1. In A Week Or Two (I'll Give It Back To You)
2. Dynamic Exhilarator
3. A Lit'l Bit'l Do It To 'Ya Ev'ry Time
4. A Bloodless Casualty
5. Make It To Another Day (I Keep Rolling On My Way)
6. Another Broken Promise
7. Just Another Humanoid
8. Turning Point
9. Two People Can Keep A Secret (If One Of Them Is Dead)
10. Theme From An Imaginary Sci Fi
11. Cell Towers
12. Swimming Underwater

CLICK HERE to buy Billy Sheehan's 'Holy Cow' from CDJapan.co.jp

NEWS: Erik Mongrain CD released

Erik Mongrain's album, Equilibrium, is released this week in the US.

I'll post a review later this week and an interview with Erik in the near future, but in the meantime you can check out his playing on YouTube here, and visit his website here.

Erik begins a month-long tour of the UK in November. Tai Irwin of the Boston Herald said, “…Mongrain demonstrates the percussive two-handed tapping technique he calls "air-tap" that makes   an acoustic guitar emit tones I never thought it could. It’s like Van Halen meets James Taylor; furious but soothing.”

NEWS: Paul Gilbert & Freddie Nelson Japan tour

Big props go to the Random Chatter Music blog for this one. Paul Gilbert and Freddie Nelson will play a few shows in Japan in 2009 to promote their new album, 'United States.' I'll have a review of the album soon, but in the meantime you can read more about it here and here. The album is said to sound like a mix of Mr Big and Queen, and it's Paul's first vocal album since the brilliant Space Ship One.

CLICK HERE to buy United States from CDJapan.co.jp

Tour Dates

Tokyo shows:
Feb.1 17:00 open 18:00 start 2009, 2 / 1 (Sun) Shibuya KURABUKUATORO 17:00 open/18: 00 start
2009

Feb. 2 18:00 open 19:00 start 2009 2 / 2 (Monday) Shibuya KURABUKUATORO 18:00 open/19: 00 start
7,000 [Rate] 7000 (standing / 1 drink tax included)
Contact
03-3477-8750 03-3477-8750 Shibuya KURABUKUATORO

Nagoya show:
Feb. 3 18:00 open 19:00 start 2009 2 / 3 (Tuesday) Nagoya KURABUKUATORO 18:00 open/19: 00 start
7,000 [Rate] 7000 (standing / 1 drink tax included)
Contact
052-264-8211 KURABUKUATORO Nagoya 052-264-8211

Osaka show: Feb. 4 18:00 open 19:00 start 2009, 2 / 4 (Wed), Shinsaibashi KURABUKUATORO 18:00 open/19: 00 start
7,000 [Rate] 7000 (standing / 1 drink tax included)
Contact
06-6281-8181 KURABUKUATORO Shinsaibashi 06-6281-8181

CLICK HERE to buy United States from CDJapan.co.jp
Click here to buy 'Get Out of My Yard' on CD
Click here to buy the 'Get Out of My Yard' instructional DVD
Click here to buy 'Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar' on CD
Click here to buy the 'Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar Guitar Instructional DVD & Shred Annex'

NEWS: Wanted - 1 Led Zeppelin singer

So I see over at Blabbermouth.net (via eGigs) that the rumours are true: Led Zeppelin are looking at touring with a different vocalist (and, dare I venture to guess, a different name, so fans don't get all uppity about it?) because Robert Plant is too busy taking over the country music world through his bluegrass project with singer Alison Krauss.

At the Mansons Guitar Show in Exeter, Devon, UK, bass player John Paul Jones confirmed the band’s intentions, and said they’ve been trying out various singers. Jones is quoted as saying "I'm afraid, there's no final answer yet. As you probably know, Jimmy [Page], Jason [Bonham] and I are actually rehearsing and we've had the odd singer come in and have a bash. As soon as we know — which we don't — we will let you know. But we really hope that something is going to happen soon because we really want to do it and we're having a lot of fun, actually, just rehearsing. Jason is actually tremendous… he's really taking chances. He is a very brave man… Every other drummer in the world was watching him thinking [at the reunion show], 'That could have been me.' He's creative and really fun."

Rumour has it that singers to rehearse with the band include Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, and Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge. Interesting to note that both of these guys are quite proficient guitarists too: Could it be that Jimmy Page is open to the idea of having a second guitarist to more accurately reproduce his studio guitar orchestrations? Led Zep were always into the one-guitar thing live, but I guess if they’re willing to go out there and play these songs without Plant (or the zombie of Bonham), they might as well make further tweaks to the sound.

Jones also hinted that there’s a chance Plant might rejoin the band in a few years, when his commitments with Krauss have concluded. "We really want to do something and Robert doesn't want to do this sort of thing, at least for the moment," he said. "I don't really know what his plans are. He is touring with Alison, as you know. . . He really doesn't want to make loud music anymore. We do. I mean, I love acoustic music, but it doesn't stop me from turning something up . . . And what we've done so far sounds absolutely fantastic. When it does come, it will come, and you'll know about it."

Personally I’m a huge fan of Plant’s solo work, especially the albums Fate of Nations and The Mighty Rearranger, and I’d love to see him perform his solo stuff one of these days. But maaaaaaaaaaaaan I’d love to see him with Page and Jones, so I hope he gets bitten by the rock bug again soon.

Photo: Getty Images via NME

CLICK HERE to buy the Led Zeppelin Mothership 2CD/1DVD set
CLICK HERE to buy Robert Plant's Mighty Rearranger CD

NEWS: I Heart Guitar mobile version

Wanna read I Heart Guitar on your mobile device, but your tiny screen looks all cluttered due to all the images, logos, menu items, subscription links, links to other websites and blogs, etc etc etc? Then this link might be for you. It'll give you a very plain-looking text version of the site. Just click on whichever titles pique your interest, and you'll be taken to an easy-to-read (hopefully, I can't make any guarantees cos I'm just a guitarist) version of the article and any images.

You won't be able to jump immediately to any of the interviews, reviews, features or lessons this way, but it'll help you to get your news fix while you're out and about.

http://www.google.com/reader/m/view/feed/http://feedproxy.google.com/blogspot/CNYC

NEWS: New releases 27/10/2008

Click on any title to buy the album.

Living Colour: CBGB OMFUG Masters: August 19 2005 CBGB Records
This live set captures Living Colour about a month after I saw them at the Metro in Melbourne, as the band toured off the back of its reunion album, Collideoscope. This set features a few songs from that album as well as a lot of classic material, mainly drawn from the first two albums, which honks me off slightly because my favourite LC CD is ‘Stain,’ which is only represented by ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ here.

Megadeth - Rust in Peace (Vinyl reissue) Capitol
Another one of those ‘if you don’t have this, you can’t call yourself metal’ albums, Rust In Peace features the Megadeth debut of Marty Friedman, fresh from Cacophony and eager to fill every available corner of this album with exotic phrasing and unusual melodies.

Cradle of Filth - Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder (Special Edition 2 CD) Roadrunner
This is a concept album telling the story of Gilles De Rais, the world’s first serial killer and a good buddy of Joan of Arc. This one’s being hailed as the band’s most ‘aggressive and chilling’ album to date, and is a must for anyone who spends as much on white facepaint as I do on lattes.

Exodus - Let There Be Blood Megaforce
Thrash pioneers Exodus rerecord their classic Bonded By Blood with their new line-up, to bring the album’s sound up to date with their later recordings, and with a slightly less terrible cover. Produced by Exodus’s Gary Holt and mixed by can-he-do-no-wrong producer Andy Sneap.

Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare (Vinyl reissue) Sony Legacy
What is it with vinyl reissues? Not that I’m complaining, cos here’s another one I never had the chance to buy on vinyl when it was first released, and there’s a good chance I’ll probably buy this just for the sentimental value – I really wanted this on vinyl when it first came out (I was 12) and had to settle for the tape. Anyway, another classic of the genre, if you’ve never heard it you suck, etc etc etc.

The Cure - 4:13 Dream Geffen
The 13th album by The Cure, rearranged from the original plan to release a double album. This one contains the ‘light’ tracks, and the dark moody stuff will be released at a later date. The Cure is now down to just four members - Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson and Jason Cooper – and this album is suitably stripped back.

REVIEW: Steve Vai - Visual Sound Theories

Steve Vai has long referred to himself as more composer than guitarist. Until now his compositional complexity has been somewhat masked by the undeniable ferocity of his guitar playing. In an effort to further feed his orchestral muse, and perhaps to be taken a little more seriously outside of guitar playing circles, Vai teamed up with Holland’s Metropole Orchestra in 2004 for a series of shows combining bombastic fury and the more intricate, little-black-dots aspects of his musical personality.

This DVD, culled from the second round of such shows in July 2005, includes the songs "Kill The Guy With The Ball", "The God Eaters", "The Murder Prologue", "The Murder", "Answers", "Lotus Feet", "I’m Becoming", "Salamanders In The Sun", "The Attitude Song", "Gentle Ways", "Liberty" and "For The Love Of God.” These tracks feature Vai (accompanied by bass player Bryan Beller) in conjunction with the Metropole. Two more tracks, "Shadows And Sparks" and Frangelica Pt. I & II,” are Vai-free, and allow the listener to more fully experience the little Italian virtuoso’s skills as a composer, free from the conceptual baggage that comes with having one of the world’s foremost electric guitar virtuosos standing in front of an orchestra.

The performance is world class, and Vai’s phrasing is more considered and more clear in this setting than it is on previous live releases, where his showman’s flair tends to get in the way of his playing to an extent.

The rearrangement of the opening of “For The Love Of God” is part sophisticated modern classical, part kung fu movie. “The Attitude Song,” which was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, is even more over the top than the original. But the real joys of this DVD are the tracks “The God Eaters” and “Answers,” both of which were recorded with sampled instruments originally and are given new life here by the inclusion of real instruments and a cracking 5.1 surround sound mix.

“Salamanders In The Sun,” a somewhat forgotten track from Vai’s 1984 debut, ‘Flex-Able,’ is another stand-out, and again the orchestra adds dimension and colour to the track, while staying largely faithful to the original arrangement. “The Murder” is an obscure track from Vai’s box set, and its inclusion here is a bold one. The overall darkness of the melodic theme sits well with “Kill The Guy With The Ball” and helps keep the program from sounding too happy and bright throughout.

DVD features include an entertaining and informative audio commentary, 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound audio, PCM Stereo, an orchestra-only performance of "Bledsoe Bluvd", a behind the scenes featurette, and an interview with Vai.

Those who wish to hear more of the Metropole Orchestra would do well to check out “The Universe Will Provide,” an album by another former Zappa guitarist (and former Steve Vai band member) Mike Keneally, recorded with the Metropole in 2004.

Sony/Epic

CLICK HERE to buy Visual Sound Theories

CLICK HERE to buy Sound Theories, Vols. 1-2 on CD

REVIEW: Lloyd Spiegel - Live In Japan

The first time I saw Lloyd Spiegel, he was rocking the old Espy Public Bar in St Kilda with a scorching set of electric blues. His new DVD, Live in Japan, showcases his brilliant acoustic playing in a small venue on behalf of guitar company Cole Clark.

With the backing of Cole Clark, as well as a few interview segments where Spiegel talks glowingly of the Melbourne company’s innovative acoustic guitars, it would be tempting to see this DVD as just a promotional item for the company, but that would be doing this excellent concert film a disservice. From the very first fingerpicked flurry of notes in set opener ‘Statesboro Blues,’ it becomes apparent that this is a demonstration of finely honed, honest and powerful acoustic blues by a player who has unbelievable command over the instrument.

Lots of close-ups and crisp audio production present Spiegel’s Cole Clark acoustics in their best light (although in a few spots a microphone stand gets in the way of seeing exactly what his fingers are doing, dammit!), and the clarity of every note is outstanding, but there’s a lot to enjoy here even for non guitar-playing blues fans, including a monster version of ‘Killing Floor’ and the sinister ‘Guilty.’ There’s also a touching ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ which recalls Billy Thorpe’s famous rendition, yet could also be at home on a Gov’t Mule album.

Spiegel’s technique never falters and he has a very cool way of pushing the beat at times without ever sounding like he’s rushing. His open-string speedy fingerpicking licks could put a lot of shredders to shame, yet the quieter moments are just as powerful.

Cole Clark Records

NEWS: Hutchins Brian Jones signature

Want! *grabs at screen* Check this out. The Hutchins Brian Jones Signature Series. It's a remake of the Vox Teardrop played by Jones in the Rolling Stones. Only 250 are being made. 37 are going to the US.

The body is premium basswood. Anyone know what wood the originals were made out of? Were they basswood too? Anyway, these babies ship with a hard case and are available in Vintage White finish only. Retail price is $US1,200.

I can see these being especially popular in Europe. And in my house. Despite my near-legendary love of 80s shred guitars, stuff like this really does it for me.

Specs include:
2 Entwistle Single Coil Pickups
Premium Basswood Body
Rosewood Fretboard
Mother of Pearl Dot Inlays
Bolt On Neck Attachment
1 11/16" Nut Width
Fixed Bridge
1 Volume, 1 Tone Control
3 Way Blade Switch
24 3/4" Scale
21 Medium Frets
British Tweed Signature Hardshell Case

Hutchins started in 1996 and their designs seem heavily influenced by the guitars that were popular in the UK during the 60s. Check out their Retro Star, Saffron, Doodlebug and Venue models at their website. Oh and then there's this...

There's also a cool store specializing in Hutchins guitars, Cooper's Music.

NEWS: Richie Kotzen live DVD

Richie Kotzen will release his first ever live DVD on December 5. Bootlegged in Brazil was recorded in 2007, and features Johnny Griparich on bass and Dan Potruch on drums. 

There's also a 12-track CD version already available which includes a bonus DVD featuring a five songs: Losin' My Mind; Fooled Again; So Cold; Remember; and Doin' What The Devil Says To Do.

Running length of the standalone DVD is 80 minutes.

Bootlegged In Brazil tracklisting:

Go Faster
Losin' My Mind
A Love Divine
Fooled Again
Faith
So Cold
Socialite
High
Remember
Doin' What The Devils Says To Do
Mother Head's Family Reunion

Richie will be touring Europe in 2009. Dates will be released soon.

On a side note, how freaking awesome is Kotzen's 'Into The Black' album?

NEWS: Paradise Guitars USA Jason Becker complete specs

Full specs, pricing and pre-order package deals for the Paradise Guitars USA Jason Becker signature guitar have now been released. The Deluxe Package sells for $US2,699 and includes various goodies. The Standard Package is $US2,499, and still includes a lot of goodies.

The following is from Paradise Guitars:

The Jason Becker signature guitar from ParadiseGuitarsUSA.com is offering two special Pre-Order "PACKAGE DEALS" for the serial numbers 10-70. There will be the “Deluxe Package” and the “Standard Package”. Also, we want everyone to know that the headstock was mainly designed by Jason Becker himself and he had a huge amount of input into the entire design of the guitar. This was definitely a complete collaborative effort of talents from Jason Becker and the entire Paradise Guitars USA team.

Just email us at info@ParadiseGuitarsUSA.com and we will send you all the Pre-Order Package information immediately.

The two different Pre-Order “Package Deals” are as follows:

“DELUXE PACKAGE” includes a Jason Becker Signature Guitar with a SERIAL NUMBER from 10-40. The numbers will be given out in a first come, first served, basis.
The DELUXE PACKAGE includes the following:
1) A Jason Becker signature guitar from ParadiseGuitarsUSA with a serial number starting at 10. (Numbers will be given out on a first come, first served, basis)
2) A GuitarWheel from GuitarWheel.com
3) Jason’s upcoming NEW CD-The Jason Becker Collection – CD
4) An 8” x 10” Photo of Jason with his NEW Signature Guitar
5) A laser engraved, Guitar Pic shaped “Jason Becker” wall clock in mirror
6) A letter from Jason, written personally to you, thanking you for your order and loyalty
7) A Jason Becker pic
A “Letter of Authenticity” from Paradise Guitars USA confirming your serial number and authenticity of your guitar
This DELUXE PACKAGE sells for $2699. The guitar includes a custom form-fitted hardshell case. Add $35, for Standard Shipping via UPS Ground to anywhere in the 48 contiguous states and this includes insurance at no additional cost to you.
If outside the U.S., please email or call with your exact address and we will calculate shipping for you. Orders will start shipping in approximately 6-7 weeks from order date.

“STANDARD PACKAGE” includes a Jason Becker Signature Guitar with a SERIAL NUMBER from 41-70. The numbers will be given out in a first come, first served, basis.
The STANDARD PACKAGE includes the following:
1) A Jason Becker signature guitar from ParadiseGuitarsUSA with a serial number starting at 41. (Numbers will be given out on a first come, first served, basis)
2) A GuitarWheel from GuitarWheel.com
3) A letter from Jason, written personally to you, thanking you for your order and loyalty
4) A “Letter of Authenticity” from Paradise Guitars USA confirming your serial number and authenticity of your guitar
This STANDARD PACKAGE sells for $2499. The guitar includes a custom form-fitted hardshell case. Add $35, for Standard Shipping via UPS Ground to anywhere in the 48 contiguous states and this includes insurance at no additional cost to you.
If outside the U.S., please email or call with your exact address and we will calculate shipping for you. Orders will start shipping in approximately 6-8 weeks from order date.

The specs are as follows:

BODY: Genuine Alder
NECK: Maple neck with steel 2-way truss rod
FINGERBOARD: Maple-16”radius
FRET: 24, 6100 Jumbo thin fret
INLAY: Colored numbered fret markers
BRIDGE: Authentic Floyd Rose® Pro Style Tremolo floating (Black) with Floyd Rose® Tremolo stop
TUNERS: Sperzel® Red Satin Tuners
PICKUPS: Neck: DiMarzio® P.A.F. Pro-Custom Colored: Yellow/Red
Middle: DiMarzio® DP116 HS-2 : Green Bridge: DiMarzio® Tone Zone-Custom Colored: Blue/Pink
FINISH: Tung oil
HEADSTOCK & BACKPLATES: 14 degree tilt-back headstock with Inlaid “Black” Paradise logo and matching tremolo and electronics plates
ELECTRONICS:
500K volume pot with Purple 1-11 volume knob and 5-way blade switch

Photo by Paradise Guitars USA.

NEWS: Lynch Mob Australian tour dates

George Lynch will tour Australia with the reactivated Lynch Mob in December. Support will be Faster Pussycat. The Lynch Mob lineup currently includes vocalist Oni Logan, former Whitesnake bass player Marco Mendoza and drummer Scott Coogan (Brides of Destruction).

I interviewed George today on the phone (although the line kept cutting out so we're finishing off the interview via email this very moment). The interview will be in the next issue of Mixdown, out in the first week of November. I'll then publish the full version here at I Heart Guitar a few weeks later.

Lynch Mob Australian Tour Dates December 2008

PERTH - Monday 8th December – Capitol, Perth
Tickets: http://www.justsayrock.com.au/, BOCS tickets, http://www.moshtix.com.au/

MELBOURNE - Wednesday 10 December - The Hi Fi Bar
Tickets: www.justsayrock.com.au, Metal Mayhem: (03) 9621-1666, http://www.thehifi.com.au/

SYDNEY - Thursday 11 December – The Metro Theatre (All Ages)
Tickets: www.justsayrock.com.au, http://www.themetrotheatre.com.au/

BRISBANE - Friday 12 December – The Arena
Tickets: www.justsayrock.com.au, http://www.oztix.com/, The Arena Box Office

Photo by Gabrielle Geiselman

REVIEW: Tommy Emmanuel - Center Stage CD/DVD

This DVD and CD, recorded at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in California, finds Tommy in solo acoustic mode (aside from a few songs which include guest Bob Littell on harmonica), and it’s interesting to observe how the same material can seem quite different depending on whether you’re listening to the CD or watching the DVD.

On CD, Tommy conjures up a virtual orchestra with six strings and a bunch of fingers, creating the ultimate one-man band on songs like ‘Papa George,’ ‘I Go To Rio’(yes, that ‘I Go To Rio’), his famous Beatles medley (when I first heard this it just included ‘Lady Madonna’ and ‘Day Tripper’ – now it also includes ‘Here Comes The Sun’ and ‘When I’m 64’). There’s an almost easy-listening quality apparent in the CD version of Center Stage, where Tommy’s ability to play bass, chords and melody at the same time all mesh into a soothing, listenable whole.

Then there’s his concert centrepiece, ‘Initiation,’ in which he uses a digital delay to invoke all sorts of ancient spirits, in stereo ping-ponging brilliance, while whomping the hell out of his bruised and battered (but still very much intact) Maton. It’s always a highlight of his live shows, and every performance is different so it’s always nice to have another new version on record.

On DVD, the very same material that felt relaxed and contemplative suddenly becomes exhilarating and exciting. Hearing Tommy play is a thing of beauty: watching him play is a thing of wonder. His bag of tricks include scratching out a rhythm on the guitar body while hammering a bass line with his left hand; fretting wide chord shapes built solely out of harmonics; and executing speedy, confident runs which never get out of control no matter how fast he’s playing, or how far he travels along the neck.

The CD and DVD are available separately but because there is such a difference between seeing Tommy’s performance and hearing it, each is a valuable addition to his catalog.

You can win a Tommy Emmanuel pack over at Guitar Noize which includes the Center Stage and Live At Her Majesty’s Theatre DVDs, and the Center Stage, The Mystery and Endless Road CDs.

LESSON: The 'ol hammer-sweep-and-tap

One of my favourite tricks is to combine hammer-ons, sweep-picking and tapping. This little lick is pretty straightforward, and it provides an interesting alternative to a straight up-and-down arpeggio.

This lick can be tapped with one finger but I prefer to use two. I usually tap with the middle finger so I can hold the pick in the normal manner. When playing this lick, I pick over the fretboard, between the 19th and 20th frets, which positions the tapping fingers nice and close to the notes they’ll be hitting (at the 17th fret of the high E string and the 16th fret of the B string).

I’ve included the left and right hand fingerings. If you’re new to this type of right-hand finger notation, ‘A’ is the ring finger, and ‘M’ is the middle finger. They're named after the Latin terms, with the exception of the Italian-named pinky, and it goes P (pulgar, or thumb), I (indice, or index), M (medius, or middle), A (annular, or ring), C (chico, or pinky).

Here’s the slow version, at 100bpm in 8th note triplets.



Here’s the ultra fast version, which is the same pattern, but played at 140bpm in 16th note septuplets. The trick to playing it this fast is to both pick and fret with a light touch.

News: Ibanez Kurosawa limited editions

Japanese guitar store Kurosawa has unveiled its latest limited editon Ibanez J Custom models, the MRG-8 and MRG-9.

Both guitars are available in Black Charcoal finish and are only available from Kurosawa.

These ones look pretty badass but there are an awful lot of black Ibanez guitars out there already...