Guitar Player articles from February 2006

Guitar Player archives from February 2006

Noize from the editor.(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Even though I am well aware that mortals must accept the inevitability of death, that realization didn't bring much solace as I dealt with the passing of Link Wray on November 5, 2005. Although, in a strange and...

Letter of the month!(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... Having just received my December '05 GP prior to leaving on a NYE biz trip, I hastily stuffed it in my computer bag to pass the time on the plane. In the air, I read the Les Paul tribute/interview and discovered that he plays at a little jazz...

Fry your freak flag?(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... I wish for you to cancel my subscription to Guitar Player. I am sick of seeing freaks and tatoos. I think I am on the wrong planet for these people. What ever happened to clean clothes, haircuts, and neat-looking musicians? It appears you have...

Freedom of choice.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... In the December '05 issue, Gang Of Four's Andy Gill said, "The only thing I can't use is a Les Paul. Those things--I don't understand why anyone plays them." I feel Les Pauls are like women. I've played many of them through my life, but it...

Rhoads rage.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... Rather than debate the questionable merits of yet another Randy Rhoads retrospective, at least give credit where credit is due. Given Randy's passion for the classical guitar, I'm sure he would have wanted aspiring noodlers to know that the...

The now told story.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... It was a great honor to have our Ibanez--The Untold Story book reviewed by Art Thompson [December '05]. Not something that I ever expected to see when I first started selling guitars at Zapf's Music Store back in... Well, it was a long time...

Hottie alert.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2006... I was just looking through the Accessory File in the November 2005 issue of GP, and I saw the review of those Hottie toaster amps. I thought to myself, "Man, they are too cool! I should get one!" Then I thought of my (non-guitarist) cousin who...

Oops!(FEEDBACK)(Correction notice)
February 1, 2006... We inadvertently misfired in our attempt to focus some fun and attention on the strap industry with our "Skin Trade" pictorial on p. 48 of the December '05 issue. We meant to convey that the recent appearance of the Moody Leather print ads...

Oeuvre easy: Frank Zappa.(RIFFS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Making your way through the more than 70 titles in Frank Zappa's catalog is a daunting prospect, but those recordings--representing a career that spanned nearly 44 years--contain some of the most outrageous music you will ever hear. You will...

Freak Out!, 1966.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Freak Out!, 1966 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first Mothers of Invention record is simultaneously Zappa's most pure pop album and a commentary on the mid-'60s Sunset Strip ethos, capped off by 20 minutes of uncompromising avant garde...

We're Only In it For the Money, 1968.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... We're Only In it For the Money, 1968 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Just as mind-blowing now as it was in 1968, this is a revolutionary sonic explosion of social critique and powerfully effective editing techniques that incorporates some of...

Uncle Meat, 1969.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Uncle Meat, 1969 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A treasure trove of Zappa's most intricate studio constructions--heavy on mallet percussion and winds--and featuring copious amounts of his bluesy acoustic playing.

200 Motels, 1971.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... 200 Motels, 1971 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This soundtrack album to Zappa's first film is an undervalued gem, particularly for the inclusion of some of his most melodic and memorable orchestral compositions. These are not ideal...

One Size Fits All, 1975.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... One Size Fits All, 1975 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Zappa's highly popular mid-'70s music--featuring brilliant work from George Duke, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Ruth Underwood among others--is also represented by OverNite...

Lather, 1996.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Lather, 1996 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Originally planned as a four-LP box, but never released in that form, this sprawling masterwork features the majority of Zappa's musical concerns--rock band virtuosity, orchestral maneuvers, musique...

Shut Up 'N' Play Yer Guitar, 1981.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Shut Up 'IV' Play Yer Guitar, 1981 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Bible for voracious lovers of Zappa's guitar technique. It's three discs of his fiercest, nastiest, and most adventurous solos, "accompanied" by the hair-raising drumming of...

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vols. 1-6, 1988-92.(INSPIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vols. 1-6, 1988-92 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is a series of six double-CD sets, featuring unaltered live recordings of Zappa's bands from 1965 to 1988. Any year's lineup can suddenly careen into any...

Lumpy Gravy, 1967.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Lumpy Gravy, 1967 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Often cited by Zappa as one of his favorite works, this collage of orchestral music, jazz rock, musique concrete, and surreal spoken word was a unique beast in 1967, and it remains an...

Hot Rats, 1969.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Hot Rats, 1969 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Zappa's best-known album was a technical tour-de-force for 1970. Utilizing 16-track recording techniques to present a crystal clear recital of blues-jazz-jam rock, this was one of the first albums...

Burnt Weeny Sandwich, 1970.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Burnt Weeny Sandwich, 1970 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This and the contemporaneous Weasels Ripped My Flesh were compilations of the recently-disbanded late-'60s Mothers Of Invention lineup. Weasels is the more contentious listening...

Just Another Band From L.A., 1972.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Just Another Band From L.A., 1972 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This album's companion record, Fillmore East June 1971, may be considered the more definitive document of this humor-oriented band. But I give my nod to Just Another Band, if...

The Grand Wazoo, 1972.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Grand Wazoo, 1972. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some seriously rocking big- and medium-band arrangements, conceived by Zappa while in a wheelchair after being thrown from the stage of London's Rainbow Theatre in 1971. Zappa's playing is...

Baby Snakes (DVD), 1979.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Baby Snakes (DVD), 1979 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This band, with Terry Bozzio and Adrian Belew in the lineup, may have been Zappa's perfect realization of a virtuoso rock lineup that could play all the notes and still maintain raw...

You Are What You Is, 1981.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... You Are What You Is, 1981 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An underrated tour-de-force with Steve Vai playing impossible guitar parts and outrageous details popping out of the mix everywhere. This was Zappa's last full-blown, studio-constructed...

Make a Jazz Noise Here, 1991.(REQUIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Make a Jazz Noise Here, 1991 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's hard for me to be objective, as this album documents Zappa's 1988 band and last touring ensemble, of which I was a member. The 12-piece group delivers generous portions of...

Cruisin' With Ruben & the Jets, 1969.(TIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Cruisin' With Ruben & the Jets, 1969 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The original release was a warm-hearted and faithfully arranged tribute to Zappa's beloved '50s R&B and doo-wop, overlaid with a lightly satirical view of high-school garage...

Chunga's Revenge, 1970.(TIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Chunga's Revenge, 1970 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fillmore East June 1971, 1971 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sheik Yerbouti, 1979 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These three perfectly fine albums are currently represented by CDs that...

The Man From Utopia, 1983.(TIRED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Man From Utopia, 1983 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thing Fish, 1984 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some fans can't get behind these two albums due to their severely coarse subject matter. I find them beautifully perverse and...

Apparently 2005's season of caring began in November, with high-profile artists and manufacturers getting into the giving spirit by donating their time, names, and equipment to worthy causes.(NEWS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Apparently 2005's season of caring began in November, with high-profile artists and manufacturers getting into the giving spirit by donating their time, names, and equipment to worthy causes. U2's The Edge hooked up with Gibson Guitars and the...

Brian Willoughby's lasting impressions.(RIFFS)
February 1, 2006... "For me, writing interesting guitar instrumentals is a lot like penning a good story," explains Brian Willoughby. "It should have a proper beginning, a middle, and a conclusion. I prefer to start out with a simple melodic statement and sparse...

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Chris Whitley on Nov. 20, 2005.(PASSING NOTES)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Chris Whitley on Nov. 20, 2005. Whitley first crept into the public consciousness with his 1991 album Living with the Low. Since then, he has forged a gut-wrenchingly original avant blues...

Music Player live!(RIFFS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Expanding its commitment to serve obsessed players of all stripes, the Music Player Network (Guitar Player, Frets, Bass Player, Keyboard, and EQ, in conjunction with Drum!) launched a consumer-focused music conference at the Crowne Plaza in NYC...

The MPL! Les Paul Tribute & Celebration Concert.(RIFFS)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (1) Ninety gears old and still rifling like an enraptured teen, Les Paul turned up his JC-120 and raged. (2) Larry Carlton previewed tracks from his new album Fire Wire for the Roseland crowd. [ILLUSTRATION...

Blues on the edge: Harry Manx.(RIFFS)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's a bit of a hike from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's 1967 East/West foray into non-European modalities to 2004's West Eats Meet by iconoclastic raga bluesman Harry Manx. Born on the Isle of Man, but raised in...

The cat's meows.(RIFFS)
February 1, 2006... Mohan Veena, Martin D-35, Taylor 712, Sunrise and B-Band pickups, Dunlop Lap Dawg Tone Bar, Presonus preamp, Elixir strings.

Link Wray, the ferocious and gritty guitarist who launched the power chord with his 1958 recording of "Rumble," passed away November 5, 2005, at his home in Copenhagen.(PASSING NOTES)(Obituary)
February 1, 2006... Link Wray, the ferocious and gritty guitarist who launched the power chord with his 1958 recording of "Rumble," passed away November 5, 2005, at his home in Copenhagen. I had just seen him perform that July, and he was loud, proud, and full of...

Mike Varney's spotlight.(RIFFS)
February 1, 2006... No matter how old you are, where you live, or what style of music you play, this column offers you the potential to be recognized by your peers. If you're chosen for Spotlight, you'll receive an Ernie Ball tee shirt, customized EB picks with...

Led Zeppelin: the story of a band and their music, 1968-1980.(THIS MONTH FROM BACKBEAT BOOKS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Given that Led Zeppelin may be second only to the Beatles as the most influential rock group of all time, discussing its history is bound to be a Herculean undertaking. Keith Shadwick is generally up to the task, and...

All about ... coated strings.(RIFFS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Like all living things, your guitar strings are doomed to age, weaken, and die. But unlike humanoids, you can extend the toneful adolescence of your live wires by stringing up with the Dorian Grays of the string world--coated strings. "The...

The Absence.(BUZZ)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "I used to think playing a good show just meant playing the right notes," says Peter Joseph, guitarist for the Absence. "But opening for Yngwie Malmsteen taught me the importance of showmanship. He plays to the...

Pearls and Brass.(BUZZ)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "There's nothing wrong with a good guitar solo, but we'll take an interesting rift over a solo anytime," says Pearls And Brass guitarist Randy Huth. On the trio's second album, The Indian Tower [Drag City], Huth and...

Distortus makimus distortion pedal: Krank.(OUT NOW!)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 3-band EQ, Gain, and Master controls * 9-Volt DC adapter/battery * True-bypass switching * $149 retail * krankamps.com

Trilogy amplifier: Hughes & Kettner.(OUT NOW!)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 100 watts * 4 x EL34s * Four independent channels * Six sounds include Clean, Clean + Sparkle, Crunch, Crunch + Boost, Lead, and Ultra Lead channels with separate Volume, Gain, and EQ controls *...

1 H 12 guitar speaker cabinet: Basson Sound.(OUT NOW!)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 12" Eminence Legend (75 watt, 8 ohm) * Handmade with MDF and lined with foam to ensure maximum punch * Covered in black Tolex * Available in gray face or all black * $205 retail *...

Snowball USB microphone: Blue Microphones.(OUT NOW!)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * USB connectivity for PC and Mac * Dual capsule design with 3-position switch (cardioid, cardioid pad, omni) * Handles a wide variety of instruments and vocals * Rugged ABS construction * $155...

Silver star, bulls-eye, and union jack guitar straps: Get'm Get'm Wear.(OUT NOW!)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Extend up to 80 inches in length * Fully adjustable * Heavy-duty hardware * A portion of sales proceeds goes to animal rescue and adoption * $19-$46 retail * getmgetm.com

Vintage dual distortion pedal: TC Electronic.(OUT NOW!)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Two channels combine saturated vintage distortion with flexible gain settings * Convenient switching between rhythm and lead sounds * $395 retail * tcelectronic.com

Bluegrass guitar strings: Cleartone Strings.(OUT NOW!)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Light top/heavy bottom configuration (.012, .016, .025, .036, .046, .056) provides high-frequency clarity for light strings and low-frequency thump for lower strings * Enhanced Molecular Protection provides...

V2 amp head: Randall Amplifiers.(OUT NOW!)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * New Valve-Dynamic tube/Mosfet hybrid power section * Three MIDI switching/programmable channels: classic full clean, classic Randall solid-state overdrive with push/pull Sustain Boost, all-tube preamp with...

Cordoba Gitano D-5: Tornavoz Music.(OUT NOW!)
February 1, 2006... * Inspired by the great Maccaferri guitars made famous by Django Reinhardt * Solid spruce top * Enclosed tuning machines * "Moustache" bridge * $660 retail * tornavozmusic.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bonnie Raitt.(PATRON SAINT)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... In a field dominated by men, men, and more men, Bonnie Raitt has managed to kick hellacious ass all over the brotherhood of guitar since her eponymous debut album unveiled her soulful slide playing and singing back in 1971. Using the blues as a...

Daniel Lanois.(CHASING THE MUSE)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... Daniel Lanois is best known for producing some of the most artistically and commercially successful records of the '80s and '90s. Beginning with U2's The Unforgettable Fire in 1984 (co-produced with mentor Brian Eno), Lanois brought his potent...

Speed king: Michael Angelo Batio brings shred out of the shadows.(Interview)
February 1, 2006... SPEED, THY NAME IS BATIO. MICHAEL ANGELO Batio. The man who may just be the world's fastest guitarist. Watching Batio ignite a fretboard with his signature over-under fretting technique--or seeing him switch effortlessly between the right and...

Tyranno Saurus X: Ty Tarbor of King's X is still the king of drop-tuned rock.(Interview)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AS THE INNOVATOR OF DROPPED TUNINGS in heavy rock, Ty Tabor has certainly earned the right to paraphrase America's rough-ridin' 26th president Teddy Roosevelt and state: "Speak softly and carry a drop 6." Normally...

Goin' for broke: John Mayer risks his pop-rock pedigree to bring the blues back to the masses.(Interview)(Cover story)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S A SURREAL SOUND. A ROAR UNLIKE ANY HEARD IN GUITAR MUSIC IN QUITE A LONG TIME. IT'S THE SHRIEKS OF THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE GIRLS REACTING NOT TO A CHART-TOPPING POP SINGLE, BUT TO EVERY SUBTLE NUANCE In AN EPIC:...

Fretless guitar.(HIGHER EDUCATION)
February 1, 2006... "There's no such thing as a fretless guitar. You're bloody making it up."--Nigel Tufnel, This Is Spinal Tap From the Seventh Century 11-string oud to the traditional symphony orchestra string family to the electric bass, fretless...

The top ten Pink Floyd riffs of all time.(LICK LIBRARY)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When David Gilmour began his tenure with Pink Floyd following founder Syd Barrett's departure in 1968, it wasn't long before his musical personality dominated. Gilmour brought to the band a wealth of influences,...

Phil Baugh: Live Wire!(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... PHIL BAUGH Live Wire! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Phil Baugh was a country badass, plain and simple. Other than sporting some major, low-down twang-ability, he flaunted wicked chops that could make Jimmy Bryant or Joe Maphis blush....

Ben Monder: Oceana.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... BEN MONDER Oceana [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Big Apple's Ben Monder has played with scores of cutting-edge bands and artists--including bassist Marc Johnson's Right Brain Patrol, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and drummer Paul...

The 88: Over and Over.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... THE 88 Over and Over [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you dig smart pop-rock guitar work, the latest from The 88 will be right up your alley. A listen to Over and Over will enable you to predict with relative certainty what records these...

Kastning Siegfried: Scalar Fields.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... KASTNING SIEGFRIED Scalar Fields [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Okay, it finally has to be said. While Guitar Player openly welcomes album submissions from indie artists handling their own publicity, please know that unless you're mailing...

What's spinning in the editors' heads this month?(RANTS AND RAVES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BARRY CLEVELAND Rag Charles, Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959] Robert Fripp, Love Cannot Bear Tronzo Trio, Roots DARRIN FOX Humble Pie, Rockin' the Fillmore The Ventures, Live in...

Matt Walker and Ashley Davies.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... MATT WALKER AND ASHLEY DAVIES Matt Walker & Ashley Davies [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's something bold and beautiful about a guitar-and-drums duo. Long before the White Stripes burst on the scene, lap steeler Matt Walker and...

Papua New Guinea Stringbands with Bob Brozman: Songs of the Volcano.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... PAPUA NEW GUINEA STRING BANDS WITH BOB BROZMAN Songs of the Volcano [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This delightful multimedia experience documents the stringband music played by five groups of musicians on the island of Rabaul in Papua,...

Hip grips: hot-rod your 12-bar blues progressions with passing chords, backcycling, and tritone substitution.(LESSONS: MASTER CLASS)
February 1, 2006... The blues is a wonderfully malleable musical form. In a heartbeat, it can morph from the ragtime-tinged acoustic fingerpicking of Mississippi John Hurt into the amped-up bottleneck of Hound Dog Taylor and Earl Hooker, the reverb-drenched West...

How to play like ... Johnny Smith.(LESSONS: ADVANCED)
February 1, 2006... Very few guitarists can say they've influenced legendary players as disparate as Pat Martino and Chet Atkins. But with his impeccable technique, adventuresome arrangements, and lush chord melodies, Johnny Smith--one of the most complete...

Rock Guru: John Petrucci: four-note freakouts.(LESSONS: INTERMEDIATE)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] When it comes to melodic lines, playing more than three notes per string can feel a little awkward for most guitarists--at least at first. But if you can hit four notes per string, you'll find you can create some...

Jazz Guru: Larry Carlton: a tricked-out T-Bone turnaround.(LESSONS: ADVANCED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Young guitarists often ask, "How can I choose better notes in my solos?" I always tell them the answer lies in learning harmony. To solo over chord changes, you've really got to understand how harmony works. Actually, studying harmony can be...

EZ street: moveable minor arpeggios.(LESSONS: BEGINNER)
February 1, 2006... In our previous lesson, we used arpeggios to play melodically up and down the neck ("Exploring Moveable Arpeggios," Jan. '06). We took two major fingerings and linked them to form a progression that included smooth position shifts. This time,...

Reader's challenge: cross-string fantasy.(LESSONS: INTERMEDIATE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Joe LoPiccolo of Sierra Madre, California, has an astonishingly smooth touch on the nylon-string guitar, as he proved with his recorded accompaniments on Andrew York's book/CD package Jazz Guitar for Classical Cats, and as he proves again here...

Production strategies: Blake Sennett On Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous.(RECORDING)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scores of indie bands forge uneasy sonic and thematic alliances with the music of the '60s and '70s. The discomfort appears when an artist strives to be "of their time" and moving forward while simultaneously digging...

60-second buyer's guide: budget USB recording interfaces.(RECORDING)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2006... These five ultra-portable, USB-powered recording interfaces enable you to get audio--and in some cases MIDI--into and out of your USB-equipped Mac or PC for less than $300. Some offer special features such as USB 2.0 compatibility, digital I/O,...

Artifacts: Fender Broadcaster.(VINTAGE VAULT)
February 1, 2006... In late 1950, the fledgling Fender Electric Instrument Company introduced the Broadcaster--a simple, but revolutionary guitar that featured a solid ash body, a maple neck attached with four wood screws, and an electronics package consisting of...

Deke the guitar geek: Johnny Paycheck's 1967 Bunker.(VINTAGE VAULT)(Dave Bunker )
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] For going on 50 years now, guitar-building extremist Dave Bunker has constructed some of the most far out, futuristic axes the world has ever seen. During the mid-1960s, the Pacific Northwest native performed at the...

Small amp roundup! five low-wattage tube combos.(GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It used to be that you bought a 5-watt amp for one of two reasons: It was all the amp you could afford, or it was something you needed for practice. Jimmy Page's storied use of small Fender and Supro amps on early...

For tweakers: installing a Fernandes FSK-101 Sustainer.(GEAR)
February 1, 2006... It's exhilarating to push a guitar into feedback and hear notes howl like a wounded banshee, but this usually requires cranking a burly amp in a big room--something most of us don't get to do very often. For years, Fernandes has offered a...

Parker event series P8E.(GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ken Parker's revolutionary Fly guitar made a huge impact when it debuted more than a decade ago. Since that time, Parker has introduced numerous versions of the Fly, including the acoustic-oriented Fly Concert and...

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra and Elitist Les Paul '57 Goldtop.(GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... Since it began producing mainly budget guitars in the mid '90s, Epiphone has carved out a place in the market as a respected utilitarian brand. The company has also cleverly positioned itself as an entirely legit alternative source for genuine...

TC Electronic G-System.(GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... TC Electronic is a company that has been synonymous with great effects since its inception in 1976. From the ubiquitous presence of their 2290 delays in nearly every rack in the 1980s to Eric Johnson's exclusive use of their Chorus/Flanger...

Update: RKS guitars.(GEAR)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The guitar-making partnership of a 6-string legend (Dave Mason) and an award-winning industrial designer (Ravi Sawhney) was an intriguing story when GP covered the duo's RKS Guitars' Malibu, Uluru, and Hell Fire...

Dan Erlewine's Mod Squad.(GEAR)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Recently, Mod Squadder Adam J. Fox had an idea for installing a shop-made, aluminum "zero fret nut" on a Gretsch, rather than a zero fret, as Gretsch used on many models. I always thought Gretsch used the zero fret...

George Dennis GD50 elite wah.(GEAR: STOMPBOX FEVER)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... It could have been any number of things. Maybe it was Jimi's "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)," or reruns of The Streets of San Francisco. Or maybe it was the porn soundtracks that my friends spoke so highly of. Who knows? But as a wide-eyed,...

Janglebox compressor.(GEAR: STOMPBOX FEVER)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This pedal's raison d'etre is to cop the classic jangly tones pioneered by George Harrison and Roger McGuinn, and later championed by Tom Petty, REM, and others. More specifically, the designers hoped to emulate the...

Stimer Modele S.T. 48.(GEAR: ACCESSORY FILE)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sometime around 1946, the great jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt began amplifying his trademark Selmer acoustic. His choice of pickup--not that there were many at that time to choose from--was the Stimer, which...