This is apparently a PR move to bring some awareness to the upcoming release (November 28th, 2008) of the new Fender Custom Shop limited edition Yngwie Malmsteen Tribute Series “Play Loud” Replica.

However, make no mistake; Fender isn’t giving away the new replica… it’s the older Signature Series Strat that is up for the offering. Still––a free guitar is a free guitar, right? Also, it’s no longer a matter of just giving Fener your e-mail and mailing address: now you have to create a Fender Profile.

Check it out at Fender’s Official Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster Giveaway page.

So, I thought it might be high-time I did a reader poll to learn a little more about you… I hope this will help me better target my content to your needs, and maybe make us all feel a bit more connected (okay, maybe that’s a bit too “touchy feely” for you.)

Anyway, you’d be doing me a great service if you’d take a few seconds to fill out theses polls…

It’ll be nice to see just who it is I’m talking to!

Well, the info on their website isn’t complete yet, but Gibson is apparently releasing a 2008 50th Anniversary line, just in time for the Holidays. Say hello to the 50th Anniversary Korina Explorer, ES-335, Les Paul Figured, and Korina Flying V… more information as it becomes available.

P.S. That ES335 is gonna’ kill me… please, stop me before I spend again!

Unfortunately, I’ve tried on a few occasions to get the good folks at PRS to send me an instrument for review, but so far they’ve been a no-show. So, we’ll have to let Modern Guitar have all the fun…

If you’re looking for a PRS with a vintage tone and feel, this might be the one for you––

…Based on the guitar’s size, weight and balance and excellent construction, we consider it a worthy competitor to a Custom Shop grade Telecaster. Paul Reed Smith has managed to build a new model that maintains a vintage vibe, yet still makes its own contemporary statement. The Mira’s hardware was also visually appealing in a highly polished chrome finish, with the tuning peg heads tinted black. Particularly nice is the PRS built chromed bridge that’s got a sleek art deco vibe going. Two black open-faced Humbuckers help complete the retro look, with a small toggle coil tap set alongside the tone control for an easy and intuitive reach….

The instrument ships with a hard shell case (black tolex,) documentation, and is fetching an MSRP of $2,960… I’m guessing we can expect street prices in the mid $2,000s.

Read the full review here.

First off, hey––I love a Bigsby! But bolted onto a singlecut solidbody bearing the standard futuristic lines of a PRS, not to mention that spiky headstock, this thing just looks all wrong to me.

Of course, the newly introduced Starla could turn out to be the bee’s knees, and I’m certainly not going to make any judgment calls when it comes to playability or tone until I can get my freakin’ hands on one, but I thought it would be fun to hear what you all think of this latest model from the good folks at Paul Reed Smith.

I’m not sure what it is about PRS that seems to bring both fanatic proponents and detractors out of the woodwork, but the comments on this blog get predictably strange whenever I mention one of their guitars.

So here goes… whatcha’ think?

Not officially a “reissue,” the Custom Shop ES-330 Long Neck will apparently be adorned with period-correct extras like black plastic dog-eared pickup covers and a 17° angled headstock, while also sporting a number of new enhancements.

Unique features are expected to include a period-correct 1-11/16” Corian nut (for extra strength, durability, and sustain,) a set of premium tulip button tuners, and of course the instrument’s namesake long neck profile.

Resonant Hollowbody Design & P90 Tone

Unlike its close brethren––the ever popular ES-335––the ES-330 features a full hollowbody design with no center block, making for one seriously resonant instrument (and yeah, highly prone to feedback.) It also breaks the mold with a pair of dog-eared P-90s, wired up with Gibson’s Memphis Tone Circuit, which allows for consistent tone at any volume level.

Strangely, in spite of the fact that it’s basically the exact same instrument, the ES-330 has never gained the popularity and mystique of the Epiphone Casino… an instrument probably best known for its use in the hands of 60s era George Harrison, John Lennon, and even Keith Richards.

ES330 Long Neck Specs

Other features will include a plain maple laminated top, back, and rims (in Beale St. Blue, Vintage Sunburst, or Antique Red,) an ultra-thin nitro finish, single-piece Honduran Mahogay neck (with long neck tenon,) a 30/60 neck profile, Rosewood fretboard with 22 frets, and small block pearloid inlays.

Hardware will include an ABR-1 bridge, Trapeze tailpiece, Kluson-style tulip tuners, dual volume & tone knobs with ’60s-style reflector tops, 3-way pickup switching, and 500K Ohm audio taper pots.

The Guitar is retailing for a street price of $2499. Custom Shop Hardshell case included.

While Fender’s TC-90 thinline has been kicking around for a few years now, it’s definitely not every day you see a candy apple red Telecaster decked out with dual P-90s… heck, to my eyes it’s still just a little shocking.

In fact, I have to say I’m more than a bit intrigued, having fallen pretty hard for the growl of a P-90 ever since I purchase that ‘67 SG Special—I can’t wait to hear what this thing sounds like.

Apparently built in collaboration with Jimmy Eat World frontman and guitarist Jim Adkins, Fender’s new JA-90 (yep, based on Adkins’ trusty TC-90) packs some unique features, including a pair of custom Seymour Duncan soapbars, a mahogany set neck, dual volume and tone controls, and of course that super fat anchored tailpiece.

Fender JA-90 Specs

Other features are expected to include a semi-hollow Ash body, Rosewood fretboard with 22 Medium Jumbo frets (9.5” radius,) an adjusto-matic bridge, knurled dome knobs, matching painted headstock, black plastic parts, oversized strap buttons, and a graphite nut.

The Jim Adkins JA-90 will be available in either Crimson Transparent or Ebony Transparent Poly finish, but ships sans-case… what’s with that? The guitar can be had for a street price in the mid $700s.

Thanks For Stopping By!

That’s right boys and girls, you could say it’s been a rather trying year for yours truly (wow, is that ever an understatement?) but I’m happy to report that I’m finally, finally getting back to my old self again… and not a moment too soon!

In fact, I think it’s safe to say I’m back for good (back from the dead?) and you can expect to be seeing much more of me around these parts in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Let’s Have A Party

And to celebrate, I’ve spent the last few weeks pouring my very heart and soul into a brand spankin’ new re-design of Electric Guitar Review, and I’m proud to say I’m ready to show her off to the public.

So, if you’re reading this post via RSS I dare say it’s time to leave the safety of your feed-reader behind and come on over to join this party—hey, you could at least stop by long enough to check out the new digs and maybe take a swig off the beer bong.

Yep, things have changed rather drastically around this old blog, and while there are no doubt some odds and ends still left untied (old formatting, etc,) the basic building blocks are all there… fancy new “magazine-style” layout, front page video section, Featured articles, behind the scenes photos from EGR Labs (via Flickr,) anon site image gallery, and what I would call a much more streamlined blog design in general.

You’ve Been A Godsend

I’d also like to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for standing by me during the most bitterly painful year of my life… the one-year mark of my wife’s passing is quickly approaching, and as that day draws closer I am continually reminded of what a strange, terrible, and yet somehow life-affirming journey it’s been.

I couldn’t have done it without you guys… or at least I wouldn’t have wanted to. So yeah… I’m baaaaa-aaaaaaaccccckkkkkkk!

-Cary

Latest in this lineup is the just-announced G6120-CGP––a recreation of the prototype “Stereo” guitar that Gretsch built for Chet Atkins back in 1956.

So early was the prototype given to Atkins that the instrument’s f-holes were only inlays…. they hadn’t even been routed yet. Only one was ever created.

Chief among the guitar’s innovations though, was a so-called “split-dual-coil pickup” which allowed for two separate audio signals: one for the bass strings, and one for treble.

According to Gretsch––

Chet used this special, one-of-a-kind instrument on his ground breaking 1957 album, “Finger-Style Guitar”. Wired with two output jacks, the signal from the bass strings would run through the echo input on his amplifier while the treble strings were fed dry through the normal channel. Though at the time the concept of a “stereo” guitar was a brilliant idea, it was deemed impractical as the cost to produce it put it out of reach of the general buying public. The project was shelved.

The Chet Atkins Stereo Guitar will feature a body of Laminated Maple, a three-piece Maple neck (24.6“ scale length,) Rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets and vintage ”Wide-Block“ Pearloid position markers, ”G“ Brand and Simulated ”F-Hole“ inlays on body, and full headstock and fretboard binding.

Inlays on the Body,

Electronics will include a pair of Special Designed TV Jones Dual-Coil pickups (neck pickup features both Stereo and Mono capabilities,) 3-way pickup switching, Stere/Mono switch, individual volume controls, plus Master Volume knob.

The guitar will be built in a limited run of just 75 units worldwide for 2008, and will ship with a G6241 Deluxe Hardshell Case included. No word yet on pricing.

I had an amazing time, and it feels good to finally put this crazy year behind me… but of course, like any good guitarhead, I just had to buy a little six-string souvenir to bring back home with me.

El Requinto! Yes, it looks like a guitarra, but in actuality the Requinto is about 80% the size of a standard guitar, and it’s tuned one fifth higher than standard, making the tuning: A-D-G-C-E-A.

It’s a beautiful little instrument (built in the famous/infamous Paracho,) and it really helped to keep my fingers in good form while I was away from my standard arsenal of instruments.

Anyway, so far I’ve been pretty lazy about getting back to posting here (or at any of my blogs for that matter,) but I figure it’s better to wait until I’m motivated to write something good than to just phone something in for the sake of filling up space… right?

Thank you all for the well wishes, and the unending support and kindness. This great big worldwide community of guitar players and gearheads is a true godsend.

Here’s to a great new year for all of us…

–El Viudo

I can’t remember a more needed vacation, and I’m looking forward to getting some quality time with my camera, the good indigenous people of Oaxaca, some delicious carnitas, a few good books, the local Zapotecan ruins, and of course my trusty travel guitar… the Little Martin.

As the one-year mark looms up on the horizon I think it would be a good time to thank you all once again for supporting me through this most difficult year of my life… this is one anniversary (Oct 27th,) that I’m looking forward to putting behind me.

Adios, and see you in two weeks! Hope you all have a lovely Halloween!

–Cary