The Ibanez SV5470 Prestige––no specs yet, but I’ll keep you up to date as more info becomes available…. you can check out the full page here.

Both instruments feature the same basic double-cutaway design, sound block-mounted pickups (for increased sustain,) rosewood fingerboards, 22 frets (large wires on the AS73B, medium wires on the AS103BM,) set-in neck construction, and a ART1 bridge, but the similarities pretty much stop there.

Artcore AS73B  While pricing doesn’t seem to be available yet, Ibanez’s AS73B appears to be a budget model, sporting a maple body (including top, back & sides,) bound fretboard, pearl “dot” fingerboard inlays, and a “Black Flat” finish. Electronics include an ACH1-S humbucker in the neck position, ACH2-S in the bridge position, and dual volume & tone knobs.

Artcore Custom AS103BM  The Artcore Custom AS103BM takes things quite a few steps further. The guitar boasts exotic Burled Maple on its top, back and sides, a 5-piece Artcore Custom neck, bound fingerboard, block-style Artcore Custom inlays, and is available only in Natural finish. Electronics include IBZ Custom 58 humbuckers in  both positions, plus dual volume and tone controls, and 3-way pickup switching.

Pricing and accessories are yet to be announced.

Over the weekend, at Austin’s Summer NAMM 2007 show, Ibanez introduced this gorgeous new hollowbody archtop––the Artcore Custom AF105SM.

While the guitar appears to have excellent specs––It’s one of the higher-end Artcore Custom models––the obvious standout here is a body made of highly-figured Spalted Maple: top, back, and sides.

Other features of the AF105SM will include a 5-piece Artcore Custom neck (set-in construction,) rosewood fretboard with 22 medium frets, block-style Artcore Custom fingerboard inlays, binding all around (body, fretboard, headstock,) and an Ibanez ART1 bridge.

Electronics include a pair of IBZ Custom 58 humbuckers, dual volume controls, dual tone controls, and 3-way pickup switching. No word from Ibanez on pricing.

Playing off the popularity of its truly classic RG series of shredders (heck, these guitars have been around for over 20 years,) Ibanez today announced the release of this dangerously green beasty––the badly named (or should I say numbered,) RGR320EX.

The guitar is decked out in an “Arctic Frost” finish, which according to my sources is created via a special process by which no two guitars come out alike––making each instrument aesthetically unique.

The Ibanez RGR320EX is expected to feature a basswood body, 3-ply maple Wizard neck, rosewood fretboard with “sharktooth” inlays and jumbo frets, fretboard binding, IBZ “Designed by EMG” neck and bridge pickups, and an Edge III bridge.

So far there’s been no word on pricing, though the standard Road Rage Black version runs around $550 at most online guitar retailers.

Stay tuned for more NAMM goodness.

The guitar boasts a number of unique Lavigne-inspired features, the most obvious being a distinctive checkerboard pickguard, 5th fret fingerboard inlay in the shape of Lavigne’s star logo, artist signature on headstock, and just a single topless humbucker in the bridge position.

Lavigne’s Tele also breaks the mold by offering side-dot only fret markers, a single volume control (who needs a pesky tone knob?) and a unique 3-way pickup switch that allows for quick access to Front Coil, Rear Coil, or Full Humbucker modes.

The Avril Lavigne Telecaster sports a Basswood body, “C”-shaped maple neck (25.5” scale-length,) Rosewood fretboard w/9.5” radius and 22 MJ frets, 6-saddle strings-through-body Tele bridge, die-cast tuning machines, and chrome hardware. No word yet on pricing.

Sure, it’s pretty much the definition of “commercial,” and my eye is known to linger upon instruments that could quite literally bankrupt me, but just like that gift-giving holiday that everyone loves to hate, NAMM gives me the kind of warm fuzzy feeling that only blatant Capitalism can provide.

Case in point: Gretsch’s mouthwatering new releases––the G6134T-LTV White Penguin, and the 100CE & G100CEBK Synchromatic Acoustic Electric Archtop.

While Gretsch continues to stay rather challenged in the naming department (G6134T-LTV? Come on, you guys can do better than that,) the company still manages to pretty much own the “Twang Guitar” market, and it’s easy to see why.

White Penguin… Bigsby Included

The G6134T-LTV is basically a suped-up version of the already singular White Penguin, though it ditches the standard “G” Cadillac tailpiece for a ritzy Gold Bigsby Vibrato, and that LTV tacked onto the model number tells us that the original’s DynaSonic single-coils have been swapped out for a pair of TV Jones Classic pickups.

Other upgraded features include “Gold Sparkle” binding across the board (fretboard, headstock, and body,) Neo Classical Thumbnail fretboard inlays, a simplified control layout, and an adjustable truss rod. The guitar is listing for a whopping $4,850.

Synchromatic Acoustic Electric Archtop

While I’m more than bit entranced by that beautiful White Penguin, the real news here for me is the release of the new 100CE & G100CEBK Synchromatic Acoustic Electric Archtop models. Talk about truly classic design.

The guitar is an electric version of Gretsch’s gorgeous Synchromatic G100, and like its brethren it features a classic art-deco design, laminated spruce top, laminated maple body, 3-piece maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard with 20 Extra-Broad frets.

Upgraded features include a single Gretsch pickup at the neck, and single volume & tone controls… amazingly, the guitar is carrying a list price of just $950.00. Also available in black.

Well, we’re literally days away from the kick-off of this Summer’s NAMM 2007 show, and as usual I’ve donned my best cat-burglar outfit and spent the last few days digging around for whatever scraps I can gather for all you guitar freaks and gearheads.

While there is yet to be an official announcement from Fender (watch for one this weekend,) the big news today is the unveiling of yet another new Artist Series instrument––the Jim Root Telecaster––in honor of Slipknot and Stone Sour shredder Jim Root.

This latest Tele model appears to take the guitar in a whole new direction, with the addition of a number of Root-inspired customizations, including a mahogany body, a pair of active EMG humbuckers, both Ebony and Maple fretboard options, “flat” black and white finishes, black hardware, and just a single control knob––Master Volume.

The Jim Root Telecaster will also sport a modern “C”-shaped Maple neck (25.5” scale-length,) Ebony or Maple 9.5” radius fretboard with 22 MJ frets, 6-saddle strings-thru-body hardtail bridge, Fender/Schaller Deluxe locking tuners, black or white single-ply pickguard, and 3-way pickup switching.

Electronics include a single EMG 60 active humbucker at the neck, paired with an EMG 81 active humbucker at the bridge, and the guitar is expected to ship with a black tweed case w/red plush interior.

With Summer NAMM 2007 right around the corner it would seem prudent to build an index page for all the late-breaking guitar & gear announcements.

Bookmark us now, and you’ll have quick and easy access to the latest NAMM info as it becomes available. Here’s to a great Summer Show!

Pre-Show Announcements, Leaks & Other Fun Stuff

• Fender yesterday unveiled the new J Masic Jazzmaster, in honor of Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis… purple and sparkly––what’s not to love?
• Fender also introduced a rather badass Tele finished in flat white and outfitted with active EMG humbuckers––the Jim Root Telecaster––in conjunction with Slipknot guitarist Jim Root.

New Guitars & Gear From The Showroom Floor

• Gretsch today released two new beautiful instruments––the upgraded G6134T-LTV White Penguin, and the 100CE & G100CEBK Synchromatic Acoustic Electric Archtop models.
• Squier has announced their latest Artist Model guitar, the Avril Lavigne Telecaster. Actually, a fairly unique instrument, including a checkerboard pickguard, and single topless humbucker.
• Ibanez busted out with a number of new guitars at NAMM today, but most interesting to this reader was the introduction of the insanely green Ibanez RGR320EX––a shred-head’s dream, built for speed, aggression, and seriously over the top looks.
• Ibanez released three new hollowbody archtops at NAMM––perhaps the nicest of the bunch being the Artcore Custom AF105SM.
• The other two releases from Ibanez were the Artcore AS73B and Artcore Custom AS103BM, a par of semi-acoustic double-cutaway models.

Hot on the heels of their new Joe Strummer Telecaster comes word that yet another of my all-time favorite guitar players is being honored with a Fender Artist Series guitar––the incomparable J. Mascis of early indie pioneers Dinosaur Jr.

Is this beginning to look like a trend? Can we expect to see a Thurston Moore Jazzmaster or John Frusciante Stratocaster coming down the pipe any time soon? A boy can dream.

As you can probably tell from the photo, in spite of his considerable chops Mascis isn’t known for taking himself too seriously, and the Jazzmaster that bears his name appears to be no exception––the body is apparently made of inexpensive basswood (something you see in a lot of Squiers,) and is decked out in a Purple Sparkle Polyester finish.

Other features unique to the instrument include a pair of “Special Design” MIJ single-coil Jazzmaster pickups, satin-finish neck, 21 Jumbo-size frets, adjusto-matic bridge, and an anodized Gold pickguard.

The J. Mascis Jaszzmaster will also sport a maple “C”-shape neck (25.5“ scale-length,) rosewood fretboard, Rosewood w/7.25” radius, “Lead” circuit volume and tone controls, “Rhythm” circuit volume and tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, vintage-style floating tremolo and tremolo lock button, and Fender/Gotoh vintage-style tuners.

Expect a full announcement from Fender at this weekend’s 2007 Summer NAMM show.

Drool inducing Gretsch Custom models (va-va-voom!,) a Fender Stratocaster coated with a real wine finish (this could only happen in California,) and Fender Dreadnoughts adorned with Tiki illustrations by Doug Horne are just a few of the wonders of the 2007 Winter NAMM Conference.

Definitely worth a look… you can see the whole Fender, Gretsch, and Jackson page here, or the full photo gallery index page here.

Fender Releases A Ton Of New Gear

New instruments from Fender this year include the aforementioned upgrades to their venerable Highway One line of Strats & Teles, the newly reissued ‘65 Mustangs (left,) two new Classic Player’s Stratocasters (’50s & ’60s,) and an ultra-deluxe inlayed version of the 60th Anniversary Tele… nice.

Fender also released the latest version of their G-DEC Amp/Practice system, the G-DEC 30, and also a redesigned Pro Junior “Woody” tube amp (right,) decked out for Fender’s 60th Anniversary in a Honey Blonde finish with vintage red grille cloth, chrome grill strips, and a newly upgraded 10-inch Jensen speaker.

Gibson Gets Into The Retro Tube Amp Business

Someone at Gibson has apparently finally smelled the coffee, as they’ve now released their super classy, retro-cool GA40RVT tube amp – which beyond its great looks sports point-to-point hand wiring, a hand-wired turret board, and even classic tube reverb and tremolo units.

Great two-tone Tolex styling includes dual top handles (cool and functional,) and the amp is said to use a pentode/triode switch to pump out solid overdrive at 1/2 wattage, making it possible to produce a heavy tube tone even at lower volume settings – try that with your Twin!

30 watts of power, two channels, 12“ Eminence Legend Speaker.

Gretsch Unleashes Five New Electrics And An Acoustic Archtop

Besides the G5120 Electromatic Hollowbody that we mentioned earlier today, Gretsch has announced four other new and reissued electric guitars, including the decidedly modern looking G5135 Electromatic Corvette (left,) the incomparably cool G6136DC White Falcon Double Cutaway, the classic G6120-1959 Nashville, and the only guitar I know of with leather trim – the G6130 Roundup w/ Western Leather.

To top it off they dropped this beautiful bombshell of an acoustic – the G100 Synchromatic Archtop. Among other things it sports a maple hollowbody design with a gorgeous arched spruce top, pearloid inlays (look at the size of those things!) white binding, and even vintage-styled open-back tuning machines.

A masterpiece of old-school Jazz cool, circa the ’40s… sweet.

And Much, Much More…

Other standouts include new violin basses from Hofner, a host of new guitars and basses from Ibanez (wow, is that a ”Girl Guitar“ I see?) three affordable new Vintage Modified basses from Squier, and peavey’s entry into the vintage British tube amp camp with their Windsor all-tube amp head.

The earlier version of the G5120 has been quite popular, due most likely to its incredibly reasonable price point, trademark Gretsch “Twang!” and of course some seriously retro good looks.

Among other things the new Electromatic G5120 sports newly designed pickups (a pair of Gretsch-made dual-coils,) Gretsch’s Tone-Pot control system, an authentic Bigsby vibrato unit, and vintage-styled chromed tuners.

IMHO this is a very nice set-up for a guitar running in the $600 price range. It’s no wonder these things are popular!

The Gretsch G5120 Electromatic Hollowbody Features–

• Laminated Maple Body
• Maple Neck
• 24.6“ Scale-Length
• Rosewood Fretboard With 21 Frets
• Two Gretsch Dual-Coils
• Master Volume, Master Tone, And Individual Pickup Volume Controls
• 3-Wap Pickup Switching
• Vintage-Styled Tuners
• Adjust-o-Matic Bridge/Rosewood Base
• Authentic Bigsby B60 Tailpiece

They’re also offering the G5120 in all new finishes, including orange, sunburst, and everyone’s favorite… black.

Fender has announced their latest line of guitars and basses — the newly redesigned Highway One Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz Bass, and Precision Bass.

According to their website, the upgraded Highway Ones sport a host of new features, including new pickups, new necks, new frets, new bridges, and even an all new satin-lacquer top-coat finish which is said to produce longer sustain and nicer tone.

Of course, everything old is new again, and the Highway One Strats have gone way old-school with those super-cool over-sized original headstocks, while the new Teles harken back to their predecessors from the 1970s with jumbo-sized frets, and a plethora of simple, but easy on the eye finishes.

Both guitars feature Alder bodies, Maple necks, and brand new alnico magnet pickups, which according to Fender produce “a more round sound with that great Fender sparkle.”

They are also touting the new single-coil pickups as producing better high-gain tones — a plus for those guitar players who are into a heavier sound, and on obvious attempt by Fender to reach out to a younger market of guitarists.