Guitar Info

Guitarist birthdays...

Yesterday was Eric Clapton's 59th, whilst today Mick Ralphs (Bad Company/Mott The Hoople) celebrates his 56th, and AC/DC's Angus Young (pictured) is still, as ever, the perpetual schoolboy at 45 years of age!

New Jazz Elite Hollowbody Guitar from Schecter

Speaking of other guitar blogs, the portuguese-language blog Guitar Bizarre now moved to www.guitarbizarre.com



...and to think, I only spelt Guitarz with a Z on this blog because he had gotten the guitars.blogspot.com URL (with an S) first!

Here's another guitar blog to add to the (slowly growing) list: Six String Opinion - Commentary On The World Of Guitar Music.

New Fender '59 Bassman LTD: "...By the '60s and '70s, the original all-tube 'Tweed' 4x10 Bassman gained popularity with rock, country and blues guitarists as a great-sounding, reliable, easy to use guitar amp. Even some emerging British amp designers of the day copied its circuitry for use in their most celebrated designs."



What's the matter, Fender? Can't bring yourselves to say Marshall?

Latest Rock House DVD Target Female Guitarists: Yes, more girls with guitars, please, and less Britneys, Beyonces, Christinas and Kylies. Thank you!

Win a piece of Fender History: Another Strat, blah blah blah... (Oh, if you must know, it's the first American Series Stratocaster guitar to feature the revolutionary new S-1 switching system.)

What gets my goat is this line from the rules and regulations: Fender's(R) NAMM Stratocaster(R) Guitar Giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - WAKE UP, YOU BASTARDS AT FENDER - this is the WORLD Wide Web NOT the AMERICAN Wide Web.

Sorry to bring politics into it, but Alistair Campbell is put out by Tony Blair's guitar playing on the phone.

Kurt Cobain's famous 'F*** Elvis' Mosrite guitar is to be auctioned in Texas next month: A guitar owned by Kurt Cobain is going to be sold off at the Icons Of The 20th Century Music Action, which will also feature other instruments owned by famous musicians.

This is the first time that an instrument owned by Cobain will be auctioned off to the public. Cobain’s Mark IV Mosrite Gospel is said to be the only known solid body version of the traditionally hollow bodied model. The original case for the instrument has been painted over since Cobain owned it, but you can still see "Nirvana" painted onto the case as well as the words "F*** Elvis."

April 5 marks the 10th anniversary of Cobain’s suicide.

Scorpions Breakout New Tracks: The legendary German hard rockers the Scorpions have made available streams of all the tracks from their forthcoming studio album Unbreakable, due out May 3rd.

Girls on Guitars: artwork by Nicole Steen.

Buckethead Quits Gn'R: Guitarist departs before Rock in Rio appearance.

Guitarist gets Rockwalk award posthumously: Randy Rhoads, the guitarist behind Ozzy Osbourne's most acclaimed solo work, haas been posthumously honored with a bronze bust on Hollywood's Rockwalk.

4Pockets Chromatic Guitar Tuner 1.0: a high precision real-time guitar tuner for your PC and Pocket PC available for download now.

First Jumbo Acoustic Model from Johnson: The company's first jumbo acoustic, the JG-J45 is constructed with mahogany back, sides, and neck, and is available with optional solid spruce top.

Roland Ships Next Gen Guitar Synthesizer: Based on their latest synth engine, the GR-20 is now shipping along with a new divided pickup design that can even accommodate Les Paul-style guitars.

John Sykes' guitars: the Thin Lizzy guitarist's collection of Les Pauls and other guitars.

Eric Johnson keeps the rock 'n' roll faith with his guitar

An acoustic double-neck Flying V! Whatever next? (Built for Rudolph Schenker of the Scorpions, of course!)

Fear Factory guitarist to issue signature series axe

The Vintage Fender Stratocaster Market in Japan

Icons of Twentieth Century Music Auction to Include Two Noteworthy Vintage Fender Stratocasters. Also check out Roger McGuinn's 1966 Rickenbacker 370-12, Kurt Cobain's 1960's Mosrite Gospel, George Harrison's Harptone 12 String, and The Cars' Stage and Studio Used Guitars amongst other wondrous items!

Prince Reigns at Rock Hall: Prince inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As were also George Harrison, Bob Seger, ZZ Top...

Malden Introduces Retro-Styled Utopia Guitar: It has the styling of a Jazzmaster/Jaguar, but why oh why have they opted for three single coil pickups in a Stratocaster formation? *yawn*

See also: Malden Guitars

Three Kings of Custom Unveiled at Daytona Bike Week: The Gibson Custom Shop, working with three of the best-known custom motorcycle builders, took guitar design to a new level last Friday with the unveiling of the Three Kings of Custom guitars at an invitation-only reception at Daytona Bike Week.

Gibson Wins Trademark Case Against Paul Reed Smith: The introduction of the Paul Reed Smith Singlecut guitar promted a law suit from Gibson over the trademarked Les Paul body shape, which has just been decided in Gibson's favor.

Kurt Cobain wanted to quite Nirvana and join Hole. He also had visions of becoming a singer songwriter: "I could sit down on a chair and play acoustic guitar like Johnny Cash or something, and it won't be a big joke."

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood admits he is lucky to be alive

Graham Coxon: There IS life after Blur!

More info on The First World Guitar Congress in Baltimore, as mentioned last week on this blog.

Can I have my guitar back please? It's easy to spot ... it's the one signed by Jimi Hendrix

Happy Birthday to U2's bassist Adam Clayton, who is 44 years old today.



By the way, that mad looking bass is by Auerswald Instruments.

Clapton sells treasured guitars for drug clinic: Here's some more on this story. And yes, he IS selling "Blackie".

Johnson Introduces New Summit Series Acoustics

Unique guitars for sale: One-off graffitti guitars from Tagg'd Ltd in Salisbury, UK.

Former Genesis guitarist to perform with Former Led Zeppelin bassist: Steve Hackett's official website (www.stevehackett.com) reports that he will be joined by John Paul Jones for one song at his upcoming gig at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire venue on March 13th.

Punk rock girl band Hell on Heels teeters on the brink of success: This is what we want. More girls with guitars! Hurrah!

Slash and Learn! Slash reveals there is unlikely to ever be a G'n'R reunion because of Axl.

Banshees Guitarist dies: John McGeoch, guitarist with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd, and Magazine has passed away. Another sad loss.

Bo Diddley has been selected for induction into The Blues Foundation's prestigious Blues Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be conducted in association with the Foundation's Charter Members' Dinner to be held on Wednesday April 28th in Memphis, TN. The Blues Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized and founded in 1980 in Memphis, TN with a mission to preserve blues history, celebrate blues excellence and support blues education. The Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame, with its inductees selected annually by committee, acknowledges the pioneers of blues music.

Framus Diablo Custom, Panthera Studio Custom & AK 1974 Custom: Once Framus electrics were strictly for beginners, but these days this famous name has gone much more up-market. Review from Guitarist magazine.

Eagles founder back after two decades: Founding Eagles member Bernie Leadon is about to release his first new record in 26 years.

Guitarists of all kinds set to gather: 'World Guitar Congress' planned in Baltimore.

Superstar guitarist taking different approach on new tour: Eric Johnson chills out.

Father of electric guitar honored at Rock Hall: Who? Les Paul, of course!

Lordbizarre's Electric Guitar & Amp Museum: I love this stuff! Lordbizarre from Belgium collects those junk shop guitars that others would ignore in favour for other well-known brands or copies thereof, and he has amassed a collection of weird and wonderful (and often unplayable) instruments from around the world: Italy, Eastern Europe, Russia, Japan, etc.

Vintage guitars get second life online

Eric Clapton is selling 56 guitars including a 1956 Fender Stratocaster he assembled himself, expected to fetch £80,000, and a 1964 Gibson, tipped to go for £50,000.

Determining the Production Year of a Vintage Stratocaster, Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.

How to Buy a Fender Stratocaster, Part One

Happy Birthday to Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour, who has reached the grand old age of 60 today.



See also:

• www.pinkfloyd.com
  
  
• www.pinkfloyd.co.uk
  
  
• Dave Gilmour's Guitar Equipment

UPDATE: Just how old is the man? Leafing through Saturday's copy of The Guardian, I noticed that in the birthdays column they listed him as being 57. Just checking now on the internet I find various different birthdates for him: March 6, 1947 says this site, 6th March 1946 says the Fender Europe site, and then there's this site rockdetector.com who seem to think he was born in 1967, which would make him 37 years old! I think not.



It looks more likely that he is either 57 or 58. At least he's not 60 yet!!!

Kravitz readying new album: Lenny Kravitz is set to return with his seventh studio album, 'Baptism', in May.

And the Van Halen stories keep on coming

Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington happy to be here after close calls

Classical guitar unleashed! UCSC’s Mesut Ozgen takes guitar in new directions.

On guitar - for 50 years: another tribute to the Fender Stratocaster.

Chili Peppers guitarist holds his own: thumbs up for solo album by Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante.

Courtney Love gives NME reader her guitar: A Love-ly gesture, as the headline puts it!

Crafter Adds Twin Bird Acoustic-Electrics for 2004

Two New Bass Heads from Carvin: featuring 6 bands of EQ, direct out, and footswitchable effects loop, Carvin's B500 and B1500 pump 500 and 1900 Watts of power into 2 Ohm loads respectively .

Qingdao Factory Tour: Take a tour of the new Epiphone factory in China.

Schecter Updates Tempest Special for 2004: Wow! These look quite tasty.

Last July I mentioned that I had seen Eliah Levy busking on a Chapman Stick in Oxford City Centre. My comment at the time was "Quite impressive. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for his website!"



Well, I'm glad to report that his website has had a makeover and is now much improved!

Ernie Ball Debuts Limited Edition Music Man Instruments

Exhibits honor guitar innovator Les Paul: "The New Sound: Les Paul and the Electric Guitar" is scheduled to open Friday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

California Guitar Trio concert to air on Echoes

Today is the anniversary of the birth of the late, great and legendary Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher, who was born in 1949.

...and if you want a battered Strat just like his, Fender now offer a faithful replica.

The Who's late bass player JOHN ENTWISTLE may make an appearance on the band's next album

If you've got any spare wads of cash lying about the place doing nothing, then you may want to head on over to Maverick Music and check out the vintage guitars on offer, including some drool-worthy Zemaitis and Patrick James Eggle custom instruments. (My thanks to Mark Hansen for the link).

Chet Atkins Studio: Gibson Montana has enhanced the performance of its popular "solidbody acoustic" design with the introduction of the Chet Atkins Studio. Among the Studio's new features are a fully hollow thin body for increased acoustic volume and an oval soundhole in the lower back of the guitar to enhance the player's acoustic experience.

Guitar Talk: An acoustic nightmare. Another guitar blog. It's always great to see other guitar blogs. For the world's most popular instrument, the guitar doesn't seem to be very well represented by the "blogging community". (I started this blog, because I couldn't already find anything else out there like it.)

Fan's guitar flourish wipes off cherished autograph: A rock fan who paid £1000 for a guitar signed by Brian May rubbed off the signature with his sleeve when he played it.

Jazz legend, pedal steel guitar co-pioneer Alvino Rey dies at 95

Neil Young Goes Green: New tour takes an eco-friendly approach.

Tribute to guitar god Hendrix heavenly

Rock's favourite guitar blows out the candles: another Stratocaster turns 50 story.

Stratocaster guitar turns 50 this year: Nils Lofgren tells us why he's a Strat man.

Steve Vai confirmed for Crossroads Guitar Festival

JetSlide makes alternating between slide guitar and guitar chords easy: The innovative JetSlide guitar slide allows you to play slide guitar licks, while retaining full use of your fretting fingers for playing normal guitar chords and solos. JetSlide guitar slides work equally well on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and resonator guitars.