Attendees will walk out with a fully functional, Egnater-modified JTM45 Marshall head from Mojo Musical Supply.

On Saturday, October 14, 2006, Egnater is offering a One Day Amp Build Seminar. The classes are held at Egnater World Headquarters in beautiful Berkley, Michigan located just North of Detroit (Rock City).

When you sign up for the class, you are also purchasing an amplifier kit. These high quality kits are supplied by Mojo Music and use the JTM45 head model. Egnater then modifies the stock kit into a “hotrodded” version for you to build.

The modifications take the stock 4-input, 2-channel amp and turn it into a JCM800 master volume model on steroids. You get more gain, smoother tone and more punch than a stock JCM800.

Each participant has his/her own work station for the day. Instuctors will walk you through the process of building your amp kit, one step at a time. Failure isn’t an option, as you will be guided by professionals each step of the way. You are guaranteed to walk out at the end of the day with a great sounding amp head that you built with your own hands.

No electronic knowledge is necessary, though it doesn’t hurt to have some. You should also be somewhat proficient at using basic hand tools (screwdrivers, nutdrivers, pliers etc).

Email begnater@aol.com for an information package on the seminar.

Amp Loung/Egnater
3833 West 12 Mile Road
Berkley, MI 48072
248-541-9100

For more information, visit their web site at www.egnater.com.

Posted in Amplification, Education, Events, Guitar, News

After listening to hundreds of entries posted on SonicBids.com, the staff of Guitar Player has selected the ten finalists who will battle for the title of “Guitar Hero” at the magazine’s Guitar Hero 2006 competition to be held September 23, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. At the conclusion of the event, one player will be crowned as the 2006 Guitar Player Guitar Hero.

This is the second annual Guitar Hero event. The premiere Guitar Hero competition was held last year at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on June 10, 2005. The winner of the Guitar Hero ‘05 title was New York’s Dominic Frasca. First Runner-Up was Rodney VerBrugge of Northern California, and Second Runner-Up was Germany’s Marcus Deml.

“After just two years, Guitar Player’s Guitar Hero competition is already one of the industry’s biggest community-building events for guitarists,” says GP Editor in Chief Michael Molenda. “The concert brings together guitar legends, incredibly talented ‘unknown’ guitarists, and scores of players who aspire to be the next Guitar Player Guitar Hero. It’s a fabulous celebration of the guitar, and one of the most exciting and fun-filled things the Guitar Player staff does all year!”

The ten finalists for Guitar Player’s Guitar Hero ‘06 Competition are: David Powers (Brewster, New York), Sergei Roudzinski (Russia), Patrick Woods (Winona Lake, Indiana), Joe Cefalu (Boise, Idaho), Ed DeGenaro (Seattle, Washington), Trey Alexander (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), Josh Karickhoff (New York, New York), Anton Tsygankov (St. Peters, Missouri), Ron LoCurto (Kenmore, New York), and Nathan Hahn (Waxahachie, Texas).

The winner of the event will receive a mammoth gear package, including gear provided by the sponsors of the event.

The complete panel of celebrity judges who will pick the winner of Guitar Hero ‘06 are guitar legend Joe Satriani, session great and Toto axeman Steve Lukather, former Poison and Mr. Big guitarist Ritchie Kotzen, Rockstar:SuperNova house band guitarslinger Rafael Moreira, the fabulous Shredmistress Rynata, and Steve Read of Musician’s Friend.

Guitar Player’s 2006 Guitar Hero competition is proud to be sponsored by Epiphone, First Act, Hughes & Kettner, Mesa Boogie, Musician’s Friend, and Sonicbids.com.

Advance tickets for this incredible celebration of guitar are available through the box office at the Great American Music Hall. Or, you can click here and order them online.

For more information, visit their web site at www.guitarplayer.com.

Posted in Events, Guitar, News

Gibson Guitar has partnered with Green Day guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong to create the Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong (BJA) Signature model guitar, it was announced today. The guitar was created through a partnership with Armstrong and the Gibson USA design team in Nashville, Tenn. and is based on the specifications of Armstrong’s vintage 1950’s model Gibson Les Paul Jr.

The guitar took a little over a year of design and modification with hands-on analysis from Armstrong throughout Green Day’s worldwide tour. The Gibson BJA Signature guitar boasts a custom modified pickup, unique to any other guitar produced. It will be available in three colors: vintage sunburst, classic white and ebony. It also comes with a custom hard shell case with leopard-print interior and the Green Day signature “Shock Guy” logo on the exterior.

“For years I have been looking for a guitar sound that could live up to the guitar tone I hear in my head. The first time I played my 1956 Les Paul Jr. guitar, it matched that tone perfectly. Les Paul Jr. guitars can reproduce the punch of power chords and the power of big open chords with perfect string definition,” said Armstrong. “I have worked hard over the last two years to make sure my artist series guitar would live up to the legacy of the classic Les Paul guitars of the fifties.”

The Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Signature Model specs are listed below. The MSRP is $2,169.00 USD.

Pickups: Stacked Double-Coil Special Design P-90
Hardware: Nickel
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 24-3/4″
Nut Width: 1.687″
Nut: Molded plastic
Bridge: Non-compensated wraparound
Neck Material: Mahogany
Body Material: Mahogany
Controls: Volume and Tone
Colors: Vintage Sunburst, Ebony and Classic White

For more information, visit their web site at www.gibson.com.

Posted in Guitar

Line 6 announced today the debut of Variax® Acoustic 300 Steel and Nylon string modeling guitars. The latest additions to the Variax family of guitars, the incredibly affordable Variax 300 Acoustics deliver a crucial set of tones inspired by the award-wining Variax Acoustic 700. Both the Steel and Nylon 300 versions offer exceptional feedback-resistance on stage, and unique and intuitive tone shaping options for the recording guitarist.

Variax Acoustic 300 Steel and Nylon feature a unique and simple Body control knob. On Steel, the Body control goes from small parlor to full-bodied jumbo while Nylon can move from a bright and punchy flamenco to warm and round classical. Controls also include mic position, compression, and reverb/ambience, which can all be saved along with the model to any one of 10 user selectable locations. An easy to read display shows the preset number and becomes a built-in chromatic tuner at the touch of a button.

Both instruments feature a mahogany body with spruce top, and a mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard. Variax Acoustic 300 guitars include a custom TRS cable, XPS Mini direct box/power supply, and are available in a natural gloss finish.

Variax Acoustic 300 Steel Pricing: MSRP $839.99, Street $599.99
Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Pricing: MSRP $839.99, Street $599.99

For more information, visit their web site at www.line6.com.

Posted in Guitar

Kustom Amplification proudly celebrates its 40th Anniversary with the introduction of two series of Limited Edition guitar amplifiers. Sporting cool racing-style stripes, the 40th Anniversary Coupe® Series consists of three models while the new ‘66 DART™ takes Kustom’s popular 10-watt guitar amp platform and gives it a full-on “Tuck n’ Roll” visual treatment.

The 40th Anniversary Coupe Series amplifiers will be available in 1×12 (36-watt) and 2×12 (72-watt) combo amp formats as well as a 2×10, 36-watt version - a new configuration for the Coupe Series. In keeping with the Anniversary theme, only 40 of each model will be manufactured.

The padded Tuck n’ Roll panels of each Anniversary Coupe are crafted using the original Uniroyal® Naugahide material but with a bold racing stripe added and a special “1966 - 2006″ embroidered logo stitched directly onto the colored panel. Otherwise, each model is identical to the standard ‘36 Coupe and ‘72 Coupe designs, which are now being endorsed by professional players such as Tracii Guns, Roy Z, Rich Eckhardt (Toby Keith), Van Zant, Jeff Bates, and more. Anniversary Coupes will be shipped with a matching cover that also features the Kustom 40th Anniversary logo.

The ‘66 DART is based on Kustom’s best-selling DART10FX, but now dressed up in either Red, Blue, Silver or Black Tuck n’ Roll. Each unit boasts a vintage Kustom logo, carrying handle, control knobs and grille cloth. The ‘66 DART is a two-channel amplifier with Analog Reverb and Delay effects and a plywood baffle, which enhances the resonance and overall tonality of any guitar amplifier.

Although it’s a small amp, the ‘66 DART offers full 3-Band EQ, a speaker output to drive an external cabinet, Line Out and Headphone jacks as well as a CD/Tape input. The ‘66 DART amplifiers will be offered for a limited time only.

For more information, visit their web site at www.kustom.com.

Posted in Amplification, Guitar

Line 6, Inc. announced the latest version of their award-winning guitar recording software, RiffWorks Line 6 Edition Version 2. RiffWorks is available as a standalone software recording application for Line 6® USB enabled devices, and as part of the GuitarPort® RiffTracker™ hardware/software bundle. RiffWorks Version 2 is available for Mac® OS X Universal, as well as Windows® XP and includes RiffLink online collaboration for 60 days and RiffCaster instant podcasting technology.

Designed for guitarists, RiffWorks makes recording easy and fun. RiffWorks users can set the tempo and start recording simply by strumming their guitar. Seven real-time effects help create just the right mix, and the included InstantDrummer™ offers authentic drummer back-up recordings and the ability to dial in the right amount of intensity and variation without typical tedious drum-machine programming. Eight InstantDrummer sessions are included and 46 more are available from Sonoma Wire Works.

With integrated RiffLink technology, RiffWorks users will be able to jam together online with no technical challenges regardless of their platform (Windows® XP or Mac® OS X). RiffLink collaboration will allow multiple users to record and mix in a shared session in real-time or when they have time. After the 60-day free trial, for a nominal subscription fee, users can continue to enjoy all the robust features of RiffLink online collaboration.

RiffWorks Version 2 will offer one-click podcasting and webcasting. RiffCaster broadcasting service allows instant publishing via podcasts and webcasts at the press of a button — all with embedded Creative Commons licensing. “We’ve heard several killer songs produced by RiffWorks users who say it’s their first time ever recording. Many musicians post their first song on RiffCaster the same night they install RiffWorks,” says Doug Wright, President of Sonoma Wire Works. “And now with RiffLink they can collaborate with friends, too.”

RiffWorks Line 6 Edition works seamlessly with Line 6 products such as TonePort™, POD® xt, POD® xt Live, POD® xt Pro, and GuitarPort for Windows® and Mac® OS X. RiffWorks Version 2 is available as an add-on for Line 6 GuitarPort, TonePort, and PODxt customers for $99 and as a complete solution in a box with a GuitarPort in stores now for $265.99 MSRP. Any version of RiffWorks/GuitarPort RiffTracker purchased on or after February 1st, 2006 will be upgraded for free to RiffWorks Line 6 Edition Version 2.

For more information, visit their web site at www.line6.com.

Posted in Guitar, Recording, Software, Technology

Sheets of Sound introduces Sheets of Sound for Guitar II. Sheets of Sound for Guitar II revolutionizes guitar technique while focusing on a radical new way to approach the instrument.

Sheets of Sound for Guitar Vol II is a natural evolution of Sheets of Sound Vol I. It continues along much of the same harmonic and rhythmic path while putting more emphasis on real world examples and delving into asymetrical, odd-meter groupings and artist studies. The artist studies are inspired by Pat Metheny, George Benson, Frank Gambale, Rusty Cooley, Pat Martino and John Coltrane and are very exciting to learn and perform.

Traditional guitar methods focus on playing the instrument horizontally across the fingerboard. By contrast, Sheets of Sound for Guitar focuses on playing the instrument in a more natural vertical orientation. In doing so, a more straightforward and horn-like voice is attained.

The book is a compendium of melodic and harmonic devices featuring the following:

• Tab and standard notation
• Amazing Chops (works for Fusion, Metal, Jazz, etc)
• Arpeggio Scales
• Waterfalls
• Sweep Picking to die for
• Studies inspired by George Benson, John Coltrane, Frank Gambale, Pat Martino, Shawn Lane, Mike Brecker, Rusty Cooley, McCoy Tyner, Rudolphe Kreutzer
• Forward Motion Pentatonics
• Long form swept Pentatonics
• 4ths patterns
• Odd Meter meters/rhythms

For more information, visit their web site at www.sheetsofsound.net.

Posted in Education, Guitar, Sheet Music

Ritter has been making massive inroads into the hardshell case market with the introduction of 60 different models in 7 separate ranges. Two of these are the RW5000-6 Series and RW7000-6 Series guitar cases.

Both feature multi-ply wood shell construction, black vinyl exterior with white thread trim, metal Ritter logo, chrome hardware and black moulded handle. While the RW5000-6 Series has a black, contoured, padded, plush interior, the RW7000-6 Series has a similar interior in scarlet.

Both are designed to fit dreadnought, classic, electric and electric bass guitars, A and F style mandolins, 4/5 string banjos, acoustic bass, ukulele, bouzouki, Flying V, 335, round back and slim line guitars, while the RW7000-6 Series will also accommodate archtop guitars.

For more information, visit their web site at www.ritter-bags.com.

Posted in Accessories, Guitar

Alfred is pleased to release the authentic guitar TAB version of the album-matching folio for Hoobastank’s hit record, Every Man for Himself.

The latest release from pop-rock giants Hoobastank, Every Man for Himself has already reached the No. 12 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart (Billboard.com, 2006). This book provides authentic guitar TAB for all the songs on the record.

Titles are: The Rules * Born to Lead * Moving Forward * Inside of You * The First of Me * Good Enough * If I Were You * Without a Fight * Don’t Tell Me * Look Where We Are * Say the Same * If Only * More Than a Memory.

For more information, visit their web site at www.alfred.com.

Posted in Education, Guitar, Tab

Music Rising, a campaign launched to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region hurricanes, announced today that it has provided instruments and/or gear to over 2,000 professional musicians to date. Launched in November 2005 the campaign has provided aid to Gulf Coast musicians not only in the region but also in over 34 States from California to New York. To mark the one year anniversary of the Katrina disasters, Music Rising has announced that it will launch the sale of the Music Rising Epiphone guitar with all proceeds going to the charity.

Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and facilitated by MusiCares. Since its inception Music Rising has been recognized throughout the world through media coverage and has received accolades from various other organizations. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign. It also became the recipient of the 2006 Gold Halo Award for Cause Marketing on June 13, 2006 and in November, 2006 the campaign will be the recipient of the prestigious Billboard Humanitarian Award at a special event held in New York. Many people from the ravaged region are still living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or are without a permanent residence. Those musicians who have depended on the local music industry for their livelihood, have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost instruments and equipment. The Gibson Foundation will continue to manage all phases of Music Rising.

The limited edition Music Rising Epiphone guitar will be sold exclusively through Musician’s Friend with all proceeds going directly to the Music Rising campaign. The Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar features exclusive artwork and the campaign’s slogan “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork which was emblazoned on The Edge’s t-shirt at the 2006 Grammy Awards broadcast has become a symbol of the campaign and is also available on limited edition t-shirts sold exclusively through U2.com.

The Limited Edition Epiphone guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. Backed by a Limited lifetime warranty, the Music Rising Epiphone guitar will sell for $599 USD and be produced in limited quantity. It will also include a custom “Music Rising” gig bag as well as a signed certificate of authenticity.

“Even though it has been a year since the hurricanes struck the Gulf Region we still see so much need and we want to continue to help. The limited edition Epiphone Music Rising guitar will put money straight into the fund so we can continue to assist the region,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibson.com. Questions or inquiries can be emailed to info@musicrising.org. Checks may also be sent to the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, 309 Plus Park Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37217.

For more information, visit their web site at www.epiphone.com.

Posted in Events, Guitar, Industry