Guitar Lifestyle

How To Adjust a Fender Vintage-Style Truss Rod

Josh — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:32:27 +0000

In this video, Billy Penn, of 300guitars.com, demonstrates how to adjust the truss rod on a Fender vintage-style neck where access to the truss rod is in the heel of the neck:

I’ve been setting up my own guitars for years, and I learned a number of things from watching Billy’s video. For example, I’ve never thought of using a capo to hold the strings in place, nor have I thought of using painter’s tape to hold the neck plate in place. Two pieces of knowledge I put into place last night to set up one of my Teles.

(via Anthony Stauffer)

Black Keys Rig Rundown by Premier Guitar

Josh — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:42 +0000

I’m a fan of the Black Keys and Dan Auerbach’s interesting approach to gear, so I was pleased to see that Premier Guitar recently got a tour of Auerbach’s current touring gear by his guitar tech, the impeccably dressed Dan Johnson:

A Strat is Born

Josh — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:10:36 +0000

The folks have Fender have produced a video about the process of building a Stratocaster, titled A Strat is Born:

“A Strat is Born” takes you on a high-speed ride through the creation of a Fender Stratocaster guitar at Fender’s U.S. manufacturing facility in Corona, Calif., showing you every step from bare wood to onstage and set to a pulse-pounding soundtrack by Wayne Kramer.

Johnny A. Studio Sessions Episode 1

Josh — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:59:19 +0000

Johnny A is currently in the studio recording a new album, and he is documenting the process in a series of videos. The first episode of the series was released last week:

Acoustic Addicts Episode 2

Josh — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:40:18 +0000

The second episode of Acoustic Addicts has been released:

In this, the second installment of Acoustic Addicts, Carl Franklin and Richard Caruso test five Martin dreadnought guitars (2011 D18, 2011 D28, 2011 D35, 1968 D35, 1997 HD35) and a 2011 Yamaha Gigmaker. The focus of this show was to compare the Mahogany D18 and Rosewood D28 which are identical except for the tone wood.

2012 Fender Pawn Shop Series

Josh — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:32:35 +0000

Fender have announced a few new guitars for 2012 to add to their Pawn Shop Series. The new models are the Jaguarillo, the Offset Special, and the Reverse Jaguar Bass. I think the Offset Special looks pretty cool. I’ve heard good things about the Pawn Shop Series, but I haven’t had a chance to play any yet. I look forward to trying these out. Check them out below:

Offset Special

Jaguarillo

Reverse Jaguar Bass

Guitar Center Podcast

Josh — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:00:09 +0000

I enjoy listening to podcasts, especially music-related podcasts. So, I was happy to recently learn about the At: Guitar Center Podcast with Nic Harcourt. The current episode features Joe Bonamassa, but past episodes have featured up-and-coming stars the Alabama Shakes, Switchfoot, legendary engineer and producer Alan Parsons, Quincy Jones, and many others. Check it out on Guitar Center’s website.

PRS Guitars Re-Introduces the Artist Package

Josh — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:13:45 +0000

PRS Guitars has re-introduced the Artist Package, an upgrade package that provides an even higher grade of wood than their 10 tops, select mahogany backs, and Mexican Ebony fingerboard, among other options. You can also choose from their highly-regarded 57/08, 59/09, or 53/10 pickups, gold, nickel, or hybrid hardware, and new artist bird inlays. The Artist Package guitars come standard with PRS’s V12 finish and an Artist Package case. You can buy the Artist Package on the following guitars: Custom 24, Studio, P22, 513, SC58, McCarty 58, Hollowbody II, and Singlecut Hollowbody II. Read more about the Artist Package on the PRS Guitars website.

Rory Hoffman Demoing the PRS Modern Eagle LTD

Josh — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:15:08 +0000

I was browsing YouTube the other day and came across this impressive video of Nashville-based guitarist Rory Hoffman demoing the PRS Modern Eagle LTD guitar. Hoffman plays with a very unorthodox picking style, but he really rips. Check it out:

SRV’s Number One Stratocaster on Display

Josh — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:50:13 +0000

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s famed number one Stratocaster will be on display through October 14th at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, TX as part of the Texas Music Roadtrip exhibit. This guitar is one of the most famous Stratocasters in history and has been kept in storage by Jimmie Vaughan since his brother’s death, so this is a unique opportunity to see the guitar up close. Also on display will be Jimmie Vaughan’s white ’63 Stratocaster that he used with the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Photo credit: Andrew Horansky, KVUE News