I got my first Stratocaster almost 20 years ago, and it has been my favorite guitar ever since. Here are 5 reasons why I love the Stratocaster: 1) The second time's a charm - Many people claim Leo got it right the first time with the Telecaster, but I think the Strat is his most significant achievement. He tweaked his Telecaster design after receiving feedback from players … [Read more...]
Gibson Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa Skinnerburst 1959 Les Paul
If you've been following Joe Bonamassa's career for the past few years, you probably know that he has amassed a number of original Les Paul bursts in his collection. One of those is a 1959 Les Paul called Skinnerburst (#9-1951). Gibson and Bonamassa have teamed up to create a Custom Shop model based on the Skinnerburst: Of all of today’s Les Paul-wielding artists Joe Bonamassa … [Read more...]
Billy F. Gibbons Goldtop
Gibson and Billy Gibbons have teamed up to create the Billy F. Gibbons Goldtop: Billy F. Gibbons doesn’t pull any stylistic or tonal punches, so you’d expect his take on the seminal Les Paul Goldtop to be a knockout—and it is. The first ground-up revision of Gibson’s stunning original solidbody electric in over 60 years is a masterpiece of style. In addition to its luscious … [Read more...]
Fender Reclaimed Wood Guitars
Fender has recently introduced an interesting new limited series of guitars that are made from old-growth pine and redwood timbers: RECLAIMED EASTERN PINE The Fender Eastern Pine guitars revisit the earliest incarnations of Fender instruments, when Leo Fender created the first Telecaster® guitars from the very same tone wood. To maintain the natural beauty of the wood, … [Read more...]
Writer Steve Hochman on the Fender American Design Experience
Fender commissioned Los Angeles Times rock critic Steve Hochman to write about their new Fender American Design Experience, where you can design your own Fender guitar and order it exactly how you want it directly from Fender. Here's what Steve had to say: By Steve Hochman There’s an impending arrival in Amos Heller’s life that pretty much overshadows everything else. … [Read more...]