Carvin X100B Series IV Guitar Amp Head

Carvin X100B Series IV Guitar Amp Head

Carvin has been around for over 60 years and is known today for there gorgeous high quality guitars and basses but there amps do not get talked about as often. Back in the 80's there X100B amp graced more stages then I or anyone can count. With bands like Frank & Dweezil Zappa, Starship, Missing Persons and Steve Vai using this amp to give them the tone and balance they was looking for in there tone. With the Series IV that is the latest and greatest version of this amp it is better then it ever was and well worth taking another look at. I have wanted one for a very long time and being a long time player of the V3 and V3m this was a nice addition to my already huge heavy Carvin collection. I have to mention also this was a awesome Christmas present to me from my wonderful wife Kathrine and Carvin.


Features
Dual Channels: Clean & Lead
Master Volume with switchable boost
Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence and Reverb Controls
5 band graphic EQ assignable to clean or lead channel
25/50/100 watt output switch
Bias switch for 5881, 6L6 or EL34 power tubes
Cabinet voiced XLR balanced output
Foot switchable Effects loop
Four EL34 & Three 12aX7 Tubes
25.25 wide x 10.5 high x 9.5 deep
(I have the Jungle Red Tolex put on mine like all my amps)


Sound
This amp has the best clean channel I have ever used on any amp to date with headroom that bursts the roof off.  I can get everything from country and bluegrass chime to blues and that beautiful almost acoustic sounding ballad sound. The lead channel is really bold and allows to take my sound from a very well almost non distortion to blues, rock, classic rock, hard rock and even a very heavy sound. The amp is one of the best all tube amps I have used (I am a bit of a old school purist I prefer all tube amps) getting that natural breakup that musicians adore.This is kinda a jack of all trades amp that will allow you to take and make any tone with the easy to dial in controls. The sounds are very rich and robust with clarity on all sides of the most sought after amps in the world.



My Opinion
Carvin has taken this amp and over the years tweaked and peaked it but kept it very close to the original keeping purists like myself very happy. It seems that most of the people that have used any version of this amp have loved it in one form or another and still play it or have it in there studio today. This amp reminds me of the most cherished Marshall's of the 80's but with more options and tone variation. It does not quite amp up to reach the Hardcore and Death Metal sounds but besides that it is a amp that can do it all and still stands up to any amp out there on the market today. With the tone and watt options on this amp you can use it in your bedroom, stage or studio and with the easy to dial in sound spend much more time playing then switching knobs. With the switchable EQ it takes a two channel amp and you can work it into a four by how you adjust the EQ and flip it in and out what is really genius. I fell in love with this amp with about 2 min of playing time making this one of my main amps I use now for just about everything I do. This amp is very pedal friendly using the effect loop what is one of the quietest loops in a amp I have used to date. I love everything about this amp and honestly would not change anything about it. It is rare this day in age to get a amp of this caliber for under 600 bucks that is made in the United States!!!


Contact
www.carvinguitars.com
www.facebook.com/carvinamplifiers
www.facebook.com/carvinguitarsofficial

Dean Micheal Schenker V

Dean Micheal Schenker V

I got a letter from a reader a while back asking me not only about a nice V for under 800 bucks but also asking if I had played or owned one of the Micheal Schenker V's from Dean.


Dear Jon

I am a huge fan of Micheal Schenker from back to the old UFO days. I have been playing guitar for five years now and was wondering if you had played the Dean signature MS guitar? If not could you help point me in the right direction of a V that is in the 800 dollar or less range?
                                                                                            
                                                                             Rachel (San Diego California)

When Micheal Schenker was born in Jan 1955 he had no clue he would make such a impression on millions of guitar players around the world. He has graced the stage under so many banners from Scorpions, UFO, MSG and his solo material. He is known for playing V's and most of them with the white and black of some form almost a Yin & Yang feel to them. Micheal was known for his Gibson V's and some still feel his place is among the guitar giant. Micheal started working with Dean guitars sometime ago not only putting a fresh face on his signature V guitars but also helping design the pickups that grace these axes. My personal favorite out of the line was the flame MS signature and I bought one a while back to add to my ever growing collection of V's.


Features

Top: Mahogany
Body: Mahogany
Scale Length: 24-3/4 inch
Nut Width: 1-11/16 inch
Neck: Set Mahogany C Neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlays : Pearl Block
Tuners : Grover
Hardware : Chrome
Bridge : Tune-O-Matic
Pickups: USA DMT Michael Schenker Lights Out
Graphic: Black and White Custom Flame Graphic
Case: Hardshell Case Included


Sound

Schenker had a direct effect not on just the woods but the actual guts of this beast with helping of the Lights Out Schenker sig pickups. This Mahogany loaded beast has all that classic rock brilliance so many of us cheer for. This guitar is basic in setup but loaded with tone and sustain for days. I was able to back off the neck pickup and have that robust full sounding blues and clean that guitars three times this cost cannot effectively get. When lighting up the neck pickup I could get them singing ballad leads to the snarling rock leads Schenker is known for without much effort. The bridge pickups is a great southern rock to a balls out hard rock beast. I found that using the tone and the volume knobs (depending on the setting) could really sculpt out sounds easily instead of reaching for the amp. I could not quite push this guitar into the hardcore or death metal arena without adding a pretty heavy distortion from a pedal but all in all this is a stellar bad ass sounding guitar that is brilliant, bold and simply bad ass!!!!


My Opinion

This guitar looks huge from the bottom of the Flying V to the reversed V headstock. I was shocked on how light the guitar was and holding it for long periods of time did not take a toll on my back or shoulder. This guitar is a breeze for them long nights in the studio and has the looks for them long stage sessions that will leave the crowd head banging and pointing on how damn cool it looks!! This is a jack of almost all trades guitar that anyone from blues to hard rock can easily adapt this axe into there rig cause of the dependable build and the looks of some of the most sought after axes of all time. Micheal would not have stuck his name on this guitar unless it was anything less then perfect. This is about the import version of this guitar cause after playing but the USA and the import version of this guitar I could not tell enough of a difference to shell out the 2 or 3k more for it. The hardshell case that comes with it is form fitted and built like a tank to protect your new V and keep it looking brand new for many years!!! I think anyone who tries this axe will fall in love with it as much as I have!!!


www.deanguitars.com

Creative Tunings Spider Capo

Creative Tunings Spider capo
By Kris Martens

The spider capo is a full/partial capo that is really cool. Unlike a normal capo that barres all the strings across a single fret the spider features six individual fingers so you can choose which string(s) you want to  capo.
 
Each finger slides across a bar which allows you to get proper string spacing/intonation. You just screw it on the neck at the fret you want.  Be careful not to screw it on too tight or you could damage the guitar neck/binding. Then move the fingers over the strings and adjust for the spacing.The whole process took a couple of minutes.  After that you just turn the rounded part onto the string and you're good to go.  For those that play live just set the spacing before the gig and you could attach it in seconds when you need it.
 
One main advantage with the spider is the ability to play on both sides of the capo. Say you capo the fifth fret of the low E string. You can play all the other strings normally. Only the low E string is affected.
 
I use it with a standard tuned 7 string (BEADGBE). Sometimes I would prefer a low C instead of B.  No problem. It puts hundreds of tunings at your fingertips. I find it let's me get really creative and play music that is not possible otherwise.
 
The Spider capo is available in normal ( for acoustic/electric 6 string $29.99), mini (for ukulele banjo/mandolin $32.99) and XXL (for 7 and 8 string guitar, bass $39.99). If you want to expand your creativity or use multiple tunings the spider capo will do the job for sure.

Hughes & Kettner Grandmeister 36 Guitar Head

Hughes & Kettner Grandmeister 36 review
By Kris Martens

Hughes & Kettner have a big hit with the tubemeister series of lunchbox heads. The grandmeister 36 is the flagship of the line. This amp has more features than any amp I have seen to date. It does almost everything you could want from an amp. And it looks killer on stage with its blue glowing front panel.

Features

4 channels (clean, crunch, lead and ultra)
Built in fx (chorus, flanger, phaser and tremolo. Delay and digital reverb)
Midi compatible
Power soak changes wattage from 36 down to 1 watt
Built in Red Box speaker simulator
Controllable fx loop
Noise gate
Speaker mute for silent recording.
Gain boost to add more gain to any channel.
128 preset slots to store your own sounds with a midi footswitch.
iPad tweakability with compatible midi interface.
TSC tube safety control


This amp covers a lot of bases. The clean channel is pretty versatile. Running at full wattage you have a ton of headroom. Adding some chorus and delay makes the tone come alive. I absolutely love the clean channel on this amp.

The crunch channel is pretty smooth and sounds similar to a Marshall plexi. Adding the boost allows for a tight classic rock/early metal tone.

The lead channel is amazing. Very tight and focused. Tons of gain available.  Liquid highs match well with the insane low end. Turning up the mids adds some punch to the sound. I love this channel and spend most of my time using it.

The ultra channel is for gain junkies. It is tight and focused like the lead channel but not as punchy. Using the lead channel for rhythm tones and the ultra for lead works great. I find the amount of gain on the ultra channel absolutely frightening.

Other cool features include an adjustable noise gate and red box cabinet emulation. The TSC tells you if your tubes are functioning properly and even pinpoints trouble tubes. The power soak is a built in attenuator that can go from full power (36 watts) down to 1 watt for playing late at night. Since the power soak setting is stored for each setting you could have your clean tone at full power for headroom, rhythm tone at half power to get more power tube saturation and your lead tone at 5 watts for max saturation.

A free iPad app gives you hands on control to save, load and tweak your sounds. You do need an iPad approved midi interface to use it though. This is a great feature for guitarists who play a wide variety of styles and need an easy way to organize tones.

This blue glowing tube beast is awesome looking, awesome sounding and has a feature set that blows most amps away. It isn't cheap ($1299) but it is loud enough to handle most gigs. Canadian thrash band Annihilator used the grandmeister to play huge festivals this summer. Check it out!

Carvin V3m Guitar Head

Carvin V3m Guitar Head

This day in age there is so many different styles of guitar amps. From the pocket amps, small combo's, digital, modeling, hybrid, solid-state, tube, half stacks etc. Musicians have been really turning away from the 100 watt amp to smaller ''Lunch Box'' or micro amps. The smaller wattage amps allow the tube lover to get that warm buttery distortion or even high end gain at lower volumes for making the jam room, studio or even smaller stage a more pleasurable experience. Carvin is usually known for there custom guitars and basses but have been a secret for some of the biggest names in the business from tons of bands from the 80's with the XB100 line to a new generation with the V3 line. Today we are going to talk about the off shoot of the V3 line to the micro version the V3m guitar head.

Features

Channels:3
Power 50w/22w/7/ selectable
Impedance: 4/8/16 ohms selectable
Tubes: 4EL84, 4 12ax7
Lush reverb
Speaker Outputs: 2
Line Out (Cabinet voiced)
Effects Loop (Series)
Master Boost Control
Optional Footswitch: FS44L or FS22
Blue or Red Backlit LEDs (Selectable)
120 or 240 VAC 50-60 Hz (switch)
Dimensions: 15''Wide x 8.5'' Deep x 7'' High
Weight 19lbs
Made in San Diego California


Sound

Carvin really took what makes the original V3 line and pushed it further with the V3m. The amp might be small but you will not get anything small about the sound. Channel 3 is the clean channel on the amp with bright lush cleans that when dialed in right have a acoustic appeal to it. The cleans can also give you amazing ballad style and handles well if you are a musician that likes to add distortion pedals or choose to get your distortion from pedal boards. Channel 1 & 2 are the same but can be set up totally different. This really is the jack of all trades amps from the bright ballad style cleans to blues, classic rock, prog, rock, hard rock and even can push to make the metal players happy. With the three way toggle that goes from bright to soak on the clean channel and intense to thick on channel one and two it really allows you to dial in the sound that you are searching for. This is a well worthy tone machine for anything you want to do in or out of the studio.


My Opinion

Carvin has really put tons of time into the thinking of this amp from the small size that can be put into a rack with the optional rack mount for the musician on the go to the desk of the home studio. It is rare to find a 50 watt head for under 20lbs with this much under its hood. Three full functional channels that almost sound like three totally different amps when dialed in the right way. The amp loves effects and with the cabinet voice outs it makes using it in the studio a breeze. The master boost control really helps out the musician on stage that needs to get his leads on but does not want to have to get a volume pedal. The most awesome part is the optional pedal you can get from Carvin allows you to control the channels, reverb, boost all of it. I have had 12 lunch box or micro heads in my studio and none of them hold a candle to what this amp can do from the amazing amount of options and tonal variety. The part that is really impressive is this amp usually goes for under 600 bucks and is made in the USA!!!!! I can honestly say I use this amp in the studio, jam room and stage along with its older brother the original V3 (We will be talking about that monster amp soon also).


Contact: www.facebook.com/carvinguitarsofficial
http://www.carvinguitars.com

FU-Tone Upgrades

FU-Tone Upgrades

This day in age guitars have evolved into directions that even astound me. From the classics like Les Pauls to the Telecaster and Stratocaster to V's and customs that push the limits unheard of  from even just 20 years ago. The import market use to be the bottom of the barrel and custom guitars was something that only the rich or the biggest rock stars could afford. The import market today has reached new levels and custom guitars are something now anyone can afford if they reach hard enough. Most guitars from most makers are usually quality made but they can lack in some areas from tremolos lacking a bit of tone and sustain springs that slip and are noisy. A company called FU-Tone took the reigns to make great tone available to everyone at a price that anyone can afford. I have used and even compared there products to some cheaper versions of others and seen how it all stacks up. Today we shall talk about the world of FU-Tone and what they can do to give you rock star tone!!!!!!!! 



 
I am first going to talk about my Carvin V220 Classic Reissue V Guitar. 

This guitar is everything I ever wanted from alder body and a flame maple neck thru construction. It is loaded with locking tuners original Floyd Rose tremolo coil tapping and even a maple top on it for good measure. A ebony fretboard and gorgeous abalone block inlays round out this beast. I wrote up a talk about this beast of a guitar that you can read here. Click here for read Carvin V Review for Gear Talk By Jon.


I wanted to take this great guitar and make it legendary gear it up to what would be one of the best stage and studio guitars in my rig for a very long time. I turned to FU-Tone where Adam over there helped me with a Tone Block, Heavy Duty Springs, Brass Claw and a Brass Trem Stopper. These items all helped me take this guitar to a level of amazing proportions. Lets take a moment and break down each part I installed into this guitar.


37mm Brass Tone Block to replace the light pot metal one. This adds volume and mass what equals tone and resonance and sustain. Tear down time is a bit cause you have to loosen or replace the strings and tear the tremolo all the way down and intonate it when done. It is more then worth the time and FU-Tone has great videos to help out along the way.

Brass Trem Stopper helps block your tremolo so it is very stable what helps if you have a heavy hand and if you plan on using a D-Tuna. It also equals back to the mass equals tone. I used a small drill bit and drilled two small wholes and then screwed it in. It took about ten min total including the setting of the tremolo.

Heavy Duty Noiseless Springs that live up to there name in every way shape and form. They are the best springs I have seen and or used on any guitar and really give you that extra grip on the trem to make sure you are in tune 100% of the time.

Brass Spring Claw helps in two ways from the original pot metal one that comes standard on tremolos. They are stronger and go back to the mass equals tone and will help the entire tone and sustain output on your guitar. It took only a few minutes to install and then solder the wire.

When I had all of this installed on the V it is mind blowing what it did for this guitar. It took a great guitar and made it even better. I gained a extremely mind blowing amount of sustain and tone the guitar performed better then I could dream. If you have a mid level or entry level guitar it is a cheap way to step it up into new tonal territories to keep you on a budget and still get rock star tone. You do not need to be a luthier or have years of tool experience to be able to install this stuff between FU-Tone and Youtube there are tons of videos to help walk anyone step to step.


The next question I had was what makes FU-Tone different? There are blocks on Ebay that are a bit cheaper......Trem blocks that are about half the price........Why would I want to pay a few dollars more right????? It is about saving money???? 
 
The next quick test I wanted to run was what separates  FU-Tone and why did I want to back this company when I can find cheaper parts in other places. I went to one of the more favorite places for musicians to buy parts or upgrades for there guitars the mighty Ebay. I purchased a 37mm brass block and a brass trem stopper for almost half the price just to compare for myself. I notice the block was very bland looking has a very dirty look to it that would not buff out. I weighed them both also and the Ebay block was actually lighter and a bit smaller also. The trem stopper was not machined it was basically a small piece of flat bar that was bent with a threaded whole in it. I noticed a ton of difference in the tone and sustain it almost sounded muffled after having the FU-Tone upgrades installed on the guitar. I am sure it was better then stock but not much better and it was not worth the money I spent. Sometimes you cannot be fooled by smoke and mirrors and cheaper parts made with lower quality brass and components. 
When it comes to your tone your sound and your style I personally recommend FU-Tone!!!!

It is also important to let everyone know that I am in no way or shape endorsed with FU-Tone. I am writing about this company cause I believe that they offer the best parts and upgrades for the quality for the money on the market today!!!!!!

Next month we shall take another look at FU-Tone and look at what it did for my VG Guitars V that I call my Phoenix Guitar.

Pigtronix - Fat Drive

Pigtronix Fat Drive

The effect pedal has become almost as big of part of a musician as the guitar itself. With such a huge ton of Reverbs, Delays, Flangers, Overdrives, Distortions and Wah's it really is hard to know what is best for your style and budget. Digital effects have been taking the world by storm and have been getting more crisp and more of a analog sound to them but many artists are very much loyal to analog effects. Many musicians use a vast array of effects to spruce up there sound and tone while some just need a pedal to add a bit of sparkle. There really is no wrong thing to do when it comes to your tone and trying new things can always unlock new sounds.

Pigtronix is second generation of American boutique pedal makers. They have jumped to the front of the pack in many ways with using high end components and designs gigging and studio musicians drool after. I have tried out and used a few different Pigtronix pedals over the past few years and had nothing but great success. Today we are going to talk about the Pigtronix Fat Drive.


Features

100% Analog wide range overdrive
Multi-Stage Tube Emulated Clipping
Passive LPF Tone Control
True Bypass Switching
Voltage 9-18v DC
Current Draw 38ma @ 9v 120ma @18v

Layout

Volume Knob
Gain Knob
Tone Knob
Hi/Lo Gain Switch  


Sound

The Pigtronix Fat Drive has only a few knobs but loaded with a massive tone. Using the 9 volt battery feature a musician can take a bit of time and dial in gritty blues and southern rock to a brilliant classic rock with a full bold sound. When plugged in using a 18 volt power cable the pedal takes on another whole brilliance, It is almost like a whole new pedal in its own rights. Taking a bit of time I can get a nice rounded southern rock all the way up to a bold hard rock and even metal tone. The Fat Drive really can satisfy the Ibanez Tube Screamer fans supplying the same crispness and tight end guitar players worship. It is very hard to really put into words to explain how versatile this pedal is but using what I can I will say Bold, Brilliant, Heavy, Bluesy, Gritty, Tasteful and Full. I would recomend using a noise suppressor with it like all overdrives/distortion pedals when cranked all the way up cause of unwanted feedback etc. This pedal is a lot quieter with the unwanted sounds then most of this style of pedals I have used.




My Opinion

Pigtronix has really hit a home run with this pedal taking all the great parts of many great pedals over the years and stuffing them into a small analog stomp box that will thrill even the most picky of players. From just needing a bit of boost or needing tube sounding saturation this pedal is one of the greatest I have ever used. I am one of them players that love to play everything from blues to brutal styles of music and this pedal has me covered on all fronts. Stomping this to make distortion a bit more robust or taking your clean channel and adding a bit of spice is easily no problem with this pedal. I have run this pedal with many other style of pedals and it blends very well what can sometimes be a issue. The price is also appealing cause pedals that usually cannot do half of what this one does usually can cost twice the price.


Contact
www.facebook.com/pages/Pigtronix/113556637539
http://www.pigtronix.com/

                                                                            

Carvin Bromberg B25 Bass

Carvin Bromberg B25 Bass



Carvin has been a household name for 60 plus years now going back almost four generations of family owned and operated making some of the finest guitars, basses, amps, pro audio on the market today. Carvin and Brian Bromberg set out on a musical journey a while back making his signature line of basses from four and five string with a unlimited amount of options. I am known for being more of a metal player so looking into a jazz bass was a little bit out of the ordinary but being such a fan of Bromberg and his style I had to take the leap on the five string version. I set it up a bit more as a metal bass on the options for me personally but the sky is the limit when it comes to all Carvin basses. Lets take a look what this bass is all about!!!!

 
Standard Features

Construction - Neck Through
Scale Length - 34''
Body - Alder (Optional Flame and Quilt Top)
Neck - Maple
Fretboard - Ebony 14'' Radius
Inlays - 12th Fret Abalone Bromberg Inlay
Neck Width 1.75'' Wide @ Nut, 3.0'' Wide @ 24th fret
Hardware - Chrome
Bridge - Hipshot A-Style Wish .75 String Spacing & String Through
Tuners - Carvin Premium Tuners 20:1 Ratio
Frets - 24 Medium Jumbo
Pickups RJ2 Radius Top Alnico Single Coils
Electronics - 18v Active, Volume, Pickup Blend Stacked Concentric Mid Frequency and Sweep, High Impedance Circuitry With Active Volume Pot 



Sound

The sound on this bass with the massive controls is extreme and brilliant with options to be able to dial in any and every sound under the rainbow. I love the sustain this bass has it is beyond anything out there. Brian and Carvin really has really done this bass the right way. The controls take a bit to get use to cause it is not set up like so many with a single volume and tone but once you get them figured out everything from that old school fender to the new school active is within your reach. I was lucky enough to run this bass into two of Carvin's own amps the combo b10 and the bx500 half stack to get a feel on both fronts. The first thing I noticed is running the EQ on the amps was all but not needed I 12 o clocked them on both amps and the tone was still bright and warm with brilliant sounds. The most important thing to remember is your bass will differ tons from mine cause you will be building your own bass. (My personal bass is even different then the standard features but we will get into that in a second). 



My Opinion

Carvin sets out to set them apart from the rest not just on amazing prices but by options that you will not find on any street corner. They want when you get a guitar or bass with your hard earned money that it will be more then just a one trick pony and you can use it for many styles and genres on many fronts from the stage to the studio. The Bromberg bass is not just a good looking bass with a very almost flame flowing luster but is the most balanced bass I have ever used. I can just set the bass on my knee and it stays there so playing without a strap is easy for them long nights in the studio or late night jam sessions. The neck is a bit thick for a five string but the neck is very smooth and easy to play. The radiused pickups from the standard single coil to the optional humbuckers are amazing and well thought out. They allow all the strings to ring through and be well balanced with no drop out like some basses with flat pickups can do. I would recommend this bass to them that play all genres if you take the time and have it built with the options you desire.


My Personal B25 (These are the different options I have on mine then the standard features)

Radius Humbuckers
Mother Of Pearl Diamond Inlays
Deep Flame Maple Top 
Moss Green Paint
Upgraded Nut
Dunlop Straplocks
These allowed me to enjoy a jazz style bass but be decked out as more of a rock and metal bass.

                       Video of Brian Bromberg Talking about his signature Carvin Bass!!!

Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
By Kris Martens

Up for review today is the fender Ritchie Blackmore Strat. This guitar is made in Mexico and is one of the better strats that I have played recently.

Features

Artist series
Alder body
21 fret Maple neck with scalloped rosewood fretboard
7.25" radius
3 bolt neck plate with tilt control
70's headstock
Bullet truss rod
70's style fender branded tuning machines
Seymour duncan quarter pound flat pickups with dummy in the middle
3 way pickup  selecter
1 volume, 2 tone pots
Gig bag included


When I first noticed this model on the fender website I knew this was a guitar that I would have to try out. I'm a huge Rainbow fan and this model is based on the guitar that Ritchie used with that band. The high end MiM strats are great guitars and I've played several that have really impressed me. This one is no different. Great bang for the buck!

This guitar looks really awesome. It's black pickups, knobs and switch tip contrast great with the Olympic white body and 3 ply white pickguard. The chrome hardware is sweet and the CBS headstock is downright menacing.


The pickup configuration might put strat "purists" off but I love it. Having a three way pickup selector negates the famous 2 and 4 positions that country and blues  players love  but this guitar is meant to rock. There is a dummy pickup in the middle position for cosmetic purposes. It basically functions like a les Paul. Position 1 is the bridge, 2 is bridge and neck and 3 is the neck. The middle position is really cool because you can't get that tone without modifying a normal strat. Switching from the neck to bridge is smoother as well due to the switch only covering  one tone between them instead of three different tones. Most people wouldn't notice this though.

The bridge pickup is a reverse wound/reverse polarity Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 single coil.


The neck pickup is a normal wound SSL-4.

These pickups have twice the output of a normal single coil. They are perfect for playing rock and old school metal. They are a bit noisy so I find a noise gate to be mandatory.

This guitar absolutely crushes when played through my jcm800. It handles clean and high gain like a champ.

The scalloped fretboard is awesome. It's kind of strange at first but I got used to it in a few minutes. You get more control for string bending and vibrato.

Overall this guitar is a keeper. Everything is top notch from the fretwork to the scallop job. I'm really impressed!

Swiss Picks

 Swiss Picks - All Models



I met Swiss Picks owner Pete Punckowski some time
ago and did not find out he was the owner of Swiss Picks
till recently. Pete is one of the nicest down to earth guys 
that truly loves his customers and loves to see and hear 
about there experiences with his picks. The entire design
is totally original with them looking like a piece of cheese
but they are designed to be so much more then a great gimmick. There is so many styles of picks on the market
today from big to small and thick to thin from rounded ends to very sharp ends. The materials used this day in age with picks is endless from some being made out of  metal and brass to plastics and even some rubber mixes. A guitar or bass players pick is almost as important as the guitar they play cause they can have a huge impact on the sound and speed a player can play at. Today we will be talking about the very original company Swiss Picks.






Features


Swiss Pick Original in thickness 55mm, 80mm and 1.10mm. These are the largest in the collection.

Sharp Cheddar Jazz Mini in thickness 1.30mm

Sharp Cheddar- Derlin and Rusty Cooley sig
 mini jazz 1.30mm

Sharp Cheddar in thickness 1.10mm, 1.50mm and 2.0mm





Sharp Cheddar Rusty Cooley Edition in 
Thickness 1.10mm, 1.50mm, 2.0mm






From the pictures posted they all look very similar but there is differences in each model to appeal to a different player.


Sound:
These picks themselves do not add sound but in there own way they kinda do. I noticed when I tried out each model that nailing harmonics was a total breeze and notes were very rich with tone cause a good pick is a tool to achieve the music you are looking for.


My opinion
I was really excited to try these picks out I have seen them around known a few guitar players that swear by them and I wanted to see if they was a real tool or just a great gimmick. These picks are the real deal and built strong to keep burning into the late night whether it be on a stage, jam room or studio. I have always had a problem with picks turning in my hand after a while what is a real pain in the ass but that problem was gone in a instant using these picks. They look like pieces of cheese but they have been designed that each whole and groove to help that player excel at playing. I have always had my personal favorite brands of picks but these have really made me rethink everything I thought I knew about picks and have convinced me to switch over to the swiss side of the force!!
My personal favorite picks out of all of them for playing guitar (They all was great picks) was the Rusty Cooley Jazz Mini, I have always preferred a smaller pick for guitar cause I can play a bit faster with them and more comfortable in my hand. I found for playing bass the original sharp cheddar picks really did the job for me they was well balanced and I was able to rumble the walls. I would recommend these picks for all styles of music from beginner to the most advanced player on the block. Swiss Picks are more then a tool they are the real cheese the whole cheese and nothing but the cheese so help me metal gods!!!!!


Contact Info Just Click Links
Swiss Picks Webpage
Swiss Picks Facebook Page

Vibramate V5 Standard

Vibramate V5 Standard

This day in age guitars are so much more then just wood with strings on them. There are so many upgrades you can do to make that certain axe in your life perform up to the level that is needed from jam rooms, studios to the grandest stages. The Bigsby tremolo is known all around the world and used in just about every style of music know to man. I was put in touch with Vibramate a few years ago when a fan of my work told me to check them out. I was first a bit on the fence with the products cause I did not want my guitar to be scratched or dented and I was worried that this product might somehow hurt or destroy some of my favorite axes. I wanted a model that I could put on many of my guitars and be able to take it off and have my guitar be as beautiful as it was before I added the device to it. Today we will be talking about
one of the many products that Vibramate does the V5 Standard with the String Spoiler.


Features
Base Mounting Plate
Base Mounting Screws (English or Metric Threads)
Front Mounting Screws
Rear Mounting Screws
String Spoiler (Optional Accessories)
(I also purchased my Bigsby from Vibramate but if you already have one there should be a model of Vibramate to suit your needs).


Sound
The Vibramate itself has no sound but it allows the Bigsby to be mounted to any Stopbar Tailpiece guitar (Check the charts on the Vibramate website to make sure this model fits your guitar there are many models you can choose from that will fit Tele's, V's, Arch tops and just about any other guitar you can think of). It sounded amazing on all the guitars I tried it on I could get that southern twang clear to dive bombs usually reserved for trems like the Floyd Rose.

My Opinion
Vibramate really has hit a home run with there products allowing a musician to be able to dress up there favorite guitar with a Bigsby and to be able to undress it at any time with no marks, dings, bings or scratches of any kind. I tried this on my Carvin Cs6, Gibson Les Paul, Ltd Eclipse, ESP Phoenix, Dean Cadillac with no problems or issues of any kind. It only takes a few minutes to change over (Might need a new set of strings cause it will take more string length). I recommend also to get the String Spoiler cause it makes changing strings a breeze and looks really cool to boot. The V5 is built using the highest grade aluminum on the market so it will not bend or break and hold the tension of the strings with ease. This is a remarkable product that I have used now for a couple of years and have fallen in love with it. If you check the website they have many other products also to upgrade other parts of your favorite guitar to make it the axe you have always dreamed of.

Contact: www.facebook.com/vibramate?ref=br_tf
http://vibramate.com

Chili Custom Guitars

Chili Custom Guitars

I met Horst from Chili Custom Guitars some time ago via Facebook and become good friends cause of both our passions for guitars and music.

Chili Custom guitars is out of Austria made with a one man operation with the finest materials known to man kind. Horst and Chili Custom Guitars is RBJ Spotlight Gear Maker for Oct 2014. I was honored to have him be a spotlight cause of not just his guitars but his willingness and passion to give musicians not just a guitar or tool of the trade but a piece of art like no other.This write up will be about my personal Chili
guitar that I call my Tigerbaby!!


Features
Walnut Body
Walnut Neck
Flame Maple Figured Top
Two Volume
Two Tone
Locking Tuners
Mother Of Pearl/Abalone Rectangle Inlays
Stop Bar Tail Peace Bridge
Three Way Toggle
Binding On Body & Neck
Two Humbuckers


Sound
The Tigerbaby has such a brilliant sound and tone from top to bottom. The Walnut wood in the guitar gives it so much more darker blend of tones what is perfect for just about all styles of music. The cleans are open and sparkle in the neck that almost sound acoustic. When I lean on the gain a bit it breaks up to give that southern blues and classic rock that musicians love. When I kick it into the bridge I can lay on the distortion and it sounds a lot like a Les Paul but with more natural tone and more of a bold feel. This is very similar to a double cut Gibson but has so much more balance and resonance. The Tigerbaby is a guitar that could work its way into any style of music you would want to play from country and blues up to hard rock and prog.

My Opinion
Horst over at Chili Custom Guitars has such a great eye for wood and design when it comes to guitars. When I first seen this guitar I fell in love with it because of the natural beauty of the flame top and the amazing inlays that are all hand done. Once I got this guitar into my hands it was love at first chord. I could not believe how light this guitar was considering walnut usually can make a guitar really heavy. I was simply blown away of how easy of a guitar this is to play and how well the balance was from top to bottom with this guitar. The neck is as smooth as butter and not to thick or thin what allows any player to easily run up and down the fretboard. When you get your Chili you will prob have a different experience cause you will have it built your way with the woods and set up you want cause Horst makes every guitar custom to the customers wishes.

When you buy from places like Chili Custom Guitars you are not supporting big box stores or a board of owners. The guitars are not made on a factory line you are supporting a single person that makes all the guitars by hand and it allows Horst to follow his passions what is making top of the line guitars one at a time!!

Contact: www.facebook.com/pages/Chili-Custom-Guitars/324692780908377

Flying V Leather Acc

Flying V Leather Acc

This day in age there is so many companies offering aftermarket
products for musicians. From tuners, straps, picks, braces, upgrades and on and on that it is sometimes hard to know what is good and what is made well. When it comes to being a musician it is like most things that you can spend as deep as your wallet wants to go on some really fancy items. So many musicians choose leather straps over nylon or other materials cause of the comfort and styles that can be made from it. Flying V Leather Acc is a company that will make just about anything out of leather (Depending on how deep your wallet wants to go) Straps, V Rests, Braces, Drum Bags and with new products on the way. 


Instead of the normal review I am going to break down the products I
own from Flying V and what separates them and why they are great
products. 

1. V Rest

The V Rest is a great product that allows the V guitar players to have a hands free approach to playing there favorite V. It is pretty simple basically you put the fin of your V into the bucket end of the V Rest and the rounded end goes on your leg. It is kinda the same feel as taking your favorite strat and balancing it on your leg and playing. Flying V offers these for all V guitars and if you per chance come across a really crazy one off then a Custom one can be made. They are light weight and can fit in your favorite gig bag or case and do not cost much at all so anyone can afford them.


2. RR Pro Series Strap

Flying V makes this strap to pay tribute to one of
the greatest guitar players in the world. This strap is 
recreation of the late great Ozzy guitar player that uses
the highest grade leather and handcrafting available and hand
driven studs. You can order it in different widths and lengths
to adjust to the size of the player. This is one of my favorite 
straps I own it is really comfy and looks great on any stage or
jam room. This is build like a tank and beautiful from top to bottom!


3. Wrist Brace

This is a simple but very effective wrist brace that is great for looks
or for the player that needs a bit of support on there playing arm. High
end leather and two buckles allow for total comfort. The chrome and black
look is always just rock n roll. Flying V has some you can choose from or
you can design your own style or add or take away anything you choose to
make it perfect for your comfort.



4. Wrist Brace

I had Matt make up this brace cause of a accident at work some years ago that totally messed up my wrist and I need tons of support but also allowed to have it be tightened down in different spots to allow me to still play guitar. I had him keep it simple cause sometimes less is more but the chrome buckles look amazing cause black leather is always in season. If you can dream it then Matt can build it!!! This is a brace I wear almost all the time now cause I have cannot live without it. 




5. Guitar Strap

I went to Flying V when Carvin Guitars was making me a custom guitar that was really flashy (DC400A Orange To Purple Burst Over Quilt). I told Matt that I wanted this strap to go hand in hand with the guitar with colors and have my name on it. Matt said ''No problem Jon if you can dream it I can make it''. This is actually very simple strap (Exactly what I wanted) that is hand made and hand colored with my name printed on in orange. This strap is amazing and very comfy to play it supports the most heavy guitar without making my shoulder tired.



My Opinion

I have owned and or played over 100 straps in my 25 years with a guitar or bass strapped to my body. I have owned more brands then I can even remember. I have had a few wrist braces also but never was able to get someone to build me one with there own two hands to fit me perfect. Matt over at Flying V Leather Acc is at the front of quality and takes each customer one on one to make sure they get exactly what they want. He has great service after the sale if you do not get what you was hoping to get. Build times can be a bit lengthy but that is cause he is making them by hand one at a time by himself.  The V Rest is one of the coolest must have products for the V player since the actual V itself. It allows you to push them long sessions without having to wear a strap and be in total comfort. I have another strap being made for my VG Guitars Phoenix guitar (I did a talk about it in a earlier session) that is going to have everything but the kitchen sink on it that only Matt can do. The prices are amazing and the products are all hand made in the USA so there is no going wrong with this company.

Contact Info

www.flyingvleatheracc.com
www.facebook.com/TheFlyingVLegRest

LTD-MW-Skull Wilton Signature

LTD-MW-Skull

LTD is owned by ESP it is basically the Epiphone to Gibson. LTD has been known to make some amazing guitars at prices that most any musician at any skill level can find that perfect guitar to suit there needs. I personally own a handful of LTD guitars and I have never had a issue with them in any way form or function. For them that are still unclear it is basically Epiphone to Gibson guitars. I have always said there are three kinds of guitar player in the world 1. The guitar player that will not play anything but high priced Gibson's or Paul Reed Smith priced guitars or hand made super expensive ones cause they honestly feel and think it means the guitar will play better. 2. The guitar player that looks for feel and sound and plays a guitar cause they love them no matter the price whether it be high or low. 3. The guitar player that is a looking for low end guitars to do minor upgrades to get the most of out a little. Today we will talk about the Queensryche Wilton signature model.


Features

Construction-Bolt On
Scale-25.5
Body-Alder
Neck-Maple
Fingerboard Radius-350mm
Finish-Black/Skull Graphic
Nut Width-42mm
Nut Type-Locking
Neck Contour-Thin U
Frets/Type-22 XJ
Tuners-Grover
Bridge-Floyd Rose
Neck Pickup-Seymour Duncan Sh-1
Bridge Pickup-Seymour Duncan TB-4
Electronics-Vol/Tone/3-Way Switch


Sound

This guitar by LTD is a great all around guitar that can do the beautiful full bodied cleans clear up to the hard rough edged metal that Queensryche has been known for. This is a import guitar but has all the uptown features to give you any sound you are really looking for. I spent time playing this guitar into many amps and configurations and found that there was no sound I could not get from this axe. Wilton made sure if he was going to sign his name on the headstock that this guitar better be able to put up with nightly gigging and studio work and come out smelling like a rose. I found that this guitar shined the hardest with getting the 80's metal sound to a early thrash sound. This guitar is a jack of all trades with humbuckers style guitar. I did notice that this guitar really did not quite satisfy my blues and single coil strat needs but honestly I doubt anyone buying this will be for that style of music. This guitar is as solid and stable as any guitar you will own will be from top to bottom!!


My Opinion

If you cannot afford a 2000 dollar guitar or if you are a guitar player that does not think you need to pay four months rent to get a guitar this might be the one for you. The street price for this guitar is right around 700 bucks and it is loaded with a full on Floyd Rose and actual Seymour Duncan pickups that even the highest end guitars are loaded with. The neck on this guitar is insane smooth making shredding a ease. Alder wood is such a great all around wood that so many of the highest end guitars are made and sounds amazing on this guitar. Every one of my friends that jam usually pick this guitar up first cause of not only how cool it looks but know that Micheal Wilton is a guitar god and is not going to allow anyone to tag his name to junk. The inlays on this guitar are beautiful with the Queensryche logo and diamonds in the upper frets. This guitar does not have any binding on it but I usually am not a fan of binding anyway. I would recommend this guitar to anyone that loves a full bodied guitar that will sound and look good and command the attention of the crowd in any show you do!!!


Contact
http://www.espguitars.com/
www.facebook.com/espguitars