Guitar Center
Studio Tour with Rob Gueringer (a.k.a. Freaky Rob)
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Check out Orianthi's Gibson SJ-200: guitarcenter.com/Gibson/Orianthi-SJ-200-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-Cherry-Cherry-1500000348321.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Shop all Gibson acoustics: guitarcenter.com/Acoustic-Guitars.gc?N=18137&source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/PRS/David-Grissom-15-Watt-Tube-Amp-Head-Blonde-1500000421605.gc?source=4GO4LOBA
Grab the matching DGT 15 speaker cabinet from Guitar Center:
guitarcenter.com/PRS/David-Grissom-DGT-15-1x12-Cabinet-Celestion-with-Vintage-30-Speakers-Blonde-1500000421606.gc?source=4GO4LOBA
Check out the PRS DGT Electric Guitar that David is playing in this video:
guitarcenter.com/PRS/DGT-With-Birds-Electric-Guitar-Gold-Top-1500000421688.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Conceived as a more affordable, lower-powered sibling to the PRS DG Custom 30, the PRS David Grissom DGT 15 tube-amp head is a single-channel, 15W firebreather that delivers 3-band EQ, tube-bias tremolo, three-position bright switch and footswitchable boost, reverb and tremolo. Crafted by PRS Amplifier Designer Doug Sewell to serve up a tonal potpourri of Grissom’s favorite vintage amps—as well as satisfy the guitarist’s affinity for shimmering clean tones and meaty overdrive—the DGT 15 is driven by two EL 84 power tubes, three 12AX7 preamp tubes, one 12AT7 preamp tube and a GZ34 rectifier tube. The matching DGT 15 cabinet is ported to ensure maximum dimension, clarity and resonance from a single 12" Celestion Vintage 30 speaker.
“People usually talk about how an amp sounds,” says Grissom, a renowned Austin, Texas-based guitarist (John Mellencamp, Storyville, Trisha Yearwood). “But, for me, it’s a huge deal how it
feels. When I play harder, for example, how does the amp respond? I’m really excited about the DGT 15, because the goal was to come somewhere in the middle of a tweed Bassman or a JTM45 and a great, old AC30. Al of those amps respond really well to your touch and allow the most important elements of guitar tone—your hands and fingers—to come through.”
“This is an amp that steps back into history,” adds Sewell. “It’s a vintage-inspired circuit that employs tube rectification and cathode biasing to get that feel David describes. You can sense the DGT 15 underneath your fingers, and it gives you a less hard feel where notes bloom, rather than explode.”
Come in and demo the PRS DGT 15 at one of our PRS Premier Amp Dealer locations below:
Nashville
Hollywood
Las Vegas
La Mesa
Dallas
Salt Lake
Houston
Oklahoma City
Cherry Hill
Union Square
Follow David Grissom:
instagram.com/davidgrissomguitar
Find a Guitar Center location near you:
stores.guitarcenter.com/?source=4GO4LOBA
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with David Grissom and Doug Sewell
00:34 - The Story Behind the DGT 15 Amplifier
02:13 - Overview and Features of the PRS DGT 15 Guitar Amp
05:52 - Developing the Speaker Cabinet for the DGT 15
07:41 - Clean Tones through the PRS DGT 15 Amplifier
10:52 - Customizing Your Tone with the DGT 15
11:33 - The Sonic Versatility of the Single-Channel DGT 15
13:21 - Using the PRS DGT 15 as a Pedal Platform
14:38 - A Closer Look at the DGT 15’s Preamp
15:12 - On the Feel of the PRS DGT 15 Amplifier
16:44 - PRS DGT 15’s Built-In Tremolo
17:27 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/PT15-IR-Hybrid-Guitar-Amp-Head-Black-1500000320956.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Get a matching PT15 I.R. 2x12 speaker cabinet:
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/PT-15-IR-2x12-Guitar-Speaker-Cabinet-Black-1500000320969.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Suhr PT15 I.R. is an innovative, all-tube hybrid amp fused with a built-in reactive load box (for safely bringing the power amp to line level) and impulse responses. You can go all analog and simply plug the P15 I.R. into a physical speaker cabinet, or explore analog/digital flexibility by sending your tube sounds and onboard digital speaker emulations direct to a PA system or recording device. Developed by noted designer John Suhr and guitarist/tone authority Pete Thorn, the 15W PT15 features three channels, 12AX7 preamp tubes, two 6V6GT power tubes and a headphone jack.
“The PT15 I.R. provides all of the simplicity, versatility and great tone that tube amps give you, but with the flexibility digital modelers offer,” says Thorn. “This is a true tube amplifier. You can plug it into a speaker cabinet and wail through it all day long. But the reactive load box and digital I.R. section means you can have it backstage and warm up silently by listening through headphones to your sound with the speaker emulations. Then, you can take the PT15 to the stage and either plop it on a cabinet or run directly into the PA system and rock out.”
Check out Pete's demo of his signature Suhr PT100 amp:
youtube.com/watch?v=C3GdYP6Zue0
Follow Pete Thorn:
peterthorn.com
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Pete Thorn
01:30 - Pete’s Relationship with Suhr Guitars
03:10 - The Story of the PT15 I.R. Guitar Amp
03:44 - Overview and Features of the PT15 I.R. Guitar Amplifier
07:31 - Demo: Channel 1
12:01 - Demo: Channel 2
14:18 - Demo: Channel 3
15:27 - Demo: Miking Channel 2 and Channel 3
16:15 - Installing Your Own Impulse Responses on the Suhr PT15 I.R.
16:44 - Applications for the PT15 I.R. Guitar Amplifier
17:33 - Pete’s Final Thoughts on the Suhr PT15 I.R.
17:57 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Taylor/414ce-50th-Anniversary-Special-Edition-Sinker-Redwood-Grand-Auditorium-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-Shaded-Edge-Burst-1500000428305.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Special Edition 50th Anniversary model of the top-selling Taylor 414ce acoustic-electric guitar features a gorgeous, solid sinker redwood top, solid rosewood back and sides, V-Class bracing and Taylor ES2 pickup system. The recovered, old-growth redwood used in the construction of the Special Edition 414ce was harvested from trees submerged for more than 100 years at the bottom of California riverbeds.
“I’m normally an electric player, so jumping to a Taylor acoustic is always so friendly on the hands,” says Educator, USC professor and guitarist Dr. Molly Miller (Jason Mraz, Zayn). “The Special Edition 414ce 50th Anniversary really showcases what Taylor is all about—playability, sustain, evenness across different tonal ranges and attention to detail. The sinker redwood looks amazing against the guitar’s shaded-edge burst. This is a beautiful guitar.”
Follow Molly Miller:
instagram.com/moodymill
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Molly Miller
01:39 - Why Dr. Molly Miller Plays Taylor Acoustic Guitars
02:09 - First Impressions of the Taylor 414ce 50th Anniversary Special Edition
02:50 - Overview and Features of the 414ce 50th Anniversary SE Sinker Redwood
03:10 - Fingerstyle/Travis Picking on the Taylor 414ce 50th Anniversary Special Edition
03:56 - On the Importance of Pick Selection and Touch for Tonal Quality
04:45 - Strumming with a Capo on the 5th Fret of the Taylor 414ce 50th Anniversary SE Sinker Redwood
05:45 - Playing the 414ce SE 50th Anniversary Through the On-Board ES2 Preamp
07:10 - Fingerstyle/Bossanova Playing on the Taylor 414ce SE 50th Anniversary
08:13 - Blues/Country Playing on the Taylor 414ce SE 50th Anniversary Sinker Redwood
08:59 - Molly’s Final Thoughts on the Taylor 414ce 50th Anniversary SE Sinker Redwood
09:29 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Line-6/POD-Express-Guitar-Effects-Processor-Red-1500000414283.gc?source=4GO4LOBA
The Line 6 POD Express may appear like a conventional—albeit colorful—stompbox looking for a space on your pedalboard. But it’s far more powerful than it looks. POD Express is an entire amp and effects rig in a petite casing that can fit into a tourist’s sling bag. Loaded with digital models from Line 6’s award-winning HX family, POD Express delivers seven amps, seven cabinets and 17 effects types (including a looper). Intuitive controls make building presets a breeze, and you can use the onboard USB-C audio interface for recording and reamping.
“At one time, it might have made sense to fly a huge pedalboard to shows and bring all of your amps,” says Covet guitarist, composer and graphic artist Yvette Young. “But the needs of musicians over the past couple of years have really transformed due to the sheer convenience of amp modeling. You don’t have to break your back anymore. The POD Express, for example, is so cute you can just slip it into your pocket. The amp and effects models are impressive, and they provide a great way to get into experimenting with different tones. It’s pretty nifty to have all of your colors in one place. I could use the POD Express on the road to record ideas whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.”
Follow Yvette Young:
instagram.com/yvetteyoung
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Yvette Young
01:16 - Overview and Features of the Line 6 POD Express
01:36 - Exploring the Line 6 POD Express’ Amp Models from the Helix Family
05:38 - A Closer Look at the Modulation Effects on the Line 6 POD Express
06:52 - Demonstrating the Distortion Effects on the Line 6 POD Express
08:26 - Exploring the Line 6 POD Express’ Reverb Options
10:34 - Using the Line 6 POD Express’ Built-In Tuner
11:11 - Line 6 POD Express’ Delay Options
11:43 - Yvette’s Final Thoughts on the Line 6 POD Express
12:06 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/BOSS-Katana-Gen3-Amplifiers.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The new BOSS KATANA Gen3's enhanced Tube Logic architecture powers six amp voices—Brown, Lead, Crunch, Pushed, Clean and Acoustic, plus variations for each. There are more than 60 onboard effects (including reverb, delay, modulation, boost) and 15 effects options are selectable per channel/tone setting—five of which can be used simultaneously. There’s a USB-C jack for computer connectivity, as well as expanded editing features via the BOSS Tone Studio app. Bluetooth for iOS/Android mobile devices is available with the optional BT-DUAL adaptor. Line Out/Cabinet options include multiple mic-emulation options with controls for positioning and room ambience. Some features are offered on specific KATANA models only, such as Bloom power-amp voicing (HEAD, ARTIST, ARTIST-HEAD).
“The flexibility of the KATANA is amazing,” says Southern California blues guitarist Kirk Fletcher (Joe Bonamassa, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Charlie Musselwhite), as he demoed the as he demoed the KATANA Gen3 50-EX model. “I can play onstage, practice, or rehearse and the sound stays consistent for every setting. You can also record direct to your computer or use the BOSS Tone Studio app for KATANA Gen3 to edit settings and more. I play mostly blues and I use a pretty clean tone with reverb, so I’m gravitating to the Pushed amp setting. It sounds just like a non-master volume amplifier, and that’s where I live. I feel like those rich harmonics are really accentuated with a non-master amp. The Pushed setting lets me play with all of the harmonics, and I can add this pillow of reverb. It’s fantastic.”
The BOSS KATANA Gen3 guitar amplifier series encompasses the KATANA-50 50 watt 1x12 combo, KATANA-50 EX 50 watt 1x12 combo, KATANA-100 100 watt 1x12 and 2x12 combos, the 100 watt KATANA-HEAD (includes 1x5 onboard speaker), and the 100 watt KATANA-ARTIST 1x12 combo and KATANA-ARTIST HEAD.
Keep up with Kirk Fletcher at instagram.com/kirkfletchermusic
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Kirk Fletcher
02:30 - Exploring the “Pushed” Setting on the KATANA Gen3 Amps
04:00 - A Quick Look at the KATANA Gen3’s On-Board Effects
04:36 - Demonstrating the “Lead” Setting on the BOSS KATANA Gen3
05:03 - Listening to the “Clean” Setting on the BOSS KATANA Gen3 Guitar Amp
06:34 - How Kirk Uses the “Pushed” Setting on the BOSS KATANA Gen3
07:26 - On the Touch Sensitivity of the KATANA Gen3 Amplifier
08:07 - The Versatility of the BOSS KATANA Gen3 Amplifiers
08:22 - Exploring the Various Power Settings Available on the KATANA Gen3 Amps
09:19 - BOSS KATANA Gen3’s Recording Capabilities
09:45 - Playing Through the Line Out on the BOSS KATANA Gen3 with Digital Mic Modeling
13:00 - Kirk Fletcher’s Thoughts on the BOSS KATANA Gen3 Guitar Amps
13:36 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/PT100-Signature-Edition-Tube-Guitar-Amp-Head-Black-1500000320942.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Grab a matching PT100 4x12 speaker cabinet:
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/4x12-Speaker-Cabinet-with-Celestion-Greenback-Speakers-Black-1500000432122.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Suhr PT100 is the signature model of session guitarist and tone connoisseur Pete Thorn. The 100W, three-channel amp is hand-wired and features six 12AX7 preamp tubes, four EL34 power tubes, MIDI connectivity, a series/parallel effects loop and a four-button footswitch.
“The PT100 was born when John Suhr asked me, ‘What are you doing using three amplifiers at once?’” says Thorn. “I was using one amp for clean tones, another for my dirty rhythm sound and I’d switch in yet another head for leads. John said, ‘This is crazy. Let me make you an amplifier where you can get all your sounds out of one head.’ So, the PT100 has a great, American-style clean sound derived from our favorite, old-school amps from Fullerton, California. Channels 2 and 3 are modded versions of favored plexi-style amps from England. The prototype amp was very close right off the bat, but I kept refining it with John, taking it on tours and playing hundreds of shows with it.”
Check out Pete's demo of his signature Suhr PT15 I.R. amp:
youtube.com/watch?v=7WbI9WFpgpo
Follow Pete Thorn:
peterthorn.com
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Pete Thorn
01:02 - The Story Behind the Suhr PT100 Amplifier
03:16 - Overview and Features of the Suhr PT100 Amp Head
06:45 - Playing Through the Clean Channel (Channel 1) on the Suhr PT100
10:24 - Playing Through the Crunch Channel (Channel 2) on the Suhr PT100
13:03 - Playing Through the Lead Channel (Channel 3) on the Suhr PT100
14:24 - A Closer Look at the Suhr PT100 Footswitching
15:29 - Pete’s Final Thoughts on the Suhr PT100 Guitar Amplifier
15:46 - Outro
“On guitar, I do my own thing,” she says. “My go-to sound is an S-style model on the neck pickup and with the gain on the edge of breakup territory. These are the three guitars that get me through almost any gig.”
On the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT, available from Guitar Center: guitarcenter.com/Jackson/MJ-Series-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-So-Cal-2PT-Daphne-Blue-1500000340371.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
“The Jackson Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT is an amazing HSS guitar that can do a bit of everything. This guitar really spoke to me, and it pretty much has all the things I would want. I especially love the flat, 20" radius roasted flame-maple neck. It has a sort of satin feel, so there’s no glossy stickiness as I slide up and down the guitar. The Misha Mansoor is cool and comfy. As soon as I played it, I knew it fit me.”
On the Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster, available from Guitar Center: guitarcenter.com/Fender/Gold-Foil-Jazzmaster-Electric-Guitar-Shoreline-Gold-1500000389423.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
“The Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster is a real tone machine. I use it for ‘clean-ish’ rhythm playing and it also does sleazy-sounding indie stuff. The Gold Foil mini humbuckers have a lot of bright attack, although the guitar sounds a little bit more beefy on clean tones than the Jackson Misha. The Gold Foil Jazzmaster really comes into its own for rock-y and messy, kind of psychedelic playing. I tend to grab this guitar if I want to play loose, rather than super precise or technical.”
On the Jackson American Series Virtuoso, available from Guitar Center: guitarcenter.com/Jackson/American-Series-Virtuoso-Electric-Guitar-Satin-Shell-Pink-1500000375467.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
“The Jackson American Series Virtuoso is pretty new for me, but I love it. It’s really gorgeous. This guitar is great for playing metalcore, which is a lot of the music I grew on and is very close to my heart. I think a sign that you’ve got a really good guitar is you plug it into your rig and it sounds great straightaway. You don’t need to tweak much at all. That was the case with the Virtuoso.”
Check out our video with Vixen's Diary on Jackson's American Series Soloist SL2MG and SL2MG HT:
youtube.com/watch?v=Rumg0-r3yQE
Follow Vixen's Diary:
instagram.com/vixens_diary
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Vixen’s Diary
00:44 - Jackson Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
01:40 - Overview and Features of the Jackson Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
07:11 - Exploring the Tonal Versatility of the So-Cal 2PT’s Bare Knuckle Pickups
09:33 - Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster
10:10 - Overview and Features of Vixen’s Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster
10:38 - Clean Tones with the Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster
12:06 - Dirty Tones with the Gold Foil Jazzmaster
13:02 - Applications for the Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster
13:43 - Jackson American Series Virtuoso
14:08 - Overview and Features of the Jackson American Series Virtuoso
14:38 - Heavy Tones with the Jackson American Series Virtuoso
16:44 - Modern Metal Tones with the American Virtuoso
17:42 - On the Playability of the Jackson American Series Virtuoso
18:53 - Things to Keep in Mind When Purchasing a New Guitar
20:46 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Epiphone/USA-Coronet-Electric-Guitar-Ebony-1500000419371.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Epiphone USA Coronet evokes the swagger of the minimalist marvel that was first introduced in 1959. Armed with a single Epiphone PRO P-90 pickup, the American-made Coronet can still unleash a surprising variety of tones, depending on your performance dynamics and manipulation of its tone and volume knobs. The Coronet also features a symmetrical double-cutaway mahogany body, set mahogany SlimTaper neck, 24.75" scale, Indian laurel fretboard with a 12" radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets, handwired electronics, Graph Tech nut and Epiphone Lightning Bar compensated bridge. To literally top off the rowdy retro vibe, the Coronet showcases a vintage Epiphone “bikini” badge on its headstock and ivory butterbean tuning machines.
“Playing a guitar with one pickup speaks a lot to you as a musician and guitar player,” says solo artist Nick Hames, “because you must take what you have and make the most of it. This Coronet has so many different sounds when you roll down or turn up the volume and tone controls. So, I love that the octagon-shaped knobs are easy to reach, and they have triangular points to show me where I’ve set the controls.”
Follow Nick Hames:
instagram.com/nickhames
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Nick Hames
01:57 - Overview and Features of the Epiphone USA Coronet
03:47 - Experimenting with Coronet’s Volume Control
04:36 - Crafting Tones with the Coronet’s Tone Control
05:59 - Demonstrating the Coronet’s Clean Sound with Volume and Tone Maxed Out
06:48 - Exploring the Sonic Versatility of the Epiphone Coronet
11:59 - Nick’s Thoughts on the Epiphone USA Coronet
15:13 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Martin/000-42-Standard-Auditorium-Acoustic-Guitar-Antique-Natural-1500000204654.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Shopour collection of vintage acoustic guitars:
guitarcenter.com/Vintage/Acoustic-Guitars.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The 000-42 was introduced in 1938, but only 112 of the guitars were reportedly made before World War II forced the model to be discontinued in 1943. And that was that.
Well, until Eric Clapton used a 1939 000-42 to record his MTV Unplugged concert in 1992. The resulting album was a bona fide juggernaut that arguably kicked off the incredibly popular acoustic mania of the ’90s. The Martin 000-42 didn’t fare too badly, either, as it became highly prized—especially vintage ones, such as this 1939 model purchased from Guitar Center by none other than Grammy-nominated bluesman and guitar collector Joe Bonamassa.
“This 1939 000-42 is special, because they didn’t make a lot of them,” says Bonamassa. “It’s one of my favorite Guitar Center Vintage finds. Look at this custom-made ‘strap lock.’ Somebody obviously went into a hardware store in the 1940s, and just screwed this bolt into the neck. I wouldn’t suggest doing that, but I think it’s one of the coolest parts of this 000-42, because this little screw-eye bolt is about as old as the guitar itself.”
Take a look at Joe's 1958 Gibson Flying V:
youtube.com/watch?v=ju8Wu42hhbk
Get up close with Joe's unique 1959 Gibson EMS-1235:
youtube.com/watch?v=rqxNMzyk7tE
Keep the blues alive with Joe Bonamassa:
jbonamassa.com
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Joe Bonamassa
01:18 - A Look at Joe’s Pre-War 1939 Martin 000-42
03:20 - Playing the 1939 Martin 000-42
04:04 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Vintage/Guitars.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Guitarist and collector Joe Bonamassa shares another one of his “favorite finds" from Guitar Center. This time it’s a rare “unicorn”—a blonde-finish 1959 Gibson EMS-1235 doubleneck that’s a combo plate of a 6-string guitar and mandolin.
Gibson started making doublenecks in 1958, and they were available only as custom orders. Even the cases were produced on a one-by-one basis. It was also a time when Gibson would make almost any doubleneck you asked for—two basses, two 6-strings, a 12-string and a 6-string, a mandolin and a 6- or 12-string and so on.
“You had to order this and wait for it,” explains Bonamassa. “It was not a product Gibson would make dealers stock just in case someone came in looking for a guitar and mandolin. This example is very rare, because it’s in a factory-blonde finish. Most EMS-1235s were white or sunburst—although the late, great Robbie Robertson’s EMS-1235 was cherry red.”
Bonamassa remembers he walked into a Guitar Center about ten years ago and bought this EMS-1235 ("EMS" stands for Electric Mandolin Spanish, by the way!)—along with a 1955 Fender Stratocaster hardtail that was part of a set from the same owner.
“I’m a guitar collector, but I’m also a guitar player, so I have to serve both sides of the fence,” says Bonamassa. “The ones I play have new frets and stuff like that, and you’ll see them onstage. But for the ones I collect—I want to be a custodian to history. When I look down at this guitar, everything on it was made in America. It harkens back to the days when this country made everything. The craftsmanship and inventiveness involved in doing something like this—that’s why I collect these things. This is a big guitar to play, and it’s my job to preserve it, play it, enjoy it and treasure it.”
Take a look at Joe's 1939 Martin 000-42:
youtube.com/watch?v=GTY5aC6miyU
Get up close and personal with Joe's 1958 Gibson Flying V:
youtube.com/watch?v=ju8Wu42hhbk
Keep ups with Joe Bonamassa:
jbonamassa.com
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Joe Bonamassa
00:41 - Overview and Features of Joe’s 1959 Gibson EMS-1235
02:52 - Playing the 1959 Gibson EMS-1235
03:54 - A Look Into Joe Bonamassa’s Guitar Collector Mentality
04:48 - Playing the 1959 Gibson EMS-1235 (Cont.)
06:07 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Gibson-Custom/1958-Korina-Flying-V-White-Pickguard-Electric-Guitar-Natural-1500000358863.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Check out our collection of vintage gear:
guitarcenter.com/Vintage/?source=4GOA4LOBA
Hang out with guitarist Joe Bonamassa at the Vintage Platinum Room at Guitar Center Hollywood—“A place that I spend a lot of time, and even more money”—as he recounts the tale of one of his rarest finds.
In 2017, this 1958 Gibson Flying V was brought into Guitar Center Sacramento by the niece of the guitar’s original owner as she was settling his estate. It’s known as the “Trash Bag Flying V,” because it was found leaning against a wall with a trash bag over it.
The guitar didn’t even stop at GC first. Her uncle also had a Selmer saxophone, and she went to another store to sell it. The shop bought the sax, but referred her to Guitar Center for the Flying V.
“You could work in a music shop—or have 304 stores like Guitar Center—live three lifetimes, and still not have something this rare and this original walk in the front door,” says Bonamassa, who was driving down from Seattle after purchasing a 1934 Ford pickup truck when he was texted photos of the Flying V. “But lo and behold—there it was in all its glory. She actually thought the guitar wasn’t worth much. She was informed it was worth a hell of a lot.”
Bonamassa estimates the Trash Bag Flying V is one of only 90 models made by Gibson in 1958. But he doesn’t secret away such a valuable acquisition in a vault or collector’s case.
“This one is a rock guitar that needs to be played,” he says. “It goes out on the road with me.”
Check out Joe's 1939 Martin 000-42:
youtube.com/watch?v=GTY5aC6miyU
Get a closer look at Joe's 1959 Gibson EMS-1235:
youtube.com/watch?v=rqxNMzyk7tE
Follow Joe Bonamassa:
jbonamassa.com
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Joe Bonamassa
00:31 - The Story Behind Joe’s ’58 Gibson “Trash Bag” Flying V
03:30 - Playing the 1958 Gibson Flying V
04:11 - Joe On the Collectibility of Flying V’s
05:56 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Bella-Hand-Wired-Tube-Combo-Amplifier-120V-Black-1500000424628.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Suhr Bella guitar amp head:
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Bella-Hand-Wired-Tube-Head-Amplifier-120V-Black-1500000424626.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Suhr Bella 1x12 cabinet:
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Bella-1x12-Cabinet-Celestion-V-Type-Speaker-Black-1500000424627.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Suhr Bella guitar amp is available as a 1x12 combo or head, either with or without reverb. Renowned as a transparent and sensitive platform for pedals, Bella can be set for 22 or 44 watts of Class A/B power, and includes three 12AX7 preamp tubes, two 6L6GC power tubes, a three-position Bright switch and a tube-driven effects loop.
“This is my personal Bella amp I’ve used for the past six years,” says session guitarist and composer Horace Bray, who has toured with Jordin Sparks, Taylor Dayne and India.Arie. “Whenever I picture a clean amp tone, it defaults to how the Bella sounds at its 44-watt setting. You hear all the little intricacies of your guitar—in this case, my Suhr Classic S—because the amp doesn’t color the sound that much. The tone is clean and crispy—exactly what I want in a straightforward guitar sound.”
Keep up with Horace Bray:
instagram.com/horacebray
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Horace Bray
00:44 - Overview and Features of the Suhr Bella Combo Amplifier
01:07 - Demo: Clean Tone at 44 Watts
02:17 - Demo: Exploring the 3 “Bright” Switch Positions and 6dB Boost
04:05 - Demo: Using the Suhr Bella as a Pedal Platform
05:24 - Demo: Using Bella’s FX Loop for Time-based Effects
06:43 - Horace’s Thoughts on the Suhr Bella Amplifier
07:06 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Hombre-Tube-Head-Amplifier-120V-Vintage-Palomino-1500000354298.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Hombre-2x12-Cabinet-Vintage-Palomino-1500000354297.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Get your own Suhr Hombre 1x12" Combo from Guitar Center:
guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Hombre-1x12-Tube-Combo-Guitar-Amp-Brown-1500000321010.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Hombre is Suhr’s interpretation of a vintage, brown panel-style amp. It comes in a head version that matches right up with an optional 2x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion V-type speakers, or you can choose a 1x12 combo. Under the hood, this 18W, two channel (Normal and Bright) raver features three 12AX7 preamp tubes, two 6V6 power tubes, a 5AR4 rectifier tube and a tube-bias tremolo with on/off footswitch.
“This is a really fun amp to play when it breaks up,” says session guitarist Horace Bray (Dove Cameron, Blu De Tiger). “It makes me feel like I’m an old Texas blues guitarist playing super loud on stage. For clean rhythm parts, I love the Bright channel, because the tone brings some shimmer, which cuts through the band a little bit more. But my favorite part of the Hombre is its tube-bias tremolo. It’s analog, natural and organic, and it never gets choppy. The tremolo always feels like it’s complementing my playing, rather than fighting it.”
Follow Horace Bray:
instagram.com/horacebray
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Horace Bray
00:54 - Overview and Features of the Suhr Hombre Guitar Amplifier
01:16 - Clean Tones through the Suhr Hombre
02:25 - Clean Tones through the Hombre’s Bright Channel
03:17 - Built-In Tube Biased Tremolo on the Suhr Hombre
04:22 - Pushing the Suhr Hombre to the Edge of Breakup
05:28 - Using the Suhr Hombre as a Pedal Platform
06:46 - Horace’s Thoughts on the Suhr Hombre Amplifier
07:05 - Outro
Guitar Center's RockWalk is an industry-recognized historic pedestrian path dedicated to honoring the musicians and pioneers who have made a significant impact on music through exceptional talent, outstanding innovation or creative ingenuity with their chosen instruments.
Located at the entrance of the flagship Guitar Center store on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California, RockWalk was founded in 1985 with the induction of Remo Belli, Bill Ludwig Jr., C.F. Martin III, Jim Marshall, Robert Moog, Les Paul, Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Wonder. Since that first induction, over 150 notable musicians, producers, bands and manufacturers have been recognized. With concrete blocks bearing the signatures and handprints of these iconic industry personalities, this celebratory landmark has become a top attraction for fans from around the world.
Order your copy of Gary's latest album, JPEG RAW:
guitarcenter.com/WEA/Gary-Clark-Jr-JPEG-RAW-2-LP-1500000428231.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
For more information on Guitar Center’s Rockwalk, visit guitarcenter.com/rockwalk.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Chapters
08:32 - Induction Ceremony Begins
08:49 - Remarks from Guitar Center’s CEO Gabe Dalporto
10:23 - Remarks from Nic Harcourt
16:40 - Gary Clark Jr. Makes His Mark on Guitar Center’s RockWalk
19:56 - Gary Offers a Few Words
21:57 - Gary Clark Jr. Addresses the Media
Shop their gear at Guitar Center!
Misha Mansoor's Signature Peavey Invective120:
guitarcenter.com/Peavey/Invective120-120W-Tube-Guitar-Amp-Head-1500000050203.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Peavey/Invective212-120W-2x12-Guitar-Speaker-Cabinet-1500000050204.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Misha Mansoor's Signature Jackson Guitars:
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/Pro-Series-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-ET6-Electric-Guitar-Chalk-Gray-1500000340127.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/Pro-Series-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-ET7-Gulf-Blue-1500000340130.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/Pro-Series-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-HT7P-Black-Burst-Burl-1500000297686.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/Pro-Series-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-HT7FM-7-String-Electric-Guitar-Neon-Orange-1500000256682.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/Pro-Series-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-HT6-Matte-Blue-Frost-1500000256681.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/USA-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-Juggernaut-HT6FM-Electric-Guitar-Amber-Tiger-Eye-1500000213096.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Jackson/MJ-Series-Signature-Misha-Mansoor-So-Cal-2PT-Daphne-Blue-1500000340371.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Mark Holcomb's Signature PRS Guitars:
guitarcenter.com/PRS/SE-Mark-Holcomb-SVN-Electric-Guitar-Holcomb-Burst-1500000359616.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/PRS/SE-Mark-Holcomb-SVN-Electric-Guitar-Holcomb-Blue-Burst-1500000388359.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/PRS/SE-Mark-Holcomb-SVN-7-String-Electric-Guitar-Holcomb-Blue-Burst-1500000388360.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Jake Bowen's Signature Ibanez Guitars:
guitarcenter.com/Ibanez/JBM10FX-Jake-Bowen-Signature-Electric-Guitar-Pearl-White-Matte-1500000255398.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
guitarcenter.com/Ibanez/Jake-Bowen-Signature-JBM-Series-JBM27-7-String-Electric-Guitar-Flat-Black-1443895372963.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Misha Mansoor, Mark Holcomb and Jake Bowen of Periphery
02:11 - Periphery on Sharing The Creative Process
04:27 - How the Members of Periphery Got Their Start on Guitar
11:05 - A Look at Periphery’s Rig for the GC Hollywood Event
13:08 - “Make Total Destroy”
20:56 - How Do You Know If a Riff Is Good?
23:07 - Communicating Effectively as a Band
26:42 - How Many Versions Does Each Song Go Through?
28:16 - Carving Out Your Space In a Band
28:59 - How Do You Get Past the Intro Riff When Writing?
32:08 - Practice Routines
35:28 - Periphery’s Mix Management
37:09 - How Are Periphery Riffs Developed?
39:23 - Periphery’s Approach to Creating a Setlist
41:45 - “Wildfire”
51:34 - How Did You Develop Your Individual Styles?
52:55 - What Effects Are You Using in the “Wildfire” Solo?
55:12 - Periphery’s Rhythm Tone Settings
56:00 - What Is The Experience of Playing Each Other’s Instruments Like?
59:16 - How Do You Dial In Your Live In-Ear Mixes?
1:05:23 - How Do You Handle Mistakes/Technical Difficulties Playing Live?
1:07:22 - What’s Your Favorite Periphery Song to Play?
1:08:30 - Misha On Originality and The Importance of Having Fun
1:09:56 - What Is the Most Difficult Periphery Song to Play?
1:13:21 - How Do You Think Luck Has Been Involved In Your Career?
1:15:58 - “Prayer Position”
1:21:54 - What Is the Process of Learning Riffs Together Like?
1:23:33 - How Did You Develop Your Playing Without Formal Music Theory?
1:25:12 - Have You Developed Your Own Sort of Shared “Language” Over the Years?
1:26:26 - Do You Notice That People’s Personalities Match Their Playing Styles?
1:27:47 - On the Experience of Developing New Guitars/Gear
1:32:23 - How Did You Develop Your Lead Playing? What Impact Does Your Gear Have On That?
1:40:36 - “The Way The News Goes”
1:46:23 - Was “The Way The New Goes” Developed from the Intro Riff?
1:52:15 - How Do You Allow Yourself To Enter a Creative Headspace?
1:52:58 - On Song Composition
1:56:00 - How Periphery Handles Writer’s Block
1:56:36 - Periphery’s Approach to Creativity Without Music Theory
1:59:05 - Periphery’s Favorite Meshuggah Songs
1:59:50 - Relying On Feel and Musical Instincts
2:01:47 - Can We Expect Any Solo Albums from the Members of Periphery?
02:02:18 - How Does Collaborating With Others Outside of Periphery Benefit the Band?
02:04:18 - How Recordings Translate to a Live Setting
02:07:14 - How Do You Convey Your Emotions In Your Songwriting?
02:12:04 - How Are the Lyrics Integrated Into the Instrumentals?
02:13:35 - How Do You Handle Long-Distance As a Band?
02:17:09 - “Wax Wings”
Go for the Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG HT from Guitar Center: guitarcenter.com/Jackson/American-Series-Soloist-SL2MG-HT-Electric-Guitar-Satin-Black-1500000415560.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Jackson American Series guitars are crafted in Corona, California, and they represent the apex predators of high-octane, supersonic, extreme technique playing. The Jackson SL2MG models inspire the wild side of guitar histrionics with EMG 81/85 pickups, maple necks, 12"-16" compound radius ebony fretboards, 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets and Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads. The SL2MG offers a Floyd Rose 1500 Series tremolo, while the SL2MG HT comes with a Hipshot hardtail bridge.
“I grab a Jackson when, sonically, I need something that is really aggressive,” says Los Angeles session and touring guitarist Vixen's Diary. “The SL2MG is great, because I love playing lead guitar with a trem, and the cool thing about a Floyd Rose is its amazing tuning stability. Even if you’re not doing crazy dive bombs with it, you can do cool things like flutters or going up in pitch. The Hipshot hardtail bridge on the SL2MG HT is perfect for changing tunings between drop and standard for me. This is a riffin’ guitar that I think is going to be really popular with riff-based players. Both models are no-nonsense rock and metal machines.”
Follow Vixen's Diary:
instagram.com/vixens_diary
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Vixen’s Diary
01:42 - Overview and Features of the Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG HT
02:19 - Demo: Playing Through the SL2MG HT’s EMG 81 Bridge Pickup
02:46 - On the Playability of the Jackson American Series Soloist Guitars
04:36 - Demo: Lead Lines on the Jackson SL2MG
05:52 - Increased Sustain with EMG Pickups
06:13 - Demo: SL2MG’s Floyd Rose and Tuning Stability
06:54 - Floyd Rose Tricks with Vixen's Diary
07:43 - Demo: Playing Through the SL2MG’s EMG 85 Neck Pickup
08:28 - A Closer Look at the Jackson American Series Soloist’s Speed Neck
09:01 - Demo: Clean Tones in the Middle Position of the Jackson SL2MG
10:45 - Demo: Clean Tones Through the SL2MG’s EMG 85 Neck Pickup
11:33 - Vixen's Diary On the Finish of the Jackson American Series Soloist Guitars
12:25 - Final Thoughts on the Jackson SL2MG and SL2MG HT with Vixen's Diary
13:12 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Line-6/Catalyst-CX-100-1X12-100W-Guitar-Combo-Amp-Black-1500000409873.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Line 6 Catalyst CX 100 is an affordable and versatile 100-watt, 1x12 combo with enough built-in effects and amp models to get you through any gig, rehearsal or recording session. Populated with celebrated HX-crafted sounds, the Catalyst CX 100 offers two channels, 12 amp voices, 24 effects, a savvy 100W-50W-0.5W output power knob with mute, MIDI and even more power via the Catalyst Edit app.
“I have a reputation of being a traditionalist, but I’ve been a serious Line 6 junkie almost since day one,” says Letters to Cleo guitarist, producer, teacher and touring professional (Lisa Loeb, Melissa Etheridge, Tonic) Michael Eisenstein. “The PODxt was my savior when I first moved to Los Angeles and did a lot of song demos, and I had a DL4 and MM4 on my road pedalboard for years. The Line 6 HX Stomp is my current desert island pedal, and it works great with the Catalyst amp—which has been updated with a new look, more effects and additional amp models.”
For more information on the Line 6 Catalyst CX amplifier series:
youtube.com/watch?v=S2EOdvwRxKI
guitarcenter.com/riffs/product-demos/amplifiers--effects/line-6-catalyst-cx-amps?source=4GOA4LOBA
Follow Michael Eisenstein:
instagram.com/theeisenstein
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Michael Eisenstein
01:08 - Overview and Features of the Line 6 Catalyst CX 100
02:15 - Demo: Clean Amp Setting in Group 2
03:20 - Demo: Boutique Amp Setting in Group 2
04:07 - Demo: Chime Amp Setting in Group 2
05:01 - Demo: Crunch Amp Setting in Group 2
05:33 - Using the On-Board Noise Gate
06:13 - Demo: Dynamic Amp Setting in Group 2
07:24 - Demo: Hi Gain Amp Setting in Group 2
08:46 - A Closer Look at the FX Loop on the Catalyst CX 100
09:14 - Demo: Using External Effects with the Catalyst CX 100
10:36 - Michael’s Thoughts on the Line 6 Catalyst CX 100
11:46 - Outro
Go for the Fender Player Series Saturday Night Special Tele:
guitarcenter.com/Fender/Player-Series-Saturday-Night-Special-Telecaster-Limited-Edition-Electric-Guitar-Daytona-Blue-1500000411581.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Rule the low end with the Fender Player Series Saturday Night Special Precision Bass: guitarcenter.com/Fender/Player-Series-Saturday-Night-Special-Precision-Bass-Limited-Edition-Daytona-Blue-1500000411583.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Fender Player Series Saturday Night Special limited-edition models are hot rodded with Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special pickups and dressed up in Daytona Blue finishes reminiscent of ’60s muscle cars. The supercharged flair of these speedsters is amplified with fast and inviting modern-C profile maple necks, comfy 9.5" radius maple fretboards and alder bodies.
“The Tele has all the twang you’d expect,” says Fender Play instructor and touring musician Nikki Stevens. “But what really jumped out is the bite of the bridge pickup. It sounds great for thrash metal—which is something you might not associate with a Telecaster. I come from a Strat background, so I love Superstrats, and I wanted to see how the Seymour Duncan humbucker on the HSS Stratocaster rips. That humbucker packs a wallop, but it still has a smoothness and clarity to it. When I play bass, I get pretty rowdy, because I’m into punk and hard rock. The heavy treble tone you can dial in on the Precision Bass gets me that spanky, thwack-y kind of sound. There’s exceptional, top-tier tone for all the models in the series.”
Follow Nikki Stevens:
instagram.com/nikki.nacho.stevens
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Nikki Stevens
01:10 - Overview and Features of the Fender Saturday Night Special Telecaster
03:04 - Achieving Classic Distortion Tones with the Saturday Night Special Telecaster
03:58 - Nikki’s Thoughts on the Fender Saturday Night Special Telecaster
04:27 - Clean Tones Through the Saturday Night Special Tele
05:55 - Overview and Features of the Fender Saturday Night Special HSS Stratocaster
07:40 - Heavier Tones Through the Bridge Pickup of the Saturday Night Special HSS Strat
08:24 - A Closer Look at the Neck Profile of the Saturday Night Special HSS Stratocaster
08:42 - Achieving Lead Tones with the Fender Saturday Night Special Stratocaster
09:15 - Playing Through the Neck Pickup on the Saturday Night Special Strat
10:12 - Overview and Features of the Fender Saturday Night Special Precision Bass
12:00 - Playing the Saturday Night Special P-Bass with Chorus
14:00 - Achieving Funk Tones with the Saturday Night Special Precision Bass
14:28 - A Closer Look at the Neck Profile of the Saturday Night Special P-Bass
15:00 - Nikki’s Thoughts on the Fender Saturday Night Special Series
15:15 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Line-6/Catalyst-CX-60-1X12-60W-Guitar-Combo-Amp-Black-1500000409872.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Line 6 Catalyst CX 60 is a super affordable and sonically flexible 60-watt, 1x12 combo with incredible sounds from the popular HX platform. The two-channel Catalyst CX 60 offers 12 amp voices and 24 effects derived from the Helix family of processors, a 60W-30W-0.5W power output control with mute (for tailoring the roar to the room), a headphone jack (for silent practicing), USB connectivity (turns the amp into an audio interface for recording) and increased editing power via the free Line 6 Catalyst Edit app.
“When I first started playing with the Catalyst CX 60, I really liked the familiarity of the effects because I had been running my guitar through a Line 6 Helix,” says Los Angeles guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Tiana Ohara (boygenius, Conan Gray). “It was very comfortable using sounds I had already worked with. The CX 60 is versatile—it’s great for any musical setting—and I can see myself using it around town playing local gigs. It’s an easy amp to carry and it’s also a clean pedal platform.”
For more information on the Line 6 Catalyst CX amplifier series:
guitarcenter.com/riffs/product-demos/amplifiers--effects/line-6-catalyst-cx-amps
youtube.com/watch?v=EgtqUlZng-s
Follow Tiana Ohara:
instagram.com/tianaohara
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Tiana Ohara
00:38 - Overview and Features of the Line 6 Catalyst CX 60
00:57 - Demo: Clean Amp Setting
02:00 - Demo: Boutique Amp Setting
02:53 - Demo: Chime Amp Setting
04:03 - Demo: Crunch Amp Setting
04:57 - Demo: Dynamic Amp Setting
05:29 - Demo: Pitch Harmony Setting
06:05 - Demo: Hi Gain Amp Setting
07:00 - A Closer Look at the CX 60’s FX Loop and Audio Interface Capabilities
08:03 - Blending the CX 60’s Onboard Effects with External Effects
08:52 - Catalyst CX 60’s Model-Specific Boost
10:49 - Tiana’s Final Thoughts on the Line 6 Catalyst CX 60
11:40 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Gibson/Theodore-Standard-Electric-Guitar-Ebony-1500000404854.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The retro-modern Theodore Standard sprung from the future-forward mind of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1957. But unlike his iconic Flying V, Firebird and Explorer designs, the “Theodore” was never produced during his lifetime—only appearing as a limited-edition Gibson Custom Shop model in 2022.
Happily, McCarty’s visionary guitar is now available to all players. The Theodore Standard offers a mahogany body, Slim Taper mahogany neck with Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 22 frets, Gibson ’57 Classic neck humbucker and ’57 Classic Plus bridge humbucker.
“This funky shape looks like a pretty flower—a tulip of sorts,” says Towa Bird. “But the Explorer-style headstock is all rock and roll. It has a nice balance of feminine and masculine—a little androgynous. The Theodore is very dynamic and has great sustain—even when I pick as soft as a feather. The bridge pickup position is my favorite by far. It sounds warmer than I expected—like a nice hug—and it delivers excellent response with heavy gain.”
Follow Towa Bird:
instagram.com/towabird
tiktok.com/@towabird
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Towa Bird
01:24 - First Impressions
02:03 - Pickup Position #3 (Neck Pickup)
05:07 - Pickup Position #2 (Neck and Bridge Pickups)
08:00 - Pickup Position #1 (Bridge Pickup)
10:18 - A Closer Look at the Gibson Theodore Standard’s Neck
11:08 - Towa Bird’s Final Thoughts on the Gibson Theodore
12:11 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Fender/70th-Anniversary-1954-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar-2-Color-Sunburst-1500000416623.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Fender 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster celebrates the first year of Leo Fender’s legendary “space-age” guitar with an accurate and vibey recreation. Like the original, the American Vintage II 1954 Strat features an ash body, two-color sunburst, gloss Nitrocellulose finish, maple neck and fretboard with a 7.25" radius, 21 Vintage-Style frets, 3-position pickup selector switch and a Pure Vintage Synchronized Tremolo. While the 1954 model had a rounded D-shaped neck, the American Vintage II version offers a more comfy C shape. In addition, the sound of the 1954 Alnico III single-coils is represented by the new 70th Anniversary 1954 single-coil pickups.
“This reminds me of my first guitar,” says guitarist Lindsay Ell, who was first discovered (at 15 years old) by Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman, and who has toured with everyone from Buddy Guy to Keith Urban, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain (she even hosted Canada’s Got Talent). “My dad put his Strat into my hands when I was eight years old. It was a ’90s model, but it looked identical to this 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 guitar with a two-color sunburst and maple neck.”
While it painstakingly emulates the year of the first production-model Strats, the 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster isn’t simply an archival salute to an era gone by. It’s a living, breathing tone machine that inspires creativity to this day.
“I think the really exciting thing about vintage-style Stratocasters is they give you a look at what guitars were back then, and I think they make you play different things,” says Ell. “I fell in love with the transparency of a Strat when I was really little, and I still feel you can communicate what you want to say through your hands so much easier on a Strat than any other guitar on the face of the planet.”
Follow Lindsay Ell at instagram.com/lindsayell
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Lindsay Ell
00:43 - First Impressions of the American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster with Lindsay Ell
01:28 - Overview and Features of the Fender 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Strat
03:20 - Pickup Position #3 (Neck Pickup)
06:22 - Pickup Position #2 (Middle Pickup)
06:53 - Pickup Position #1 (Bridge Pickup)
09:02 - Lindsay’s Final Thoughts on the 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster
09:42 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Arturia/AstroLab-Stage-Keyboard-1500000424253.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Arturia AstroLab is a performance-ready, multitimbral keyboard that lets you create sounds and presets at home (or virtually anywhere you can set up and edit parameters on a laptop) and seamlessly bring all of your sounds, textures and effects to the stage. AstroLab’s intuitive interface makes it near effortless to quickly access all of your sounds during live shows. Powered by Arturia’s V Collection and Pigments, AstroLab offers 27 instruments, 1,300 presets (with 10,000 available through Analog Lab software), two insert effects (including chorus, distortion, flanger, etc.) plus delay (analog, digital, tape) and reverb (plate, spring, room, hall, etc.), arpeggiator, looper, sequencer and even a mic input for the built-in vocoder. In addition, a 320px color screen is embedded in the handy navigation wheel.
“The AstroLab is a lifesaver if you’re on tour,” says keyboardist, composer and producer Jae Deal (who has worked with Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Elton John and others, and is a board member of the Guitar Center Music Foundation). “The backline can change from city to city, but with one of these on the gig, all you need is a mobile device, and at a snap, all of your sounds are uploaded to the AstroLab. Furthermore, the feel of the keybed is super professional. I almost forget that it’s there—which is good, because I can feel free to express myself.”
Follow Jae Deal at instagram.com/jaedeal
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Jae Deal
00:43 - Overview and Features of the Arturia AstroLab
02:01 - Demo: “Hamamatsu Grand” Piano Preset
02:46 - Physical Modeling with the Arturia AstroLab
03:26 - A Closer Look at the AstroLab’s Controls
05:28 - Layering Sounds with the AstroLab
06:18 - Demo: “The Butterfly Effect” Electric Piano Preset
07:00 - Customizing Your Sound with AstroLab’s On-Board Effects
07:59 - AstroLab’s Connectivity with Asturias Analog Lab
08:55 - Demo: AstroLab’s Split Function
10:40 - Achieving Classic Synth Sounds with the AstroLab
11:27 - Using Arturia’s Mobile App to Control the AstroLab
14:14 - Bringing AnalogLab into the AstroLab Ecosystem
16:23 - Using the AstroLab in a Live Setting
17:12 - Jae’s Final Thoughts on the Arturia AstroLab
17:41 - Outro
guitarcenter.com/Fender/Switchboard-Effects-Operator-Loop-Switcher-Pedal-Champagne-1500000417172.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The Fender Switchboard Effects Operator Loop Switcher pedal lets you manage five, true-bypass effects loops in any order you want. In addition, the Switchboard’s super easy interface can incorporate an expression pedal and comtrol an amp’s footswitch, as well as send MIDI messages to MIDI-compatible signal processors and other devices. There’s even an onboard tuner so you can delete a tuner pedal from your board. Furthermore, the Fender Switchboard is compact—measuring just 9.5" x 4.5"—so it’s not a pedalboard hog. Depending on the size of your board, you can likely choose your favorite stomp boxes without worrying if there’s enough room.
“One of my favorite features in the [Fender] Switchboard is being able to rearrange any of my pedals in the signal chain,” says guitarist, producer, session player and musical director Nicholas Veinoglou.
“That’s amazing. Normally, if I wanted to do that, I would have to rewire my entire board. I can also audition a bunch of funky sounds with the twist of one knob, and when I’m on tour working from a set list, I can save different signal chains for each individual song or song section.”
For more info on how to get started building your own pedal board, check out our video with Nicholas:
youtube.com/watch?v=bvSn78hts8c
Follow Nicholas Veinoglou:
instagram.com/thedonutdoctor
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Nicholas Veinoglou
00:32 - Overview and Features of the Fender Switchboard
01:54 - Using the Switchboard in Bank Mode: 500 Preset Tones
03:04 - Manipulating your Signal Chain with the Fender Switchboard
04:27 - Momentary Switching in Bank Mode
05:44 - A Closer Look at Loop Mode
07:26 - Nicholas’ Thoughts on the Fender Switchboard Effects Operator
08:23 - Outro
Poised and ready for any style of music, the Alesis Strata Prime electronic drum kit features generously sized, triple-zone mesh pads for the 20" kick, 14" snare, 8" and 10" rack toms, and 12" and 14" floor toms. Alesis Rotatable Cymbal technology provides 360-degree sound, dynamics and articulation for the Strata Prime’s 14" hi-hats, two 16" crashes and 18" ride.
You can really get down to it with the intuitive Alesis Prime Drum Module with 10.1" touchscreen. Choose from 75 kits (from maple wood to ’80s electronics and beyond), four libraries and more than 1,000 multi-layered sounds—all derived from the renowned BFD Drums sound engine.
“There is a wonderful Stacks feature in the Prime Drum Module where you can layer up to three different sounds on each drum,” says L.A.-based session drummer, music director and producer Nathan Ricks, whose credits include Hunter Hayes, Lionel Ritchie and the Disney Channel. “For example, if the kick drum isn’t cutting it on a session, I can choose an 808 to create a heavier low end. You can add as much personality to the kit as you wish.”
Follow Nathan Ricks:
instagram.com/natrix_drums
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Nathan Ricks
01:02 - Overview and Features of the Alesis Strata Prime E-Kit
03:32 - Exploring Kit Presets and Customization with the Prime Drum Module
04:53 - Demo: Stacking Sounds on the Alesis Strata Prime
06:00 - Demo: “ELECTRO 1” Kit Preset
06:48 - A Closer Look at the Alesis Prime Drum Module
07:06 - Demo: “That Alesis DnB” Kit Preset
07:27 - Eliminating Trigger Cross-Talk with the Prime Drum Module
08:00 - Alesis Strata Prime’s Metronome Feature
08:58 - Strata Prime’s Bluetooth Connectivity
09:12 - Nathan’s Final Thoughts on the Alesis Strata Prime
09:56 - Outro
The TAMA Stagestar is a complete drum set—all you need are sticks—featuring 6-ply poplar drum shells (10x8" and 12x9" rack toms, 16x15" floor tom, 22x16" kick drum and 14x5.5" snare), 14" hi-hats, 16" crash/ride cymbal, drum throne, kick pedal and all necessary hardware.
“I wish they made kits like this when I was a kid,” says world-renowned drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Forgerty, Joe Satriani). “I started out with a snare and a cymbal, and every Christmas and birthday I’d get another drum. That kit came together slowly. Today, you can get a complete kit at an incredible price. Now, on a good drum set, you can play soft or loud, and it sounds good. You can play rock, country, R&B and anything you want, and it sounds good. This is what the TAMA Stagestar has in it, and the kit will last forever. It’s that good.”
The TAMA Stagestar is a full-sized drum set with a big sound. Even the hardware is heavy-duty, with TAMA’s Omnisphere tom mount, as well as double-braced cymbal boom, hi-hat stand, drum-throne legs. You can play the TAMA Stagestar in your home, and take it to rehearsals and shows with complete confidence the kit can withstand the rigors of gigging.
Keep up with Kenny Aronoff:
instagram.com/kennyaronoff
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - A Bit About Kenny Aronoff
02:15 - Overview and Features of the TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Drum Kit
04:00- A Closer Look at the TAMA Stagestar Snare Drum
05:04 - TAMA Stagestar: An Entry-Level Kit That Will Grow With You
05:48 - Kenny’s Tom Trick
07:57 - Hi-Hat and Crash Cymbals Included with the TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Complete Kit
09:08 - Kenny’s Take on the TAMA Stagestar’s Hardware
09:52 - Kenny’s Final Thoughts on the TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Complete Drum Kit
10:22 - Outro
Watch The Drum Doctor play his original 1980 TAMA Bell Brass:
youtube.com/watch?v=GVCI2kC_1hQ
Get hip to the history of the TAMA Bell Brass snare:
guitarcenter.com/riffs/gear-tips/drums/tama-mastercraft-bell-brass-snare-drum?source=4GOA4LOBA
Of all the commemorative goodies released by TAMA to mark its five decades (1974-2024) as a drum company, perhaps the most incredible is its accurate recreation of the legendary Bell Brass snare from 1980. Nicknamed “The Terminator” for its ability to trounce all comers whenever snares were auditioned for recording sessions, the TAMA Bell Brass appeared on Metallica (a.k.a. “The Black Album”) by Metallica, Nevermind by Nirvana, Smash by The Offspring and tons of influential and/or chart-topping tracks.
“I did ten records in my 17 years with the John Cougar Mellencamp band, and I was always looking for new drum sounds,” says Kenny Aronoff, who has rocked the kit on more than 1,300 gold and platinum certified albums. “When TAMA came out with its first Bell Brass snare in the ’80s, I got one, and it was definitely like, ‘wow.’ It cuts through, but the tone isn’t up there in guitar land. It’s a deeper drum with its own voice and sonic space. The Bell Brass is my top-five, go-to snare for any session I do.”
The TAMA 50th Anniversary Mastercraft Bell Brass is a 14x6.5" snare with period-accurate hardware, a Roller Action strainer with extended snare wires, a One-Touch Tone Control and a hand-finished patina paint job.
Follow Kenny Aronoff:
instagram.com/kennyaronoff
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Kenny Aronoff
00:40 - Kenny’s History with the TAMA Bell Brass Snare Drum
01:17 - Overview and Features of the TAMA 50th Anniversary Mastercraft Bell Brass Snare
02:15 - Kenny’s Thoughts on the TAMA 50th Anniversary Mastercraft Bell Brass Snare Drum
02:54 - Outro
Order your TAMA Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Starclassic Mirage Snare Drum
guitarcenter.com/TAMA/50th-Limited-Starclassic-Mirage-Snare-Drum-14-x-65-in-Crystal-Ice-1500000414049.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
The TAMA 50th Limited Starclassic Mirage is a 5-piece acrylic shell pack that celebrates five decades of TAMA drums, as well as honor the appearance of the original Starclassic Mirage in 2007. Re-released in a spectacular Crystal Ice—and elegantly contrasted by black-nickel hardware—the seamless acrylic shells deliver excellent attack, clarity and projection. The shell pack includes enough drums to provide bountiful creative options while crafting grooves and fills—a 22x16" bass drum, 10x7" and 12x8" rack toms, and 14x12" and 16x14" floor toms.
“We’re celebrating TAMA being around for 50 years,” says Kenny Aronoff, who has recorded drums on songs that have achieved more than 300 million total sales. “And I’ve played their drums for 44 of them. This acrylic Starclassic Mirage kit sounds amazing. The toms are incredibly even sounding and they work well together. The kick is punchy with just enough ambience and not too much ring. Basically, it has everything you need. The snare drum cracks like a metal snare. It has a lot of attack and just enough ring. This kit definitely has its own unique sound, but it’s very workable with guitars, vocals, keyboards and bass.”
The TAMA 50th Limited Starclassic Mirage also features die-cast hoops that center and focus the sound while also preventing bothersome and bizarre overtones. The result is bold, clear and transparent tones that come alive onstage and in the studio.
Follow Kenny Aronoff:
instagram.com/kennyaronoff
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Kenny Aronoff
01:04 - Overview and Features of the TAMA 50th Anniversary Starclassic Mirage Kit
04:02 - Kenny’s Thoughts on the TAMA Starclassic Mirage Acrylic Drum Kit
04:43 - Outro