Posted by Merlin on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 (20:03:28) (260 reads)

The March issue of U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine features a glowing review of the Epiphone Tony Iommi G-400 guitar, complete with a five-star rating. The magazine describes it as "probably the best Epiphone electric we’ve ever tried. The quality of finish is top class and the guitar has all the classic elements that we’ve come to expect from the SG." The review details all of the specs of the guitar, which includes the Tony Iommi Gibson signature humbucker, and suggests that Epiphone has "just released its greatest rock guitar yet." With a price tag of £595, it says "now that's what we call value for money, and no doubt great news for BLACK SABBATH fans on a budget." The piece concludes by saying "it's true we have fallen for this wonderful guitar. TG has always had a soft spot for the SG anyway, but the Tony Iommi version ticks all of our boxes. And the best part is that now there's a left-handed version available — which only seems appropriate since Tony is left-handed — everyone can get a piece of the action. Of course, we’d all love to get our hands on the £4,000 custom shop Gibson Iommi model, but this Epiphone will keep us well happy until then. You really have to try this superb guitar for yourself. It's a little devil." Read the full interview in Total Guitar issue 133, available at newsstands now. For further information on the Tony Iommi signature guitars, visit the Epiphone web site.

Posted by Merlin on Monday, February 07, 2005 (15:09:08) (2551 reads)

PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul appeared at the 2005 winter NAMM show to help launch the Pearl Drums' Vinnie Paul Signature Snare Drum. This 14x8 6-ply maple shell with a custom barbed wire finish is said to "capture the destructive force that is Vinnie's drumming." Check out a photo of Vinnie and Derek Wolfford of Pearl showing off Vinnie's new Signature Snare Drum prototype. As previously reported, Paul may perform onstage at a benefit show in memory of his late brother, DAMAGEPLAN and PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, according to a posting online by ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. ANTHRAX is joining DISTURBED, DROWNING POOL and SOIL for the February 23 show at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, and Ian wrote, "It looks like Vinnie will be playing with us. That's going to be fucking killer. Hope to see you there." If Paul plays, it will mark his first time back onstage since the December 8 shootings at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, in which his brother and three others were killed by a deranged gunman. The benefit concert will help cover bereavement costs for the family of DAMAGEPLAN security guard Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, who was also killed, and medical expenses for DAMAGEPLAN crew members John "Kat" Brooks and Chris Paluska, who were injured during the shooting spree.

Posted by Merlin on Wednesday, February 02, 2005 (15:41:19) (253 reads)

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers has announced that he has signed a deal with Krank Amplification. He will reportedly be first artist to use and abuse Dimebag's prototype signature head called the "Krankenstein".

Commented Christian: "I was at the NAMM show, which is the biggest Guitar Center you have ever seen in your life, by the way! It must cover over four football fields with music equipment. There's so much shit! Anyway, I was lucky enough to meet the Krank folks through my good friend Rem from Dirtbag Clothing, and I got to play through one of Dimebag's original prototype signature heads with the matching Krank 4x12 cabinet using my red USA custom shop Jackson.

"Before I start, I have plugged into a lot of heads over the years and I have seen too many players struggle for that ultimate guitar sound that rips your guts out of your stomach. The guitar sound that has everything — the fine sandpaper distortion that's razor sharp, the mid scoop that makes you feel it in the stomach, fast-acting punchy bass that's not this muddy shit like every amp these days, and crunchy highs. I always favored the Marshall power amps with the JMP-1 pre's over anything I have ever plugged into before.

"It feels the most like a modded Marshall. It's actually Dave Murray from IRON MAIDEN's setup! Never EVER EVER have I plugged into a tube head... and smiled until that day at NAMM when I plugged into Dime's Krankenstein prototype head. I was smiling so much I looked like Ronald McDonald!

"It is a crushing head! A ripping motherfucker... it's the only head on the market that I can just plug into and I'm ready to go. It's got everything that all the other amplifiers on the market don't have. Killer distortion, mid EQ sweep, clean channel, etc.

"Finally someone has gotten it right and designed the ultimate metal shredding amplifier!

"Sell all your amps, distortion pedals and other crap, kids... You won't need it anymore... all you need is a Krank amp!

"I wanna thank Jody, and my new family at Krank for letting me on board and giving me a chance to shred Dime's head.

"FEAR FACTORY started pre production on 15 new tunes and you will able to hear the Krankenstein very soon!"

Check www.krankamps.com for more information.

Posted by Merlin on Monday, January 24, 2005 (09:13:03) (202 reads)

Epiphone has announced a range of new models at this year's NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) convention in Anaheim, California, including two brand new Zakk Wylde models. A description of the guitars from the company's web site follows: "Zakk Wylde CAMO" LP Custom - Guitar World magazine's 2003 and 2004 "MVP" (Most Valuable Player), Zakk Wylde needs little introduction. But… his new guitars from Epiphone certainly do! The new Zakk Wylde "Camo" starts with a Les Paul Custom and then adds a hard maple, unfinished neck for biting tone and lightening fast feel, EMG HZ pickups for powerful, noise-free tone, gold hardware and the custom "camouflage" graphics. "Zakk Wylde BUZZSAW" LP Custom - Based upon Zakk's original, one-of-a-kind "Buzzsaw guitar, this metal-monster sustain-crazy axe personifies Zakk's "take no prisoners" style. It starts with a Les Paul Custom and then adds a hard maple, unfinished neck for biting tone and lightening fast feel, EMG HZ pickups for powerful, noise-free tone, chrome hardware and the orange and black "Buzzsaw" custom graphics. Add it all up and this is a guitar for the serious player.

Posted by Merlin on Friday, January 21, 2005 (08:55:35) (190 reads)

DeanGuitars.com has posted a preview of the "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott line of guitars that Florida-based manufacturer and distributor Dean Guitars will introduce today (Jan. 20) at the NAMM music industry conference in Anaheim, Calif. Check it out at this location. Some guitars in the new line feature a unique body shape developed by Dimebag months before he died while others showcase his graphic designs on the classic X-shape, solid body for which Dean guitars are known. All 150 limited-edition guitars with Dimebag's lightning bolt graphics have been presold for $4,700 each, said Elliott Rubinson, head of Armadillo Enterprises, which owns Dean.