PRS Torero : One for the shredders

Shredder's checklist:

1. EMG pickups - check
2. Floyd Rose - check
3. PRS - WTF!?!

That's right. PRS went all "widdley-widdly" and have released the SE Torero. Decked out with EMG, a Floyd Rose bridge and a gorgeous finish, this thing will turn some heads.

The SE Torero features several firsts for PRS — a Floyd Rose bridge, EMG pickups, and neck through body construction among them — that should appeal to both the existing PRS player and a new audience and musician. The minimal/unpronounced heel smoothly blends into the body and the deeper, lower cutaway gives easier and smoother accessibility to the upper frets while the pick-ups provide power, clarity, and definition. These features all contribute to the Torero’s notable sustain, and the bound ebony fretboard with jumbo frets and no inlays paired with a mahogany body and flame-maple veneer give this guitar a very distinct look.

Read more

Dave Navarro back with Ibanez?

I should hate Dave Navarro. He is fit, sexy, charming, an amazing guitarist, and if faced with a choice I'm pretty sure my girl would pick him over me without batting an eyelid.

But I can't hate him. He is one of my favourite guitarists of all time. Which is not surprising as I grew up an "grunge" child.

I'm also a big fan of PRS, so I was quite surprised to see Navarro playing an Ibanez in this video of the newly re-re-re-re-united Jane's Addiction. Has Dave left PRS for Ibanez? Have PRS dumped him? Does my girlfriend really love me?

I just don't know anymore...

Buy Jane's Addiction Music from Amazon

Read more

NAMM 09 : Day One Highlights

WOW. Talk about overload. NAMM 09 os proving to be a huge smack upside the head with releases after release. I'll do some individual posts on the items that I'm really keen on, but I'll do a general wrap each day on what has been and gone.

So here are my highlights from day one of NAMM 09.

• All of the PRS releases, in particular the amps and acoustics.
• Radial Engineering's four new Tonebone Pedals
• Elixer release antirust plain steel acoustic strings
• For us computer geeks, IK Multimedia StealthPedal
• EVH Wolfgangs have got some new variations. Still not sure what I think of these.
• New RP series pedals from DigiTech.
• A new Satriani wah from Vox. Looks "wah"esome!!!
• I'm jealous. The new G5135PS Patrick Vaughn Stump Signature Series Gretsch Stump-O-Matic Electromatic Corvette Guitar. No I am not making that name up! I love this guitar.
• I know I don't like relic for relic's sake, but as a signature model I dig it. And I dig the new James Hetfield ESP.
• A reverse Iceman - I love it.

Thanks to all the great websites that are posting up the info. Great for a poor Aussie like me sweltering in 40degC+ temperatures on the other side of the world. More highlights coming soon as well as individual summaries of my favourite announcements.

Which is your favourite?

I remember the day I got her. I has already realised that my BC Rich Warlock was the biggest waste of money I had ever spent. So I walked guitar case in hand to Muso's Corner looking for a trade in. I lost half my money on that guitar but it was worth it.

There she was, hanging from the shelf. Amazing figure, beautiful sunburst finish. Well within my price range. I piked her up. The neck didn't really feel like a standard Les Paul type neck. More like an SG. Thinner, more svelte. I plugged her into the stores Marshall (and I thought I'd never own a Marshall, but I do now) and fell in love with her voice. That day I walked out the happiest kid on the planet.

I've now owned that guitar for 16 years. She is Sunny - my Epiphone Les Paul Std.

Sure, she's "only" an Epiphone, but that guitar has been through hell and back with me. Even with all my flirtations with other guitars, PRS, Fenders, and even a Epiphone Goth LP with the hottest pickups I have ever heard in a "budget" guitar, she is the guitar I keep coming back to.

Is it because she is the best guitar I own? No, that would be the PRS SE. Is it because she is in the best condition? Definitely not. It's her voice. This guitar is just one of those freak things that sounds better thanthe sum of it's parts. A friend of mine recently bought two other Epiphones - an Ace Frehley and some other generic model with a beautiful wine red finish. The Ace Frehley felt the most like sunny, but sounded too hot. The other was too dark, too woollen. Sunny is just one of these rare one off's that I was lucky enough to obtain.

I'm sure several people reading this site have more than one guitar. I know I do. But do you have a favourite? Do you have a "go to" guitar that you just can't do without? And if so, what is it? Why?

New PRS Corvette is sexy

Never in my life did I think I would find a yellow guitar sexy. This is a beautiful piece of art. This is the new PRS Corvette Standard 22 and it rocks my socks.

The new Z06 Corvette is based on the C6 which came to market as an ’05 model. The Z06 is loaded with a modern small block 427 cubic inch engine which is rated at 500 rear wheel horsepower giving the car an awesome combination of power and luxury. The Corvette Standard 22 is available in the same six colors that will be offered on the 2006 Z06. The guitar is also offered with two inlay configurations, 427 logo on the fretboard and an optional Z06 logo inlaid on the fretboard. The trademark crossed flags and clear control knobs on the body round out the theme.

For me, the PRS is the ultimate guitar and PRS are the ultimate guitar company. Attention to detail, supurb craftmanship, beautiful design, what more could you want in a guitar. And now with the introduction of the SE range of guitars, they are starting to hit the affordable mark.

Another thing I love about PRS is i believe they understand guitarists. On their website they try to describe the sound properties of their pickups graphically. They know that as guitarist, we need to know what the equipment sounds like too. So they provide. A very cool idea.

But again, how did they make yellow sexy!?!?! The colour just beautifully hilights the amazing PRS lines, the custom fretboard inlay is enough to make a grown man cry.

Thats it. PRS, will you marry me????

Please? Or even better. How about sending me product to review? I'll take very good care of it