guitar | Music Junkie Press

Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces John Petrucci, St. Vincent and James Valentine Artist Series Guitars at NAMM 2016

January 28, 2016

At NAMM 2016, Ernie Ball Music Man introduced several amazing guitars such as John Petrucci, St. Vincent and James Valentine Artist Series Guitars. The new guitars were designed with extensive input from the artists and manufactured to their exact specifications. Sterling Ball, CEO of Ernie Ball comments, “We are honored to be working with such talented guitar players and instrument designers like John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Annie Clark (St. Vincent), and James Valentine (Maroon 5). Unlike with other signature instruments, Ernie Ball Music Man Artist Series guitars are ground-up designs created hand-in-hand with the players’ input to enable them to develop guitars that push the limits of design and performance.” The Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci “JP16” offers an ideal combination of the best features of all John Petrucci signature instruments, one of the world’s best-selling artist signature models. The JP16 retains the styling of the current JP15 and features a basswood body with original JP6 arm scoop, black Floyd Rose Pro Series Tremolo with matching black hardware, two DiMarzio Illuminator humbucking pickups [Read More]

Brian Setzer new album Rockin Rudolph out now and catch him on tour!

December 10, 2015

Iconic guitarist, songrwriter Brian Setzer and The Brian Setzer Orchestra will be performing Here Comes Santa Clause on CONAN this Wednesday, December 16 (check local listings for time). The song is off their recently released Rockin Rudolph album. The 19-piece band will be in Los Angeles on a stop during their major 31-date 12th annual “Christmas Rocks! Tour” for a performanceFriday, December 18 at the Microsoft Theater. For ticket information, visit:http://www.briansetzer.com/tour-dates/. Check out the tour dates below: Thu-Dec-10 Austin, TX ACL Live at the Moody Theatre Fri-Dec-11 Allen, TX Allen Event Center Sat-Dec-12 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre Mon-Dec-14 Tucson, AZ Fox Tucson Theatre Tue-Dec-15 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre Fri-Dec-18 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater Sat-Dec-19 Indio, CA Fantasy Springs Event Center Sun-Dec-20 Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort and Casino Tue-Dec-22 Bakersfield, CA Fox Theater Wed-Dec-23 Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts Thu-Dec-24 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theater Sat-Dec-26 Spokane, WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox Sun-Dec-27 Seattle, WA Benaroya Concert Hall Tue-Dec-29 Calgary, AB Grey Eagle Resorts and Casino The album was [Read More]

Day 94. Chat with Tommy Thayer from KISS at NAMM 2015 on our Countdown to NAMM 2016

October 18, 2015

Continuing on our Countdown to NAMM. Here on Day 94, we would like to bring to you our chat with Tommy Thayer of KISS from NAMM 2015. One of our highlights from our NAMM 2015 coverage was when we checked out Tommy’s new Limited Edition White Lightning Signature Les Paul by Epiphone and highlighting the Hughes and Kettner Tritone amp. You can check out more about his Guitar by visiting http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/2015/New-for-Spring-2015.aspx and Hughes and Kettner for the Triamp Mark 3 here: http://hughes-and-kettner.com/. We had the chance to briefly chat with Tommy at the Hughes and Kettner booth and you can watch it here: In addition to Tommy meeting fans and signing autographs, he made a special guest appearance at the NAMM JAM 2015 performing two songs with headliners, Steel Panther. It was an amazing treat and everyone was on their feet as they played KISS’s I Like It Loud and Steel Panther’s Gangbang at the Old Folks Home. It was awesome to see Tommy shred and rock the crowd with his intense energy. Check out a video from [Read More]

Time to make contact with Smashing Satellites and their stellar new album, SonicAluzion

June 16, 2015

Today is a very exciting day as the new album, SonicAluzion by Smashing Satellites is released! The stellar new album blends electronic rock, funky guitars and euphoric vocals that will take you on a dreamscape journey of electro alternative pop rock. Every summer, we search for that one album that will become the playlist of your good times. Look no further, SonicAluzion will be that album. It starts right off with Waterfall which if you have not seen it yet, make sure to check out their cinematic underwater video. Salvatore explains, “There are times in life where we all struggle with fear, depression and anxiety… we feel as though we are drowning. Sometimes it is not just about overcoming the fear and swimming to the surface but rather learning how to survive that time in the water.” Like A Feather has a dramatic electronic intro that marches you into the powerful vocals of Salvatore as he carries you away with his voice. Calm Me Down has a theatrical lullaby vibe that balances between haunting and inviting. [Read More]

Time to start drooling for the new PRS Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar

June 3, 2015

Okay, guitarists and guitar enthusiasts, begin to drool over the new release from Paul Reed Smith for their P245 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar. The new PRS is a vintage-inspired single-cutaway guitar designed for players who prefer shorter scale necks. Details: The 24.5” scale length combined with 22 frets offers classic PRS style in an easy to handle format. This versatile instrument also features the LR Baggs/PRS piezo system, providing players with both electric guitar tones and authentic acoustic tones in one instrument. With two output jacks, the P245 can be plugged directly into an electric or acoustic amplifier or DI into a soundboard. By utilizing the separate blend control, the tone of the P245’s 58/15 pickups can also be combined with acoustic sounds through a single output. The P245 is one of the first models to feature the new 58/15 treble and bass pickups, which were personally designed by Paul Reed Smith. 58/15’s are a vintage style pickup with exceptional clarity and focused midrange. These pickups paired with a shorter 24.5” scale length and 22 frets, give [Read More]

Check out the new song, Us from Smashing Satellites

June 1, 2015

Smashing Satellites are gearing up for the release of their new album SonicAluzion which is set for a June 16th release. They have just premiered their new song, Us which delivers a funky new vibe that will insure to put a groove into your move. Check out the new track: You can preorder their new album, SonicAluzion by heading over to iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sonicaluzion/id983683599 In addition, how about winning a vintage strat signed by Smashing Satellites? Hell yes! In celebration of the band’s new album SonicAluzion, SMASHING SATELLITES is giving one lucky winner a signed vintage 1980’s Candy Apple Red Solid Body Squier Stratocaster guitar! You can check out their new song, What It’s All About and to enter the contest, visit the link below: Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news! Smashing Satellites: Salvatore Costa Devon Lougheed Mick Valentyne Mykey Thomas ~ Marisol Information & Links: Website: http://smashingsatellites.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingSatellites Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmashSatellites Twitter: https://twitter.com/SalvatoreMuzak Instagram: http://instagram.com/smashingsatellites Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SmashingSatellites iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-side-sonicaluzion-ep/id907190639

CONTEST: WIN A SIGNED Strat from Smashing Satellites

May 26, 2015

Smashing Satellites are gearing up for the release of their new album SonicAluzion which is set for a June 16th release. How about winning a vintage strat signed by Smashing Satellites? Hell yes! In celebration of the band’s new album SonicAluzion, SMASHING SATELLITES is giving one lucky winner a signed vintage 1980’s Candy Apple Red Solid Body Squier Stratocaster guitar! To listen to their new song What It’s All About and to enter the contest, visit the link below: Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news! Smashing Satellites: Salvatore Costa Devon Lougheed Mick Valentyne Mykey Thomas ~ Marisol Information & Links: Website: http://smashingsatellites.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingSatellites Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmashSatellites Twitter: https://twitter.com/SalvatoreMuzak Instagram: http://instagram.com/smashingsatellites Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SmashingSatellites iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-side-sonicaluzion-ep/id907190639