September 2015

REVIEWS B.C. RICH BCR6 By Adam Perlmutter Think B.C. Rich, and the curves and points of radical spruce top with modern scalloped X bracing. The back and electrics like the Mockingbird, Warlock, and Bich come sides are laminated rosewood, and the neck is mahogany with a to mind—not to mention the aggressive sounds they rosewood fretboard. The bridge and headstock cap are rosewood typically produce. But the first guitars that Bernardo Chavez as well. All the lumber on our test model looks lovingly selected. Rico first made in his Los Angeles shop in the late 1960s were The spruce is fine-grained, and the quarter-sawn rosewood’s exclusively acoustic. Now the company is revisiting that facet deep, purplish coloration adds character and a luxurious look. of their heritage with five new acoustic models, including the BCR6 reviewed here. The BCR6 is the most lavishly appointed guitar of the new acoustic quintet. It gleams with abalone—the material is Back to Dread used for the rosette, the cloud inlays, the endpin strip, and the The BCR6 is inspired by the very first acoustic Rico designed. purfling on the body, headstock, and back. The idiosyncratic It’s a square-shoulder dreadnought with a 25.5\"-scale and a solid faux-tortoise pickguard recalls Gibson’s Hummingbird while also evoking the shape of the company’s electrics. Laminate rosewood back and sides Fishman Sonitone preampSolid spruce top Fishman Sonicoreunder-saddle pickup150 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com

Though it lacks the walloping power of the Lead lines sound great as well. From very best dreadnoughts, it has plentiful bluegrass runs to bebop phrases, there’s pronounced attack and punch and aharmonic headroom, the likes of which you great balance between fundamentals don’t often hear in affordable dreads. and overtones—a nice surprise given the laminated rosewood back and sides (and a Even where there isn’t abalone, B.C. heritage. It’s comfortable and fast from testament to how well laminate backs canRich brings the bling. The heel cap, for the nut to the 20th fret, though I might perform when executed well). The guitar’sinstance, is crafted from faux abalone, prefer slightly lower action. sustain also enhances vibrato-inflected notes.and there’s a fancy script R on the back,mirroring the one on the headstock. All Tones are bright and balanced. The electronics include Fishman’shardware—including the nice Grover While the BCR6 lacks the walloping Sonicore undersaddle pickup andRotomatic tuners—is gold. Depending power of the very best dreadnoughts, Sonitone preamp. The latter includes aon your perspective, the BCR6 is either it has plentiful harmonic headroom, 1/4\" output and a battery compartmenta looker, or overdressed for the price the likes of which you don’t often hear on the lower-right bout. It’s not thecategory. On the whole though, it boasts in affordable dreads. All notes ring prettiest solution, but at least it’sa nice balance of deluxe appointments. clearly and faithfully, and the natural invisible when the guitar is in playing harmonics at the 12th, 7th, 5th, 4th, position. The electronics aren’t terribly The BCR6’s beauty is more than skin and 3rd frets have terrific definition. sophisticated or sonically complex,deep. The fretwork is clean, smoothly though they do a very serviceable jobpolished, and entirely free of jaggedness. The The BCR6 works brilliantly as a reproducing the guitar’s natural acousticbinding is tight and flush, and the inlays are strummer. Its resonance is satisfying sound with minimal fuss.clean. You can detect finish inconsistencies for basic open and barre chords in The Verdictat the neck/body junction and a little glue standard tuning, but it really shines B.C. Rich’s BCR6 is a satisfyingbleed here and there. But these details have in open tunings. The ample headroom dreadnought at a bargain-basementnegligible sonic impact, and are common is great for rhythm, but it responds price. Its flash won’t suit everyone’s style,among guitars in this price range. well to gentle arpeggio work too, but it’s well built and has a full, punchy with or without a pick. The bass sound. The slim neck provides easyTight and Punchy response is a real asset. It’s tight and playability, perfect for electric guitaristsThe BCR6’s neck has a slim C shape— present, but not overpowering—perfect who wants to get into acoustic withoutnot surprising given BC Rich’s electric for Carter strumming and walking straying from the fast, familiar feel of bass lines. their favorite electric. WATCH A REVIEW DEMO of this guitar at premierguitar.com/sep2015 B.C. Rich Guitars BCR6 $469 street bcrich.com Tones Ease of Use Build/Design Value PROS Well built. Resonant. Onboard electronics. Deluxe appointments. Sweet price. CONS Laminated back and sides. Case not included.premierguitar.com PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 151

Blueridge Guitars...MoreBang for the Buck!W hen it’s your instrument that’s holding The Quality you back, it’s time for a change. We and Value Leader! invite you to stop by your local Blueridge Dealer and have an intimate conversation Blueridge BR-160 Guitar with the guitar that will bring out the best in you. • Select, aged, solid Sitka spruce The secret of tone lies in the top with traditional herringbone details of design, selection of purfling for tone and beauty materials and the skilled hand of the craftsman. • Expertly handcarved top braces The result is more bang… in authentic, pre-war, forward-X period! position • Select, solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for deep, rich tone • Carved, low profile, solid mahogany neck and dovetail neck joint for strength and stabilityBR-160 Dreadnaught To learn more about Saga’s Saga Musical Instruments Blueridge Guitars, visit P.O. Box 2841 • So. San Francisco, California www.sagamusic.com/PG Connect with us on

REVIEWSTRONOGRAPHICBoxidizer Master volume Balanced D.I. outBy Charles SaufleyW ith all the candy-colored fuzzes, flangers, 3-band EQ Lead boost and phasers loose in the guitar universe, adding something as pedestrian-sounding tone. But the Boxidizer is surprisingly effective in clean, quietas a preamp to your stompbox array might seem a settings. The master volume control has much headroom, andlittle unsexy. But consider, if you will, a session in the if you dial back the input gain almost entirely, the Boxidizerrecording studio of your dreams. Apart from, perhaps, becomes a responsive and touch-sensitive clean boost. Betterthat old U47 mic and the vintage tube compressor over still, the excellent passive EQ controls have great range, whichthere in the rack, chances are the preamp in your chain translates to even more headroom as you dial out the preciseis likeliest to elevate your sound to godlike heights. frequencies driving unwanted clipping. I used the BoxidizerDespite their less-than-thrilling handle, preamps can be extensively with a very toppy EL84-powered amp, and the pedalmagical things. impressively tamed highs while adding a breath of midrange air. (I don’t know why Tronographic doesn’t tout this side of The Tronographic Boxidizer isn’t a studio-style preamp. the Boxidizer’s personality—but then, it’s unlikely that SunnTronographic says it replicates “1970s high-gain solid- distortion devotees care about the amp’s origins as a distortion-state amp tone,” which is probably another way of saying fighting machine.)“Sunn.” Yet like a nice studio preamp, the pedal letsyou shape, fine-tune, fatten, flatter, bump, boost, and When it comes to delivering the big tones most associatedotherwise massage your guitar signal. Whether you’re with Sunn amps, the Boxidizer steps up with muscularlooking for heftier, more precisely EQed clean tones authority. The master volume headroom that works so well asor tighter saturation in distorted ones, the Boxidizer a clean boost can drive the front end of an amp (in my case, ais a forgiving, tailorable, and easy-to-use way to add most un-Sunn-like silverface Bassman) into blisteringly hot andsomething extra to your output.One Rock of a BoxI’m pretty sure the Boxidizer is the heaviest stompbox I’velifted this year—remarkable, given that it measures only 4 1/2\"x 3 1/2\". The enclosure itself is hefty—bulletproof even. Butfrom the smooth knob action to the chassis-mounted I/O jacks,it’s clear the Boxidizer wasn’t built to be a wallflower. With a3-band EQ section, input-gain control, master volume, and anindependent boost control, there’s a lot going on here, yet thepedal’s tidy interior design still leaves room for a 9V battery. The control layout is clean and logical, with treble, bass, andmid controls situated between master volume and input gainknobs. A smaller boost-level knob sits below the input gain knobat a safe distance from the boost footswitch. Another bonus is thebalanced D.I. out, which lets you use the Boxidizer as a preampdirectly feeding a P.A., computer audio interface, or power amp.Clean to MeanGiven the Boxidizer’s implicit “Sunn-ness,” some players willbuy this pedal to get the uniquely heavy (some would saypolarizing) distortion of those amps—a mainstay of stoner-rockpremierguitar.com PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 153

reactive zones where pick attack becomes The boost function (which only HEAR this preamp atimmediate and pronounced. Depending works when the main effect is on) only premierguitar.com/sep2015on your mood, your mission, and the adds to the mayhem. At high-gainstate of your chops, the pedal cane make settings the op amp-driven circuit often Tronographic Boxidizeryou feel naked and vulnerable—or like adds a touch of crackling, compressed,you’re firing lightning with every flick collapsing-upon-itself distortion. At less $165 streetof your fingers. And if you do feel too extreme levels, it can add sustain and tronographic.comexposed, the EQ is your friend. Rolling presence to a lead line. The clean boostback highs, bumping lows, and dialing in also works well as a virtual lead channel. Tonesa little midrange glow can lend a singing This extra utility means some players Ease of Usequality to those face-slapping dynamics. may not need much in their line beside Build/Design the Boxidizer. It’s fun dialing in input gain from Valuethis relatively clean but scalding baseline. The VerdictIn high-gain applications, the Boxidizer Though Tronographic doesn’t emphasize PROS Crushing solid-state Sunn-stylemingles nicely with tube power. The the Boxidizer’s extreme versatility (fromdistortion may sound unusual to players soft and pretty to total brutality), the distortion. Great clean boost, especiallyaccustomed to the warm contours of a pedal is remarkable for that breadth of at low volume. Expansive EQ. TerrificMarshall plexi or a blackface Fender with capabilities. While the brash, leaden pick sensitivity. Balanced D.I. output.the volume wide open—there’s almost qualities associated with solid state Sunnalways a trace of hi-fi hard clipping no amps aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, any CONS Distortion will feel brittle tomatter where you set the EQ. (Though player who likes tactile immediacy, sharpputting a warm set of humbuckers and pick attack, and thick, low-mid-rich gain some. Lead boost could be smoother.a Big Muff in the mix can wooly up will love what the Boxidizer brings totones without sacrificing the stoner-rock, even the simplest rig.wrecking-ball spirit.) Effortlessly create your Introducing own world of intricate and synchronized echoes, A New Fresh Sound by Swart. along with hypnotic and atmospheric repeats that The blur the line between delay and reverb. Powered by 2 x EL84 @15 wattsDOPPELGÄNGERdelay Reverb/tremolo/tone DIG unearths the true soul Swart of digital delay and doubles AMPLIFIER COMPANY it—two simultaneous, swartamps.com integrated delays with the premierguitar.com captivating rack delay voicings from the 1980s and today, for incredible expressive potential. strymon.net/dig 154 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015

Dream in Color Xaviere XV550 Xaviere XV560 Xaviere XV845 Xaviere XV500 Xaviere DLX Xaviere XV570 Slick SL57XGP RepairWorkstation GFS Pickups XGP Wheeled GFS and XGP Guitar Parts Flight Cases Turn your dreams into reality... At Guitarfetish.com we sell the very best guitars, basses, cases, parts and pickups, priced at wholesale, direct to thepublic. Whether you’re looking to build a guitar, upgrade a guitar or buy a new guitar, dreams are always within reach at Guitarfetish.com. All of our products are designed by musicians, for musicians.... priced for musicians. Remember, you can ONLY buy GFS® Pickups, GFS® Electronics,Xaviere® Guitars, MODboards, Slick® Guitars and Slick® Pickups and XGP® Parts from Guitarfetish.com... Won’t you stop by and check us out? Slick®, GFS®,, XGP®, and Xaviere®, are sold exclusively at www.Guitarfetish.com

Fret-King USA Premier Guitar.qxp_Layout 1 18/06/2015 14:59 Page 4 Black Label Elise Your next guitar is here...© 2015 Inspired by a long heritage of semi-acoustic excellence, the .com Elise is an incredibly light, yet exceptionally resonant guitar with superior sonic performance and versatility. premierguitar.com The Elise sounds just like it looks, and then produces voicings never associated with this style of guitar, but which would be at home on Ocean Boulevard or a Nashville ‘Honkey Tonk’. 1400 Everman Parkway, Suite 400, Fort Worth, TX 76140 800-424-4724, [email protected] PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015

LANEY REVIEWSNexus Studio LiveHead & Cabs Space, interval, Shape switch Tilt EQ control and focus effectsBy Steve Cook Touch controlL yndon Laney’s story is pretty cool. The Laney amp founder was a bassist who built his own amps out of financial necessity. One of his early amps endedup in the hands of Tony Iommi (who continues to playthrough Laney’s wares today.) What’s more, Laney was amember of The Band of Joy whose singer and drummerwould move on to become half of Led Zeppelin. Nice connections? Yeah, sure. But the bottom line is thatLaney has always built solid amps. And while Lyndon haspassed on the business to his son, the company still remainsa vital and evolving amp builder. Case in point: the NexusStudio Live, a compact, rack-mountable 1,000-watt bassamp built around a hybrid circuit with a tube preamp andsolid-state power section.Nexus UpThe Nexus SL generates 1,000 watts of power using aECC83 tube in the preamp and two class-D amps (500watts each.) The front panel controls, which include EQand onboard effects make for busy set, but it’s more user-friendly than it looks. The back panel has a cornucopia of usable features builtin. You’ll see the usual speaker outs, a DI (pre/post/sourceswitchable), FX loop, headphone jack, and tuner in. Laneyadded a USB out that sends a dry signal to the left side of arecording and full-amp sound (with EQ and effects) to theright. There’s also a reamp send that allows a recorded soundto be sent back to the amp for re-processing when/if needed.Intervals and SpaceI plugged a Fender Squire Vintage Modified Jazz V intothe Nexus SL, which was paired with Laney Nexus N210and N115 cabinets. With the EQ set flat, I adjusted theshape control—a 4-way selector with a quartet of preset EQcurves. The settings run from flat to slightly mid-scooped toheavily mid-scooped and mid-bumped. This control alonegives you a variety of tight tones. The shape control can alsobe maneuvered with the included footswitch.premierguitar.com PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 157

DI sectionUSB in/out and The boost/cut EQ section has low, out some synth-type lines, this setting will entities—there seems to be ample room reamp send sweepable mid, and treble controls that make for a cool new twist. on the front panel. That gripe aside, the move within a fairly narrow range. The reamping functionality makes the Nexus reason behind the subtle EQ is that the The shape’s mid-boosting fourth SL a very useful studio piece, the USB Nexus has a not-so-subtle tilt control. position gives the onboard effects more feature makes it a cool mobile recording Turning it to the left increases lows, and clarity and shine, and the mid bump will rig, and you’ve got a standalone practice turning it clockwise increases the highs and certainly come in handy if you need to amp by simply plugging in headphones. mids for more presence. Pushing the tilt punch through a muddy-sounding stage The Nexus SL rig is worthy of serious all the way counterclockwise would make mix. Even the flat setting (position one) consideration from any player looking Family Man Barrett smile—the lows are was impressive, revealing that this amp for power, tone, unique features, and a downright earthshaking. The treble side, colors the tone very, very little. solid presentation. however, can get nasty when cranked all the way, so use with caution and in small doses. The amp’s touch feature is an interesting CLICK HERE TO WATCH A DEMO of this Next to the tilt dial you’ll find the touch slant. If you were to just sit and turn the amp & cabs at premierguitar.com/sep2015 control, which adjusts how the amp reacts knob back and forth, the audible changes to the player. You can open up your tone are minimal. But to the touch it will get Laney Nexus Studio Live Amp with less pronounced less attack, or ease the more responsive and tight, or a little more control counterclockwise for a tighter feel. open and loose. I actually liked the amp in $999 street both extreme settings, but it’s cool that it (w/travel bag, rack ears, and footswitch) Laney threw a few tricks into the mix can be dialed in to suit varied playing styles. with the amp’s onboard effects. There are laney.co.uk three dials in the top row. Two are effects The 2x10 and 1x15 neo-loaded cabs and the other a sweetener. Space, the Laney supplied for the review are just Tones first dial, is a combination reverb/chorus about the perfect combo setup for any Ease of Use control. The next control is interval, which bass situation. And they proved to be Build/Design is a dual octave/5ths effect. These two good matches with the Nexus SL by (four) effects can also be turned on and off handling the octave crush with ease and Value via the footswitch. The third dial in the rocking every bit of the 1,000 watts row—called focus—is used in conjunction the amp can throw. I’m not a huge fan PROS Great tone. Loads of extras. with the interval control. Turing it to of horns in bass cabs, so I liked that I CONS Effects are a little anti-climactic. the right while the interval is engaged could toggle the horns to off or half- adds shimmer to the highs. Dialed power settings if necessary. That said, Would be better if the effects were counterclockwise, it boosts the low end. the LaVoche horns sizzle without being available separately. too harsh and the crisp definition given The Taste Test to the N115 is a nice thing to have if Laney Nexus N210 & N115 Cabs It would be almost impossible to run you’re running the 1x15 on its own. The through the seemingly unlimited amount compact N115 and N210 are relatively $599 street (each) of tone combinations, but there were lightweight at 19 1/2 pounds each, which laney.co.uk a few that stood out for me. The mid makes for a easy load out. scoop resulting from the shape control’s Tones third position really makes the onboard The Verdict Versatility effects—especially the chorus—come to The Nexus SL is a mighty versatile Build/Design life, and it added slap-happy articulation and great-sounding amp on its own, to my passive bass and great overall tone and a force to be reckoned with when Value for rock, R & B, or anything else high- joined with the matching cabinets. energy. Things got interesting when I The tone is tight and concise, and the PROS Tight and precise. Very portable. added in 5ths via the interval control, pairing of high output, solid state power CONS Could use more tonal character. especially with the brighter top end. For amps with the ECC83-based preamp solo sections or someone wanting to crank is a combo offers everything from mean to warm. I certainly would have preferred the onboard effects as singular158 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com

Rodney Crowell and his 1993 Collings C10 Deluxe Rodney Crowell and Collings Guitars Serious Guitars | www.collingsguitars.com

Michael Tobias Design Celebrating 20 years Built for the working musician Superior Quality Incredible Tone Patrick Scheel is playing a Rubicon 22 Fret Guitar www.MTDKingston.com USA Custom and Kingston Production Basses & Guitars Enter for your chance to Subscribe to today! LANDRETH THOMPSON • BONNAROO • SONNY Every issue of Premier Guitar comes loaded with AUGUST 2015 tons of juicy gear content including: • RICHARD WARREN HAYNESAUGUST 2015 APSOICGWONMEARPTRUTEURHEBEESNSOS&UIVNTEDHLSEOIROK AT • The best gear reviews • Gear mods and how-to tips from the pros • Artist profiles and detailed info on their rigs • Features on builders, designers, and luthiers • AND MORE! premierguitar.com PLUS SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TODAY & print DsEBuMASYbSSsTAIMcFIPErDSibers SAVE 71% OFF NEWSSTAND! 13 tgoetthFeRPEGE aacpcpe! ssELECTRO-HARMONIX / IBANEZ / OGRAUNIGTEA/RED&ENB/ AFISSHSMARNE/V&IEMWORSE! SUBSCRIBE TODAY @ premierguitar.com/subscribe160 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com

EHX REVIEWSBad Stone Manual Shift knobBy Charles Saufley Feedback controlIf the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser is one of Rate control Manual shift toggle the EHX family’s favorite sons, the original Bad Stone is the brilliant but eccentric cousin who disappeared tosome mountain cabin after a failed attempt at prep school. While EHX produced an early FET-based version,the Bad Stone most players know debuted in 1975 andremained in the EHX line till the early ’80s. It was arelatively ambitious phaser for its time, with six phase-shift stages (the Small Stone had only four) and a switchthat enabled players to lock in on a particular point inthe phase shift and rock that weird filtered frequency allnight long. Like so many pedals in EHX’s history, the Bad Stonewas quirky and original, and it provided something playersdidn’t even know they wanted. Thankfully, EHX’s quirkyurges have never gone away, and now the Bad Stone hasbeen resurrected in a nano-size package with the samefunctionality as its illustrious, if weird, predecessor. (Theonly change, according to EHX, is a slightly broader ratecontrol, permitting extra-slow modulation.)At the speed of a slowly rotating Lesliespeaker, the slightly metallic overtones lend a cool peak emphasis almost reminiscent of ’60s studio flange.Baby Badness The three-knob control set mimics the original. There’s a rateThe Bad Stone was unencumbered by notions of knob, plus a feedback knob that sets the effect’s intensity. The“pedalboard space”—it was as large as the full-sized Big Muff. other two controls may be less familiar to the one-knob phaserThat may have been a lot of steel for three knobs and a couple devotee: the auto/manual toggle “freezes” the phase sweep, whileof switches, but it provided a killer canvas for graphics. The new the manual shift knob lets you dial in a specific sweep point,nano version still looks sharp, retaining a sweet mix of utility not unlike parking a wah in a particular position. This addedand shag-lined custom-van grooviness. The line drawing of an function provides cool two-effects-in-one versatility.ugly face that “graced” the original version no longer appearson the enclosure, but it’s memorialized on the PCB’s etching. Dig The Frozen Phase CrazeBut despite the extra graphic, the board’s compact layout Players who use a wide range of phase rates will find muchleaves room for a 9V battery. Everything seems sturdy. My one to like here. At low feedback levels in particular, this can beconcern: The footswitch feels a bit stubborn and occasionallyengages with a pronounced pop.premierguitar.com PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 161

a wonderfully subtle but rich effect, effect on clean tones, it sounds super CLICK HERE TO WATCH A DEMO of thisespecially for slow chord arpeggios, hip with fuzz and high-gain overdrive. pedal at premierguitar.com/sep2015atmospheric lead lines, and even The filtering characteristics are differentchugging quarter-note rhythms. from a typical parked wah: There’s Electro-Harmonix Bad StoneIncreasing feedback levels can be tricky at less quack and immediate pick attack,these slow speeds. I found the best fits to depending on which phase region you $73 streetbe feedback settings between noon and 2 isolate. But it’s also a less familiar effect, ehx.como’clock (which, incidentally, most closely and the knob’s range makes it easierapproximate the richness of a vintage to dial in a specific frequency to suit a TonesSmall Stone). Feedback levels outside given part or song. Ease of Usethese marks often highlighted the more Build/Designmetallic, less contoured aspects of the The VerdictBad Stone’s phase voice at all rates. The multi-faceted Bad Stone offers a Value lot of phaser for around 73 bucks. It Thankfully the binary qualities of may not have the richness and gently PROS Wide-range rate and feedbackthe Bad Stone’s voice work best at the contoured harmonic nuance of a vintagefaster rates where phasers are most often Small Stone, but at the right feedback controls. Manual shift sounds awesomeemployed. At the speed of a slowly settings, it gets very close. The feedback with fuzz.rotating Leslie speaker, the slightly metallic control is useful for moving from vintageovertones lend a cool peak emphasis flavors to more experimental phase tones CONS Slightly metallic and “binary”almost reminiscent of ’60s studio flange. that leverage the Bad Stone’s metallicAnd while traditionalists might cringe, resonance, while manual shift mode phase voice.cranking the feedback can guide pedestrian transforms the Bad Stone into a uniquefaux-Floyd riffs in unexpected directions. filter. It’s is a powerful and intriguing sonic tool at a great price. The surprise treat is the manual shiftfunction. While it can have a thinning162 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com



STAFF PICKS Question & Obsession When Mastodon recently curated craft beer in Denmark with two breweries, it got us thinking: What beverage would we make, and with who? Nick Reinhart joins us in dreaming up cold ones to go with our favorite guitar riffs. What band would you do a beer collaboration with, and what would you call it? Nick Reinhart Ted Drozdowski Guest Picker, Tera Melos PG Contributor A: I’d like to do a mineral A: I’d brew up a sea of “Ted water collaboration with my and Jack’s Psychedelic Jake-friend Zach Hill (Death Grips/ Hella). We’d have tanks of Leg Hop Stout” with Jackwater rigged up with sensors White. Okay, maybe forand gauges that measure how branding’s sake, he could loud and fast we’re playing, have top billing. The brew would blend our psych-roots and that would directly obsessions, toss in the “Jake- correlate with how much Leg” reference for blues- carbon dioxide is dissolved thenticity, and a helluva lotta into the water. The gnarlier hops, which I love. Ditto stout.the sound, the more bubbles. We would call it “SWEAT.” Current obsession: My crawfish pot diddley bow. Current obsession: I’m jamming out to see how The CIJ Squier Super-Sonic many tones I can get from from the Vista series, a piece of wire suspended made around ’96-’97. It between two cuts of copper was designed after seeing pipe over the top of a big Hendrix playing a right- porcelain enamel pot with a handed Jaguar, upside- Mexican Tele pickup screwed into a plywood top. You can down. Essentially the guitar is a flipped Jag with hear the ring of the steelreverse electronics. It’s like core. I feel that it’s full of an optical illusion. I’ve got possibilities and I’ve just a blue sparkle and silversparkle—searching for that scratched the surface. With pedals, olympic white! it’s amazing!

Joe Gore Tessa Jeffers Chris Kies Senior Editor Managing Editor Associate EditorA: Easy! “Gang of Pour.” (Dang A: I’d make delicious craft A: If it were possible, I’d do— can’t find that YouTube clip brews with the Kris Lager a bourbon-ale collaborationof my eternal post-punk hero, Band, out of my home-state Nebraska. We’d call the with Pantera’s 6-string Gang of Four’s Andy Gill, pilsner “Kris Lager.” Then madman Dimebag Darrell. marinating his Strat in beer we’d do a “Swagadocious” We’d either call it “Dimebagduring his signature feedback milk stout, named after their Barrel” or “Chriskeys Bourbon extravaganza on “Anthrax.”) last album and only available Ale.” A realistic joint effort on nitro tap. It’d be fun to would be with fellow Iowan Current obsession: team up with Hozier, too, so and beer connoisseur William The only thing I don’t you could tell the bartender, Elliott Whitmore and we’d love about the great Afro- “Take Me to Church, please!” make a hoppier variation of Caribbean music of the ’50s Lion Bridge’s Click Bait IPA, and ’60s is the fact that it Current obsession: or maybe a dark farmhouse rarely features guitar. But Since you asked… it’s Hozier. ale and call it “South Lee what if, instead of settling in NYC, the Cuban and Puerto The blazingly talented County Brew.” Rican mambo kings had fingerstylist, lyricist, and migrated to Memphis? No Current obsession: need to imagine! Spanish- composer took me to Planning out summer festival born, Argentina-based guitar church during his Bonnaroofiend El Twanguero (aka Diego watching priorities—inGarcia) makes the dream come performance. Real. Deal. the coming weeks I havetrue with his rumba/rockabilly Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, andfusion. He’s a fun, flamboyant Wrecking Ball to attend!Bigsby basher with one hell of an imagination.

CHANGE IT • CRANK IT • SHRED IT Gearheads win! www.bourns.com/proaudio Enter for your chance to WIN a signature acoustic rig! XITS X10 | modern classicoSedcpTpuianhnlvwvmaieebmeecersaepeferrseenrdyteliawneioctsfitrhss,sti,neeviiuicnoantreelh.fotggnornrtaomaeir.cnfeltbuhdloeatePure Magic.Pure XITS. Enter at PremierGuitar.com/Contests xits Void where prohibited. Read full rules on Sweepstakes PremierGuitar.com. To enter our gear giveaways www.xits-sound.com Gearhead Communications, LLC by mail, legibly hand-print your first and last Three Research Center166 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 name, address, age, and day and evening phone Marion, IA 52302 numbers on a 3”x 5” card and mail to: premierguitar.com



⌀洀甀猀椀挀戀礀栀愀渀搀 Coverage168 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 SNAMM ‘15 - Taylor 326e Baritone-6 & 714ce-S LTD Demos SNAMM ‘15 - Eventide H9 Crushstation Distortion Demo See them all at YouTube.com/PremierGuitar premierguitar.com

No Velcro Patents Pending Lifetime Warranty Curved Deck 2 Levels Better. By good people.Holeyboard WIDE MKII in BirchQuick.Tight.Better. www.chemistrydesignwerks.com WIN SATCHEL’S RIG.premierguitar.com PremierGuitar.com/contests PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 169

ClassicVibrato® ~ for that authentic Strat® stink... Better tone, improved sustain...stays in tune! No mods required. 603-488-1912 MannMadeUSA.com/pg Please check our website today for bridges that fit other guitar models.170 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com

premierguitar.com 䔀愀匀礀 吀漀 䤀渀匀琀䄀氀䰀 䌀甀匀栀䤀漀一攀䐀 䤀渀匀攀刀琀 爀伀琀䄀琀䔀猀 琀伀 昀䤀琀 愀一礀 栀䔀愀䐀猀吀漀䌀欀 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 171

吀䠀䔀 吀ⴀ匀䠀䤀刀吀 䌀䰀唀䈀䘀伀刀 䜀唀䤀吀䄀刀䤀匀吀匀 VAPOR SHIELD The Future of Coated Strings... ARE NOT COATED!䜀攀琀 愀 渀攀眀 氀椀洀椀琀攀搀ⴀ攀搀椀琀椀漀渀 琀ⴀ猀栀椀爀琀 攀瘀攀爀礀 Slick mutated surface is resistant to洀漀渀琀栀 昀攀愀琀甀爀椀渀最 愀渀 椀挀漀渀椀挀 最甀椀琀愀爀 猀栀漀瀀⸀ oil and grime. Creates no flaking or peeling after extended play.䜀唀䤀吀䄀刀匀䠀伀倀吀䔀䔀匀⸀䌀伀䴀 Available for Acoustic, Electric Guitar, and Electric Bass Strings Check out what’s new at WWW.LABELLA.COM WOUND WITH AMERICAN WIRE. MADE IN THE USA.HIGH VOLTAGE HORSEPOWERThe Original And The All NewHigher Gain Introducing Lower GainCUDA CUDA Lite Pure Class A Tube 200 Volts of B+ Power From 9VDC Wide Range Tone Controls Made in the USA www.sibfx.com The world’s largest SteinbergerTM inventory. XL2 Restorations by Jeff Babicz SALES • SERVICE • STRINGS • PARTS • RESTORATIONS www.HeadlessUSA.com Hotline: 203•395•8013172 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com

Get the Fanned-Fret Advantage See the videos at novaxguitars.com Sweet Sassy Annie Anniepremierguitar.com PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 173

ESOTERICA ELECTRICA Endorsement Check: The Other Pay to Play BY JOL DANTZIG Even rockin’ A lmost everyone I know claims product—just as you would endorse a check. no means the only rebels can they choose their instruments There is transaction in any human interac- way that endorsements for sound and playability. Some tion, and both parties in this scenario feel are structured, because not every musician is be enticed to of us will even allow that we also think they have something to gain. concerned just about the bottom line. make money they should look cool. However, I find that few players will come right out and It might be as simple as artists feeling In today’s shifting musical climate, art- from gear cop to being influenced by a celebrity that being associated with a major company ists can no longer rely upon record sales forendorsements. endorsement. So why are magazines and will help their careers, but sometimes these income. Touring is expensive and merchan- websites full of endorsement advertising? endorsers misuse the nomenclature and dise sales barely fuel a tour van, so saving It’s a complex issue, and when you say something like “I’m being endorsed or even making money from endorsements scratch the surface, it reveals a myriad of by XYZ guitars.” At the entry level, most is attractive. But the situation is becom- cause-and-effect scenarios. Some might (but not all) companies simply offer to sell ing sensitive as the ethics and legality of surprise you. products to the musician at a reduced cost endorsement advertising comes under in exchange for use of the artist’s name on increasing scrutiny. The internet has cre- Endorsements are as old as commerce a list. This is no burden whatsoever to an ated a Wild West of product shills who are itself. They precede print advertising by equipment company that uses the dealer paid to post positive remarks or reviews, going back to kings’ clothiers and medi- cost as the artist’s “accommodation” price. In and government agencies are keen to stay eval blacksmiths who promoted their effect, only the dealer is cut out of the profit, on top of all this. prowess with wealthy client associations. and the company justifies this as promotion The implied message? If it’s good enough for all involved. The Federal Trade Commission publishes for them, it’s good enough for you. guidelines for both advertisers and endorsers The B level is the next rung up on the that, in effect, underline the idea that the Marketers know endorsements can be endorsement ladder. This might be a band words of an endorser are not just opinion, a powerful tool. Whether you love or hate member whose celebrity is on the rise. These but the statement of a paid partner of the the concept, it drives much of the guitar lucky ducks may receive one or more instru- marketer. These guidelines say that if there industry one way or another. When you ments in exchange for the agreement to is monetary or quid pro quo exchange for see a pro guitarist promoting a product, are use their names and likeness in advertising. endorsement, the ad is misleading unless the you turned off or do you afford that brand Furthermore, this rank of artists can often connection is made clear. These guidelines more credibility? Does your reaction depend buy additional equipment at accommoda- are not only for print, web, and television on what you think of the endorser’s music? tion prices. I’ve witnessed endorsers abusing advertising, but for blogs as well. Eventually, Are you skeptical of the artist’s intentions this by reselling guitars at a profit—one of we may start seeing disclaimers in ads. or are you tempted to consider what they many scams in the endorsement world. are hawking? Regardless—even if you avoid As an observer, it’s sometimes hard products from companies that actively pub- At the top of the food chain resides the to determine if a piece of gear is being licize their artist associations—you’re still A-list endorser—a guitarist who either has endorsed for its merit or because the deal being manipulated by the whole exercise. enough celebrity visibility to create mass was sweet. To me, the best endorsement is awareness of the company’s product, or suffi- when I see and hear the artist using some- Research published by financial analyst cient musical clout to sway geek opinion. At thing live onstage or in the studio. I also Jeroen Verleun and Harvard Business this level, signature-model instruments can enjoy video rig rundowns because in those School professor Anita Elberse shows that provide a royalty payment revenue stream candid moments, you can usually tell where companies often witness both a bump in for the artist. Sometimes a yearly retainer fee the real allegiances are and what stuff actu- sales and stock-price increases with the can be agreed upon, which is rarely a matter ally gets used. We’re all interested in getting very announcement of a major-celebrity of just writing a check to the musician. For great sound or versatility, and hearing is endorsement deal. So, theoretically, the example, a contract can stipulate that the art- usually believing. data is on the side of using successful gui- ist must be available for a minimum number tarists as spokespeople. The tricky part is of days for trade shows or dealer clinics, and But I can still be swayed by a cool how that promotion is accomplished. the yearly total of all of this (appearance fees, look. Is that wrong? cost of travel, and instruments supplied) will Let’s review the terminology before we go be the final figure presented to the artist’s JOL DANTZIG is a noted much further. The company whose product management as the value of the endorse- designer, builder, and player who is being endorsed is referred to as the endors- ment. Clearly, the musician is absolutely a co-founded Hamer Guitars, one of ee, whereas the artist is called the endorser. paid spokesperson of the company in this the first boutique guitar brands, This is because artists lend their name (often kind of arrangement. These scenarios are by in 1973. Today, as the director for compensation) to the company and its of Dantzig Guitar Design, he continues to help define the art of custom guitar. To learn more, visit guitardesigner.com.174 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2015 premierguitar.com



LAST CALL Wayne Pauley’s Tips for Tour Survival BY JOHN BOHLINGERAnother day at Currently I’m slogging through 6. If your amp hums loudly, unplug the office for yet another sweaty summer tour everything and use an AC ground lift on with my brother from another, the amp.Wayne Pauley. Wayne Pauley—the Sultan of Sound, the 7. Amp still humming around 60 Hz? Lord of the Board. Wayne is a confidant/ You’re playing single-coil pickups near spiritual adviser to both the stars and neon lights, aren’t you? Get used to it or stop paying attention. When you play things the anonymous, and some of you may consider some hum-canceling alternative you’ve never played, you’ll feel more present remember his contribution to “From Front pickups when you return to that venue. during the performance, more emotionally of House” in the June 2014 PG issue. 8. If your rig doesn’t sound great, start involved and more challenged, and that over. Find one guitar you love, add an makes for a more interesting show.] In a work environment where sleep amp you love equally, and then dial in 16. When in doubt, be nice. You’ll be deprivation, constant travel, a trucker’s one basic tone you dig. Add ingredients amazed at how far a smile and a firm diet, and never-ending hangovers sparingly. Or maybe practice more. handshake will get you. can undermine your enthusiasm for 9. Work within your budget. There’s 17. Refrain from ordering barbecue on performance, Wayne is the guy who great-sounding gear in every price range. the road because there will be many days calmly reminds you that you have an 10. If you’re an opening act, understand when it will be your only choice. (I’m obligation to give your audience the that you are the headliner’s guest. Feel looking at you, Texas.) face-melting show they deserve. Today free to kick the headliner’s ass with your 18. Be mindful of where you store your I overheard him give some particularly performance, but work within your gear. A friend of John’s stashed a wall profound advice to a crew member, and limited set time and stage space. You’ll of large speaker cabs in his barn for an it made me think: “Geez, I gotta turn in find yourself invited back and create allies entire winter. When he brought them to my stupid column. Writing well is hard, for down the road. a club for a show, plugged them in, and so why not just record everything Wayne 11. If you make a mess, clean it up. hit the first note, hundreds of mice raced says until I have enough smart-sounding out of the cabs into the club. The club stuff to fill the back page?” Lucky reader, manager was not happy. my laziness is your gain. Whether you’re 19. Always pack a rain jacket. If you a seasoned pro or hitting the road for the don’t, you will need it. first time, you’ll benefit from Wayne’s 20. If there’s a band playing after you, hard-won insights: get your gear off the stage as quickly as you can. 1. Start with a great sound source. 12. Find your “frequency” in a band. 21. Life is too short for cheap wine and 2. When mixing, start with your EQs When our instruments don’t cut through bad sound. flat. If something doesn’t sound right, a mix, we tend to turn up, but often the go with a reductive EQ approach: Don’t solution is to emphasize a different part JOHN BOHLINGER add frequencies, take them out in small of the frequency spectrum. is a Nashville musician who has increments. If that doesn’t work, refer to 13. If you want to be truly great, don’t led the band on NBC’s Nashville rule #1. follow trends. Star and served as musical director of the CMT Music Awards for the 3. Don’t fly with your best gear—it’s not 14. Be happy in your gig. If you can’t, last six years. In addition to his worth it. Nobody watching your show find another one. Still unhappy? You may “Last Call” column, John recently will hear the difference between your be the problem. Good news: You’re also joined PG as our full-time gear $500 guitar and a $5,000 guitar. the solution. demo/Rig Rundown video dude. 4. Invest in a flight case. You’ll need that 15. Don’t be afraid to try something new, guitar to work after you land. but do it at home. The gig is not the 5. Warm up. Play for 15 minutes before place to pull out something you’ve never you get onstage and you’ll perform better tried. [Author’s note: We differ on this one. and avoid injury. Start slow before you I encourage you to play something different go fast. on every gig. If you play the same part every performance, you’ll get too comfortable and Premier Guitar ISSN 1945-077x (print) and ISSN 1945-0788 (online) is published monthly by Gearhead Communications, LLC. Principal office: 3 Research Center, Marion, IA 52302. Periodicals postage paid at Marion, IA 52302 and at Additional Mailing Offices. © 2015 Gearhead Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Premier Guitar are registered trademarks of Gearhead Communications, LLC. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address. U.S. Subscriptions: $24.95 for one year. Call for Canada, Mexico and foreign subscription rates. Postmaster: Send address changes to Premier Guitar, 3 Research Center, Marion, IA 52302. Customer Service and subscriptions please call 877-704-4327 or email [email protected]. Printed in USA. Volume 20 Issue 9 September 2015

THE MARKETPLACE FOR MUSICIANSPlug into the fastest growing online community of musicians and music retailers. SHOP NEW & USED SELL FOR TOP DOLLAR LEARN & EXPLORE Millions of products at Sell your old gear by reaching Use the Reverb Price Guide your fingertips millions of relevant buyers for comparison shoppingVintage and handmade gear you Keep more of your earnings – Hundreds of videos, blog can’t find anywhere else low 3.5% transaction fee articles, fun quizzes & more!BUY & SELL NEW, USED, & VINTAGE GEAR REVERB.COM



DEMO VIDEO SHOWCASE WELCOME TO THE PREMIER GUITAR DEMO VIDEO SHOWCASE. See (and hear) new gear and some old favorites in this bonus add-on of the September 2015 digital issue. You'll find 24 pages of pedals, guitars, and amps to whet your gear appetite, plus links to get more information,buy the gear or connect with the manufacturer!///////////////////////////////////////////

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEKEELEY ELECTRONICS, INC.GC-2 Street price: $199 robertkeeley.com/ BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKCaverns Street price: $249 robertkeeley.com/ BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 1 Special Promotional Section

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASERED WITCHVioletta - Original Chrome Series Street price: $139 redwitchpedals.com/ BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKFuzz God II Street price: $249.99 redwitchpedals.com/ BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 2

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASETECH 21Fly Rig 5 Street price: $249 tech21nyc.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKRichie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig Street price: $269 tech21nyc.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 3 Special Promotional Section

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEKIESEL/CARVIN GUITARSVader Headless Guitar Street price: $1,199 kieselguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKGreg Howe GH24 Carvin Signature Guitar Street price: $1,699 carvingutiars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 4

DEMO VIDEO SHOWCASEDWARFCRAFT DEVICESParaloopStreet price: $150dwarfcraft.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKBORN CUSTOM GUITARSOG Drop \"Secret 'Stachio\"Street price: $3,150bornguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 5 Special Promotional Section

DVIEDMEOOVDIEDMEO SHOWCASEDIGITECHTrio Band CreatorStreet price: $179.95digitech.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKRANDALL AMPLIFIERSSatanStreet price: $1,996.66randallamplifiers BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 6

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEPRS GUITARSSE Alex Lifeson Thinline Street price: $799 prsguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKMcCarty Street price: $3,299 prsguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 7 Special Promotional Section

PRS GUITARS VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASES2 Standard 24 Street price: $1,199 prsguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKArchon 50 Street price: $1,599 prsguitars.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 8

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEELECTRO-HARMONIXB9 Organ Machine Street price: $221.30 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKC9 Organ Machine Street price: $221.30 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 9 Special Promotional Section

ELECTRO-HARMONIX VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASE360 Nano Looper Street price: $135.80 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKSuperego Synth Engine Street price: $214 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 10

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEELECTRO-HARMONIXRavish Sitar Street price: $237.60 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKCrying Tone Wah Street price: $95.90 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 11 Special Promotional Section

ELECTRO-HARMONIX VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEBig Muff Pi Street price: $80.40 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKBig Muff Pi with Tone Wicker Street price: $90.90 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 12

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEELECTRO-HARMONIXSoul Food Street price: $78.20 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKNano Big Muff Pi Street price: $72.70 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 13 Special Promotional Section

ELECTRO-HARMONIX VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEMetal Muff Street price: $90.90 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKDeluxe Bass Big Muff Street price: $120.30 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 14

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEELECTRO-HARMONIXBass Soul Food Street price: $88.70 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKBass Big Muff Pi Street price: $81.40 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 15 Special Promotional Section

ELECTRO-HARMONIX VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEEpitome Street price: $370.70 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKPitch Fork Street price: $158.20 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 16

VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEELECTRO-HARMONIXSuper Pulsar Street price: $237.60 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKCathedral Street price: $221.30 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 17 Special Promotional Section

ELECTRO-HARMONIX VIDEO DEMO SHOWCASEBad Stone Street price: $73.50 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKFreeze Street price: $123.10 ehx.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Special Promotional Section WEB 18

DEMO VIDEO SHOWCASEEVENTIDE INC.H9 HarmonizerStreet price: $799eventideaudio.com BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKLOOG GUITARSElectric Loog LuciteStreet price: $299loog.nyc BUY IT NOW FIND US ON FACEBOOKWEB 19 Special Promotional Section