Tag Archives: amps

Fender Eric Clapton Signature Amps

Written by admin on December 12, 2011 — Leave a Comment

The Eric Clapton signature Fender amp series was announced for general release in October 2011 and boasts a range of options for the blues inspired guitarist and Clapton fans alike. With the look of their original ‘50s counterparts, the EC series includes the 5 watt Vibro Champ ®, 12 watt Tremolux™ and the 40 watt Twinolux™.

These are great looking amps with hand wired circuitry feature the usual Fender Tweed settings with a few extra features requested by the great guitarist himself. All of the models include built in output bias tremolo – creating a more throbbing tremolo that Fender’s later models and a single control for speed (with an additional control for intensity for the larger Twinolux™). This in itself is a rather unique feature for an amp.

The other feature consistent with all three models is the power attenuator switch. This feature allows greater control of the output volume without sacrificing the “crunch” achieved at higher amp levels. Simply dial up the amp to its sweet spot with the volume control and hit the power attenuator switch to maintain the sweet spot but drop the overall volume allowing lower level.

Unfortunately, for humbucker lovers, you may struggle to achieve the full spectrum of harmonic richness with the amps in this series. That’s not to say, there is reason to dismiss any of them outright. Experimenting with the tone pots on your guitar and the amp, altering your picking attack and avoiding use of the neck pick up will help achieve a blues-ier feel. In essence, a guitar armed with single coils or mini humbuckers is going to get the liveliest of sounds from the amps.

If you’re in love with the sound of ‘50s Tweed amps with that vintage Fender sound spectrum, then the EC Series is going to be something you wanna check out if you haven’t already.

For a full list of specs and a full picture gallery Fender.com

Posted by Dan Orr

Posted in amplifiers / pickups, Artists, blues, gear, Rock | Tagged blues, eric clapton, fender

Hendrix Mosrite Strawberry Alarm Clock Centrefold

Written by Jamorama on August 20, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Back in the late 60`s things were so psychedelic even the guitars freaked out on Dr. Ugs.

Here`s Bakersfield California based company Mosrite proving that they too have been drinking the Electric Cool Aid. These guitars were made for the psychedelic Los Angeles band Strawberry Alarm Clock.

The DeVillain Centrefold is a folding electric guitar – the strings roll into the body when it’s folded, and when it is straightened out it’s ready to play. We’ll see about that – guitars tend to lose tuning if the temperature changes.

It was invented by SAS airline pilot Fredrik Johansson sick of damaging normal guitars whilst travelling. The bracket mechanism is made from aircraft grade aluminum, a great idea, although the DeVillain website is currently out of action – whot down somewhere over Korea.

Finally Gibson have made an exact replica of the hand painted Flying V that Hendrix used on tour in Europe in 1967 and 1968, and features exact reproductions of Hendrix’s own hand-painted designs from the original.

If anyone would like a copy of the 1988 Guitar World issue featuring Hendrix and the V on the cover signed by none other than guitar legend RobinTrower write in, with your price in EUROS.

Posted in art, gear | Tagged flying v, hendrix, wierd guitars

Silent guitar, Road Guitars, Spinal Tap, 11

Written by Jamorama on June 9, 2009 — Leave a Comment

yamaha1 Silent guitar, Road Guitars, Spinal Tap, 11

If you spent thirty years listening to rock riffs, live concerts at Wembley, Hammersmith, Shea Stadium; saving for a `66 Shelby Mustang Fastback Coupe, an Indian motorcycle, drinking Cider from a skull and buying amps that go up to ELEVEN then what the hell good is a silent guitar to you? Nigel Tufnel – look away now.

sku skull shot glass lg Silent guitar, Road Guitars, Spinal Tap, 11

…about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike? Unless of course all that “heavy nitrogen” music has your ears bleeding at the sound of a pin dropping.

SO what`s the deal?

Well; my friend Dimas plays Jazz and when we met up for a jam in Wellington he brought with him a Yamaha Silent Guitar that was light, easy to assemble and once plugged in to an amp made an absolutely fantastic sound.

His was a nylon string model but a steel string is available for those seeking the blues twang thang! If you want a light, portable travel guitar that`s an absolute breeze to play check these machines out.

The L.R. Baggs pickups, onboard reverbs, AUX in for rehearsal coupled with the fact that these babies assemble and dissemble like a 3 year old’s jigsaw into a small convenient traveling bag ensure that these machines are ideal for the mobile or traveling musician.

In a way they almost fulfill a steampunk ethic in their simplicity of approach but attention to sonic detail – so I`ve included a picture we came across on the internet of the ultimate Steampunk Flying V guitar.