Factory Tour
Factory Tour: How to Build a Fender Handwired Amp
October 5, 2011
PG's Rebecca Dirks is on location in Corona, California at the Fender
Amps Factory. In this video we get to follow a Fender Eric Clapton Amp
from start to finish. Watch our video demo of all three Eric Clapton signature amps here.
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GALLERY: Fender Visitor Center
September 17, 2011
Go inside the brand-new public Visitor Center at Fender''s Corona, CA factory.
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Nik Huber Guitars Shop Tour
August 30, 2011
PG's Shawn Hammond is in Rodgau, Germany where Nik Huber gives him a tour of his workshop where he makes some of the best guitars in the world.
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Ritter Instruments Shop Tour
August 30, 2011
PG's Charles Saufley is in Deidesheim, Germany where Jens Ritter gives him a tour of his winery that he's converted into a workshop where he makes some of the best bass guitars in the world.
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Godin Guitars Factory Tour - Acoustics
June 21, 2011
Robert Godin gives us a tour of his acoustic guitar factory in Princeville, Quebec.
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Godin Guitars Factory Tour - Electrics
June 21, 2011
Robert Godin gives Premier Guitar a tour of the Electric Guitar Factory in Richmond, Quebec
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Schecter Setup Shop and Custom Shop Tour
May 25, 2011
Joe Coffey is On Location at the Schecter Guitar Research setup shop and custom shop. See how Schecter import guitars get set up, and what kind of things Schecter does in their USA Custom Shop. Also, check out the company's home offices.
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Ernie Ball Music Man - New 2011 Colors
December 31, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location at San Luis Obispo, CA, where he visits
the Ernie Ball Music Man factory. In this segment, Scott Ball (grandson
of Ernie Ball and son of Sterling) who specializes in sales and product
development for EBMM, shows off new colors, configurations and pickguard
options that EBMM are currently mulling over the 2011 production year.
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Ernie Ball Music Man-Original Reflex & Steve Morse
December 31, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he visits
the Ernie Ball Music Man facilities (where they make the guitars and
basses). In this video segment, Chief Gear Designer Dudley Gimpel shows
off two rare guitars--the #2 Steve Morse Signature guitar and the
original Reflex prototype. While the Reflex is currently in EBMM's
production line, the Reflex shown in this video is different from those
you'd find on the shelves of your local guitar store--but it is the
current guitar's namesake!
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Ernie Ball Music Man - From the Vault: Basses
December 31, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he visits
the Ernie Ball Music Man facilities (where they make the guitars and
basses). In this video segment, Chief Gear Designer Dudley Gimpel opens
the EBMM vault to show off some vintage basses. Here, Gimpel shows off a
Leo Fender-built 1976 StingRay bass that preceded the EBMM company. In
addition, we get to peek at the original EBMM StingRay bass, an
original-run Sabre, a Classic Series StingRay 5 and an original Bongo
6-string.
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How To Build Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars & Basses
December 30, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in San Luis Obisbo, CA, where he gets a
tour of the Ernie Ball Music Man facilities from EBMM's CEO Sterling
Ball.
In this segment, Sterling takes us through the Ernie Ball Music Man factory that produces the company's guitars and basses. Here, we get to see specific processes on how the guitars are setup, how the necks are carved, shaped, and given EBMM's signature feel and playability, the patented chamber patterns of an Axis, how they do seamless binding, and Sterling talks about how it's hard being a CEO during these shaky economic times.
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In this segment, Sterling takes us through the Ernie Ball Music Man factory that produces the company's guitars and basses. Here, we get to see specific processes on how the guitars are setup, how the necks are carved, shaped, and given EBMM's signature feel and playability, the patented chamber patterns of an Axis, how they do seamless binding, and Sterling talks about how it's hard being a CEO during these shaky economic times.
Ernie Ball Music Man - From the Vault: Guitars
December 30, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he tours
the Ernie Ball Music Man factory. In San Luis Obispo, CA, EBMM designs
and builds their guitars and basses, while their facility in Coachella,
CA, handles manufacturing of strings and other guitar-related
accessories.
In this segment, EBMM's Chief Designer Dudley Gimpel gives a personal tour of their historic guitar collection, including rare models and prototypes of the Eddie Van Halen guitar, Nigel Tufnel's (Spinal Tap) Signature Mr. Horsepower guitar, Steve Morse signature, one of the first Silhouettes, and a prototype of Albert Lee's signature guitar.
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In this segment, EBMM's Chief Designer Dudley Gimpel gives a personal tour of their historic guitar collection, including rare models and prototypes of the Eddie Van Halen guitar, Nigel Tufnel's (Spinal Tap) Signature Mr. Horsepower guitar, Steve Morse signature, one of the first Silhouettes, and a prototype of Albert Lee's signature guitar.
Factory Tour - Premier Builders Guild's Guitars
December 17, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in Arroyo Grande, CA, at the Premier Builders Guild shop. In this video segment, we get the lowdown on what Premier Builders Guild is all about, what builders are affiliated with the guild (Gene Baker, Dennis Fano, Roger Giffin, Johan Gustavsson, Saul Koll, and Jason Z. Schroeder), and also how these US-made, handbuilt guitars differ from the custom-made instruments built by the guild's luthiers.
Here, we get to see how PBG enables players to choose from their portfolio of boutique, masterbuilt guitars without the uncertainty, long wait times, and lack of customer support often associated with boutique instruments. The PBG shop is run by master luthier and head engineer Gene Baker and production manager Gil Vasquez who have over 30 years of combined experience and expertise in the guitar-building world.
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Here, we get to see how PBG enables players to choose from their portfolio of boutique, masterbuilt guitars without the uncertainty, long wait times, and lack of customer support often associated with boutique instruments. The PBG shop is run by master luthier and head engineer Gene Baker and production manager Gil Vasquez who have over 30 years of combined experience and expertise in the guitar-building world.
2010 Summer Gear Road Trip Guide
May 14, 2010
Over the past few years, Premier Guitar has traveled across America documenting some of the coolest places gear is made, played, and displayed in our On Location series of videos—we’ve even made a stop in Germany. Now that the summer travel season is upon us, we’ve compiled your guide to these gear destinations to help you plan a guitar-ific vacation.
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Gibson Custom Memphis-ES Series: Neck,PLEK machine
March 19, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in Memphis, TN, where he visits
the Gibson Custom Memphis factory. The Gibson Custom Memphis factory
builds all the ES hollow- and semi-hollow bodied guitars, the white Les
Paul and the Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck. In this segment, we get to
check out how the neck is set, the procedure behind preparing the
fretboard, the execution of the PLEK machine, the way they paint and
finish each guitar and how they install and setup the hardware and
electronics.
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Gibson Custom Memphis-ES Series: Final Inspection
March 19, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in Memphis, TN, where he visits
the Gibson Custom Memphis factory. The Gibson Custom Memphis factory
builds all the ES hollow- and semi-hollow bodied guitars, the white Les
Paul and the Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck. In this segment, we get to
see the final inspection process. Here, we get to see how the
technician checks fret height, action, hardware setup and makes sure
the guitar plays, sounds and reacts as it should by playing the
"Gibson" song.
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Gibson Custom Memphis-ES Series: Constructing Body
March 19, 2010
PG's Joe Coffey is On Location in Memphis, TN, where he visits the Gibson Custom Memphis factory. The Gibson Custom Memphis factory builds all the ES hollow- and semi-hollow bodied guitars, the white Les Paul and the Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck. In this segment, we get to check out how the ES Series guitars are built. Here, we get to see how the wood is cut, pressed, sanded, bound and eventually put together.
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Hughes & Kettner - How To Test an Amp
March 5, 2010
PG's On Location in St. Wendel, Germany, where they visit the
Hughes & Kettner factory. In this video segment, we get to check
out the countless tests, trials and evaluations each amp must go
through before receiving the final approval. Here, Hughes & Kettner
show us several ways they test the amp, the chassis, the sound quality,
the tubs, general functions and the "tone" test.
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Hughes & Kettner - Inside the Factory
March 5, 2010
PG's On Location in St. Wendel, Germany, where they visit the
Hughes & Kettner factory. In this segment, we get to check out how
each amp is designed, constructed and eventually tested. In addition,
we get to see how Hughes & Kettner tests their tubes before they
are biased.
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Hughes & Kettner and HK Audio: Building Cabs
March 5, 2010
PG's On Location in St. Wendel, Germany, where they visit the
Hughes & Kettner and HK Audio factories. In this segment, we get an
up close and personal tour of the factories that builds both Hughes
& Kettner cabs and HK Audio PAs and wedges. As shown through the
video, both companies are diligent on quality, craftsmanship and making
sure each product is ready to go with numerous trials and tests.
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