The newly launched models include the '87 Series, and signature axes from Nergal of Behemoth, Javier Reyes, and Stephen Carpenter.
North Hollywood, CA (January 8, 2020) -- ESP Guitars has posted the third and final phase of their “New for 2020” product collection on their web site at espguitars.com.
A new series of instruments called the ’87 Series has been debuted. The guitars and basses, which will only be produced for the calendar year of 2020, are faithful recreations of ESP’s offerings in 1987 when their instruments grabbed the attention of players around the world. The ’87 Series includes the LTD Eclipse '87, a guitar based on the TE shape unlike the current single-cutaway Eclipse. It comes in Black and Pearl White, and includes a Floyd Rose locking tremolo. The LTD Eclipse ’87 NT, available in Black and White, has a TonePros locking TOM bridge and tailpiece. Both models offer neck-thru-body construction and a set of Seymour Duncan ’59 (neck) and JB (bridge) pickup set (with original style bobbins and a push-pull control to split the coils). The LTD M-1 Custom ’87 is based on the legendary original ESP M-1 model, and offers neck-thru body construction with a three-piece extra thin U-shaped maple neck. It features a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge and a single Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 pickup with a push-pull control for coil splitting, and an EMG PA-2 boost switch for when you need that extra push of raw power, and is available in Black, Dark Metallic Blue, and Candy Apple Red finishes. The LTD Mirage Deluxe '87 is a bolt-on guitar with an alder body and three-piece extra thin U-shaped maple neck being made available in Pearl Pink and Turquoise finishes. These guitars feature a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge and a pickup set that includes a Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 (with original style bobbins and a push-pull control to split the coils) in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail single coil in the neck position. The LTD Surveryor ’87 is a classic bolt-on bass at 34” scale, and features top-tier components including a Gotoh 201-B4 bridge and a Seymour Duncan Vintage P/Vintage Jazz pickup set. It’s available in Black and Pearl White finishes.
ESP has also announced new and updated editions to its well known Signature Series. The LTD NS-6 is the brand new Signature Series guitar from Nergal of Behemoth. Based on the coveted ESP Stream guitar shape, the NS-6 offers a range of tones with a pair of Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker pickups. Available in Black Satin finish, it offers a set-thru design at 25.5” scale with a mahogany body and a three-piece maple neck that features a Macassar ebony fingerboard with an inlaid Behemoth Triumviratus logo, and glow-in-the-dark side markers. The updated Signature Series guitar for Alex Wade of American deathcore band Whitechapel is the LTD AW-7 Baritone, a 7-string guitar at 27” scale that has a swamp ash body with an outstanding Open Grain Black Satin finish. The AW-7 Baritone gets its tone from a set of direct-mount DiMarzio D-Activator 7 pickups, and also features a Hipshot fixed hardtail bridge and LTD locking tuners.
ESP also updated the Signature Series guitars of Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders). The affordable, high-quality LTD JR-208 is an 8-string baritone guitar at 27" scale with a mahogany body, a bolt-on maple neck, ESP Designed LH-308N and LH-308B pickups, and an LTD fixed bridge with string-thru-body. It’s available in Pelham Blue finish with gold hardware. Javier’s neck-thru-body LTD JR-608 model has been updated with a set of his new Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Signature Pickups, with a mini-switch to engage their multiple voicings.
Stephen Carpenter of Deftones, one of ESP’s most longterm artist endorsees, has had two of his Signature Series guitars updated for 2020. The LTD SC-20, celebrating Stef’s 20th anniversary of his first ESP signature model, is now available in Sonic Blue finish. The newest version of the LTD SC-607 Baritone is being made available in a great-looking Purple Satin finish. ESP also announced a solution for musicians who are looking for a more affordable solution for the LTD Signature Series guitar of Brian “Head” Welch of Korn with the LTD SH-207. It offers bolt-on construction with a comfortable and fast extra thin U-shaped three-piece maple neck. The SH-207’s sound is powered by a set of high-output ESP Designed LH-307 pickups.
ESP also debuted several more guitars in their “Phase III” announcement. These include the Phoenix Black Metal, which offers the styling theme from the other Black Metal models — all-black finish, components, and hardware, a single premium-quality pickup, Macassar ebony fingerboards with no inlays and glow-in-the-dark side markers — in the stylish Phoenix body shape. It offers neck-thru-body construction using a three-piece maple neck and mahogany body wings, and a single Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker pickup that offers a push-pull control to select voicings. More additions to the LTD Deluxe “1000 Series” include the LTD Deluxe EC-1000 in Black Natural Burst, a guitar with a burled poplar top on a mahogany body with a three-piece mahogany neck and Macassar ebony fingerboard, and Seymour Duncan Sentient (neck) and Pegasus (bridge) passive pickups. The LTD Deluxe M-1007 is a 7-0string model with neck-thru-body design, and offers a pair of Fishman Fluence Modern Humbuckers, with a push-pull control to activate the second voicing. The LTD Deluxe Viper-1000 EverTune adds the innovative EverTune constant tension bridge to the offset double-horn Viper design for the first time. The Viper-1000 EverTune also includes top-tier components like direct-mount Seymour Duncan Sentient (neck) and Pegasus (bridge) passive pickups, splittable by a push-pull control, and Grover tuners.
While no more previews will be forthcoming, ESP emphasizes that at the NAMM Show, the company will also be debuting a number of Japan-built guitars and basses in the ESP Original Series and ESP Exhibition Series. Detailed specifications and more information on all new models will be available on the ESP web site by the beginning of the 2020 NAMM Show.
For more information:
ESP Guitars
MayFly’s Le Habanero Boost and Fuzz pedal, designed with input from Trevor May and Lucas Haneman, offers a wide range of tonal options from clean to scream. Responsive to player touch and guitar volume, stack the Boost and Fuzz for endless sustain and harmonics. Perfect for exploring your inner David Gilmour.
MayFly’s Trevor May and LH Express’ Lucas Haneman have been cooking upsomething real good. Le Habanero is a dual boost and fuzz pedal specifically designed to be very responsive tothe player’s picking hand and the guitar’s volume control. With Lucas’ input, the pedal was specifically tweakedto give a ton of tonal options, from clean to scream, by just using your fingers. It heats up your tone with a tastyboost, scorching lead tones with the fuzz, tantalizing tastes of extreme heat when boost and fuzz are combined.
The boost side is designed to ride the edge between clean and grit. Keep the drive below 12 o’clock for cleanboost but with active treble and bass controls, or push the gain for clear/clean sustain with great note definition.
The fuzz side is tuned to match the tonality of the boost side and offers a load of sustain and harmonics. The fuzz features a unique two-pole filter circuit and deep switch to help match it with single coils or humbuckers.
Stacking the Boost and Fuzz gives you even more. Want to explore your inner David Gilmour? Switch both onand turn up the volume! Want to switch to Little Wing? Turn the volume back down.
- Combination Boost and Fuzz pedal, designed to work well together.
- Very responsive to guitar volume and player’s touch.
- Use Boost and Fuzz independently, or stack them.
- Boost features Treble, Bass, Volume, and Drive controls.
- Fuzz features a two pole Tone filter, Deep switch, Fuzz and Volume controls.
- Stack them to create endless sustain and plenty of harmonics.
- Wide form factor for better footswitch control live.
- Full bypass using relays, with Mayfly’s Failsafe circuitry.
- Suggested Pairing: add a dash of Le Habanaro to spice up a MayFly Sunrise guitar amp simulator!
MAP price: $185
For more information, please visit mayflyaudio.com.
Introducing: the Mayfly Le Habanero!! - YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.Darkglass introduces the Luminal Booster Ultra for bass guitar, combining the Harmonic Booster with adjustable frequency range parallel compression, 6-band EQ, gain reduction meter, and 7 custom Impulse Responses. With versatile controls, including a +/- 20dB BOOST and CHARACTER selection, this pedal offers precision and unmatched tonal control for bass players.
Darkglass introduces the Luminal Booster Ultra for bass guitar. The Luminal Booster Ultra combines the rich tone of Darkglass’ Harmonic Booster with the unmatched control of an adjustable frequency range parallel compression, 6-band EQ, gain reduction meter, and the choice to load seven custom Impulse Responses via USB.
The layout of the pedal is straight forward. Across the top, from left to right, is an adjustable lowpass FILTER knob for the compressed signal, a COMP knob to adjust the amount of compression applied, a BLEND knob to blend between the clean and compressed signal, and LEVEL knob to adjust the level of the compressor after the blend control. Added controls include a +/- 20dB BOOST, a CHARACTER control to allow selection between seven Impulse Responses, a MID GAIN +/- 20dB, and MID FREQUENCY from 250Hz to 2.5kHz.
The 6-band EQ uses faders for precision control. The bass Low shelf is +/- 13dB at 80Hz, the mid bands are +/- 13dB at 250Hz, 500Hz, 1.5kHz, and 3kHz. The treble is a high shelf of +/- 13dB at 5 kHz. The EQ is flanked by a MASTER fader of +/- 12dB to set the overall volume of the unit.
Input and outputs provide a player with maximum versatility. Traditional ¼” input and outputs are complimented by and 3.5mm AUX IN for practicing with backing tracks via a smartphone or laptop, a stereo headphone out, a balanced XLR direct out, USB C to connect to PC/Mac to utilizing the desktop version of the Darkglass Suite of available Impulses Responses or custom / third party impulses, and a 9V DC adapter input. A ground lift and Cab Sim round out the feature of the unit.
"This marks our entry into new sonic territories, in our search to connect with jazz and clean-tone bass players on a deeper level,” says Marcos Barilatti, Managing Director of Darkglass Electronics. “With the Luminal Booster Ultra, we've created the ultimate tool for bass players across all genres, delivering precision, versatility, and unmatched tonal control.”
Street Price is $499
For more information, please visit darkglass.com.
Focusrite announces the expansion of the Scarlett audio interface range with the 4th Gen 16i16, 18i16, and 18i20 models.
Scarlett’s fourth generation introduced several major advances that build on Focusrite’s legacy in professional audio: best-in-class audio specifications, enhanced creative capability, powerful workflow tools, and more. The three new interfaces add more analogue inputs and outputs, front-panel monitor switching and mute control, S/PDIF and ADAT connectivity, additional headphone outputs, and a built-in talkback mic on Scarlett 18i20.
Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen 16i16, 18i16, and 18i20 now feature:
- Huge 122dB dynamic range, using the flagship RedNet range converters – found in the world’s best studios.
- All-new, remote-controlled preamps with 69dB of gain for studio sound from any mic.
- Pair Focusrite Control 2 for desktop with Focusrite’s new mobile app; enjoy full wireless control over inputs and monitoring mixes, allowing the adjustment of settings without being tethered by cables.
- Re-engineered Air mode with Presence, and all-new Harmonic Drive, adding rich harmonics to recordings by emulating the characteristics of vintage preamps.
- New Auto Gain and Clip Safe modes can handle up to eight microphones at a time, making session setup simple, and ensuring every take is a keeper.
- Brand-new Custom-designed headphone amps for the best playback ever heard from Scarlett.
- Redesigned Dynamic Gain Halos now with output as well as input metering.
- Professional studio features included: A/B speaker switching, built-in talkback mic on 18i20, and more.
- MIDI in /out plus S/PDIF, and ADAT in/out.
- Refreshed Easy Start tool, making it easier than ever to get set up and recording in minutes.
- Includes Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools Artist 3 months, and FL Studio Producer Edition 6 months.
- Huge bundle of plug-in instruments and effects; including Antares Auto-Tune, Marshall Amp Modelling, synths, keys, drums, EQ, compression, reverb, and more.
Three new Scarlett interfaces
Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen, an update to the flagship 3rd Gen model, is a rack-mountable USB audio interface featuring 18 inputs, including eight advanced fourth-generation Scarlett preamps, and 20 outputs. 18i20 not only has an impressive amount of analogue and digital I/O, but also features additional workflow enhancements that make it a perfect fit for even the most complex project studios: a built-in talkback mic; A/B speaker switching for instant referencing on different monitors; and eight channels of LED bar metering, assignable to inputs or outputs as well as master output metering.
Scarlett 18i16 is a desktop-format USB audio interface with 18 inputs, including four 4th Gen Scarlett preamps and 16 outputs. Ideal for multitrack recording and designed for producers, 18i16 is the industry-leading interface for project studios. It makes an ideal hub to integrate hardware with a DAW, providing enough analogue and digital I/O to connect a huge number of external instruments, processors, and effects. Plus, manage complex routing with ease via the included Focusrite Control 2 software for desktop and mobile devices.
Scarlett 16i16 is a desktop-format USB audio interface which shares the same feature set as 18i16 but is slightly more compact, with 16
Scarlett 4th Gen
A giant leap for the world’s most popular audio interface range, Scarlett’s fourth generation debuted in 2023 with the Solo, 2i2, 4i4, Solo Studio, and 2i2 Studio.
All Scarlett 4th Gen interfaces feature re-engineered audio circuitry and professional-grade converters (taken directly from Focusrite's flagship RedNet interfaces), which deliver up to 122dB dynamic range. With up to 69dB of mic preamp gain on tap, they are designed to get the very best sound from any microphone. Custom-designed headphone amps with independent volume controls drive high-impedance headphones louder and with more clarity than any previous Scarlett.
Scarlett’s 4th Gen mic preamps feature a re-engineered Air mode, based on the sound of legendary Focusrite consoles. Each one now includes a selectable all-analogue Presence mode, and a new DSP-based Harmonic Drive mode for added richness.
The range also introduced two new features designed to ensure artists and producers never miss a perfect take: Auto Gain analyses ten seconds of incoming audio before setting set the perfect level, while Clip Safe automatically readjusts it to prevent clipping. These tools help artists record themselves easily and let experienced engineers quickly set multiple gains in high-pressure environments.
The included Focusrite Control 2 software takes care of setting up routing, levels, monitoring mixes, independent outputs, and routing options. In addition to the desktop application, the iOS and Android Focusrite Control 2 apps enables engineers and performers to adjust monitor mixes and mic preamp gains while away from the computer.
To help users get up and running with Scarlett in record time, Focusrite has developed an Easy Start tool that quickly guides from initial connection to their first recordings.
All Scarletts come with Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist recording software, and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition. Also included is a curated selection of essential production software from Focusrite, Softube, Native Instruments, Antares, and many more. In addition, there are five free masters from Landr that can be used at any time, plus a two-month subscription to Landr Studio, offering unlimited music distribution on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and TikTok.
These interfaces will be available beginning mid-October 2024 with U.S. pricing as follows:
USD (excluding tax)
Scarlett 18i20: $649.99
Scarlett 18i16: $499.99
Scarlett 16i16: $369.99
For more information, please visit us.focusrite.com.
Focusrite Scarlett 18i16 Fourth Generation USB Audio Interface
Scarlett 18i16 4th GenIn this episode, Nick Millevoi and Jason Shadrick dig deep into the work of Jazzmaster-master Nels Cline—best known for his brain-melting work with Wilco. They get into what makes Cline’s sound so unmistakable, from his obsession with the Jazzmaster to his pedalboard that could double as a small spaceship, as well as his ability to draw from an extremely wide range of influences.
But Nels Cline isn’t just Wilco’s lead guitarist (a chair he’s held for two decades)—he’s created his own musical universe. The hosts take you on a whirlwind tour of his wild discography, including the Nels Cline Singers’ Instrumentals as well as his never-ending list of collaborations (we’re starting to suspect he’s cloned himself to pull it all off). And then there’s “Impossible Germany”—one of the greatest rock guitar solos on this century.
Nick and Jason can’t stop raving about how Cline’s magic really shines when he’s playing with others, making him not just a guitar hero but the ultimate team player. One minute, he’s shredding like a beast, next he’s creating sonic explosions, and then he’s pulling on your heartstrings. You’ll be leaving this episode with some homework!