Hollywood, CA (January 20, 2017) -- Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announces the launch of its 2017 Fender Limited Edition Exotic Collection at Winter NAMM 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Alongside the release of Fenderās 2017 American Professional series of guitars and basses, the Exotic Collection includes expanded offerings for some of Fenderās most-popular electric instruments: American Professional, American Elite, and American Vintage models ā all built with a variety of unique woods such as rescued mahogany, shedua, Malaysian blackwood and reclaimed pine.
The American Vintage, American Elite, and American Professional series are reflections of Fenderās 70 years of knowledge, craftsmanship, and experience creating iconic instruments. The Limited Edition Exotic Collection features fresh iterations of the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, and Jazz bass models using rare and exotic woods for a unique look and tone. Committed players get the exceptional sonic and aesthetic qualities of extraordinary tonewoods, plus great features from the American Vintage, American Elite, and the new American Professional series, which pairs Fenderās iconic models with new modern, player-centric features designed for artists across all musical genres.
Highlights of the 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection include the 2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster, which balances the traditional Strat sound with the rich-toned okoume body and shedua top; the 2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster 90 featuring an elegant Malaysian blackwood top; as well as the 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass FMT with an eye-catching figured-maple top.
In the true spirit of Fenderās early years and the original prototype instruments fashioned from pine, the company has come full circle with three new pine models: the Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster, Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster, and Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster. These limited edition pine guitars contain body wood that dates back more than 100 years when it was part of the Buckstaff Furniture Companyās facility in Oshkosh, WI and later reclaimed, cooked, and transformed into an instrument. All three models come with a limited edition neck plate with a laser-engraved Fender logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
A departure from Fenderās traditional tone wood choices, the Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster, Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline and Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker juxtapose traditional sounds with the rich tone and warm look of mahogany. All models include a limited edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
āThe 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection is the perfect way to build on the success of our American Professional, American Elite, and American Vintage guitars,ā said Justin Norvell, Vice President Electric Guitars, Basses, and Accessories. āThese unique instruments are tailored to players looking for a distinct tone quality and look.ā
NEW 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection: Launching monthly beginning April 2017
2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster 90 ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster enhances the traditional Telecaster style with the elegant look of a Malaysian blackwood top. The new limited-edition guitar features two JP-90 single-coil pickups and is topped by 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard that is ideal for most playing styles. Other highlights of the model include a custom string-through-body short-plate Tele bridge that features compensated brass saddles, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster tempers the traditional Strat sound with the rich tone and warm look of an okoume body with a shedua top. The limited-edition model features three of Fenderās brand-new V-Mod single-coil pickups, a new treble-bleed tone circuit and a new modern āDeep Cā-shaped neck profile that feels just right in the playerās hand. The limited-edition guitar also includes narrow-tall frets, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass FMT ā $1,999.99
The new 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass combines modern features with a stunning figured maple top to create an instrument that looks as beautiful as it sounds. The new model features brand-new V-Mod single-coil Jazz Bass pickups, a slim āModern Cā-shaped neck and 20 narrow-tall frets that provide comfortable playing feel and perfect intonation. Other features include a four-saddle HiMass Vintage string-through-body bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
A departure from Fenderās traditional tone wood choices, the 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster tempers the traditional Strat sound with the rich tone and warm look of mahogany. The new limited model features three of Fenderās brand-new V-Mod single-coil pickups, a new treble-bleed tone circuit and new modern āDeep Cā-shaped neck profile and narrow-tall frets. Other features include a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline ā $1,999.99
The new 2017 Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline tempers the traditional Telecaster bite with the rich sound and warm look of mahogany. The model features a single 4th Gen Noiseless single-coil Telecaster bridge pickup and a fat-sounding ShawBucker Special Wind humbucking neck pickup (coil-splittable via the S-1 switch) for noise-free, high-output tone. The Elite Suspension Bridge is a unique design with a screwless mount that increases the vibration transfer, driving the top for nearly endless sustain and lively response. The new model also features a compound-profile neck that sports a 9.5ā-14ā compound-radius maple fretboard, 22 medium jumbo frets, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker tempers the traditional Tele bite with rich sound and the warm look of mahogany. The new model features a pair of fat-sounding ShawBucker humbucking pickups, 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard that is ideal for most playing styles. The new model also features a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
Fenderās original prototype instruments were fashioned from pine and now, with the 2017 Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster, the company has come full circle. The new limited model features three American Vintage ā59 single-coil Strat pickups, 21 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard that is ideal for most playing styles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster contains body wood that began its functional life over 100 years ago as part of the Buckstaff Furniture Companyās facility in Oshkosh, WI before it was reclaimed, cooked, and fashioned into an instrument. The new limited-edition model also features a single American Vintage ā64 Gray-bottom single-coil Tele pickup, a Lollar Charlie Christian single-coil neck pickup, 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard. The new model also features a three-saddle string-through-body Tele bridge that features compensated brass saddles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster ā $1,999.99
The new Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster is truly unique, thanks to its grain, knotholes, and man-made imperfections. Features in the new limited-edition model include a pair of V-Mod single-coil Jazzmaster pickups, 22 narrow-tall frets, a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard and an improved tremolo and bridge that incorporate a screw-in arm and brass Mustang saddles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
For more information:
Fender
Cort Essence Series ES-GA4 Grand Auditorium Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar, Natural Semi Gloss (GA4NSG)
Epiphone Slash J-45 Acoustic Guitar - November Burst
The classic J-45 has been the choice of legendary musicians ever since it was first introduced in 1942. Known as The Workhorse, it is Gibson's most famous and most popular acoustic guitar model. Now Epiphone has released a new Inspired by Gibson"' J-45"' with all of the features players want, including all solid wood construction, a comfortable rounded C neck profile, 20 medium jumbo frets, the 60s style Kalamazoo headstock shape and a gorgeous Aged Vintage Sunburst finish. The FishmanĀ® Sonicore under-saddle pickup and Sonitone preamp make this Workhorse stage-ready too. Optional hardshell or Epilite"' case available separately. A battery is not included. To power your pickup, you will need a 9-volt battery.
Gold Tone The Bell Acoustic-electric Guitar - Natural
Gold Toneās Festival Series: The Bell stands out by blending classic craftsmanship with stage-ready versatility. Its all-solid wood constructionāfeaturing a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sidesāproduces a rich, balanced tone that shines in any setting. The slope-shoulder design offers both comfort and clarity, perfect for fingerstyle or strumming. With a slim "D" neck, Fishman electronics, Grover tuners, and DāAddario strings, The Bell is crafted for players who demand tone, playability, and reliable performanceāon stage or in the studio.
The Gibson EH-185, introduced in 1939, was one of the companyās first electric guitars.
Itās hard to overstate the importance of electric guitar in shaping American popular music over the last half-century. Its introduction was a revolution, changing the course of modern musical styles. Today, when we think of the guitars that started the revolution, we think of the Stratocaster and the Les Paul, guitars held against the body and fretted with the fingertips. But the real spark of this musical mutiny was the lap-steel guitar.
In the early 20th century, guitar music was moving out of the parlors of homes and into public spaces where folks could gather together and dance. Guitarists needed to project their sound far beyond where their wimpy little acoustic instruments could reach. Instrument manufacturers began experimenting with larger body sizes, metal construction, and resonators to increase volume.
Around this time, George Beauchamp began experimenting with electric guitar amplification. He settled on a design using two U-shaped magnets and a single coil of wire. Beauchamp was in business with Adolph Rickenbacker, and they decided to stick this new invention into a lap steel.
If we put on our 1930s glasses, this decision makes perfect sense. The most popular music at the time was a blend of Hawaiian and jazz styles made famous by virtuosos like Solomon āSolā HoŹ»opiŹ»i. Photos of HoŹ»opiŹ»i with a metal-body resonator aboundāone can imagine his relief at being handed an instrument that projected sound toward the audience via an amplifier, rather than back at his own head via resonator cones. Beauchamp and Rickenbacker were simply following the market.
As it turned out, the popularity of Hawaiian music gave way to swing, and electric lap steels didnāt exactly take the world by storm. But Beauchamp and Rickenbacker had proven the viability of this new technology, and other manufacturers followed suit. In 1937, Gibson created a pickup with magnets under the strings, rather than above like Beauchampās.
āWhen I plugged in the EH-185 I expected to hear something reminiscent of Charlie Christianās smooth, clean tone. But what I got was meatierācloser to what I associate with P-90s: warm and midrange-y.ā
The first page of Gibsonās āElectrical Instrumentsā section in the 1939 catalog features a glowing, full-page write-up of their top-of-the-line lap steel: the EH-185. āEverything about this new electric Hawaiian Guitar smacks of good showmanship,ā effuses the copy. āIt has smoothness, great sustaining power, and an easy flow of tone that builds up strongly and does not die out.ā
Picking up the 1940 EH-185 at Fannyās House of Music is about as close as one can get to traveling back in time to try a new one. It is just so clean, with barely any dings or even finish checking. Overall, this is a 9/10 piece, and itās a joy to behold. Speaking of picking it up, the first thing you notice when you lift the EH-185 out of the case is its weight. This is a much heavier instrument than other similar-sized lap steels, owing to a length of thick metal between the body and the fretboard. The catalog calls it āHyblum metal,ā which may be a flowery trade name for an early aluminum alloy.
This 1940 EH-185 is heavier than other lap steels in its class, thanks to a length of metal between its fretboard and body.
Photo by Madison Thorn
There are numerous other fancy appointments on the EH-185 that Gibson didnāt offer on their lesser models. Itās made of highly figured maple, with diamond-shaped decorations on the back of the body and neck. The double binding is nearly a centimeter thick and gives the instrument a luxurious, expensive look.
Behind all these high-end attributes is a great-sounding guitar, thanks to that old pickup. Itās got three blades protruding through the bobbin for the unwound strings and one longer blade for the wound strings. When I plugged in the EH-185 I expected to hear something reminiscent of Charlie Christianās smooth, clean tone. But what I got was meatierācloser to what I associate with P-90s: warm and midrange-y. It was just crying out for a little crunch and a bluesy touch. Itās kind of cool how such a pristine, high-end vintage instrument can be so well-suited for a sound thatās rough around the edges.
As far as electric guitars go, it doesnāt get much more vintage than this 1940 Gibson EH-185 Lap Steel. It reminds us of where the story of the electric guitar truly began. This EH-185 isnāt just a relicāitās a testament to when the future of music was unfolding in real time. Plug it in, and you become part of the revolution.
Sources: Smithsonian, Vintage Guitar, Mozart Project, Gibson Pre-War, WIRED, Steel Guitar Forum, Vintaxe
