New models include the Postmodern series, 1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass, American Custom series, and more.
Scottsdale, AZ (January 22, 2015) -- The Fender Custom Shop is proud to announce the 2015 Collection for the 2015 NAMM Show.
2015 Limited Edition Tele Caballo Tono (Tone Horse Tele)
The 2015 Limited Edition Tele Caballo Tono presents a fresh take on Fenderās original workhorse tone machine. Its name translates to āTone Horse Tele,ā and there is indeed a great deal of horsepower here, courtesy of a TV Jones Classic neck pickup, a hand-wound Texas Tele bridge pickup and a Greasebucket⢠tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain. Itās a dark horse too, with a Black lacquer finish on its lightweight alder body and the aged-and-worn Relic treatment to impart the look of authentic wear and tear.
Other premium features include a quartersawn AAA flame maple neck with a highly worn heavy-Relic treatment, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, distinctive Cabronita pickguard and reverse control plate (pickup switch placed behind control knobs), rock-solid Custom Shop RSD bridge, Sperzel tuning machines with pearl buttons, and Schaller strap locks. Black LTD case included.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Stratocaster
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Stratocaster takes you straight back to the instrumentās original era, with a lightweight ash body in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic finishes that evoke years of hard-fought wear and tear. The sparkling trio of hand-wound ā55 single-coil Stratocaster pickups is mounted on a single-ply eight-hole white pickguard, with five-way switching for modern tonal versatility.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, rock-solid American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, American Vintage tuning machines and a Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Esquire
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Esquire is a peerlessly crafted take on the single-pickup classic that preceded even the Telecaster in Fender history. Everything about the instrument takes you back to that original era, with a lightweight ash body in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic body finishes that evoke long years of wear and tear. Authentic Esquire snap comes from its hand-wound ā55 Telecaster single-coil bridge pickup with staggered/beveled polepieces, and, in a special touch, the guitar comes with a neck pickup conversion kit containing a ā55 Telecaster single-coil neck pickup, pickguard and control assembly should you prefer dual-pickup tone and performance.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with āsoft Vā profile and highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-way tone/pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, single-ply five-hole white pickguard, ā55 Telecaster bridge with ¼ā steel saddles, American Vintage tuning machines and a Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Precision Bass
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Precision Bass gives you a magnificently crafted original-era version of the bass that started it all. Its lightweight ash body is sculpted with comfortable body and forearm contours, and comes in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic body finishes that evoke the wear and aging of decades of frequent use (and occasional abuse). Its muscular blunt-force tone comes from a hand-wound ā55 Precision Bass single-coil pickup with a classic chrome cover.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 7.25ā-radius maple fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets, single-ply seven-hole white pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with chrome cover, American Vintage tuning machines and Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 American Custom Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Telecaster takes a double-bound early-ā60s classic and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Black and Faded Lake Placid Blue finishes with parchment top and back body binding and an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Scorching Telecaster snap comes from a pair of hand-wired Twisted Tele single-coil pickups and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, three-ply eight-hole parchment pickguard, custom deluxe Telecaster bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Telecaster FM
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Telecaster FM takes a double-bound early-ā60s classic and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight ash body has a gorgeous two-piece book-matched AAA flame maple top, with parchment top and back body binding. The guitar comes in elegant Violin Burst or Honey Burst finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Scorching Telecaster snap comes from a pair of hand-wired Twisted Tele single-coil pickups and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, three-ply eight-hole parchment pickguard, custom deluxe Telecaster bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Stratocaster takes the quintessential Fender electric guitar and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight alder body is sculpted with deep ā57-style contours for remarkable playing comfort, and comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black and Shoreline Gold finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Singing Strat sparkle comes from hand-wired ā69 Stratocaster single-coil neck and middle pickups (middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity) and a hand-wired Texas Special single-coil bridge pickup.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile and ā57-style small headstock; fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with rolled edges, bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets; five-way pickup switch; three-ply 11-hole parchment pickguard with countersunk pickup- and switch-mounting holes; vintage white control knobs and switch tip; custom deluxe tremolo bridge; and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Stratocaster FM
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Stratocaster FM takes the quintessential Fender electric guitar and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight ash body is sculpted with deep ā57-style contours for remarkable playing comfort, with a gorgeous two-piece book-matched AAA flame maple top. The guitar comes in Violin Burst and Honey Burst finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Singing Strat sparkle comes from hand-wired ā69 Stratocaster single-coil neck and middle pickups (middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity) and a hand-wired Texas Special⢠single-coil bridge pickup.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile and ā57-style small headstock, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, five-way pickup switch, three-ply 11-hole parchment pickguard with countersunk pickup- and switch-mounting holes, vintage white control knobs and switch tip; custom deluxe tremolo bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Stratocaster
The 2015 Postmodern Stratocaster is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary take on a time-honored classic, it has a lightweight ash body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āCā profile, a fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) āround-laminatedā maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, and three sparkling Fat ā60s single-coil pickups with modern five-way switching and a special āTone-Saverā treble-bleed network that keeps tone consistent at any volume (no loss of highs when decreasing volume).
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard, American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, staggered tuning machines (no string tree), Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Black, Olympic White, Dakota Red and Three-Color-Sunburst NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Telecaster
The 2015 Postmodern Telecaster is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary take on a time-honored classic, it has a lightweight ash body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āCā profile, a fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) āround-laminatedā maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, and dual Twisted Tele pickups with three-way switching and Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard, Custom Shop RSD bridge, American Vintage tuning machines, Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Black, Dakota Red and Aged White Blonde NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Precision Jazz Bass
The 2015 Postmodern Precision Jazz Bass is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary combination of Fenderās two most time-honored basses, it has a lightweight alder Precision Bass body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple Jazz Bass neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āUā profile, a 7.25ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets, and a seismic ā63 Precision bass split single-coil pickup with a vintage-style chrome cover.
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard (three-ply tortoiseshell pickguard on Three-Color Sunburst model), Custom Shop string-through-body RSD bridge, American Deluxe tuning machines and āStealthā A-string retainer, Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Olympic White, Dakota Red and Three-Color Sunburst NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass
The Custom Shop 1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass takes you straight back to the original era of the bass that started it all. Its two-piece ash body comes in Vintage Blonde or Faded Three-Color Sunburst āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, which impart the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. The quartersawn maple neck has a carefully sculpted ā60s āoval Cā profile and a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, topped by a 7.25ā-radius rosewood fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.
Other premium features include a ā59-ā62 Precision Bass split single-coil pickup with chrome cover, gold anodized aluminum pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with chrome cover, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1960 Journeyman Relic Jazz Bass
The Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Jazz Bass transports you to the debut year of Fenderās most popular bass guitar model. Its two-piece alder body comes in Aged Olympic White or Three-Color Sunburst āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, which impart the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. The quartersawn maple neck has a carefully sculpted ā60s āUā profile and a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, topped by a 7.25ā-radius rosewood āslabā fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.
The two single-coil Jazz Bass pickups are designed for era-specific authenticity, with chrome covers and, in a special period-correct touch, dual āstackedā concentric control knobs (volume and tone for each pickup). Other premium features include a four-ply tortoiseshell pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with āFā logo chrome cover, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1970 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1970 Relic Stratocaster delivers the authentic style and sound of the era when the Strat ascended to world dominance on the charts and concert stages everywhere. Features include an alder body, quartersawn maple neck with 1969 āUā profile and large headstock, 9.5ā-radius maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three Fat ā60s single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with five-way switching, three-ply parchment pickguard, vintage white control knobs and an American Vintage bridge. Available in Black, Lake Placid Blue, Three-Color Sunburst and Olympic White (maple fingerboard model only) worn Relic finishes. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
1960 Relic Telecaster Custom
The Fender Custom Shop 1960 Relic Telecaster Custom is a sight and sound to behold, with an alder body dressed in a gorgeous Three-Color Chocolate Sunburst Relic finish with Dark Plum sides, and the elegant top and back binding that is the early-ā60s hallmark of the instrument. Pure Telecaster snap and sparkle comes from a pair of hand-wound Twisted Tele pickups, and the quartersawn maple neck is sculpted with a comfortable early-ā60s āoval Cā profile.
Other premium features include a 9.5ā-radius rosewood āslabā fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with aged white ātop hatā tip, three-ply mint green pickguard, American Vintage Telecaster bridge with threaded saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1957 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1957 Relic Stratocaster takes you straight back to the pivotal year when the instrument was largely perfected into the form known worldwide today. Its deep-contoured alder body comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black and HLE Gold lacquer Relic finishes, while an ash-body model is available in a White Blonde lacquer Relic finish. Sparkling tone comes from three hand-wound ā50s Stratocaster single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with modern five-way switching.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a ā57 āsoft Vā profile and small headstock, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, single-ply parchment pickguard, vintage white control knobs, American Vintage bridge, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes hard-shell tweed case with gold interior.
1963 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Stratocaster takes you back to a pivotal period in the instrumentās history, when surf music was riding high and the Strat underwent some notable design mods. Its deep-contoured alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red and Olympic White lacquer Relic finishes. Sparkling tone comes from three hand-wound ā60s Stratocaster single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with modern five-way switching.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a comfortable ā60s āoval Cā profile and small headstock, 9.5ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-ply mint green pickguard, vintage white control knobs, American Vintage bridge, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
1952 Heavy Relic Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1952 Heavy Relic Telecaster is an authentic evocation of Fenderās first workhorse guitar, along with some upgraded features for modern playability. Its ash body comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black or Nocaster Blonde Heavy Relic lacquer finishes. Time-honored Telecaster snap comes from dual Nocaster pickups with three-way switching and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a maple neck with a Nocaster āUā profile, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, single-ply parchment pickguard (black pickguard on Nocaster Blonde model), ā52 Telecaster bridge with brass saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes hard-shell tweed case with center pocket.
1963 Relic Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Telecaster takes you back to the early years of one of modern musicās most electrifying decades. Its alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Olympic White and Blue Ice Metallic lacquer Relic finishes, with signature Telecaster snap and sparkle coming from dual American Vintage Telecaster pickups with three-way switching and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a comfortable mid-ā60s āoval Cā profile, 9.5ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-ply mint green pickguard, American Vintage Telecaster bridge with threaded saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
For more information:
Fender
Intermediate
Intermediate
How David Gilmour masterully employs target notes to make his solos sing.
When I was an undergraduate jazz performance major struggling to get a handle on bebop improvisation, I remember my professor Dave LaLama admonishing me, āIf you think playing over the fast tunes is hard, wait until you try playing over the ballads. What Dr. Lalama was trying to impart was that playing fast scales over fast changes could get you by, but playing melodically over slow tempos, when your note choices are much more exposed, would really test how well you could create meaningful phrases.
Although getting past the āthis scale works over these chordsā approach to improvisation generally requires hours of shedding, aiming for particular target notes (specific notes over specific chords) is an optimum strategy to maximize your practice time. In the realm of rock guitar, I can think of no greater master of the melodic target note technique while playing ballads than David Gilmour.
For the unfamiliar few, Gilmour was first enlisted by fledgling psychedelic rockers Pink Floyd in 1967, when original guitarist/vocalist Syd Barrett began having drug-induced struggles with mental health. The band experimented with various artistic approaches for several years before refining them into a cohesive āart rockā sound by the early ā70s. The result was an unbroken streak of classic, genre-defining conceptual albums that included Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. Although bassist/vocalist Roger Waters assumed the role of de facto bandleader and primary songwriter, Gilmour was a significant contributor who was praised for his soulful singing and expertly phrased lead playing that seemed to magically rework pedestrian blues phrases into sublimely evocative melodies. His focus on musicality over excessive displays of technique made him a musicianās musician of sorts and earned him a stellar reputation in guitar circles. When Roger Waters left Pink Floyd in the mid ā80s, Gilmour surprised many by calmly assuming the leadership mantle, leading the band through another decade of chart-topping albums and stadium tours. Although Pink Floyd are not officially broken up (keyboardist and founding member Richard Wright died in 2008 while Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason joined forces with Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk on the one-off single āHey Hey Rise Upā in 2022), Gilmour has mostly spent the last few decades concentrating on his solo career. His latest release, Luck and Strange, features his wife, novelist Polly Sampson, as primary lyricist and daughter Romany Gilmour as vocalist on several tracks. His recent tour filled arenas around the world.
Letās take a page from Gilmourās hallowed playbook and see how incorporating a few well-chosen target notes can give our playing more melody and structure.
For the sake of simplicity, all the examples use the Gm/Bb major pentatonic scale forms. In my experience as a teacher, I find that most students can get a pretty solid handle on the root-position, Form-I minor pentatonic scale but struggle to incorporate the other four shapes while playing lead. One suggestion I give them is to work on playing the scales from the top notes down and focus on the four highest strings only. I believe this is a more logical and useful approach to incorporating these forms into your vocabulary. Try playing through Ex. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3, and Ex. 4, which are based on the top-down approach of the Form I, Form II, Form IV, and Form I (up an octave) shapes respectively.
Ex. 1
Ex. 2
Ex. 3
Ex. 4
Once youāve gotten a handle on the scales, try playing Ex. 5, which is loosely based on the extended introduction to Pink Floydās āShine On You Crazy Diamond.ā We begin by soloing over a static Gm chord for four measures. As target notes, Iāve chosen the root and 5th of the G minor chord ( the notes G and D, respectively). In the first measure, weāre starting in a minor pentatonic Form I with a bend up to the root of the Gm chord. A flurry of notes on beat 4 sets us up for the bend to the D in the second measure. The D note is again targeted in measure threeāthis time up an octave via a shift into the minor pentatonic Form II shape. Measure four aims for the G tonic up an octave, but ends with a bend that targets a Cāthe root of the IVm (Cm) chord in the final measure. By focusing on target notes and connecting them with embellishing licks, your lead lines will have a much better sense of direction and melodic narrative. Also, by only targeting the root and 5th of the chord, the target note approach will be easily transferrable to songs in a G blues context (G pentatonic minor over a G major or G dominant tonality).
Ex. 5
A further exploration of this approach, Ex. 6 begins with a two-beat pickup that resolves to the scale tonic G. This time however, the G isnāt serving as the root of the Im chord. Instead, itās the 5th of Cmāthe IVm chord. Employing the root of the pentatonic scale as the fifth of the IVm chord is a textbook Gilmour-ism and you can hear him use it to good effect on the extended intro to āEchoesā from Live in Gdansk. When approaching the C on beat 2 of the second full measure, bend up from the Bb on the 6th fret of the 1st string then slide up to the C on the 8th fret without releasing the bend or picking again. In the final measure, Iāve introduced two Db notes, which serve as the b5 āblue noteā of the scale and provide melodically compelling passing tones on the way to the G target note on beat 4.
Ex. 6
Exclusively positioned in the Form-IV G minor pentatonic shape, Ex. 7 is based on a bluesy lick over the I chord in the first and third measures that alternately targets a resolution to the root of the IV chord (C ) and the root of the V chord (D7#9) in the second and fourth measures. Being able to resolve your lead phrases to the roots of the I, IV, and V chords on the fly is an essential skill ace improvisers like Gilmour have mastered.
Ex. 7
Now letās turn our attention to the Bb major pentatonic scale, which is the relative major of G minor. Play through the Form I and Form II shapes detailed in Ex. 8 and Ex. 9 below. Youāll see Iāve added an Eb to the scale (technically making them hexatonic scales). This allows us a bit more melodic freedom andāmost importantlyāgives us the root note of the IV chord.
Ex. 8
Ex. 9
Channeling the melodic mojo of Gilmourās lead jaunts on Pink Floydās āMotherā and āComfortably Numb,ā Ex. 10 targets chord tones from the I, IV, and V (Bb, Eb, and F) chords.
The muted-string rake in first measure helps āstingā the F note, which is the 5th of the Bb. Measure two targets a G note which is the 3rd of the Eb. This same chord/target note pairing is repeated in the third and fourth measures, although the G is now down an octave. For the F and Eb chords of measures five and six, Iāve mirrored a favorite Gilmour go-to: bending up to the 3rd of a chord then releasing and resolving to the root (an A resolving to an F for the F chord and a G resolving to an Eb for the Eb chord.) The final measure follows a melodic run down the Bb scale that ultimately resolves on the tonic. Be sure to pay attention to the intonation of all your bends, especially the half-step bend on the first beat of measure seven.
As a takeaway from this lesson, letās strive to āBe Like Daveā and pay closer attention to target notes when soloing. Identify the roots of all the chords youāre playing over in your scales and aim for them as the beginning and/or ending notes of your phrases. Think of these target notes as support beams that will provide structure to your lead lines and ultimately make them more melodically compelling.
A live editor and browser for customizing Tone Models and presets.
IK Multimedia is pleased to release the TONEX Editor, a free update for TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE users, available today through the IK Product Manager. This standalone application organizes the hardware library and enables real-time edits to Tone Models and presets with a connected TONEX pedal.
You can access your complete TONEX library, including Tone Models, presets and ToneNET, quickly load favorites to audition, and save to a designated hardware slot on IK hardware pedals. This easy-to-use application simplifies workflow, providing a streamlined experience for preparing TONEX pedals for the stage.
Fine-tune and organize your pedal presets in real time for playing live. Fully compatible with all your previous TONEX library settings and presets. Complete control over all pedal preset parameters, including Global setups. Access all Tone Models/IRs in the hardware memory, computer library, and ToneNET Export/Import entire libraries at once to back up and prepare for gigs Redesigned GUI with adaptive resize saves time and screen space Instantly audition any computer Tone Model or preset through the pedal.
Studio to Stage
Edit any onboard Tone Model or preset while hearing changes instantly through the pedal. Save new settings directly to the pedal, including global setup and performance modes (TONEX ONE), making it easy to fine-tune and customize your sound. The updated editor features a new floating window design for better screen organization and seamless browsing of Tone Models, amps, cabs, custom IRs and VIR. You can directly access Tone Models and IRs stored in the hardware memory and computer library, streamlining workflow.
A straightforward drop-down menu provides quick access to hardware-stored Tone Models conveniently sorted by type and character. Additionally, the editor offers complete control over all key parameters, including FX, Tone Model Amps, Tone Model Cabs/IR/VIR, and tempo and global setup options, delivering comprehensive, real-time control over all settings.
A Seamless Ecosystem of Tones
TONEX Editor automatically syncs with the entire TONEX user library within the Librarian tab. It provides quick access to all Tone Models, presets and ToneNET, with advanced filtering and folder organization for easy navigation. At the same time, a dedicated auto-load button lets you preview any Tone Model or preset in a designated hardware slot before committing changes.This streamlined workflow ensures quick edits, precise adjustments and the ultimate flexibility in sculpting your tone.
Get Started Today
TONEX Editor is included with TONEX 1.9.0, which was released today. Download or update the TONEX Mac/PC software from the IK Product Manager to install it. Then, launch TONEX Editor from your applications folder or Explorer.
For more information and videos about TONEX Editor, TONEX Pedal, TONEX ONE, and TONEX Cab, visit:
www.ikmultimedia.com/tonexeditor
Two Iconic Titans of Rock & Metal Join Forces for a Canāt-Miss North American Trek
Tickets Available Starting Wednesday, April 16 with Artist Presales
General On Sale Begins Friday, April 18 at 10AM Local on LiveNation.com
This fall, shock rock legend Alice Cooper and heavy metal trailblazers Judas Priest will share the stage for an epic co-headlining tour across North America. Produced by Live Nation, the 22-city run kicks off September 16 at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS, and stops in Toronto, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping October 26 at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX.
Coming off the second leg of their Invincible Shield Tour and the release of their celebrated 19th studio album, Judas Priest remains a dominant force in metal. Meanwhile, Alice Cooper, the godfather of theatrical rock, wraps up his "Too Close For Comfort" tour this summer, promoting his most recent "Road" album, and will have an as-yet-unnamed all-new show for this tour. Corrosion of Conformity will join as support on select dates.
Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, April 16 at 10AM local time with Artist Presales. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 18 at 10AM local time at LiveNation.comTOUR DATES:
Tue Sep 16 ā Biloxi, MS ā Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Thu Sep 18 ā Alpharetta, GA ā Ameris Bank Amphitheatre*
Sat Sep 20 ā Charlotte, NC ā PNC Music Pavilion
Sun Sep 21 ā Franklin, TN ā FirstBank Amphitheater
Wed Sep 24 ā Virginia Beach, VA ā Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Fri Sep 26 ā Holmdel, NJ ā PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat Sep 27 ā Saratoga Springs, NY ā Broadview Stage at SPAC
Mon Sep 29 ā Toronto, ON ā Budweiser Stage
Wed Oct 01 ā Burgettstown, PA ā The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thu Oct 02 ā Clarkston, MI ā Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sat Oct 04 ā Cincinnati, OH ā Riverbend Music Center
Sun Oct 05 ā Tinley Park, IL ā Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Fri Oct 10 ā Colorado Springs, CO ā Broadmoor World Arena
Sun Oct 12 ā Salt Lake City, UT ā Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Oct 14 ā Mountain View, CA ā Shoreline Amphitheatre
Wed Oct 15 ā Wheatland, CA ā Toyota Amphitheatre
Sat Oct 18 ā Chula Vista, CA ā North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Oct 19 ā Los Angeles, CA ā Kia Forum
Wed Oct 22 ā Phoenix, AZ ā Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Thu Oct 23 ā Albuquerque, NM ā Isleta Amphitheater
Sat Oct 25 ā Austin, TX ā Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sun Oct 26 ā Houston, TX ā The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
*Without support from Corrosion of Conformity
MT 15 and Archon 50 Classic amplifiers offer fresh tones in release alongside a doubled-in-size Archon cabinet
PRS Guitars today released the updated MT 15 and the new Archon Classic amplifiers, along with a larger Archon speaker cabinet. The 15-watt, two-channel Mark Tremonti signature amp MT 15 now features a lead channel overdrive control. An addition to the Archon series, not a replacement, the 50-watt Classic offers a fresh voice by producing retro rock āclassicā tones reminiscent of sound permeating the radio four and five decades ago. Now twice the size of the first Archon cabinet, the Archon 4x12 boasts four Celestion V-Type speakers.
MT 15 Amplifier Head
Balancing aggression and articulation, this 15-watt amp supplies both heavy rhythms and clear lead tones. The MT 15 revision builds off the design of the MT 100, bringing the voice of the 100ās overdrive channel into its smaller-format sibling. Updating the model, the lead channel also features a push/pull overdrive control that removes two gain stages to produce vintage, crunchier āmid gainā tones. The clean channel still features a push/pull boost control that adds a touch of overdrive crunch. A half-power switch takes the MT to 7 watts.
āSeven years ago, we released my signature MT 15 amplifier, a compact powerhouse that quickly became a go-to for players seeking both pristine cleans and crushing high-gain tones. In 2023, we took things even further with the MT 100, delivering a full-scale amplifier that carried my signature sound to the next level. That inspired us to find a way to fit the 100's third channel into the 15's lunchbox size,ā said Mark Tremonti.
āToday, Iām beyond excited to introduce the next evolution of the MT15, now featuring a push/pull overdrive control on the Lead channel and a half-power switch, giving players even more tonal flexibility to shape their sound with a compact amp. Canāt wait for you all to plug in and experience it!ā
Archon Classic Amplifier Head
With a refined gain structure from the original Archon, the Archon Classicās lead channel offers a wider range of tones colored with gain, especially in the midrange. The clean channel goes from pristine all the way to the edge of breakup. This additional Archon version was developed to be a go-to tool for playing classic rock or pushing the envelope into modern territory. The Archon Classic still features the originalās bright switch, presence and depth controls. PRS continues to stock the Archon in retailers worldwide.
āThe Archon Classic is not a re-issue of the original Archon, but a newly voiced circuit with the lead channel excelling in '70s and '80s rock tones and a hotter clean channel able to go into breakup. This is the answer for those wanting an Archon with a hotrod vintage lead channel gain structure without changing preamp tube types, and a juiced- up clean channel without having to use a boost pedal, all wrapped up in a retro-inspired cabinet design,ā said PRS Amp Designer Doug Sewell.
Archon 4x12 Cabinet
As in the Archon 1x12 and 2x12, the mega-sized PRS Archon 4x12 speaker cabinet features Celestion V-Type speakers and a closed-back design, delivering power, punch, and tight low end. Also like its smaller brethren, the 4x12 is wrapped in durable black vinyl and adorned with a British-style black knitted-weave grill cloth. The Archon 4x12 is only the second four-speaker cabinet in the PRS lineup, next to the HDRX 4x12.
PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025. Stay tuned to see new gear and 40 th Anniversary limited-edition guitars throughout the year. For all of the latest news, click www.prsguitars.com/40 and follow @prsguitars on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, X, and YouTube.