Hollywood, CA (July 9, 2018) -- Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announced the 2018 Fender Custom Shop Mid-Year Collection and Jimmie Vaughan Signature Stratocaster debuting at Summer NAMM in Nashville, Tenn. The collection features four highly-collectible, limited-edition models with various finish options and features – all showcasing the innovative spirit of the legendary Fender Custom Shop and its builders.
The Jimmie Vaughan Signature Stratocaster, priced at $4,800.00, is representative of how Vaughan currently prepares his guitar for stage use. Throughout the design process, the Fender Custom Shop and Vaughan worked together to create new custom hand-wound JLV pickups, JLV modified #2 wiring and carefully selected colors – Aged Olympic White, Wide-Fade 2-Color Sunburst and Aged Aztec Gold. What resulted was a ‘50s-style Strat featuring a select alder body with a lush Closet Classic lacquer finish. The one-piece rift sawn maple neck has a custom “C” back shape with a 9.5-inch radius and 21 Jescar 57110 jumbo frets. A single-ply Eggshell pickguard, Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo and vintage-style tuning machines complete the package.
“We’ve had a Jimmie Vaughan artist signature model in our regular line for many years, but we thought it was time to do one in the Fender Custom Shop with updated and elevated features,” said Mike Lewis, VP, Product Development – Fender Custom Shop. “The Mid-Year Collection is yet another representation of the limitless artistry and craftsmanship arising from the Dream Factory. We’re always inventing and pushing toward innovation at the Fender Custom Shop, and our semi-annual collections are where new ideas and capabilities are born.”
A testament to the Custom Shop’s constant quest for innovation, the 2018 Mid-Year Collection takes roasted wood bodies and necks, Paisley designs and popular Artisan offerings to the next level. Each model pushes the limits of guitar building to spark inspiration for future custom guitars.
2018 Mid-Year Collection Custom-built models making their debut at Summer NAMM, include:
- 2018 LTD Artisan Maple Burl Thinline Tele - $4,850.00
- 2018 Limited Edition ‘51 HS Tele Relic - $4,050.00
- 2018 Limited Edition ‘60 Roasted Strat Heavy Relic - $4,700.00
- 2018 Limited Edition ‘68 Paisley Strat Relic - $4,500.00
2018 Fender Custom Shop Mid-Year Collection:
2018 LTD Artisan Maple Burl Thinline Tele
Elegant exotic figuring and classic Fender tone combine in the Artisan Maple Burl Tele Thinline, a stunning instrument with astounding aesthetic appointments. The rich-sounding two-piece Fiji mahogany body is topped by a 4A Flame Maple Burl top that swirls with texture that’s unique to each guitar. Crafted from 3A Birdseye maple, the “ ‘63 C”-shaped neck is ideal for any playing style, and the 9.5”-radius African blackwood fingerboard sports 21 player-friendly 6105 frets. The hand-wound ‘51 Loaded Nocaster bridge pickup is matched with a hand-wound ‘51 Open Loaded Nocaster neck pickup and Fat ‘50s wiring for fat Fender Tele tone that snarls and sings. Tortoiseshell binding and herringbone purfling on the top complete the package. Other features include 3-way switch, 1-ply Tortoiseshell pickguard, ‘58-‘63 Tele bridge with RSD brass saddles, vintage-style tuning machines with rare Tortoiseshell buttons, bone nut and wing string tree. Offered in Aged Natural, this model includes a strap, deluxe hardshell case and Certificate of Authenticity.
2018 Limited Edition ‘51 HS Tele Relic
Combining authentic Fender feel with a favorite player’s modification, the Limited Edition ‘51 HS Tele Relic adds fat, high output sound to the traditional twang of a Tele. The hand-wound ‘50-‘51 “Crushed” Blackguard single-coil bridge pickup is joined by a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH-55 humbucking neck pickup for a one-two punch of tone. We customized a dual-stack HS Tele wiring to create the perfect sonic balance between the two, incorporating 250k/500k potentiometers on the volume and tone controls to ensure compatibility. The two-piece off-center ash body wears a Relic flashcoat lacquer finish, giving it the look and feel of a well-loved instrument that’s seen many a stage and tour bus. Sporting a dark tinted Relic flashcoat lacquer finish, the riftsawn maple neck sports a “10/56 V”-shaped profile that’s ideal for all playing styles. For ultimate comfort and playability, the Fender Custom Shop topped the neck with a 7.25”-9.5” compound-radius fingerboard and 21 50085 medium-vintage frets. The vintage-style Nocaster bridge features compensated brass saddles for authentic Fender tone and superior intonation. Other features include a 3-way pickup switch, single-ply Black phenolic pickguard, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut and round string tree. Offered in Aged Nocaster Blonde and Wide-Fade 2-Color Sunburst, these models include a deluxe hardshell case, strap and a Certificate of Authenticity.
2018 Limited Edition ‘60 Roasted Strat Heavy Relic
Inspired by a classic 1960 Stratocaster and tweaked for modern players, the Limited Edition ‘60 Roasted Strat Heavy Relic begs to be picked up and played. We started with a roasted alder body and ultra-stable quartersawn maple neck with a “ ‘60 Oval C”-shaped profile, ideal for almost any playing style. Then we roasted the wood, making it more resonant for enhanced sustain, and adding a delectable chocolate- like aesthetic. The heavy Relic lacquer finish gives it the look and comfortable playing feel of a well-loved instrument that’s been in service for decades. Hot-rodded with a trio of hand-wound Ancho Poblano single-coil pickups—including a RWRP middle pickup to reduce hum— and Vintage Modified #2 wiring, this Strat sings with spicy, balanced tone that can make your music come alive in new ways. The 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard features extra-rolled edges and wears 21 57110 super-jumbo frets for sublime playing feel. Other features include a nitro Tortoiseshell pickguard, 5-way pickup switch, American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut and wing string tree with a metal spacer. Offered in Aged Vintage White, Faded Aged Fiesta Red and Aged Black, these models include a deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
2018 Limited Edition ‘68 Paisley Strat Relic
A standout classic, the ‘68 Paisley instruments feature a bold, psychedelic-inspired aesthetic straight from the “flower power” era. The Limited Edition ‘68 Paisley Strat Relic is an homage to these storied instruments, combining vintage-cool style with modern playability and tone. The two-piece alder body wears a Relic lacquer finish that will wear in a distinctly personal way. The lightly tinted riftsawn maple neck sports a urethane finish and medium-tinted lacquer headstock face—just like the originals. The “C”-shaped profile is comfortable for any playing style and the 9.5”-radius round-lam maple fingerboard hosts 21 6105 frets. The 3-ply, paisley covered Parchment pickguard hosts a trio of hand-wound single-coil pickups for authentic Fender tone: a Texas Special bridge pickup, RWRP Fat ‘50’s middle pickup to reduce hum and a ’69 neck pickup, all tied together with Vintage Modified #2 wiring. Other features include an American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut and wing string tree with a nylon spacer. Offered in Pink Paisley and Black Paisley, these models include a deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
Fender Custom Shop models will be available for purchase at local authorized dealers and on can be previewed at www.fendercustomshop.com throughout 2018 and beyond.
For more information:
Fender
Hotone Wong Press
Cory Wong Signature Volume/Wah/Expression Pedal
Renowned international funk guitar maestro and 63rd Grammy nominee Cory Wong is celebrated for his unique playing style and unmistakable crisp tone. Known for his expressive technique, he’s been acclaimed across the globe by all audiences for his unique blend of energy and soul. In 2022, Cory discovered the multi-functional Soul Press II pedal from Hotone and instantly fell in love. Since then, it has become his go-to pedal for live performances.
Now, two years later, the Hotone team has meticulously crafted the Wong Press, a pedal tailored specifically for Cory Wong. Building on the multi-functional design philosophy of the Soul Press series, this new pedal includes Cory’s custom requests: a signature blue and white color scheme, a customized volume pedal curve, an adjustable wah Q value range, and travel lights that indicate both pedal position and working mode.
Cory’s near-perfect pursuit of tone and pedal feel presented a significant challenge for our development team. After countless adjustments to the Q value range, Hotone engineers achieved the precise WAH tone Cory desired while minimizing the risk of accidental Q value changes affecting the sound. Additionally, based on Cory’s feedback, the volume control was fine-tuned for a smoother, more musical transition, enhancing the overall feel of volume swells. The team also upgraded the iconic travel lights of the Soul Press II to dual-color travel lights—blue for Wah mode and green for Volume mode—making live performances more intuitive and visually striking!
In line with the Hotone Design Inspiration philosophy, the Wong Press represents the perfect blend of design and inspiration. Now, musicians can channel their inner Cory Wong and enjoy the freedom and joy of playing with the Wong Press!
Reverend Vernon Reid Totem Series Electric Guitar - Shaman
Silos features six presets, tap tempo, one full second of delay time, and three voices—two of which are styled after bucket-brigade and tape-delay sounds. In the $150 price category, it’s not unusual for a digital delay to leave some number of those functions out. And spending the same money on a true-analog alternative usually means warm, enveloping sounds but limited functionality and delay time. Silos, improbably perhaps, offers a very elegant solution to this can’t-have-it-all dilemma in a U.S.-made effect.
A More Complete Cobbling Together
Silos’ utility is bolstered by a very unintimidating control set, which is streamlined and approachable. Three of those controls are dedicated to the same mix, time, and repeats controls you see on any delay. But saving a preset to one of the six spots on the rotary preset dial is as easy as holding the green/red illuminated button just below the mix and preset knobs. And you certainly won’t get lost in the weeds if you move to the 3-position toggle, which switches between a clear “digital” voice, darker “analog” voice, and a “tape” voice which is darker still.
“The three voices offer discernibly different response to gain devices.”
One might suspect that a tone control for the repeats offers similar functionality as the voice toggle switch. But while it’s true that the most obvious audible differences between digital, BBD, and tape delays are apparent in the relative fidelity and darkness of their echoes, the Silos’ three voices behave differently in ways that are more complex than lighter or duskier tonality. For instance, the digital voice will never exhibit runaway oscillation, even at maximum mix and repeat settings. Instead, repeats fade out after about six seconds (at the fastest time settings) or create sleepy layers of slow-decaying repeats that enhance detail in complex, sprawling, loop-like melodic phrases. The analog voice and tape voice, on the other hand, will happily feed back to psychotic extremes. Both also offer satisfying sensitivity to real-time, on-the-fly adjustments. For example, I was tickled with how I could generate Apocalypse Now helicopter-chop effects and fade them in and out of prominence as if they were approaching or receding in proximity—an effect made easier still if you assign an expression pedal to the mix control. This kind of interactivity is what makes analog machines like the Echoplex, Space Echo, and Memory Man transcend mere delay status, and the sensitivity and just-right resistance make the process of manipulating repeats endlessly engaging.
Doesn't Flinch at Filth
EarthQuaker makes a point of highlighting the Silos’ affinity for dirty and distorted sounds. I did not notice that it behaved light-years better than other delays in this regard. But the three voices most definitely offer discernibly different responses to gain devices. The super-clear first repeat in the digital mode lends clarity and melodic focus, even to hectic, unpredictable, fractured fuzzes. The analog voice, which EQD says is inspired by the tone makeup of a 1980s-vintage, Japan-made KMD bucket brigade echo, handles fuzz forgivingly inasmuch as its repeats fade warmly and evenly, but the strong midrange also keeps many overtones present as the echoes fade. The tape voice, which uses aMaestro Echoplex as its sonic inspiration, is distinctly dirtier and creates more nebulous undercurrents in the repeats. If you want to retain clarity in more melodic settings, it will create a warm glow around repeats at conservative levels. Push it, and it will summon thick, sometimes droning haze that makes a great backdrop for slower, simpler, and hooky psychedelic riffs.
In clean applications, this decay and tone profile lend the tape setting a spooky, foggy aura that suggests the cold vastness of outer space. The analog voice often displays an authentic BBD clickiness in clean repeats that’s sweet for underscoring rhythmic patterns, while the digital voice’s pronounced regularity adds a clockwork quality that supports more up-tempo, driving, electronic rhythms.
The Verdict
Silos’ combination of features seems like a very obvious and appealing one. But bringing it all together at just less than 150 bucks represents a smart, adept threading of the cost/feature needle.
EarthQuaker Devices Silos Multi-generational Time Reflection Delay Pedal
