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GALLERY: Gear of the Month 2012

See all 12 unique instruments featured as Gear of the Month in 2012.

"In the early 1940s, Paul approached Gibson with his invention, but the company balked, likening it to a рbroomstick with pickups.с But once Gibson caught wind of Leo Fenderуs Broadcaster creation in 1950, Gibsonуs Ted McCarty quickly began working on a singlecut, solidbody electric with Paul as a special consultant. In 1952, they released the first incarnation of the Les Paul modelяnow the most iconic signature model ever built. This innovative spirit eventually landed Paul a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio. And the guitar that started it allяthe Logяhas been housed at the Rock уnу Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian."

The solo artist and leader of Asking Alexandria and We Are Harlot finds inspiration in an innovative new guitar that he calls “absolutely game changing.”

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Handcrafted in the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop, each set includes gray bottom flatwork and a pad-printed signature from Joe. The first 500 sets will be aged, packaged in limited edition boxes, and include a certificate of authenticity.

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Killswitch Engage are, from left to right, Justin Foley on drums, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, vocalist Jesse Leach, bassist Mike D’Antonio, and guitarist Joel Stroetzel.

The metalcore pioneers return with an album for the times, This Consequence, that explores division, war, and other modern-day troubles to the tune of the band’s tandem guitar duo’s brutal, lockstep riff-ery.

“We don’t consider ourselves politicians or into politics by any means, but the sense of national unrest, and the unwillingness to work together, it’s really grated on us,” admits Killswitch Engage guitarist/producer Adam Dutkiewicz (Adam D, professionally). “It’s manifested itself into the songs and lyrics.”

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The Spirit Fall trio: drummer Brian Blade (right) and saxophonist Chris Potter (center) joined Patitucci (left) for a single day at The Bunker. “Those guys are scary. It almost puts pressure on me, how good they are, because they get it really fast,” says Patitucci.

Photo by Sachi Sato

Legendary bassist John Patitucci continues to explore the sound of a chord-less trio that balances melodicism with boundless harmonic freedom—and shares lessons he learned from his mentors Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter.

In 1959, Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’s Giant Stepstwo of the most influential albums in jazz history—were recorded. It’s somewhat poetic that four-time Grammy-winning jazz bass icon John Patitucci was born that same year. In addition to a storied career as a bandleader, Patitucci cemented his legacy through his lengthy association with two giants of jazz: keyboardist Chick Corea, with whom Patitucci enjoyed a 10-year tenure as an original member of his Elektric and Akoustic bands, and saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s quartet, of which he was a core member for 20 years. Patitucci has also worked with a who’s who of jazz elites like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, and Michael Brecker.

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