Whether you're looking to shop for the guitarist in your life or are searching for a wishlist to send your spouse, Premier Guitar's Holiday Gift Guide is for you!
Aguilar Special Edition Amps and Cabinets
Step into the spotlight and make a statement with Aguilar's all-new Custom Color SL Cabinets and Tone Hammer / AG 700 amps. These special limited-edition masterpieces are meticulously crafted to offer both an unparalleled sonic experience and a visually striking aesthetic. Available in a palette of standout colors, including Racing Green, Blue Bronco, Tuxedo Black, or Winter White. With Aguilar's Custom Colors, customers can express their unique style and steal the show, whether on stage or in the studio.
Fralin 'Tron
It's finally here – our brand-new Fralin'Tron! Experience exceptional clarity and articulation in a Filter'Tron® format with Lindy's unique Fralin'Tron design. Featuring a focused single-coil vibe with a rich, warm midrange and crisp attack, you'll wonder where this pickup has been all your life.
When Lindy started designing the Fralin'Tron, he did so with a particular goal: to get as much clarity and articulation as possible out of this design.
We're thrilled with the result! Our Fralin'Tron features a scooped midrange and defined bass and highs. In addition, you can expect more nuance out of the wound strings, unlike the original design. Furthermore, the treble strings have a round, warm quality, making this pickup perfect for all styles of music – from clean to dirty.
The Fralin'Tron looks impressive, too: it's available in Gold, Chrome, and Polished Nickel. Give the Fralin'Tron a listen on our website today.
108 Rock Star Guitars - 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
108 Rock Star Guitars - 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
By Lisa S. Johnson, first published in 2013, was awarded Best Book by American Photo. We now celebrate the 10th Anniversary Limited Edition featuring some of the most famous guitars ever played. Lisa guides the reader with stories of her adventures capturing the guitars, their provenance, and insights from the artists. This special edition features a signed hardcover, limited edition silk scarf, 10-page booklet, guitar pick, metallic ink book bag, and one giclee guitar print signed by one of 7 artists: Dave Mason, Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather, Peter Frampton, Brian Setzer and Randy Bachman. Limited to 252 reserve copies. Available at: LSJRockPhotos.com
George L's Cables Effects Kit
The effects kit comes with 10ft of .155 cable, 10 right angle plugs, and 10 stress relief jackets. Colors include black. vintage red, blue and purple.
Custom fit your pedalboard needs with exact precision.
Strymon Brig dBucket Delay
It used to be that if you wanted to play a delay like an instrument, Bucket Brigade chips ruled the roost. Brig offers emulations of three separate BBD circuits that are sonically indistinguishable from the real thing, giving you access to all of the historic warmth, grit and playability of classic BBD pedals without the headaches and limitations inherent to the vintage designs. With a Time knob that unlocks Radiohead-like chaos, artifact-free Tap Tempo, up to 2 seconds of delay, TRS MIDI and 300 presets, stereo inputs and outputs on single TRS jacks and USB-C for MIDI control and firmware updates, Brig is in a class by itself.
Taylor Guitars 222ce-K DLX
This stunning all-Hawaiian-koa Grand Concert from Taylor’s 200 Deluxe Series combines dazzling visual character with a bold, sparkling sound that’s sure to entice players of all styles. Back and sides of layered figured koa paired with a solid koa top yield a woody, focused voice, with a rich midrange, articulate treble notes and a low-end response that will grow warmer and more pronounced with time and play. Players will find the compact dimensions of cutaway Grand Concert body — newly added to this series — comfortable and inviting, and together with a slim-profile neck, the playability is a dream. It all adds up to a versatile musical tool for everything from fingerpicking to lively strumming, with the hardwood koa top leveling out the response across the tonal spectrum. The beautiful koa body is tastefully accented with a shaded edgeburst around the top, back and sides, black binding, black and white top purfling, a shimmering single-ring rosette, a black pickguard and a rich gloss finish. The neck features a solid ebony fretboard, Small Diamond fretboard inlays, gold Taylor tuning machines. It also includes Taylor’s onboard ES2 electronics and a deluxe brown hardshell case.
Strymon Power Supplies
Noisy pedalboard? Effects not sounding quite right? Strymon’s expandable power supply system shields your gear from noise TWICE, first with a dedicated 24V bus and again by using individual transformers and multistage filtering on each channel. Each discrete output can achieve 500mA of current, and if you add in variable output voltages and native worldwide power compatibility, you get the most technologically advanced power supply system on the market. By starting with a Zuma or low profile Zuma R300 and then adding expansion Ojai units as your needs grow, you’ll never worry about power again.
Taylor Guitars Builder’s Edition 814ce Blacktop
Taylor’s ultra-premium Builder’s Edition collection showcases the highest levels of Taylor design and craftsmanship, with the goal of creating the ultimate playing experience in both feel and sound. This blacktop variant of the Builder’s Edition 814ce reveals a luxurious, eye-catching aesthetic presentation. It starts with Taylor’s best-selling Grand Auditorium body (including a Venetian cutaway), crafted with solid Indian rosewood back and sides and paired with a four-piece Adirondack spruce top. Taylor’s patented V-Class bracing architecture supercharges the response with greater dynamic range, longer sustain and ear-pleasing pitch precision, complementing the natural power of the Adirondack top. This model is appointed with a striking black color treatment for the top, a beautiful rosewood pickguard, a Kona edgeburst around the back and sides, all enhanced with a gloss-finish body. Other aesthetic details include a single-ring green abalone rosette and rosewood-bound soundhole, maple and rosewood top purfling, maple fretboard and peghead purfling, precise Gotoh 510 tuners in antique gold, and Element inlays in mother-of-pearl.
Strymon Iridium
Come see why some stadium rockers have ditched their onstage amps! Iridium delivers the authentic tone, feel and girth of three iconic tube amplifiers in a single pedal-sized enclosure. The simple user interface lets you dial in the right sound in moments with zero menu-diving, and three speaker cabinets per amp mean you’re always ready with more sonic options. Iridium’s IR-based speaker cabinets and hybrid reverbs deliver unbeatable realism by using high-resolution 500ms impulses (usually reserved for DAW plugins), and adding in TRS MIDI control, 300 presets and stereo IO means you’re ready for anything the stage or studio can throw at you.
Warm Audio ODD Box v1
The Warm Audio ODD (Over Drive Disorder) is inspired by an iconic (now discontinued) pedalboard staple with a “cranked amp” tone. Perfect for boosting, adding breakup, or adding high gain to cleans, the ODD has all the tonal versatility of its inspiration. The hard-clipping, op-amp-based circuit delivers all of the sounds of a cranked, saturated tube amp and features classic-inspired controls, including a UK/US Switch, to flip the personality of ODD from “British” to “American” tube amp. True to its inspiration, the ODD delivers the sound of massive, live electric guitar that attracted players like Billy Gibbons, Mark Hoppus, Eric Johnson, J Mascis, Paul Gilbert, and many more to that open tube amp sound.
AxLabs Habanero by Grover Jackson Loaded Pickguard
The AxLabs Habanero-loaded pickguard system features boutique-quality components including USA-made Habanero Serrano Pickups from the legendary Grover Jackson, a Pure Tone multi-contact output Jack, custom AxLabs switches and potentiometers, Orange Drop capacitor, and Gavitt Cloth Jacketed Wire (Red+ / Black-).
The Habanero Serrano Single Coils are Grover Jackson's own Texas-style, high output take on the classic designs from the 50's and 60's. Using Alnico III magnets, the fuller and warmer tones offer the right amount of fatness for the modern player while still retaining the chimey high end of the classics. The neck has warmer bubbliness, the middle pup harnesses a fatter midrange, and the bridge cuts through the tastebuds with stinging clarity unlike any other.
Unlike any other potentiometers on the market, all AxLabs pots were specifically designed for electric guitars. Custom-taper volume and tone controls give you the smoothest (and most musical) turn of the knobs without any lag.
The patented Pure Tone jack contains dual tension grounds and dual positive tips for optimal signal and lowest possible noise. 100% greater surface area at all contact points!
Spürr Audio Time Traveler Delay
The Spurr Audio Time Traveler Delay is a remarkable pedal that transcends the boundaries of your typical delay pedal. This meticulously crafted stompbox seamlessly marries the vintage warmth of analog circuitry with the modern versatility that today's musicians crave.
At the heart of the Time Traveler Delay lies a sonic realm where guitarists can immerse themselves in the cozy embrace of analog warmth. With a delay time that extends up to a generous 500 milliseconds, it caters to a wide spectrum of musical needs, from subtle echoes that add depth to your sound to expansive repeats that transport you to a world of sonic wonders. Regardless of your playing style or genre, the Time Traveler Delay is your trusty companion in adding depth and dimension to your musical expressions.
What truly sets the Time Traveler Delay apart is its ability to satisfy the cravings of sonic adventurers. It empowers you to embark on mesmerizing journeys through oscillating delays that surge and evolve, pushing the limits of your creativity to unprecedented heights. Activating the infinite repeats function on this pedal is like opening a portal to a boundless sonic landscape. Here, you become the architect of expansive soundscapes and captivating textures, all of which will hold your audience spellbound.
However, the Time Traveler Delay doesn't stop at its aural prowess. It features an analog VU meter that not only adds a dash of vintage charm but also serves as a dynamic companion to your musical odyssey. This meter responds in real-time to your playing, effectively measuring the "plutonium" in your tone journey. It's not just a functional addition; it's a visual spectacle that adds an extra layer of dimension to your musical performance.
NoiseBoyz Guitar Pedal Subscription
NoiseBoyz is the most cost effective way to try every combination of tone you can possibly imagine. With plans starting at $9.99 per month, NoiseBoyz gives you access to over 150 pedals from the very best boutique pedal brands like Beetronics, MojoHandFX, Pigtronix, Supro, Fuzzrocious, and AnalogAlien, with new brands and pedals added every month. With no waitlists, no deposits collected for rental, no required return dates, and customer-exclusive discounts, it's a truly hassle-free way to find and save on the pedals that are just right for your play style. It's the perfect holiday gift for the guitarist in your life and we have no doubt that Clark Griswold wouldn't have kidnapped his boss if he'd just gotten a subscription to NoiseBoyz instead of the jelly-of-the-month club.
SmallStage Cable Cup Amp-Top Pick Tray & Cable Rest
The Cable Cup is a convenient pick tray and cable rest that uses microsuction technology to adhere securely to an amp or tabletop, allowing for simple removal without leaving any residue behind.
Providing ample room for your picks, slide, capo, and other small playing accessories, the Cable Cup ensures that the essentials stay organized and within easy reach. Notched cable rests guarantee hassle-free cable management, eliminating the need to fumble around for cable ends during practices, studio sessions, or performances. The Cable Cup Pick Shape also fits your favorite frosty beverage, complete with a “sweat” collector to prevent water rings from staining your amp! Composed of lightweight, flexible silicone, Cable Cup products are washable and reusable, ensuring a lifetime of usage.
The Cable Cup line features a variety of shapes and sizes, including officially licensed Fender® Stratocaster® and Telecaster® headstock shapes, Stratocaster® and Telecaster® body shapes, and a classic pick shape.
Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard, EGC Chessie in hands, coaxing some nasty tones from his Hiwatt.
The Jesus Lizard’s sixth album, Blue, served as the band’s final statement from the frontlines of noisy rock for the next 26 years. By the time of their dissolution in 1999, they’d earned a reputation for extreme performances chock full of hard-hitting, machine-like grooves delivered by bassist David Wm. Sims and, at their conclusion, drummer Mac McNeilly, at times aided and at other times punctured by the frontline of guitarist Duane Denison’s incisive, dissonant riffing, and presided over by the cantankerous howl of vocalist David Yow. In the years since, performative, thrilling bands such as Pissed Jeans, METZ, and Idles have built upon the Lizard’s musical foundation.
Denison has kept himself plenty busy over the last couple decades, forming the avant-rock supergroup Tomahawk—with vocalist Mike Patton, bassist Trevor Dunn (both from Mr. Bungle), and drummer John Stanier of Helmet—and alongside various other projects including Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Hank Williams III. The Jesus Lizard eventually reunited, but until now have only celebrated their catalog, never releasing new jams.
The Jesus Lizard, from left: bassist David Wm. Sims, singer David Yow, drummer Mac McNeilly, and guitarist Duane Denison.
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins
Back in 2018, Denison, hanging in a hotel room with Yow, played a riff on his unplugged electric guitar that caught the singer’s ear. That song, called “West Side,” will remain unreleased for now, but Denison explains: “He said, ‘Wow, that’s really good. What is that?’ And I said, ‘It’s just some new thing. Why don’t we do an album?’” From those unassuming beginnings, the Jesus Lizard’s creative juices started flowing.
So, how does a band—especially one who so indelibly captured the ineffable energy of live rock performance—prepare to get a new record together 26 years after their last? Back in their earlier days, the members all lived together in a band house, collectively tending to the creative fire when inspiration struck. All these years later, they reside in different cities, so their process requires sending files back and forth and only meeting up for occasional demo sessions over the course of “three or four years.”
“When the time comes to get more in performance mode, I have a practice space. I go there by myself and crank it up. I turn that amp up and turn the metronome up and play loud.” —Duane Denison
the Jesus Lizard "Alexis Feels Sick"
Distance creates an obstacle to striking while the proverbial iron is hot, but Denison has a method to keep things energized: “Practice loud.” The guitarist professes the importance of practice, in general, and especially with a metronome. “We keep very detailed records of what the beats per minute of these songs are,” he explains. “To me, the way to do it is to run it to a Bluetooth speaker and crank it, and then crank your amp. I play a little at home, but when the time comes to get more in performance mode, I have a practice space. I go there by myself and crank it up. I turn that amp up and turn the metronome up and play loud.”
It’s a proven solution. On Rack—recorded at Patrick Carney’s Audio Eagle studio with producer Paul Allen—the band sound as vigorous as ever, proving they’ve not only remained in step with their younger selves, but they may have surpassed it with faders cranked. “Duane’s approach, both as a guitarist and writer, has an angular and menacing fingerprint that is his own unique style,” explains Allen. “The conviction in his playing that he is known for from his recordings in the ’80s and ’90s is still 100-percent intact and still driving full throttle today.”
“I try to be really, really precise,” he says. “I think we all do when it comes to the basic tracks, especially the rhythm parts. The band has always been this machine-like thing.” Together, they build a tension with Yow’s careening voice. “The vocals tend to be all over the place—in and out of tune, in and out of time,” he points out. “You’ve got this very free thing moving around in the foreground, and then you’ve got this very precise, detailed band playing behind it. That’s why it works.”
Before Rack, the Jesus Lizard hadn’t released a new record since 1998’s Blue.
Denison’s guitar also serves as the foreground foil to Yow’s unhinged raving, as on “Alexis Feels Sick,” where they form a demented harmony, or on the midnight creep of “What If,” where his vibrato-laden melodies bolster the singer’s unsettled, maniacal display. As precise as his riffs might be, his playing doesn’t stay strictly on the grid. On the slow, skulking “Armistice Day,” his percussive chording goes off the rails, giving way to a solo that slices that groove like a chef’s knife through warm butter as he reorganizes rock ’n’ roll histrionics into his own cut-up vocabulary.
“During recording sessions, his first solo takes are usually what we decide to keep,” explains Allen. “Listen to Duane’s guitar solos on Jack White’s ‘Morning, Noon, and Night,’ Tomahawk’s ‘Fatback,’ and ‘Grind’ off Rack. There’s a common ‘contained chaos’ thread among them that sounds like a harmonic Rubik’s cube that could only be solved by Duane.”
“Duane’s approach, both as a guitarist and writer, has an angular and menacing fingerprint that is his own unique style.” —Rack producer Paul Allen
To encapsulate just the right amount of intensity, “I don’t over practice everything,” the guitarist says. Instead, once he’s created a part, “I set it aside and don’t wear it out.” On Rack, it’s obvious not a single kilowatt of musical energy was lost in the rehearsal process.
Denison issues his noisy masterclass with assertive, overdriven tones supporting his dissonant voicings like barbed wire on top of an electric fence. The occasional application of slapback delay adds a threatening aura to his exacting riffage. His tones were just as carefully crafted as the parts he plays, and he relied mostly on his signature Electrical Guitar Company Chessie for the sessions, though a Fender Uptown Strat also appears, as well as a Taylor T5Z, which he chose for its “cleaner, hyper-articulated sound” on “Swan the Dog.” Though he’s been spotted at recent Jesus Lizard shows with a brand-new Powers Electric—he points out he played a demo model and says, “I just couldn’t let go of it,” so he ordered his own—that wasn’t until tracking was complete.
Duane Denison's Gear
Denison wields his Powers Electric at the Blue Room in Nashville last June.
Photo by Doug Coombe
Guitars
- Electrical Guitar Company Chessie
- Fender Uptown Strat
- Taylor T5Z
- Gibson ES-135
- Powers Electric
Amps
- Hiwatt Little J
- Hiwatt 2x12 cab with Fane F75 speakers
- Fender Super-Sonic combo
- Early ’60s Fender Bassman
- Marshall 1987X Plexi Reissue
- Victory Super Sheriff head
- Blackstar HT Stage 60—2 combos in stereo with Celestion Neo Creamback speakers and Mullard tubes
Effects
- Line 6 Helix
- Mantic Flex Pro
- TC Electronic G-Force
- Menatone Red Snapper
Strings and Picks
- Stringjoy Orbiters .0105 and .011 sets
- Dunlop celluloid white medium
- Sun Studios yellow picks
He ran through various amps—Marshalls, a Fender Bassman, two Fender Super-Sonic combos, and a Hiwatt Little J—at Audio Eagle. Live, if he’s not on backline gear, you’ll catch him mostly using 60-watt Blackstar HT Stage 60s loaded with Celestion Neo Creambacks. And while some boxes were stomped, he got most of his effects from a Line 6 Helix. “All of those sounds [in the Helix] are modeled on analog sounds, and you can tweak them endlessly,” he explains. “It’s just so practical and easy.”
The tools have only changed slightly since the band’s earlier days, when he favored Travis Beans and Hiwatts. Though he’s started to prefer higher gain sounds, Allen points out that “his guitar sound has always had teeth with a slightly bright sheen, and still does.”
“Honestly, I don’t think my tone has changed much over the past 30-something years,” Denison says. “I tend to favor a brighter, sharper sound with articulation. Someone sent me a video I had never seen of myself playing in the ’80s. I had a band called Cargo Cult in Austin, Texas. What struck me about it is it didn’t sound terribly different than what I sound like right now as far as the guitar sound and the approach. I don’t know what that tells you—I’m consistent?”
YouTube It
The Jesus Lizard take off at Nashville’s Blue Room this past June with “Hide & Seek” from Rack.
Phat Machine
The Phat Machine
The Phat Machine is designed to deliver the tone and responsiveness of a vintage germanium fuzz with improved temperature stability with no weird powering issues. Loaded with both a germanium and a silicon transistor, the Phat Machine offers the warmth and cleanup of a germanium fuzz but with the bite of a silicon pedal. It utilizes classic Volume and Fuzz control knobs, as well as a four-position Thickness control to dial-in any guitar and amp combo. Also included is a Bias trim pot and a Kill switch that allows battery lovers to shut off the battery without pulling the input cord.
Silk Worm Deluxe Overdrive
The Silk Worm Deluxe -- along with its standard Volume/Gain/Tone controls -- has a Bottom trim pot to dial in "just the right amount of thud with no mud at all: it’s felt more than heard." It also offers a Studio/Stage diode switch that allows you to select three levels of compression.
Both pedals offer the following features:
- 9-volt operation via standard DC external supply or internal battery compartment
- True bypass switching with LED indicator
- Pedalboard-friendly top mount jacks
- Rugged, tour-ready construction and super durable powder coated finish
- Made in the USA
Static Effectors’ Street Series pedals carry a street price of $149 each. They are available at select retailers and can also be purchased directly from the Static Effectors online store at www.staticeffectors.com.
Galloup’s Plek tech Adam Winarski preps a Yamaha acoustic for the machine.
Presently, many certified guitar-repair specialists possess the expertise required to deliver an instrument that both sounds and plays wonderfully. The standards set by manufacturers and distributors have significantly risen, safeguarded by rigorous quality protocols to guarantee the best possible acoustic experience for customers. Additionally, lutherie training has raised the bar for critical processes, and one of the most tricky is fretwork.
Traditional fretwork once involved manual labor, with technicians utilizing sandbags or similar supports to steady the neck as they straightened it with a truss rod during the filing process. A notable advancement in this field came in the mid 1970s when Don Teeter, an author and repair expert, imposed a new method: fixing the guitar body to the bench and using blocks to maintain the neck in a playing position. This refinement was one of many in the continued quest to produce superior instruments by standardized methods.
An example of the Plek’s readings from an acoustic guitar.
Photo courtesy of Galloup Guitars
In the late 1970s, another pivotal innovation was introduced by Dan Erlewine. He created an advanced fret jig with a specialized body-holding system and neck supports, adding another layer of precision to the repair process. During my collaboration with Dan in 1985, we developed a rotating neck jig that counterbalanced the forces of gravity, keeping the instrument in its playing orientation while adjusting the neck supports. This step represented a significant leap in establishing control and standardization of fretwork procedures in our industry. By 1986, our approach had evolved into a freestanding workstation coupled with a sophisticated hold-down mechanism and enhanced neck supports, culminating in increased accuracy, efficiency, and consistency. Over the decades, the Erlewine/Galloup rotating neck jig has become a benchmark in numerous shops, enhancing fretwork performance.
"This step represented a significant leap in establishing control and standardization of fretwork procedures in our industry."
By the 1990s, automated and computerized technologies permeated the guitar manufacturing and repair sectors. Initially applied by import companies in the mass production of guitars, the technology, although expediting processes, did not immediately achieve high execution standards. However, the tech dramatically improved over time, with computer-driven systems eventually transforming the industry. Contemporary automated production utilizing such advancements meets exceedingly high standards of precision. Some bespoke guitar manufacturers, such as Steve Andersen, were pioneers in adopting these methods, but it was companies like Taylor that established them in the modern era.
Inevitably, the progression of technology extended beyond the mere production of parts. Around 1995, German engineer Gerd Anke envisioned the integration of computer-assisted technology into enhancing instrument playability, giving rise to Plek technology, which uses computers to precisely measure and analyze the various components of a guitar, like neck relief, fret height, nut and bridge specs, and more. Nashville guitar-repair tech Joe Glaser was among the first to recognize the machine’s value, followed by San Francisco luthier Gary Brawer. When Heritage Guitar Inc. invested in a Plek machine, the guitar industry could no longer disregard the significance of this innovation.
“The machine’s scanning data confirmed that there was one nature of an ideal fret plane, done by hand or machine, and unsurprisingly, it conformed exactly to what physics predicts, not personal mojo.”
In the spring of 2022, Galloup Guitars obtained its first Plek machine. Promptly, our technician Adam Winarski paved the way for the Plek’s integration in our shop. Now, it’s a rarity for an instrument to leave our shop without having undergone Plek analysis and machining. Impressed by the results of our integration, we created “Intro to Plek” as a course for all students enrolled at the Galloup School of Lutherie, offering our students a practical introduction to this technology. We furthered this educational initiative with a comprehensive one-week intensive “Plek Certification Training Course” for both students and the public. This advanced Plek course serves those seeking to boost their knowledge base and employability in this high-precision field.
Plek is rapidly becoming an industry standard for major manufacturers and smaller shops alike. However, this does not mean that those without access to this technology cannot execute proficient fretwork. Personally, I continue to use my Erlewine/Galloup neck jig—not only out of nostalgia, but also because it remains an excellent method for delivering accurate and reliable guitars. Still, it’s undeniable that the process of fretting, fret dressing, and analytics of fretted instruments has undergone significant transformation, resulting in better sounding—and playing—guitars. And ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.