Recorded using a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Custom with Curtis Novak Tele-V bridge and JM-V neck pickup going into a Celestion Ruby-stocked Goodsell Valpreaux 21miked with a Royer R-121 feeding an Apogee Duet going into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Clip 1: Tele in middle pickup position at first, then bridge position, with Tone Xciter first bypassed, then activated with frequency trimpot at noon and intensity trimpot at 1 o’clock.
Clip 2: Tele neck pickup with Tone Xciter first bypassed, then activated with frequency and intensity trimpots both at 3 o’clock.
RatingsPros:Sturdy, space-saving avenue to a nice array of cocked-wah sounds. Cons: Subtler sounds could use a gain boost. Frequency and intensity controls not accessible externally. Street: $125 Henretta Xciter henrettaengineering.com | Tones:  Ease of Use:  Build/Design: Value: |
One of the easiest ways to make your guitar instantly stick out of a mix without kicking on a boost is to step on a wah, find a fittingly strident sweet spot, and leave it. Love this trick enough, and you’ll dig that Henretta Engineering’s Tone Xciter makes it possible without sacrificing song time or precious board space. It’s about a third the size of even the smallest wah, and roughly an eighth the footprint of big suckers.
All you see up top on the Xciter is a footswitch, a green LED, and the side-mounted 1/4" and 9V connections, but, inside, two trimpots yield tones for tons of tastes. Frequency selects the band-pass filter’s peak frequency, going from subtle mids at minimum to a pronounced treble accent at max, while intensity is something of a tone control—mellow at minimum, pointed and aggressive at max. In all, there are enough engaging, practical, even startling sounds to make you wish externally accessible mini pots would give you all these goods without having to remove four screws. (Those who favor subtler settings might also yearn for a boost control to compensate for a perceived loss in volume.) That said, tweakers of a certain stripe will love that you can swap out the Xciter’s TL072 dual-JFET op-amp chip with other 8-pin ICs to experiment with tones in a whole new way.
Test gear: Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Custom with Curtis Novak JM-V and Tele-V pickups, Squier/Warmoth baritone “Jazzblaster” with Curtis Novak JM-WR pickups, Ground Control Tsukuyomi, Goodsell Valpreaux 21, 1976 Fender Vibrolux Reverb
The shift to 3D printing allows for intricate detailing and tighter tolerances, ensuring each nut meets exact specifications.
The process begins with powdered metal, which is precisely 3D printed into the desired shape using advanced metal printing technology. After printing, the parts are depowdered and cleaned before undergoing a sintering process—an advanced heat treatment—during which the parts achieve full density and hardness. Lastly, the nuts are CNC “kiss-cut” to exacting specifications for consistency and control of the fit before receiving a premium electroplating finish.
“Floyd Rose has always been synonymous with innovation, and by embracing this incredible new technology we are able to continue that legacy,” said Andrew Papiccio, president of AP International Music Supply of which Floyd Rose is a division. “The accuracy and flexibility of the new 3D printing method will allow us to make a more consistent piece while also giving us full control of the manufacturing right here in the USA.”
Initially, the 3D-printed locking nuts will be available in ten classic sizes with a 10” radius, with plans to expand the range to accommodate various fretboard radii in Spring 2025. This augmentation will offer players more options for customizing their setups to match a wide variety of fretboard curvatures.
To get a sneak peek at the new Floyd Rose USA Series, come visit us at NAMM in booth 5734 in Hall D.
