Most of us were not cool enough to hear about Glasgow indie-pop darlings the Vaselines until after Kurt Cobain championed them as one of his favorite bands and Nirvana covered their 1987 songs “Molly’s Lips” and “Son of a Gun” on Incesticide.
“One Lost Year” is the first single from V for Vaselines, the band’s third album following 2010’s Sex with an X, and, remarkably, it sounds as timeless as all their other recordings. Band founders Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee sing with the same youthful voices that first hit tape in the late ’80s. And the melodies here bob and bounce with the same balance of innocence and tension that helped pioneer the twee-pop subgenre.
If anything sounds noticeably different from the band’s beginnings, it’s the guitars: Back in the day, they were one of the first to play with slightly out-of-tune guitars—an endearing quality that had indie nerds such as a young Pavement and Sebadoh deliberately detuning their machine heads to get that couldn’t-care-less indie sound.
The guitars here are very much in tune and wield a more confident prowess in playing than Kelly’s prior penchants for sounding as if he just pulled his guitar from a soft case and hit “Record” before tuning. There are even moments in the song’s solo that squeal and distort with the discordant bravado of fellow Glasgow musicians the Jesus and Mary Chain. thevaselines.co.uk
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.
