Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

June 2011 New Gear Roundup

All of the gear released in June 2011, in one place.

DigiTech iPB-10 iPad-Programmable Pedalboard
"The iPB-10 is the first programmable pedalboard using the Apple iPad. DigiTech also announced the iPB-Nexus app to use with the iPB-10. With both, users can drag and drop up to 10 different pedals, in any order, to each pedalboard, and can even add an amp and cabinet to complete each setup. The iPB-Nexus app for iPad will be a free app available to for download from the App Store. Street: $499.95 (iPB-10) digitech.com"

Prog’s premier bassman, Tony Levin, with his Three of a Perfect PairErnie Ball Music Man StingRay—which shares the same design as the cover of the third album by King Crimson’s ’80s reincarnation.

Photo by Tony Levin and Avraham Bank

The king of prog rock’s low end discusses his storied career and how he approaches both bass and Chapman Stick, his tenure with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, his creative relationship with guitarists and drummers, his new album Bringing It Down to the Bass, and, of course, the much-anticipated upcoming BEAT Tour with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, and Tool’s Danny Carey.

There’s a good reason why Tony Levin has played with many of the world’s most thrillingly creative musicians—a list that includes Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Paul Simon, Bill Bruford, Manu Katché, David Torn, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon, Richard Thompson, Allan Holdsworth, David Bowie, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bryan Ferry, and more.

Read MoreShow less
EMG Pachyderm Gold Les Claypool Signature Pickups Demo
- YouTube

Premier Guitar contributor Steve Cook demos EMG's Pachyderm Gold Signature Pickups. Explore the signature sound of bassist Les Claypool with this simple pickup upgrade.

Read MoreShow less

The Hi/Low footswitch is designed to provide a gain boost with an EQ shift for tight tones.

Read MoreShow less

A radical and classic silhouetterevs it up for a low ride on the Sunset Strip.

Lightweight. Versatile pickups. Many sounds for a relatively low price.

Fairly noisy pickups. Uneven taper in the tone control. Lowest action is still relatively high.

$599

Danelectro Red Hot Longhorn
danelectro.com

4
3.5
3.5
4

Danelectros are go-to instruments for guitarists and bassists out to evoke the effortless, lo-fi cool of the 1960s. And for years, Danelectro’s unconventional styling, inexpensive Masonite-and-poplar body construction, and abundance in secondhand shops made them a favorite of garage musicians—or just those with little cash to spare. As a bonus, the unmistakable twang and clarity of Danelectro’s lipstick pickups made them sound fantastic. But as adventurous-looking as they could be, no Danelectro made as much visual impact, or had a signature sound, quite like the original Longhorn.

Read MoreShow less