Anaheim, CA (January 20, 2012) -- In our second day on the NAMM floor, we had no trouble finding cool gear to check out. Of course, you can see it all in our photo gallery from the floor and watch all the video demos we've completed so far. But here's the gear that particularly caught our editors' eyes on the second day of the show.
Ashdown Engineering Classic Tube Magnifier 300
This new 300-watt, all-tube head is driven by six KT88 power tubes and features extensive tone-shaping via a 3-band EQ, multiple pushbuttons (including Mellow, Deep, Mid-Shift, Bright, and Mute), a front-panel DI, and a tube-bias circuit.
Vox Limited-Edition Blue-Covered AC Series
This trio—an AC30, an AC15, and an AC4—has the same features as current models, but its alluring blue covering cannot be resisted. You are powerless under its charm.
Giffin Vikta
Roger Giffin's new Premier Builders Guild-built Vikta features a mahogany body, Seymour Duncan P-90s, aged hardware, and a beautifully checked, vintage-like finish.
Paul Lairat Sirya Bass
Paul
Lairat's new Sirya bass was introduced at the 2012 NAMM show. This
handcrafted, unique instrument has a variety of wood options available
and features Gotoh tuners, Delano Xtender pickups and a John East
preamp.
NS Design
NS
Design unveiled their new bass at the 2012 NAMM show. Available in both
a fretted and fretless model, these 5-stringers are loaded up with EMGs
along with a piezo in the bridge.
Epifani AL Bass Combo
Epifani introduced the AL series line of bass combos at the 2012 NAMM show. The AL is the first to use a solid-aluminum shell, something Epifani says results in improved frequency response and power output, without unwanted tonal colorations.
The Moog Lap Steel
Yes, the Moog lap steel.
Gibson Jeff Tweedy Signature SG
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy gets a signature Gibson SG at Winter NAMM 2012. The Blue Mist finish is gorgeous and it's hard to lay off the Cippolina vibrato licks with that Lyre vibrato in hand. Sweet!
Lowden F-35 Fan Fret Prototype
Lowden's F-35 fan fret prototype looks bound for production and the combination of reclaimed redwood top and Honduran Mahogany back and sides sounds distinctly Lowden -- warm, detailed, and really responsive.
VHT's Special 12/20RT
VHT's new Special 12/20RT has 6V6 tube-driven reverb with a depth switch and tube-driven tremolo with slow/fast range switch. The amp is available in a head or combo and comes with a two-button foot switch for the tremolo and reverb. The head will retail for $649.
Ernie Ball/Music Man showed off a new Steve Lukather model with a new larger body, custom DiMarzio pickups, 5-way selector, push-push control for 12 db volume boost, and a buffered output to maintain tone at any volume level. Plus, a killer sparkle finish.
Pigtronix Infinity Stereo Multi-Track Looper
The Pigtronix Infinity Stereo Multi-Track Looper features dual stereo loops with sync, 20 loop presets, multiplier for loop 2 (2, 3, 4, or 6 times), and USB access to saved loops.
Working closely alongside Yngwie, the MXR design team created a circuit that delivers clarity, expressive dynamics, and rich harmonics—all perfectly tailored for his light-speed arpeggios, expressive vibrato, and big, bold riffs. The control setup is simple, with just Level and Gain knobs.
"Want to sound like Yngwie? Crank both knobs to the max."
“This pedal is the culmination of 45+ years developing a sound that’s perfect in every possible way,” Yngwie says. “I present to you: the MXR Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive. Prepare to be amazed.”
MXR Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive highlights:
- Perfectly tailored for Yngwie Malmsteen's signature sound and style
- Simple control setup tuned for maximum impact
- Boost every nuance with superior clarity, expressive dynamics, and rich harmonics
- Dig into light-speed arpeggios, expressive vibrato, and big, bold riffs
The MXR Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive is available now at $129.99 street/$185.70 MSRP from your favorite retailer.
For more information, please visit jimdunlop.com.
The new coiled cables are available in four eye-grabbing retro colors – Surf Green, Electric Blue, Orange and Caramel – as well as three standard colors: Black, White and Red. There is also a CME exclusive “Chicago Cream” color on the way.
Guitarists can choose between three different connector configurations: straight/straight plugs, right angle/straight and right angle/right angle options.
The Voltage Vintage Coil offers superior sound quality and durability thanks to ISO-COAT treatment, a patent-pending hermetic seal applied to solder terminations. This first-of-its-kind airtight seal prevents corrosion and oxidization, a known factor in cable failure and degradation. ISO-COAT protected cables are for guitarists who value genuine lifetime durability and consistent tone throughout their career on stage and in the studio.
Voltage cables are hand made by qualified technical engineers using the finest components available and come with a lifetime warranty.
Voltage Vintage Coil features include:
- Lifetime guarantee, 1000+ gig durability
- ISO-COAT treatment - corrosion & oxidization resistant cable internals
- Strengthened structural integrity of solder terminations
Voltage Vintage Coils carry $89.00 USD pricing each and are available online at voltagecableco.com, as well as in select guitar stores in North America, Australia, Thailand, UK, Belgium and China.
About Voltage Cable: Established in 2021, Voltage Cable Co. is a family owned and operated guitar cable company based in Sydney, Australia. All their cables are designed to be played, and built for a lifetime. The company’s ISO-COAT is a patent pending hermetic seal applied to solder terminations.
Built on powerful dual‑engine processing and world‑class UAD modeling, ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp gives guitarists the unmistakable sound of an original "block letter" Peavey 5150 amplifier* – the notorious 120‑watt tube amp monster that fueled more than three decades of modern metal music, from Thrash and Death Metal, to Grunge, Black Metal, and more.
"With UAFX Dream, Ruby, Woodrow, and Lion amp emulators, we recreated four of the most famous guitar amps ever made," says UA Sr. Product Manager Tore Mogensen. "Now with ANTI, we're giving rock and metal players an authentic emulation of this punishing high gain amp – with the exact mic/speaker pairings and boost/noise gate effects that were responsible for some of the most groundbreaking modern metal tones ever captured."
Key Features:
- A complete emulation of the early '90s 120‑watt tone monster that defined new genres of modern metal
- Powerful UAFX dual-engine delivers the most authentic emulation of the amp ever placed in a stompbox
- Complete album‑ready sounds with built‑in noise gate, TS‑style overdrive, and TC‑style preamp boost
- Groundbreaking Dynamic Room Modeling derived from UA's award-winning OX Amp Top Box
- Six classic mic/speaker pairings used on decades of iconic metal and hard rock records
- Professional presets designed by the guitarists of Tetrarch, Jeff Loomis, and The Black Dahlia Murder
- UAFX mobile app lets you access hidden amp tweaks and mods, choose overdrive/boost, tweak noise gate, recall and archive your presets, download artist presets, and more
- Timeless UA design and craftsmanship, built to last decades
For more information, please visit uaudio.com.
