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New Slash Signature Epiphone Les Paul

The hatted one''s tricked-out Epi

Nashville, TN (December 10, 2007) -- Epiphone Guitar has announced the introduction of the new "Slash" signature Les Paul Standard Plus Top electric guitar.

Designed and produced in close cooperation with Slash, Epiphone says this new guitar combines all the great design features that have made the Les Paul the rock guitar while Slash’s own personal touches create a unique instrument destined to become an instant classic.

The new Epiphone Slash Les Paul features a solid Mahogany body with a highly-figured flame Maple top and glued-in Mahogany neck. The new LockTone stopbar/tune-o-matic system is now standard equipment on most Epiphones. It secures the bridge and tailpiece to the guitar, even without strings, while adding as much as 20% more sustain. A number of features are unique to the Slash Les Paul including a neck joint that uses a long neck tenon typically found on late-1950’s Les Pauls.


Extending well into the neck pickup cavity, this provides more strength, more wood-to-wood contact and ultimately, more tone and sustain. The "Slash Custom" has a neck profile that is patterned after Slash’s original Les Paul. It also features his choice of pickups: two Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro-II open-coil humbuckers. The guitar also features a Dark Tobacco Burst finish, nickel hardware and machine heads with vintage "tulip" buttons.

The new Epiphone Slash signature guitar is slated to make a big splash at the upcoming Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA in January 2008. Projected U.S. MSRP is $1,165 and includes a certificate of authenticity. An optional hard case will be available for $115.

According to Epiphone, the guitar will be available at authorized Epiphone retailers worldwide in December 2007. Slash will be making special appearances related to the launch.

For more information:

epiphone.com

MayFly Le Habanero Review

Great versatility in combined EQ controls. Tasty low-gain boost voice. Muscular Fuzz Face-like fuzz voice.

Can be noisy without a lot of treble attenuation. Boost and fuzz order can only be reversed with the internal DIP switch.

$171

May Fly Le Habanero

mayflyaudio.com

4
4
4
4

A fuzz/boost combo that’s as hot as the name suggests, but which offers plenty of smoky, subdued gain shades, too.

Generally speaking, I avoid combo effects. If I fall out of love with one thing, I don’t want to have to ditch another that’s working fine. But recent fixations with spatial economy find me rethinking that relationship. MayFly’s Le Habanero (yes, the Franco/Spanish article/noun mash-up is deliberate) consolidates boost and fuzz in a single pedal. That’s far from an original concept. But the characteristics of both effects make it a particularly effective one here, and the relative flexibility and utility of each gives this combination a lot more potential staying power for the fickle.

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Vox’s Valvenergy Tone Sculptor

Two new pedals from the Valvenergy series use a Nutube valve to generate unique dynamics and tone ranges that can be used to radical ends.

When tracking in a studio or DAW, you’re likely to use compression and EQ on most things. Many enduringly amazing and powerful records were made using little else. And though many musicians regard both effects as a bit unglamorous and utilitarian, EQs and comps are as capable of radical sounds as more overtly ā€œweirdā€ effects—particularly when they are used in tandem.

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The Cars’ self-titled 1978 debut record changed the world of power pop forever. Guitarist and co-vocalist Ric Ocasek penned all the tunes, but lead guitarist Elliott Easton transformed them with his tasteful 6-string stylings. This time on Shred With Shifty, Easton sits down with Chris Shiflett to show him how to play the solo from ā€œMy Best Friend’s Girl.ā€

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Significantly smaller and lighter than original TAE. Easy to configure and operate. Great value. Streamlined control set.

Air Feel Level control takes the place of more surgical and realistic resonance controls. Seventy watts less power in onboard power amp. No Bluetooth connectivity with desktop app.

$699

Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander Core

boss.info

5
4.5
4.5
4.5

Boss streamlines the size, features, and price of the already excellent Waza Tube Expander with little sacrifice in functionality.

Many of our younger selves would struggle to understand the urge—indeed, the need—to play quieter. My first real confrontation with this ever-more-present reality arrived when Covid came to town. For many months, I could only sneak into my studio space late at night to jam or review anything loud. Ultimately, the thing that made it possible to create and do my job in my little apartment was a reactive load box (in this case, a Universal Audio OX). I set up a Bassman head next to my desk and, with the help of the OX, did the work of a gear editor as well as recorded several very cathartic heavy jams, with the Bassman up to 10, that left my neighbors none the wiser.

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