The Headliner 1000 packs 1000 watts in a 10 lb. package.
Meridian, MS (January 23, 2014) -- From the company that brought you the revolutionary VYPYR and VYPYR VIP series comes the evolution of the most advanced modeling amplifier on the planet. The VYPYR Pro continues the tradition of appropriate technology using 4 stages of patented TransTube analog gain to create the most realistic tube sounding distortion in any modeling amplifier. By using analog distortion, the VYPYR Proās digital processor has the amazing ability to offer almost limitless combinations of additional stompboxes, ārackā effects, amplifiers and now even instrument models.
Because of the advanced dual processor design, the VYPYR Pro can run up to four amplifier models in parallel. Using the VYPYR Proās unique architecture, the VYPYR is capable of designing a variety of signal path combinations. Four module bays each with their own distinct LCD can be assigned to an amplifier, effect, stompbox, or in the first position an instrument model. The modules can be assigned in any order, allowing the user the ability to create the exact rig they desire, even if they desire to run two or up to four amplifiers in parallel.
World-renowned musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer Peavey Electronics is proud to unveil the Headliner 1000, a new 1000 Watt rack-mountable bass amplifier head. With matching enclosures, the Headliner 1000 packs huge power and innovative tone features in a lightweight 10 lb. package.
The Peavey Headliner 1000 features a seven-band graphic EQ spaced at optimized frequencies, with each slider providing 15 dB of cut and boost to provide comprehensive tone shaping frequencies optimized for bass guitar. Players can use the graphic EQ in conjunction with the low and high shelving-type tone controls or bypass the graphic EQ entirely.
A built-in optical Compressor with level control and bypass allows players to add just the right amount of compression to the mix. The Crunch feature adds a vintage tube effect that distorts only the high frequencies, preserving the all-important fat low end. The amp also features Bright and Contour switches, an effects loop, master volume and headphone out. The Compressor and Crunch features are footswitch selectable.
The Headliner features a built-in XLR direct interface that routes the signal to the house sound system or recording device, and an active/passive pickup switch that compensates for active instrument inputs. Peaveyās exclusive DDT speaker protection circuitry senses the onset of clipping and responds with slight limiting that allows the amp to retain the tone, headroom and dynamics (bypass included).
Award-winning musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer Peavey Electronics is proud to release the new MiniMax bass amplifier head. Offering cutting-edge technology in a compact, lightweight package, the MiniMax delivers 400 Watts of powerful, rich low end. With DDT speaker protection and Peaveyās exclusive psychoacoustic low end enhancement that adds bass without overburdening speakers, the MiniMax contains an impressive set of features and is available at a price accessible to todayās working bassist.
The MiniMax is capable of a huge array of tones and is adaptable to any live or studio setting. A 3-band EQ with Punch, Mid-shift and Bright controls provides a multitude of tone-shaping options, while the built-in chromatic tuner allows for easy tuning on the fly. In addition, the MiniMax pre-gain control with TransTube gain boost adds a tube-like crunch to the sound.
Peavey Electronics, one of the industryās most progressive musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturers, is proud to introduce the groundbreaking ReValver 4 amplifier modeling software. Redesigned from the ground up, this latest version of the award-winning ReValver software contains revolutionary amp modeling capabilities that capture true characteristics of real tube amplifiers.
ReValver is renowned for its industry-leading amp modeling accuracy, which is achieved by modeling an amplifier down to the component level. Now Peavey has updated and improved the modeling engine in ReValver 4, taking amp modeling to a whole new level of realistic toneshaping possibilities. The new ReValver 4 also incorporates a GUI and UX redesign and the ability to run on a Windows tablet, plus other high-level features including GIG mode, ACT (Audio Cloning Technology) and RIR 2 cabinet modeling.
Peavey Electronics, one of the industryās most technologydriven musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturers, is proud to unveil the new MiniMega 1000 Watt bass amplifier head.
Delivering the classic tone for which Peavey is known, the MiniMega features 1,000 Watts of power and produces incredibly full and rich sound in a compact package. Weighing in at only 8 lbs., the MiniMega is the new go-to amplifier for bassists of any style.
Using technology not found on other bass amps, the MiniMega represents a new level of compact bass amplifier performance. Peaveyās proprietary KOSMOS bass enhancement provides increased bass impact, while the exclusive psychoacoustic low-end enhancement adds bass without overburdening speakers ā a testament to Peaveyās technology-driven reliability. The MiniMega also contains other modern features such as built in compression and a 4-band EQ with semi-parametric mids.
Complete with an effects loop, gain control with crunch button, tuner output and more, the MiniMega contains everything necessary for todayās professional bass player. Ideal for use in any live or studio setting, the back panel of the MiniMega has all the connectivity necessary to patch in effects, powered speakers or connect to a sound reinforcement system.
For more information:
Peavey
Warm Audio introduces the Fen-tone, a modern ribbon microphone inspired by a classic 50s Danish design.
Warm Audio, the industry-leading manufacturer of classic-inspired professional recording products, microphones, and guitar pedals, today introduces the Fen-tone, an instrument ribbon microphone inspired by a classic 50s Danish design, but built with modern components to deliver powerful bass & rich midrange, true to the sound profile of the most sought-after small-format ribbon microphone. Premium components, including a custom Japanese ribbon, Neodymium magnet, and CineMag USA transformer, along with a 26 dB JFET in-line preamp that enables active use with low-gain preamps ensure that the Fen-tone captures the most popular tones heard on guitars, overheads, horns, and more. The Fen-tone is available as a single mic ($699 | 749 ⬠incl. VAT | £639 incl. VAT) and stereo pair ($1199 | 1349 ⬠incl. VAT | £1159 incl. VAT), available now at authorized retailers worldwide.
āThis style of microphone has been around for a long time and the tone has evolved since the original, we're excited to deliver an affordable version of its most contemporary tones,ā said Bryce Young, founder and President of Warm Audio. āWeāre all familiar with the body style of this mic, but not everyone knows it originally comes from a design from the 1950s. While other B&O-inspired designs have used upgraded ribbons & components like ours to deliver that guitar tone we all know & love, weāve also upgraded the original switch that cycled between various modes for āTalkā, "Music", and āOrchestraā, to now being an active inline preamp to offer even more value. We revived the trademark to keep it authentic to its history while bringing the Warm formula of premium components to the build to deliver todayās most sought-after guitar & instrument tones.ā
Like the original design, the Warm Audio Fen-tone recreates the popular, pencil-style design with ventilated sides that can easily be placed in crowded recording environments. Unlike the original 1950s mic, the Warm Audio Fen-tone features modern upgrades including a custom Japanese ribbon, rare-earth Neodymium magnet, and custom CineMag USA transformer to deliver the iconic ribbon tones made popular in contemporary music.
The Fen-tone, with its Figure-8 polar pattern, excels on loud sources that require detail while handling high SPLs, like electric guitar cabs, overheads, and horns. The upgraded components in Fen-tone deliver intricate midrange detail that helps guitars shine in dense mixes. In addition to the bass and midrange emphasis, Fen-tone shows off its warm āforgivingā tone by taming top-end harshness above 15 kHz for smooth presence without exaggerated sibilance or harshness.
The Warm Audio Fen-tone takes the value a step further by adding an all-analog 26 dB JFET in-line preamp, allowing for active use. This feature is critical for those users who plan on plugging their ribbons directly into audio interfaces or inferior preamps without volume, tone, and frequency loss. This active circuit is true bypass and does not impact the integrity of the passive ribbon mic circuit.
The Fen-tone is available as a single mic ($699 | 749 ⬠incl. VAT | £639 incl. VAT) and stereo pair ($1199 | 1349 ⬠incl. VAT | £1159 incl. VAT), available now at authorized retailers worldwide.
For more information, visit warmaudio.com.
Our columnistās bass, built by Anders Mattisson.
Would your instrumental preconceptions hold up if you don a blindfold and take them for a test drive?
I used to think that stereotypes and preconceived notions about what is right and wrong when it comes to bass were things that other people dealt withānot me. I was past all that. Unfazed by opinion, immune to classification. Or so I thought, tucked away in my jazz-hermit-like existence.
That belief was shattered the day Ian Martin Allison handed me a Fender Coronado while I was blindfolded in his basement. (Donāt askāitās a long story and an even longer YouTube video if you have time to kill.) For years, I had been a single-cut, 5-string, high-C-string player. That was my world. So, you can imagine my shock when I connected almost instantly with something that felt like it was orbiting a different solar system.
Less than 5 minutes with the instrument, and it was all over. The bass stayed in Ianās basement. (I did not.) I returned home to Los Angeles, but I couldnāt stop thinking about it. I kept playing my beloved semi-chambered single-cut 5-string, but I sent its builder, Anders Mattisson, a message about my recent discovery. I asked if there was any way we could create something with the essence of a Coronado while still suiting my playing and my music.
Thatās when everything I thought I knew about bassāand the personal boundaries I had set for myselfācame crashing down.
When we started talking about building a bass with a fully chambered body, much like the Coronado, I was adamant about two things: It needed to have active electronics, and I would never play a headless bass.
Fast-forward three months to the winterNAMM show in California. Anders arrived for dinner at my house, along with a group of incredible bass players, includingHenrik Linder. I was literally in a chefās apron, trying to get course after course of food on the table, when Henrik said, āHey, letās bring the new bass in.ā
He came down the stairs carrying something that looked suspiciously like a guitar caseānot a bass case. I figured there had been some kind of mistake or maybe even a prank. When I finally got a break from the chaos in the kitchen, I sat down with the new bass for the first time. And, of course, it was both headless and passive.
I should mention that even though I had made my requests clearāno headless bass, active electronicsāI had also told Anders that I trusted him completely. And Iām so glad I did. He disintegrated my assumptions about what a bass āhas toā or āshouldā be, and in doing so, changed my life as a musician in an instant. The weight reduction from the fully chambered body made it essential for the instrument to be headless to maintain perfect balance. And the passive nature of the pickups gave me the most honest representation of my sound that Iāve ever heard in over 30 years of playing bass.
Iām 46 years old. It took me this long to let go of certain fundamental beliefs about my instrument and allow them to evolve naturally, without interference. Updating my understanding of what works for me as a bass player required perspective, whereas some of my most deeply held beliefs about the instrument were based on perception. I donāt want to disregard my experiences or instincts, but I do want to make sure Iām always open to the bigger pictureāto other peopleās insights and expertise.
Trusting my bass builderās vision opened musical doors that would have otherwise stayed bolted shut for years to come. The more I improve my awareness of where the line between perception and perspective falls, the more I can apply it to all aspects of my world of bass.
Maybe this month, itās playing an instrument I never would have previously considered. Next month, it might be incorporating MIDI into my pedalboard, or transcribing bass lines from spaghetti Westerns.
No matter what challenges or evolutions I take on in my music and bass playing, I want to remain openāopen to change, open to new ideas, and open to being proven wrong. Because sometimes, the instrument you never thought youād play ends up being the one that changes everything.
Slayer announces a one-night-only show just added to the bandās handful of headline concerts set for this summer. Marking the bandās only U.S. East Coast performance in 2025, Slayer will headline Hershey, PAās 30,000-seat Hersheypark Stadium on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
The concert will be hosted by WWE Superstar Damian Priest, a well-known āmetalheadā and a long-time Slayer fan. Priest's signature āfinisherā is Slayerās āSouth of Heaven,āand Slayerās Kerry King provided guitar for Priestās āRise For The Nightā Theme.
This exclusive concert brings together a multi-generation, powerhouse line up:
Slayer
Knocked Loose
Suicidal Tendencies
Power Trip
Cavalera (performing Chaos A.D. - exclusive)
Exodus (performing Bonded by Blood)
All confirmed Slayer 2025 concert dates are as follows:
JULY
3 Blackweir Fields, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Line-Up: Slayer, with Special Guests Amon Amarth , Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed and Neckbreakker
5 Villa Park, Birmingham, UK ⢠Black Sabbath ⢠Back to the Beginning
6 Finsbury Park, London
Line Up: Slayer, with Special Guests Amon Amarth , Anthrax, Mastodon, Anthrax, and Neckbreakker
11 Quebec Festival d'ƩtƩ de QuƩbec City, Quebec
Direct Support: Mastodon
SEPTEMBER
18 Louder Than Life @ Highland Festival Grounds, Louisville, KY
20 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
Some names youāve heard, others maybe not. But they all have a unique voice on the instrument.
Intermediate
Intermediate
⢠Open your ears to new influences.
⢠Understand how to create interlocking rhythm parts.
⢠Develop a new appreciate for the rhythmic complexity of Wayne Krantz, the effortless bebop of Biréli Lagrène, and the driving force that is David Williams.
The guitar has been a major factor in so many styles of music over the last 70 years, and any experienced musician can tell you that playing any one of those styles with authenticity takes countless hours of dedication. As we learn the instrument, we seek out music that we find inspiring to help guide us toward our voice. The legends we all know in the guitar pantheon have inspired millions of players. In my musical journey over the years, Iāve always been thrilled to discover unique musicians who never attained the same recognition as their more famous counterparts. With so much music at our disposal these days, I thought this group of guitarists deserved a little more spotlight. The inspiration and knowledge they have provided me were paramount in my development, and I wouldnāt be the player I am without them.
BirĆ©li LagrĆØneās Bombastic Bop
Standards was the first jazz guitar record I really listened to, and his playing on this entire album is devastating. There is so much groove, joy, and ferocity in every note. The way he lays ideas out on the fretboard made a lot of sense to me, his rhythms were intentional and clear, and it was surprisingly easy to dig into as a rock guitarist at the time. He has an extensive catalog of jazz, gypsy jazz, and fusion records with some of the best in the world, and heās also a killer bass player who can sing just like Frank Sinatra! Ex. 1 is over the first eight measures of āStella by Starlight.ā I stole so much vocabulary from this solo that I can still play bits from memory 20 years later. LagrĆØneās treatment of two-measure chunks to play his ideas was significantly helpful. Whether it was an engaging rhythmic phrase, constant eighth-notes, or just cramming in as much as he could, I stopped worrying so much about catching every chord change after I learned this one.
Ex. 1
Stella by Starlight
Old-School Swing!
George Barnes is a unique jazz guitarist who was a contemporary of Charlie Christian, Johnny Smith, and Django. A significant part of his early work was writing and arranging for radio and television, for NBC, and he also wrote the very first electric guitar method book in 1942. A friend in Austin gave me two CDs of his: a collection of his playing from the Plantation Party radio show and an overview of his octet recordings. The octet recordings sound like unhinged cartoon music with guitar and orchestral instruments and are highly enjoyable. Ex. 2 is a line I lifted from a recording of him playing āAināt Misbehavin.ā It was one of the hippest endings I have ever heard on a jazz tune, and although I canāt find the recording anywhere, I still use it all the time. I love the intention in George Barnesā playing. Swinging and mischievous, he always sounds like he was having fun.
Ex. 2
The George Barnes Sextet - Lover, Come Back to Me
āThrillingā Rhythm Solos
David Williams is one of the greatest rhythm players of all time. He is responsible for most of the memorable guitar moments on Michael Jacksonās records, and all his parts have an infectious nature. He is the primary reason I got interested in rhythm guitar, and he is still an inspiration on that front. One of my favorite examples of his playing is the breakdown in Michael Jacksonās āThrillerā (where Vincent Price does the rap). His signature thunderous right-hand approach to single-note rhythm parts is in full effect, and the natural accents between the two rhythm parts are infectious on their own but weave perfectly together. Ex. 3 is my interpretation of two interlocking parts in this style. Heās said in interviews that his concept as a player was to develop ārhythm solosā that could stand out front in a song, and this is a perfect example of that.
Ex. 3
Thriller
(Better than) Average Riffs
Though Hamish Stuart is most known for being an original member of the Average White Band, the singer/guitarist/composer/producer also did extensive work with heavyweights such as George Benson, Paul McCartney, Chaka Khan, and Aretha Franklin. Though AWB was still working until 1983, Hamish was doing sessions with various artists as a sideman in the early ā80s, including this excerpt from āMove Me No Mountainā off Chaka Khanās Naughty from 1980 (Ex. 4). Iāve always loved the interplay between these two parts, range-wise and rhythmically. The lower pick line hits some unusual 16th-note placements, and the higher dyads have a churn to them that is amazing. Both parts together feel different rhythmically from anything I have ever heard but sound so cool and unique.
Ex. 4
Chaka Khan - Move Me No Mountain
Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz is one of those guys that hit me like a lightning bolt. Upon hearing him, I felt like I had āpermissionā to play more with the fingers of my right hand, use jagged and intentional rhythms, and above all, to play more naturally. Wayne has always played like himself. His control over rhythm and articulation alone is legendary, not to mention the vast body of unique work he has created. Ex. 5 is an excerpt from the only solo I ever learned of his, from āInfinity Splitā off 1999ās Greenwich Mean. I love this solo because it is incredibly engaging rhythmically and melodically, but almost 100 percent inside the harmony. This solo taught me more about rhythmic placement and articulation than anything.
Ex. 5
Wayne Krantz - Infinity Split
Though I could only grab a certain percentage of these guysā āvocabulary,ā learning these parts over the years helped me find my sound. The result was an attempt to emulate some of their musicality in my way, rather than outright imitating them. Anything you hear that grabs your interest is probably worth sitting down and figuring out. While we might not mention the guitarists above alongside Hendrix or Van Halen, they have all done their part to put a brick in the cathedral, furthering music, and the instrument.