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Supro Introduces 14 New Guitar Models

Video

Supro's modern-day workhorses are based on the best-selling vintage models from the storied brand.

Americana Series Belmont Vibrato

Anaheim, CA (January 17, 2016) -- Supro revival has taken the MI industry by storm since the company's iconic lightning bolt logo made its triumphant return at Winter NAMM in 2014. Building on a storied legacy that dates back to the origins of rock 'n' roll music and the first electrified instruments, Supro has now announced the introduction of 14 new electric guitars based on the best-selling vintage models from this legendary American brand.

The look and sound of Supro guitars is instantly recognizable due to their distinctive Art Deco style and historic associations with guitarists including a young Jimi Hendrix (Ozark), Link Wray and David Bowie (Dual-Tone) as well as modern-day blues heroes, Joe Perry of Aerosmith (Ozark) and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys (Martinique). Working with master-designer Trev Wilkinson, vintage pickup expert Ken Calvet and virtuoso luthier Glenn Sweetwood, Supro USA has updated the playability of these classic designs while meticulously capturing the period-correct electronics and unique construction details that set the original Chicago-made Supro models apart from their contemporary rivals back in the '60s.

The Americana Series guitars are replicas of the Supro "reso-glass" instruments, uniquely constructed with a chambered mahogany body and resonant molded top. This semi-hollow recipe retains the unique sonic characteristics of the vintage Supros while providing today's musicians with a lightweight, highly playable instrument that stays in tune and is easy to maintain. The ten distinctive models in the Americana reissue series come loaded with authentic "Vistatone" pickups, which reproduce the groundbreaking, single-coil design developed by Valco in the early 1950s. These historic reissues are available in two body styles with a range of available hardware options, including piezo body sensors and a newly developed floating vibrato system. Americana Series guitars range in price from $699 to $1,299.

The Island Series guitars are updated, high-performance instruments based on the 1962 version of the Supro Ozark. The timeless curves of this vintage solidbody design have been enhanced with ergonomic set-neck construction, satin-neck finish and comfortable 12" radius with rolled fretboard edges. All three of the Supro Island Series models come equipped with vintage Gold Foil pickups--accurate replicas of the original Supro "Clear-tone" pickups of the '50s and '60s. These unique, field-coil pickups are low-noise single coils with no pole pieces, an extra-wide magnetic field and a huge, broadband tone. The Island Series guitars are available in single, double, and triple pickup configurations with a range of unique metallic colors as well as black, white, or tobacco flame maple. Island Series guitars range in price from $899 (Jamesport) to $1,199 (Hampton w/ flame top).

Supro guitars will make their public debut at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, January 19-22, 2017. In development since the acquisition of Supro by Absara Audio in 2013, Supro guitars are in stock now and shipping to authorized Supro dealers around the world.

Watch the company's video demo:

For more information:
Supro

The Unexpectedly Challenging Rhythms of Lou Reed (And How to Master Them!)

Though Lou Reed seemed to only use a handful of chords, his shrewd right-hand strumming created limitless rhythmic variations.

Beginner to Intermediate

Focus on syncopation.
Add muted strums to enhance your rhythm playing.
Learn how to modify complex rhythmic patterns into smaller, more comprehensible figures.

Though usually more lauded for his lyrics than his guitar playing, Lou Reed had a distinctive style of strumming that can make replication a challenge and seemingly impossible for beginners to comprehend. With a combination of syncopations and muted strums, Reed’s rhythm guitar—from his time with the Velvet Underground to his solo career—has a groove and feel that all guitar players can learn from.

Paul Reed Smith: My Year Writing for Premier Guitar

Paul Reed Smith cradles one of his company’s Charcoal Phoenix limited-edition guitars in front of a PRS Sonzera amp.

The storied guitar builder reflects on his dozen months sharing his experience, knowledge, and perspective with PG’s readers.

Over the past year, I’ve written a series of articles in Premier Guitar going over some of my, and our industry’s, views of guitar making. You can find all of them all online (and for those reading this online, the articles are collected here). What I am going to attempt to do for this final piece is boil down each of these articles to a “sort of” conclusion. I have enjoyed the process of writing and editing each one. For the most part, it’s been a lot of fun. So:

Supro Introduces 14 New Guitar Models

Supro's modern-day workhorses are based on the best-selling vintage models from the storied brand.

Though Lou Reed seemed to only use a handful of chords, his shrewd right-hand strumming created limitless rhythmic variations.

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Solo Years

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The Lou Reed Legacy

The storied guitar builder reflects on his dozen months sharing his experience, knowledge, and perspective with PG’s readers.

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