Guitar Jam

See-Through Ampeg Is An Eye-Catcher

Sonic State
Originally made between 1969 and 1971 and seen in the hands of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, the Ampeg Dan Armstrong see-through guitar is now a rare and expensive collectors item. Good news if you want one though as Ampeg has announced a reissue model for 2006.

Featuring a completely unique body that is made of an eye-catching clear Plexiglas material, Ampeg tell us that the Dan Armstrong guitar’s distinctive construction actually eliminates unwanted vibrations and frequencies, while producing tremendous sustain. The net result, they say, is a playing experience and tone unlike any other.

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A Star Studded Guitar Charity Event

GuitarTown
Nashville's GuitarTown announced that country music duo Big & Rich will host the GuitarTown Auction Gala Event on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at BMI in Nashville, TN. The event is the culmination of the Guitartown project which has exhibited 10 foot tall Gibson Guitar sculptures and other painted guitar art throughout Nashville for the past year. Other celebrities include: Vince Gill, Bill Anderson, Michael McDonald, Jamie O'Neal, Little Texas, Jace Everett, Brenda Lee, Steve Cropper, Muzik Mafia and Lee Roy Parnell. More celebrities will be announced over the next few weeks. In addition, rising country star Keni Thomas will perform at this star-studded charity event. Other artists and celebrities will continue to be added and announced.

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Big Hits in 2006 Rock Charts

Modern Guitars
Alfred is pleased to release 2006 Rock Charts Guitar, Deluxe Annual Edition. This book contains the biggest hits from some of the greatest artists of 2006. 2006 Rock Charts Guitar provides authentic guitar TAB for all the songs in the book. Artists featured include Green Day, Seether, Chevelle, Shadows Fall, Sheryl Crow, Disturbed, Bon Jovi, Santana featuring Michelle Branch, Eagles, Neil Young, Finger Eleven, Nickelback, Staind and Dream Theater.

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Fender and Intel Create the iTele

Popgadget
Fender and Intel have partnered to create a concept of an internet-enabled super guitar. The new revisited Fender Telecaster will incorporate Intel Centrino mobile technology to allow Internet access on the go. The TELECASTER guitar contains a Hewlett Packard TC1100 tablet laptop with 1.25ghz RAM and an Echo Indigo I/O soundcard.

With the new Fender every musician will be able to download music directly on their “super-guitar”, record new ideas on it and email them directly to whoever they want. It is supposed to even incorporate a webcam, so you can stream yourself rocking onstage to the whole Internet world.

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It's All Part Of My Rock n' Roll Dream

eCoustics.com
Presented by JBL and produced by David Fishof Presents, the 2006 Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp will be the biggest and best ever. For 2006, a remarkable lineup of all-star rock legends - including Roger Daltrey (The Who), all the members of Cheap Trick (Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts and Great Southern), Neal Schon (Journey), Mickey Thomas (Starship), and many more -- will be participating.

The camp will take place in Los Angeles, CA, from February 16 - 20, 2006. Over the course of five days and nights, participants will have the opportunity to learn from, practice, jam and hang out with some of the world's greatest rock musicians and songwriters. They'll be able to live their rock dreams, up-close-and-personal with the stars. No experience is necessary, and all musical levels are welcome.

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Bob Weir Signature Guitar Set For April Release

Harmony Central
Alvarez has introduced the Bob Weir Yairi Signature WY1BW guitar, an exact replica of the original prototype Alvarez Bob Weir Yairi Signature guitar first released in 1991.

As a member of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir was deeply involved in the development of the original Alvarez Bob Weir Yairi WY1 guitar—crafted to exact specifications for Bob's eclectic playing style. Due to its popularity, the original WY1 model has evolved into an expanded range of Alvarez Yairi WY1 guitars, incorporating different woods, cosmetics, colors, and other specification changes.

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Morley's New Power Wah Pedal Pushes Vintage Tone

Harmony Central
Morley, a manufacturer of Wah, volume and switching pedals, introduced the new Power Wah and Power Wah Volume pedals at winter NAMM 2006.

"These two new Wah pedals were specifically designed to capture the vintage Wah tone players want but with tried and true modern features they expect from Morley," states designer and Director of Engineering Scott Flesher.

Both pedals are equipped with Morley's new HQ2 inductor that was custom designed for authentic vintage Wah tones but manufactured to today's standards. The HQ2 inductor doesn't rely on old technology but modern technology for consistent tone.

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Off Key: Chicks with Picks

Reuters
Four women rockers who took on the music of Led Zeppelin are driving club audiences to a frenzy and, offstage, whipping up speculation over their sexual tastes with the name of the band: Lez Zeppelin.

"We have sort of a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," says Steph Paynes, lead guitar player and the "Jimmy Page" of the group. "It's better to keep it all a mystery, and in the end it really doesn't matter. What matters is the music."

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Father of Classical Guitar Society Dies

Philadelphia Inquirer
Peter Segal, 56, a concert guitarist and professor who was a leader in the classical-guitar community in Philadelphia, died of esophageal cancer Thursday at his Society Hill home.

Dr. Segal was a founding member of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society in 1967. He was director of guitar studies at Temple University from 1973 to 1993 and performed for 30 years in Philadelphia and worldwide. He appeared with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also played with ensembles including the Concerto Soloists, Amerita String Orchestra, Davidsbund Chamber Ensemble, and Relache.

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BB is Still The King Of The Blues

Times Union
B.B. King is the undisputed king of the blues. And at the venerable age of 80, the blues virtuoso's got no plans to give up the throne anytime soon.

Slowed by diabetes, King has performed for the last few years in a chair with his beloved guitar, Lucille, sitting on one of his hobbled knees. But his affliction hasn't dampened his spirit; King is perpetually on tour, very much a road warrior like the old-time bluesmen who have come before him.

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