Guitar

Les Paul was an iconic performer, inventor and guitarist. His contributions to music and recording, as we know it today, are enormous.  

How many times have you been shushed at the local music store for checking out their merchandise at realistically appreciable volumes (which for the guitarist should be really loud)? Creation Labs has just given you that perfect opportunity to try out new gear at cranked-up levels at the Nashville Amp Expo this August.  

Guitar Center has made the announcement of the return of their contest called The King Of The Blues. Do you have juice enough to go after it? Find out by reading this.  

If you have always wanted to "dream your guitar out on paper," or if you just want to know what that means, listen to Mike Ausman from Taylor tell you all about the Taylor Build to Order Program. In keeping with the fine tradition of comparing guitar-related items and concepts to yummy food, Mike describes this customer-oriented program as an "à la carte scenario." It's just like being at a fancy French restaurant!  

Anyone can join a band before it gets famous, but once people know who you are, and you have to replace a band member, you can ensure that you pick up someone who knows what he's doing. For the Pretenders, that someone was guitarist James Walbourne, who tells us about some of the tools he uses on stage.  

Gibson is holding the In Love With Your Guitar contest, just in time for Valentine's Day. If you love your guitar but are not "in love" with it, you need not apply.  

MIT Media Lab student Amit Zoran has designed The Chameleon Guitar, an instrument that combines acoustic resonance with digital processing for a warm, natural woody sound that can be manipulated beyond its physical limits. I guess those geniuses over at MIT are pretty smart after all.  

Logically beginning with the popular Fender Stratocaster, Obbligato introduces the Turnstyle analog modeling system which will turn more than just styles. It aims to make your head rotate by packing several guitar and pickup models into your Fender strat, battery free.  

We check out the Paul Reed Smith booth where famous guitarists from all walks of music talk about playing PRS guitars and getting Christmas cards from Paul Reed Smith himself.  

ESP has announced the Metallica Sweepstakes, a chance to randomly win ESP equipment, Metallica schwag, and a chance to meet the metal masters themselves! Think you've got what it takes to dethrone J. Irving-Giles' contest win streak? Step up to the plate1  

Elizabeth Webb and Nicholai Johnson may comprise only a part of the epic instrument section that is Midwest Dilemma, but they are two very integrals players in the band. Elizabeth helped pen the majority of the instrumentations, while Nicholai is one of the other core six members who tours with the group.  

Midwest Dilemma's album, Timelines and Tragedies, has the sound of a very intimate recording. Yet, this chronicle of Justin Lamoureux's family from Canada to Omaha is both epic in it's conceptual scale and in the sheer size and range of it's lineup.  

Gearwire's newest member -- On-Screen Silent Film Text -- sits down with Tim Gane, head scientist of Stereolab. Tim responds with his choices on gear, ranging from DAWs to guitars to effects.  

Life's a never ending wheel for DigiTech as they contract trade show fever from the 125th AES Convention where they're launching DigiTruck. This 53-foot semi will be toting DigiTech gear, a huge stage and a demo room across the country, taking the trade show experience to you.  

As if you couldn't get enough Van Hagar back in 1993, Peavey unleashed this goodie upon the world. Despite it's diagonal positioning in this ad, however, this amp turned out to be quite useful for touring artists.  

Christian Knudsen was looking for a guitar. His penchant for multiple tunings meant he was really looking for two.  

Korn's Former guitarist talks about his new baritone by Ibanez (who knows, maybe some day you'll be able to get this guitar) and the sound it gives to his new CD, Flush.  

À Rebours' Ian Stone talks, in detail, about the band's live set up and the gear that makes it all work.  

Elmira, New York is home to the progressive goth stylings of À Rebours. Ian Stone talks about guitars and recording with the band.  

We check out the CNC machines at Washburn Custom Shop, where CAD has all of the specific cuts programmed so perfect robots will get it exactly right, which is why I once hired a CNC machine to shave my face. . . off. . . and trade it with John Travolta's face.  

Timmy Curran can shred, not in any death metal sort of way, but rather on a surfboard. He talks a little about his first record and how he recorded it  

Colin Herring plays an interesting variety of guitars and he took a little time to talk about the whys and wherefores of what he uses.  

Aram Danesh has ranged from blues to funky rock. His new project explores even more eclectic musical ground.  

Downbeat and hard to pin down stylistically, Neva Dinova, released their third CD in April 2005. Guitarist Jake Bellows took some time to talk to Gearwire about his guitars and more.  

Take your avatar and fly on over to Gibson Island in Second Life. It kicks off today with a live concert headlined by Fleetwood Mac's own Bob Welch via his "Bob Welch Magic" avatar. It could virtually be the best concert of the summer.  

Matt Ragland of Austin-based Nelo, has been playing either a Martin 000CIe or a Taylor 314. He loves them both but neither was perfect. He went to Taylor for help making that perfect instrument.  

Now that Bill's applied enough aloe vera to his sunburn, and Britton's -- uhh -- recovered, we've decided to take one last look at the Summer NAMM product debuts that may have been eclipsed in the standard GW news cycle by the mighty Moog Guitar.  

After years of writing, songwriter Emma Skye sat down to record -- using Garageband. Where should she go from there in her attempt to make it in the music biz?  

The power pop outfit from Pittsburgh talk a little about their gear and their plans.  

For about two weeks, we thought the HVAC system in the Gearwire offices was busted, but it turns out it's just hot because Summer NAMM 2008 is here! Covered: Moog Guitar and other, non-Moog-Guitar products.