Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Epiphone is holding a giveaway for the relatively new acoustic-electric guitar called the Epiphone SST Studio. The SST Studio has a solid mahogany body that has been chambered with sound cavities, that when amplified by an under-saddle pickup, produce an acoustic tone that’s feed-back free.
The Epiphone SST Studio has a street price for about $350.00 USD but everyone likes something for free.
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
If you’re not familiar with Matsumoto-san, he is one of the Japan’s leading guitarists and a member of the popular rock band B’z who have 43 consecutive #1 singles, 23 #1 albums, and sold more than 78 million records in Japan alone making them one of Japan’s most successful groups.
Based on a design from the Gibson Custom shop, Epiphone is releasing the Tak Matsumoto DC Custom on December 25, 2009 and will be exclusive to Japan.
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
We know that you would normally wait until the end of the year to start recapping the top items of the year, but here at Fretbase we like to do things differently. We know that people are considering guitars for that special someone right now and so we thought it would be worthwhile to let our users know now which were our most popular guitars in 2009.
So far this year over 400,000 people have visited Fretbase to get information about a guitar, gear, artist or song and we figure those 400,000 people probably know quite a bit (heck, they are reading Fretbase aren’t they?). So we have compiled a list of the most popular guitars as determined by looking at the number of our readers looking at each of these guitars. So without any further delay, let’s get to the list.
Monday, November 16th, 2009
Everyone loves free. Epiphone is holding a guitar giveaway contest for the new Swingster. The Epiphone Swingster is an arched top hollow-bodied jazz box with Swingbucker pups (Alnico V) with a parallel/series switch that’s geared toward rock-a-billy tones and jazz. We posted on the release of the Swingster a while back and think this guitar could make for a great alternative to the more pricey Gretsch models.
Register by November 30, 2009 for your chance to win the Epiphone Swingster. All you need is a working email address - it’s so easy. Head over to Epiphone.com to register.
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Epiphone has added a new guitar into the Emperor series called the Swingster. This new guitar borrows from the Emperor-II design but adds a few new features that give it a more twangy, rock-a-billy style and tone.
If you’re looking for a mid-range priced hollow body guitar for playing rock-a-billy or Chet Atkins style music this might be just the guitar. Look out Gretsch!
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
A ways back we covered the announcement that the Gibson Custom Shop was reissuing the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire with a 100 instrument run and a street price around $2,900.00 USD. Epiphone followed that up with the Epiphone Wilshire Limited Edition - an “economical” ($250 street) version of the guitar with humbuckers and block inlays and a slightly more “Fender-esque” body shape.
Now we have the Epiphone Wilshire 1966 with NY Mini-humbuckers and in Aged Cherry, Worn Cherry and Worn Black finishes for the vintage vibe.
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Updated May 8, 2009: We have an updated list with new contests. Go check them out now.
Lately we’ve been writing a series on the “Downturn Guitar” - economical guitars that are relatively comparable to the higher end instruments. In these tough economic times we all have to make sacrifices and sometimes that new Martin or Gibson might have to be a new Blueridge or a new Epiphone. But for some of us even buying any guitar might be out of the question. So what do we do when we can’t even spare a dime, brother?
We enter contests and try and win that guitar! Full story…
Thursday, March 5th, 2009
Word comes today from the Associated Press that the new Beatles’ edition of Rock Band set to be released later this year will include new instruments modeled after those used by the band. The game, set to be released on September 9th, will mark the first time that there has been a Rock Band game based on the music of one particular band. But of course, this is no average band. Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin, is producing the product. Whole Story…
Friday, February 6th, 2009
Gibson has introduced a new series of guitars called the “Epiphone Historic Custom USA” to commemorate the Gibson-built Epiphone models that came out of their operations in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 1959 to the early ’70s. The first model in this new series is the Epiphone 1962 Wilshire reissue.
Gibson Lifestyle has a great write up on the history of the Epiphone Wilshire. What’s interesting is how underrated these Epiphones were at the time and how they’re now sought after on the vintage market. Full Story…
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
I am more than willing to be upfront about my feelings for Neil Diamond. I love the guy. He has written many of my favorite songs and there is nothing like that baritone voice. I also have to like a huge rock star who has a song on an album at the peak of his career entitled “Kol Nidre/My Name Is Yussel”. (The album is The Jazz Singer for you Kol Nidre fans.) His original Hot August Night album is one of the best live albums of all-time.
So needless to say I was excited to read the New York Times’ profile on Neil Diamond. I’m really glad he’s still going strong and not surprised he is still playing to packed houses. The man puts on one helluva show. It also seems incredible that his most recently released album Home Before Dark was recently #1 on the Billboard charts. I consider it a crime that he is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
As best we can tell, Diamond usually plays Gibson or Epiphone acoustic guitars. Epiphone released an all black Neil Diamond Gibson Epiphone Signature Guitar with diamonds on it a few years back. That is the one he’s playing in the photo.
The Marathon Man of Pop (New York Times)
Neil Diamond Home Before Dark MP3’s (Amazon)
Photo Courtesty of Whiper via Creative Commons License
