Eric Johnson - UP CLOSE Tune Samples!

PLUS, BRAND NEW VIDEOS!!!

Album Available Dec. 7th - But Get a Small Taste Now!

So what is the new cover image anyway? Well, it's abstract art-- anybody would know that! Duh! (It spells U-P C-L-O-S-E)

But we been lookin' at it for a few months now while wondering if the album is ever gonna be released. I've personally spent hours staring at it. I've stared at it over, under and upside down; searching for hidden meaning and secret truths. I even went vegan for a whole week. Ok, not really, but I thought about it.

NOW, we can move forward! Just head over to www.ericjohnson.com where true enlightenment awaits this very moment, right on the home page. That's right, you read right. Short snippets of each and every "Up Close" track are now available to tide you over for just a few more days. But if that weren't enough, below is just ONE of THREE BRAND NEW VIDEOS UPLOADED NOV. 29, 2010!

PART 2

PART 3



Order UP CLOSE @Amazon.com

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FCS 60 NOS Blonde

New 2010 NOCASTER Blonde Stratocaster

Gold hardware on this buttery blonde finish, with rosewood is a most delightful combination! Even all the pickguard screws & string trees are gold finished. Continuity is nice! Plenty of pics show no pits, scratches or even a smudge on the tuners, jack plate or bridge which is always a good indicator of truly fresh produce.

The NOS '60 has a 7.5" radius neck (probably a "D", but they don't say), and comes with COA and brown tolex '60 era case. Seller says COA included, although the zillion listing pics don't include a single COA image-- so call him on it. There are so many photos with close ups and different angles of the same areas over and over, that it gets ridiculous. My theory is the cat was hittin' a bong before doing the shoot. Just a theory mind you. But I can just imagine him narrowing down from 500 pics, ordering a ton of Chinese take-out, etc...

Seller: Panther Guitars- 100% Top-rated Seller. Location: New Jersey

Hi-end Strats

Current listings - Top Sellers

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T.Rex Reptile 2 Delay Released

Original Reptile Gets New Upgrades!

T.Rex has squeezed a couple new features into their already versatile & popular Reptile delay-modulation pedal. The new Reptile 2 gets a tone control and tap tempo option for the delay rate. On the original Reptile, the right footswitch activated the modulation side, which is now labeled "Tempo". So somehow that switch must now serve a dual purpose.


Click Here for more info at the T.Rex site. I'm having a little trouble opening their PDF's for the Reptile 2, but they may open fine for you.


12/6 UPDATE: CLICK HERE FOR DEMO VIDEO.




Find Best Deals on T-Rex pedals:

www.guitargearstores.com - Top Pedal Sources Directory Links

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Fender Custom Shop 2011 Calendar

16 Months of Fender Guitar P*O*R*N!

Fender Custom Shop Guitar 2011 Wall Calendar (Calendar)

(Amazon link)

Fender always does a 16 month calendar. That's pretty cool. I was thinkin' if  they just went for a 24 month calendar, that would probably cut their calendar sales in half. So I guess 16 months still has some strategic value-- either that, or they're just being genuinely generous and cool.


At any rate, you have the choice of getting your new calendar now or waiting until April. I guess that's what the "When You're Ready" stuff is about. Just know that the calendars always begin on the same month, so you can enjoy a double feature for 4 months each year-- just plan with twice the wall space, that's all.

I hope this helps with your logistics!


Older and Collectible Guitar Calendars

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Cat Clausen Art 57 Reissue Stratocaster

"Marzia" Strat One-off For Sale

So cool finding something like this on Jimi's birthday! This '57 RI  has an art finish by Chicago based fine artist Cathee "Cat" Clausen, with details in the letter of authentication pictured above-- click images for larger view. The entire back is also painted; including back of neck and headstock. Be sure to read the letter!

Otherwise, you're looking at a Fender '57 Reissue which includes a tweed case. Visit www.catclausen.com
for more info on the artist. A video on her Press/Media page includes other guitar work she's done, although Clausen's primary medium appears to be canvas.

Seller: evazinga - location, Miami, FL


Guitar art & artist related posts:


Guitar Art Graphics Dominated by Women?

The Guitar Art of Paul Chase

Guitar Posters and Paintings - Including works by John Froehlich

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Jimi Hendrix Would Be 68 Tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Jimi! Wherever You Are!

Hendrix was born November 27, 1942. And he's actually been gone for more years than he was here. But the phenomenon of Hendrix lives on. Not simply because the family continues to release recordings and merchandise though. Right this moment, the music downloads of many teenagers include Beatles, Hendrix, Marley, Zeppelin, Floyd & The Doors. It just happens, like a grassroots idea transcending across the generations with it's own momentum & energy.

Be sure to listen to some Jimi this Saturday!
 

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Carl Verheyen's New Blog

The Carl Verheyen Report

Here's a site for your favorites, bookmarks, feeds and blogrolls! A very new blog, started in Nov. 2010, with only a few posts so far The Carl Verheyen Report is one to watch, folks. Verheyen is a guitar player's guitar player, veteran session player, gear tech and Stratocaster lover.

I've featured Carl's invaluable tips here a few times, including his brilliant Strat trem set-up video. This new blog of his already has some helpful content, and I hope he gets into the blog thing with lots more future goodies. Go comment there, and let him know you dig his blog!

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Black Friday Stratocaster - Friday #195

Strat Deluxe w/Anodized Pickguard

You were probably expecting some kind of turkey theme Strat. I couldn't find one, which is a good thing. Thanksgiving has its place and all, but not necessarily as an art finish idea here. All this black and goldness is but one of the many configs by eBay seller papatom609 who does some tasteful change-ups on mid quality Strats. You could call it budget custom shop.  

The featured Strat is rather nicely appointed as you can see. The seller provides plenty of info with a generous helping of mojo spiel gravy ladled in for good measure. Basically we have a USA black Strat with gold hardware and accents-- and components which aren't supposed to suck. So if you dig the look then go see what this here is all about.

Hey! It's Black Friday already! So whatever.

Friday Strat Archive

Hi-end Strats

Current Listings - Top Sellers

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Jennifer Batten Shredding The BLUES!

Blues Chops Don't Get Any Better Than This!




Jennifer Batten is a long established shredder and two-hand tapping virtuoso, but I was really blown away to discover her monster Blues chops! The quality of this vid isn't so good, and unfortunately it ends abruptly and way too soon, but give it a few listens.

This is labeled as a guitar clinic in Vancouver, uploaded in May '08.

www.jenniferbatten.com

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"Strat Talk" Animates

Ultimate Relic Recipe for Success!

This one had us rollin' on the floor today! Youtube channel TRWilley has a series of these "Strat Talk" uploads ya must see!  

"Mayer Strat Sales Pitch" is totally over the top. The case candy alone will have you in hysterics!!!


These videos are based upon actual stories from members of the Strat-Talk discussion forum, where membership and participation is not for the meek.



Approved for all most Audiences by Stratoblogster Labs


Note: Serious John Mayer fans serious about being serious John Mayer fans may experience e-riff-tile dysfunction and/or other side effects, including loss of appetite, itching, shortness of breath, night sweats and chronic seriousness.

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65 Fender Princeton Reverb

Vintage Blackface With Clean Bottom Too!!!

They're pretty proud of this one!:))

Tag condition is a good indicator

That's right! They even took a picture of the bottom-- ya don't see that very often. But you ain't seen nothin' till you check out the listing. This Arizona based seller provides tons of good, clear, close-up photos of this Princeton inside & out. And the chassis is clean enough for food service! BTW- a little known culinary secret-- Sashimi is even better just after shorting an electrolytic cap into it. Try some "Sprague Seared Ahi" sometime-- but use those chop sticks!

What else ya wanna know? We got all the tips right here, folks!

Seller: guitars2010 Top-rated Seller

Also see earlier post on Alessandro Modded New 65 Princeton RI's

Hi-end & Vintage Amps

Current Listings - Top Sellers

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FCS Amicay Carved Roots Strat - Friday #194

Fender George Amicay Artisan Carved

When George Amicay was with Fender Custom Shop he specialized in themes and intricate carving. Stratcollector.com has an interesting profile on Amicay and his work you gotta check out!


This Amicay Strat is currently listed by eBay seller: jessarn02 based in Newport Beach, CA who includes the following description:

New Robin Trower Interview!

Living Out of Time: Live

Brian Holland at guitarinternational.com posted an '06 retrospect interview with the Trower Man himself. And you will read it... Yes, you will.

Robin Trower's '06 release "Living Out of Time: Live", available on DVD or CD consists of 13 tunes from an '05 show in Germany which was filmed by Rockpalast-- we see lots of their stuff on Youtube.

Nearly every photograph of Robin Trower in existence qualifies as a guitar face photo in any respectable guitar face photo contest. If I played like Trower, I'd probably be in some kind of perpetual orgasm too. Maybe when he puts the guitar down, ya can't recognize him-- "Hey! Where did Robin go? And who's that wearing his shirt?"

The above link takes you right to the interview!

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uke3453 - Young Guitar Wonder

Ukelele at the Moment, But Look Out!

He even nails the bridge and the turnaround!





uke3453 is the Youtube channel for our young Japanese brother's very popular videos. This video has nearly 30 million views currently. Below that is a Steve Vai interview uploaded just yesterday by Justin Sandercoe.


After watching the Vai interview, watch the top video again. Some of Steve's points about childhood, talent and the learning process are spot-on, as can be observed with our 5 year old ukelele player. 

Steve Vai is putting lots of attention on education lately. I discovered Sir Ken Robinson's Changing Education Paradigms video when Steve recommended it on his Facebook.

Sandercoe has posted some great video interviews. I also strongly recommend checking out his Scott Henderson interview clips.

Anyone who actually watches all the video I've just referred to may experience major enlightenment.

Young Guitar Wonders - Archive

http://www.vai.com/

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1996 Fender Custom Shop Pre-Production Hendrix Strat

Original Fred Stuart Prototype '68 Hendrix Tribute

Currently listed at eBay by Minneapolis guitarist Jeff Loven, this Hendrix Strat is one of 3 built by Fred Stuart in 1996. It is one of two given away by Experience Hendrix, LLC in a national guitarist contest they sponsored, hence the Al Hendrix signature. Jeff acquired this guitar in '05, but provides photo documentation and contact info. from EH LCC, Fender Consumer Support and others about this guitar.

Personal Note in Eric Johnson CD

EJ Autograph in Used Ah Via Musicom CD Case??

Here's a special tease for anyone named "JASON" out there-- actually, I can think of couple in particular.


My friend Mark let me know about discovering the above note in a used Eric Johnson CD he bought "several years ago". Then just yesterday when visiting EJ's Facebook (via the link on my FB wall), Mark noticed the signature included under the profile pic, which sparked his memory and sent him scrambling through his CD collection.


Pretty friggin' obvious who wrote this note!

So if the actual Jason happens to see this, now you know your ex-wife sold those CD's. That's the breaks buddy. Mark promises to take good care of the memento. If it's any consolation, the 3 magic words are SAVE IMAGE AS...  or Mark's PayPal Please?

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Johnny Winter Burns Amp in Vienna

Firebird Too Much for the Combo!





Jack Pribek at Snake Oil blog just posted this clip. KEEP WATCHING because where there's smoke, THERE'S FIRE!


According to the Youtube user description, this is from a Nov. 14, 2009 show in Vienna; almost exactly one year ago. I haven't seen Johnny playing a Firebird for a long time. His amp probably wasn't used to it.

There are a suprisingly low number of views on this video, including other versions uploaded. Interestingly enough, JW is touring Europe again currently. Wonder if they're expecting a burning amp encore!

Johnny Winter has a pretty full tour schedule right now all the way through May 2011. Check his website and tour link for when he's bringin' the pyrotechnics to your area-- Not sure if he's doing this every show...

www.johnnywinter.net

Gibson Firebirds @eBay

Vintage & JW signature models

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Eric Johnson's Nov. 2010 Gear Rundown

Experience Hendrix 2010 Tour EJ Configuration

This just posted by our good friend Joe Bosso at MusicRadar.com gives us some up close and personal quality time with Eric Johnson. We haven't seen an EJ hosted gear tour since the Harmony Central clips from a couple years ago.


Although Eric doesn't include anything about Fantastik household cleaner in this clip, tone freaks should pay close attention to his reference about banana peels.


With the new UP CLOSE release due in less than a month (KNOCK WOOD), Eric Johnson fans have lots to be excited about. Anyone who still hasn't checked out Jas Obrecht's October 2010 Eric Johnson interview should catch that full spiritual experience too.

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Levinson Blade Custom Guitar

Is This Overkill?

Have you spotted the overkill yet? 

Ever seen a string tree post that seats all the way through the headstock and fastens from the back? Damn!


I really know very little about Levinson Blade guitars. This one is also stamped "Made in England", though I thought Blades were made in Switzerland. Their website doesn't mention manufacturing locations nor does it show a model like this in their current models.

Mindset for Guitar Gear DIY

Do It Yourself Philosophy

A friend recommended this book recently. He's been engaged in a long quest of making knives and ultimately Samurai swords. I'm talking about it here since many guitar players are either engaged or interested in gear DIY projects.

Not unlike the explosion of micro-brewers, the age of the small indie guitar/amp/pedal builder has really come into its own. And similar to the home brewers, more & more guitar geeks are trying their hand at small projects just for themselves. This may simply involve doing ones own maintenance or upgrading something.

FCS Todd Krause Set Neck Birdseye Top

 Stratocaster Senior Masterbuilt Maple and 24K Gold

*see update at bottom

 

Currently listed by a NY based low history. private seller, this Strat is nonetheless too sweet looking not to feature!


Besides all the birdseye & gold, this has diamond inlays and a black pearl "heart beat" inlay at the 12th fret. Under the birdseye top is a one piece swamp ash body with a set neck. The neck is flame maple. Pickups are Kinman Blues Specials. Guitar has COA, all candy and OHSC. It has the Masterbuilt headstock back stamp with serial #810.

Jeff Beck's Blues Gig With Lenny Henry

Jeff & Guitar Back Up Comedian

The good folks at Blues Review Magazine recently posted this clip on their Facebook. From comedian Lenny Henry's late 80's Live and Unleashed video (remember VHS), Lenny is joined by Jeff Beck for a Blues number.


This is a rare opportunity to see Jeff blast off by himself without a rhythm section. Lenny Henry is a British comedian, I actually wasn't familiar with, but I'm sure this is classic material to our UK readers.

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A Strat is a Strat

A Horse is a Horse, Of Course Of Course...

Yeah, I'm really showin' my age with those lines. Or how 'bout this bumper sticker I saw recently, "Hung Like Einstein - Smart Like a Horse". Somebody put that on their car to impress people?


Alrighty then. So I know absolutely nothing about the horseycaster pic. And no, it's not listed at eBay. noiseaddicts.com has an archive post featuring weird guitars. Most of 'em I had seen already, but not the horse. They don't give a source... for the horse. Maybe some guy was building his own DIY custom Strat, and got careless-- y'know, not being a trained professional luthier and all.


So let this be a lesson. Don't be horsin' around with the shop tools! This could happen to YOU!

At least he ended up with the better end...

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Another Dylan Tune by Hendrix

"Tears of Rage" Cover

RollingStone online recently posted a complete sound clip of Jimi's version of the Bob Dylan tune "Tears of Rage".


They also feature a music video for an alternate take of  "Love or Confusion".

Both tracks are available in the recent Sept. release of "West Coast Seattle Boy", a 4 CD/ 1 DVD anthology set.

Bend It Like Chris Cain

If You Must Play a 335, Then Play it This Way

Bluesman Chris Cain has a lot goin' on! He's dialed into B.B.'s vocal tone and has delved into parts of the 335 zone only explored by Larry Carlton. Cain also makes some of the best guitar faces too, and has Angus Young's bobble head neck stamina as well.

Godin Passion RG-3 Natural - Friday #193

Friday Stratocaster Feature #193

Canadian Guitar Maker- GODIN

Click images for close ups!

The extreme pitch of these saddles must be due to the top contour

Sitting in with Jimmy Fallon's band "The Roots" the other night was John McLaughlin playing a similar looking Godin S-type.


At first you think this guitar has a clear plastic pickguard, but then you realize it's an inlay outline of a non-existent pickguard, which is very stylish. In fact, "stylish" is what the Godin Passion is all about-- even in their terminology. From the "Ergocut" rosewood fingerboard to the 5 "Tuned Synchronized Resonance Chambers" to the H.D.V. "High-Definition Revoicer" system, Godin is really workin' the sexy lingo too.

Ask Eric Johnson a Question

ALERT!!! Nov. 11, 2010 at MusicRadar

Click Here to find out how YOU can submit an interview question to Eric Johnson! Also hear a tune from the upcoming UP CLOSE release. Top questions will be selected for use in an upcoming interview.


Basically, you can either submit at MusicRadar after registering there-- OR simply go to MR's Facebook page and post your question on their wall (after clicking their "Like" button). Too easy!


HURRY THOUGH!!!

For The Brothers In Arms

Veterans Day

"Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits is a very important song to veterans and soldiers everywhere. Many, many versions have been uploaded to Youtube featuring actual war video & slideshows. Most of these clips have no doubt been uploaded by vets. We're observing Veterans Day with the version above, which focuses on Viet Nam. But we honor all the vets and soldiers past and present. They could be your grandfather, a parent-- or your son or daughter this very minute.

Also see Hendrix- "Machine Gun" War Slide Show

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Early Bill Nash Relic Decal Blackie

"Relic" and "Blackie" are Implied of Course

Besides FSC, the king of aged, distressed S & T-types has to be Bill Nash. Yeah, I know there a few other noteable builders who do this sort of thing, but Nash is a very key player.


That "Relic" headstock decal hasn't been used by Nash Guitars in quite awhile, which makes this a special era guitar. You see, Nash had to discontinue using the word "Relic" because FMIC owns that word in the context of guitars. Kinda like Facebook owns the word "Face", Bill Clinton owns the words "is" & "inhale", etc.

Stratoblogster Reggae Improv Em

Apologies to Any Real Reggae Players

Hey-- this is like my second video where I don't talk. Some folks will really like that aspect!

I'm usin' the term "Reggae" loosely here, just for lack of a word describing this groove. Otherwise, this little improv came up trying to fuse parts of Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends" with Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" in a bouncy sort of way. But of course you heard that right away. And if you didn't-- and still don't, that's ok too, because I just made all that up. Actually this comes from the interstellar slave work songs on Remulak 6 many dozens of lifetimes ago, which I play when I'm really hungry for some chicken parts.

Still got the P-Whammy trem bar on board and Sliders 59's in the neck position thru the '66 Vibrolux. Straight in with no reverb. Good sustain from the KGC brass block and Raw Vintage springs. Oh yeah, Earvana compensated nut. Amp volume only on 2, and all tone controls dialed way back. This amp breaks up nicely at 4, but I'm into lean, clean & mean right now.

More than ya wanted to know! But I don't talk in the video.;))

Pimp Your Strat

Mods, Upgrades and Suppliers

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Erase Kid Cudi

Hendrix Fans Can Take Solace in the Words of Pat Metheny

The best way to describe the above video is in what Metheny had to say about Kenny G's virtual duet with the late Louis Armstrong.

"...But when Kenny G decided that it was appropriate for him to defile the music of the man who is probably the greatest jazz musician that has ever lived by spewing his lame-ass, jive, pseudo bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped out, fucked up playing all over one of the great Louis's tracks (even one of his lesser ones), he did something that I would not have imagined possible. He, in one move, through his unbelievably pretentious and calloused musical decision to embark on this most cynical of musical paths, shit all over the graves of all the musicians past and present who have risked their lives by going out there on the road for years and years developing their own music inspired by the standards of grace that Louis Armstrong brought to every single note he played over an amazing lifetime as a musician. By disrespecting Louis, his legacy and by default, everyone who has ever tried to do something positive with improvised music and what it can be, Kenny G has created a new low point in modern culture - something that we all should be totally embarrassed about - and afraid of. We ignore this, "let it slide", at our own peril.

His callous disregard for the larger issues of what this crass gesture implies is exacerbated by the fact that the only reason he possibly have for doing something this inherently wrong (on both human and musical terms) was for the record sales and the money it would bring..."

This is an excerpt from a larger statement. CLICK HERE for the full deadly arsenal.

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Fender Fleming "Rope & Art" Esquire

One Off Chris Fleming Masterbuilt Art Guitar

Click photos for close ups!

I don't even know where to start with this one... Maybe I should breathe into a paper bag for a few moments first.


Fuller's Vintage Guitar in Houston, Texas is listing this 2005 NAMM Show Special build by Chris Fleming. Looks like Fleming started from the classic George Amicay La Riata Tele, and went full Roy Rogers & peyote on it. Every square inch of both guitar and case is Happy Trails squared. It just doesn't quit!