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Blackstar Amplification’s Newest Addition is Filled with Helium.

  • June 3, 2022March 23, 2024

When talking up amps, most guitarists want to know how it sounds. “What’s it sound like?” “Is it a tone monster?” “Will my songs be better?” Okay, that last quote is a bit far fetched. But, you probably understand the usually array of guitarist questions one would ask.

This time I’m not covering tone (the booth was so busy, I honestly couldn’t). But I will tell you from what I heard from other demonstrations, this is a sonically clean amp, likely amazing for pedals. However, let’s discuss weight for a moment, because a great guitarist can make almost any amp work for them. Sometimes with a little bit of a fight, but workable nonetheless. What we don’t have the luxury of easily fixing is our backs and our shoulders. That’s what Blackstar addressed here.

Enter Blackstar’s St. James lineup, with these valve amps coming in at roughly ⅗’s the weight of a conventional valve amp. I personally picked a couple up, and was shocked with just how easy it was. I didn’t grunt, I promise. It’s a pro’s amp with the weight class of your first 1×6” junky beginners amp. …You know the amp.

I definitely intend on checking these out in the near future, as should you.

Blackstar St. James 50: Stupid light, and could be tossed across the stage with ease.
Top view of the new Blackstar St. James 50.

Paoletti Guitars Do Not Disappoint

  • June 3, 2022March 23, 2024

Walking the NAMM floor today, I had to stop and gaze upon the array of Paoletti Guitars on display. I mean, seriously. The quality of these builds are almost unmatched.

I mean …woah.

Steve Vai’s Hydra on full display at NAMM 2022…

  • June 3, 2022March 23, 2024

Breathtaking and still unsettling in many ways.

Cort unveils new logo design.

  • June 3, 2022March 23, 2024

Two Cort models are on display at NAMM bearing a new, sleek logo design. The KX700 has a beautiful carved, open pore ash top with an Evertune bridge. The MAP on this one will come in at $1399, and is ridiculously sexy.

The X700 Duality Ⅱ in a lavaburst finish on the left, the KX700 with an open pore carved ash top and an Evertune on the right.

The new logo is being referred to as “Next Gen”. Looks great, but will it mesh within Cort’s loyal fan base?

New Cort Next Gen Logo

“Winter” NAMM 2022: New Years in June.

  • June 2, 2022March 23, 2024

Sure, okay. I made a play off the whole “Christmas in July” thing with “New Years in June.” …What do you want from me? More clever puns?

All kidding aside, I’ve packed up my bag and my car to attend the NAMM Show and Amigos Guitar Show this weekend in Anaheim & Costa Mesa, CA. I’ve been to NAMM many many many times, but I feel like this year will be special BECAUSE many of the big players we all rely on seeing are not expected to attend. Who are these big players? Well, the buzz around town is that we won’t see Roland/Boss, Fender, Gibson, Paul Reed Smith, Schecter, etc.

Now granted, I understand why they won’t attend this year as renting NAMM booths has become what many could see as business-killing expensive. Some of these booths cost a quarter million. Yup. $250K for a 3 days. That’s a lot of “passed onto consumer” costs right there. Plus, some of these brands learned across the last couple pandemic years that business can operate just fine without a massive trade show. While I’m sad to not see some of these bigger names present, I totally understand it. Plus, it’ll allow me to focus more on these smaller brands that challenge the status quo, innovate something amazing, or put out products with almost unimaginable quality.

If you’re also at NAMM, please say hi. I’ll be present walking the floor all day Friday and Saturday. Sunday, I may drive a hair further south to the Amigos Guitar Show and check that out too. It’ll be a busy weekend, for sure.

I have my reasons to being 6 guitars to NAMM. Although I still stop and ponder why from time to time.

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