Latest news with #electricguitar
Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Meet the guitar hero going electric at the Proms
Sean Shibe is one of the most outrageously talented guitarists of the classical music world, able to bridge the divide between electric and acoustic. But that didn't stop some of his audience walking out when he played a 60-minute solo at the Wigmore Hall in 2020. They had been warned: the composer Georges Lentz's Ingwe is meant to be played 'painfully loud'. People wore brightly coloured earplugs. Shibe wore a hot-pink jumpsuit. But London's foremost classical recital space is more accustomed to a Wagner transcription than a wah-wah pedal, and as the music grew, so did the number of empty seats. The reviews, however, were raves: five stars from The Times, for a performance that induced 'a state of near-nauseous confusion mixed with cathartic ecstasy'. For the past decade Shibe has been transforming artistic expectations of the electric guitar. 'Classical guitarists are used to dealing with an instrument where the lightness is its power,' he explains. 'When it comes to the electric guitar the opposite is true — you can add distortion, reverb, whammy bar.' Crucially, you can also be heard above an orchestra. • Ema Nikolovska and Sean Shibe review — an Orlando-inspired concert Such effects are largely unknown in classical music — something Shibe says composers find liberating. His second album, softLOUD, which drew on music first written for Scottish lute and bagpipe, blasted open a new path for classical guitar music. Plenty of guitarists had proved the acoustic instrument could reach beyond its classical soundworld; some, like the jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, have made a compelling case for its amplified sister. But until Shibe no one was doing both. As well as electric guitar he is capable of performing the most light-fingered work from the baroque era. Born in Edinburgh in 1992, Shibe took up the guitar after his mother, a Japanese ceramicist, picked up an inexpensive instrument from a shop near the pottery studio she runs with her husband. His progress was swift. Having been the only guitar student at the City of Edinburgh Music School, he moved to Aberdeen City Music School, going on to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and becoming, at 19, its youngest graduate. At next week's BBC Proms he will perform a new concerto for electric guitar by Mark Simpson, titled ZEBRA (or, 2-3-74: The Divine Invasion of Philip K Dick). Simpson, the composer of an acclaimed violin concerto championed by Nicola Benedetti, was inspired by the sci-fi writer whose books became Hollywood blockbusters such as Minority Report and Blade Runner — even if, Shibe points out, 'Dick's own take was often more gritty, paranoid and hallucinatory'. In 1974 the author attributed a series of visions — featuring Jesus, pink light and ancient Rome — to a spiritual source he referred to as 'Zebra'. • 'Gay music isn't just Kylie — it's Tchaikovsky and Britten too' Shibe is full of praise for the composer, who has also added a drum kit and synthesizer. 'It takes somebody like Mark to recalibrate the expectations we have of the instrument for it to function alongside a symphony orchestra [in this case the BBC Philharmonic and the conductor Anja Bihlmaier]. There are a lot of pieces that introduce the guitar to the orchestra in a hackneyed way.' Shibe cites Yngwie Malmsteen's 1998 Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E flat minor as an example. 'If you're a hypertonal pop musician you can't necessarily play a concerto — and I probably couldn't be in a rock band,' Shibe says. One rare exception is Jonny Greenwood, the Radiohead guitarist who has composed for the Proms and, like Shibe, recorded Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint. 'There are very few Jonny Greenwoods,' Shibe says. True, but there might be even fewer Shibes. A week after the concerto Shibe is the face of one of the BBC Proms excursions to Gateshead — the concert is dubbed 'Sean Shibe and Friends' — in which he will play James Dillon's 12 Caprices in Gateshead. I saw him perform them at the Aldeburgh Festival a few weeks ago, where the sparse melodies held the room transfixed — until we were all jolted back to earth by a message alert. It seemed to come from Shibe's iPad, though he vehemently denies this. In the end it didn't matter: his subsequent performance of Le Marteau sans maître – Boulez's 1955 setting of René Char's surrealist poetry — was far more memorable, folding in and out of itself as the patterns become increasingly complex. • 268 Years of Reverb — an organ epic by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Headlines involving Shibe inevitably invoke the Noughties video game Guitar Hero, in which players mimic rock solos via a console. In September he will open a residency at the Southbank Centre in London with Oliver Leith's Doom and the Dooms, a composition for electric guitar, keyboard, percussion and strings, in which the guitarist performs a concert as part of the titular band — only recast in a classical format. 'It's more of a woozy memory of a rock band,' Shibe says of a style that recalls Leith's opera Last Days, which depicted the last days of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. He'll also perform music by Bach, Thomas Adès and Reich, plus Rodrigo's Aranjuez concerto — a touchstone of the classical repertoire — with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Marin Alsop. His autumn hit list also includes a London Symphony Orchestra performance (Oct 19) conducted by Adès, of Poul Ruders's Paganini Variations. It's the full menu of a modern virtuoso — or a bona fide guitar hero. Sean Shibe performs at the BBC Proms on Jul 22 (Royal Albert Hall, London) and Jul 27 (Glasshouse, Gateshead). Both concerts are live on Radio 3/BBC Sounds
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Electric Guitar Store For Beginners To Professionals: Sam Ash Expands Selection
Sam Ash (1-800-472-6274) has expanded their electric guitar selection with diverse options for all skill levels, including solid body, hollow body, left-handed, 7-string, and baritone guitars from top brands like Gibson, Epiphone, and Ibanez. Hicksville, United States, July 18, 2025 -- Sam Ash has significantly expanded its electric guitar inventory so that they can offer a more comprehensive selection that better serves musicians at every skill level, from beginners to professionals. The trusted online music store has broadened its collection to include more diverse guitar types that meet specialized playing needs and preferences across various musical styles and technical requirements. For more information about the expanded electric guitar selection, visit The newly expanded inventory features a large selection of classic solid body electric guitars, which remain popular for their versatility across musical genres from blues to rock to metal. Alternatively, for players seeking warmer tones with reduced feedback, Sam Ash's collection now also includes more semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars, ideal for jazz, blues, and rockabilly styles. They are now also stocking left-handed models to ensure accessibility for all players, addressing a segment often underserved in many guitar collections. Plus, musicians with specific genre requirements will find metal guitars with high-output pickups and specialized hardware, 7-string electric guitars for extended range playing in progressive and modern metal genres, and baritone guitars for lower tunings popular in modern rock and metal. Sam Ash has also curated a collection of premium electric guitars for professional musicians and collectors seeking exceptional craftsmanship and tonal characteristics. Their new expanded selection also features instruments from a greater range of leading manufacturers including Gibson, Epiphone, Michael Kelly, ESP, Yamaha, Ibanez, Jet, Jackson, Guild, and EVH. This brand diversity ensures players can find instruments that match their tonal preferences, playing styles, and budget requirements, whether they're shopping for a first guitar or adding to a professional collection. Operating since 1924, Sam Ash has built its reputation as a comprehensive music retailer offering electric and acoustic guitars, electronic drum kits, DJ controllers, synthesizers, and various other instruments. Their nearly century-long presence in the music industry has established them as a trusted source for quality instruments. Their online support team provides consultations and technical advice to assist both hobbyists and professional musicians in making informed purchasing decisions about their instrument investments. To browse the complete selection of electric guitars and receive personalized assistance from Sam Ash's experienced staff, visit Contact Info: Name: Sam Ash Support Email: Send Email Organization: Sam Ash Address: 278 Duffy Ave Unit B, Hicksville, New York 11801, United States Website: Release ID: 89165066 If you come across any problems, discrepancies, or concerns related to the content contained within this press release that necessitate action or if a press release requires takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out without delay by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our committed team will be readily accessible round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take appropriate actions to rectify identified issues or support with press release removals. Ensuring accurate and reliable information remains our unwavering commitment.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ola Strandberg ushered in a new era of headless guitars – but no one is doing it like his own company
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ola Strandberg has shared his thoughts on the booming headless guitar market, and made clear what distinguishes his own company from those that have moved to capitalize on the trend in recent years. Headless guitars have experienced a surge in popularity over the past decade or so, and Ola Strandberg – the mastermind behind his eponymous electric guitar brand – is largely to thank for that. While the likes of Steinberger experimented with headless designs in the 1980s, such attempts were largely ill-fated, and it was only until Strandberg officially arrived on the scene over a decade ago that players began taking the concept seriously. With some game-changing innovations and a roster of all-star players in tow, Strandberg established the prestige of headless guitars, reinventing the novelty format and optimizing it in order to deliver a guitar purpose-built for the modern player. Since Strandberg's arrival, the likes of Ibanez, Kiesel, Balaguer and Schecter have all entered the headless space, offering their own take on the ever-popular design. However, Ola sees these efforts as entirely distinct from his own, owing to fundamental differences that can be found in their respective approaches. As he explains to Guitar World in a new interview, 'In terms of what you are as a brand and how you communicate your values, you can do that on tradition, or craftsmanship… we do it on innovation. We focus on creating tools that will create inspiration and not harm you in the process. 'A lot of other brands are making headless guitars, but it's just a model in the lineup,' he continues. 'I sometimes say with some level of seriousness that other people make guitars without headstocks, we make headless guitars. It's a small distinction but that's generally what they do.' As for what separates 'guitars without headstocks' from 'headless guitars', Strandberg says it's all about inception: Strandberg was distinctly created to solve a problem. 'They take conventional construction techniques, they buy some headless hardware off the shelf, and they change the design to accommodate that headless hardware,' Strandberg comments, 'so they have a guitar without a headstock. 'We really designed everything from the ground up to work together as a whole. I think that the result is greater than the sum of the parts.' Regardless of these differences, Strandberg sees the increasing popularity of headless guitars – and, by extension, the growing presence of other brands tapping into the trend – as a good thing. 'I think honestly we're still on an upward trajectory in terms of the headless guitar becoming more mainstream. I think we're all still helping to grow the market,' he notes. 'Certainly I do think the headless guitar is moving more into the mainstream and I think that's a good thing, not just because we make headless guitars but I think it's truly a better construction.' Elsewhere in his Guitar World interview, Strandberg has recalled the unlikely origins of one of his greatest innovations, and confirms he's working on a headless acoustic.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DiMarzio is determined to make you like the Tele neck pickup position with its new Muscle T set
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. DiMarzio has set out on a quest to make electric guitar players fall in love with Telecaster neck pickups by releasing a new set that looks to remedy a glaring issue that plagues most traditional units. Hearing the cries of Tele players who hate the guitar's traditional pickups owing to the perceived muddy and dull tones that lack clarity, DiMarzio has launched the Muscle T set, which 'adds more of the glassy sparkle that Tele neck pickups always lacked' in a bid to save the day. Hand-wound and tested at its New York facility, the Muscle T neck is joined by an accompanying bridge pickup. Utilizing a traditional magnet stagger, it takes inspiration from the firm's favorite '60s Tele pickups but kicks 'the output up a notch'. The set also packs more sustain and has a warmer top end 'to eliminate harshness.' Vintage-inspired but bestowed with a modern touch, the Muscle T offers 'balanced lows, mid-range snarl and a clear top,' but doesn't lose the positive aspects of those '60s pups. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 That includes 'dynamic response' in abundance, and it's been 'carefully calibrated with more volume and presence to keep up with the needs of modern players.' Finally, there's the promise of a greater string-to-string balance. The DiMarzio Muscle T pickups cost $89 apiece. The bridge is available in a traditional dress only – black with chrome pole pieces – while the neck comes in Chrome, Black, and Gold covers, and an unplated version. It's been joined by another new release, the Super PAF Ceramic, which puts a high-octane spin on the OG DiMarzio PAF ceramic humbucker design. 'The Super Distortion started a sound revolution,' DiMarzio says, with no room for humility. 'Replacement pickups simply didn't exist before the invention of the Super Distortion; it was the first pickup specifically designed to kick a tube amp into total overdrive and is still the standard by which all other high-output pickups are measured.' Ace Frehley, Al Di Meola, and Phil Collen were early adopters of the pickups as hard rock roared to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, proving to be the secret weapon of countless players. With increased power equating to 'a wall of sound,' its invention redefined what pickups could do, and it's unlikely the likes of other tonal pros, including Seymour Duncan and Bareknuckle, could have existed without it. The DiMarzio Super PAF Ceramic bridge pickup is available now for $106, and there's a wealth of customization options, from vintage stylings to technicolour madness. Head to DiMarzio for more.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
JET Guitars successfully couples high-quality specs and a premium playing experience with affordability in its Elite Series models
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. JET Guitars may have established itself as a guitar brand that prizes affordability; however, this doesn't mean sacrificing a premium playing experience or high-quality specs. With its Elite Series models, which sit at the top of the JET range, the Slovenia-based brand is catering to players who demand superior quality without breaking the bank, with each model promising to deliver meticulous craftsmanship, top-quality components, and eye-catching designs and colorways. First off, the Metallic Burst-finished JS-40 Elite is a premium Strat-style HSS electric guitar that features a two-piece alder body, roasted maple neck, and rosewood fretboard that provide 'superior stability' and a 'silky-smooth playing experience.' Tone-wise, it's equipped with custom-designed premium Alnico V pickups that guarantee versatile tones, with further specs including a five-way pickup selector and Wilkinson Vintage tuners and hardware for tuning stability. The JS-40 Elite is priced at £719 (approx. $970). Perhaps the JT-30 Elite's striking gold metallic finish is the first thing that makes this guitar stand out. However, the Tele-style electric guitar's specs are definitely not ones to sniff at. The two-piece alder body offers a balanced tone and resonance, with a roasted maple C-profile neck and a rosewood fretboard featuring 22 medium jumbo frets that guarantee stability. A custom-designed premium Alnico V SS pickup set, Wilkinson Vintage tuners and hardware, and a three-way pickup selector round out its specs. Its price tag? £669 (approx. $903.10). Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 As our gear reviews team aptly put it in a recent review, 'If you can't afford (or justify) that posh-looking Tom Anderson or Suhr, increasingly there are options such as this new Jet JS-45 Elite that aims to capture some of that posh vibe with a far more attainable price tag.' The boutique-inspired, super-S JS-45 screams 'high performance.' The two-piece mahogany body with a solid flamed top offers a rich, resonant sound – complemented by the custom-designed premium Alnico V HSS pickups, which deliver an array of tones, from well-defined lows to bright, sparkling highs. Other specs include a quarter-sawn, light-roasted maple neck and a rosewood 'board with 22 medium jumbo frets. Locking tuners, paired with a custom tremolo system, ensure tuning stability. And for those who prize aesthetics, you'll be pleased to learn that this model is available in two attractive finishes: Indigo Gray (£799 / approx. $1,078) and Fireburst (£879 / approx. $1,186), both of which highlight the flamed top's distinct grain. Described by its makers as a 'no-compromise guitar,' the JS-50 Elite stands out not only for its eye-catching Art Blue finish but also for its tone. It sports a two-piece mahogany body with a custom-painted top, making each guitar truly unique, as well as a quarter-sawn, light roasted maple neck, an Indian rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets, and a custom tremolo system with locking tuners. The custom-designed premium Alnico V pickup set in a dual humbucker configuration, controlled by a three-way toggle switch, rounds out the specs and ensures that this guitar is fully equipped to deliver full-bodied tones aplenty. At £879 (approx. $1,186), it's the ultimate bang-for-your-buck electric guitar. All Elite Series models are currently available from JET Guitars' partner retailers. For more information, visit JET Guitars.
