Winners of the Reverb/Kerrang Radio weekly Christmas prize draws were Mandy Jones and Becki Fabell, both from Birmingham. Richard Burchall of Devon and Leisha Kenlock from Hampshire. Each received a Yamaha DTXplorer digital drum kit, a Roland SH201 synth, Korg Kaossilator and a Squier by Fender guitar and amp package - enough gear to put a band on the road! The winners participated in a quiz on Kate Lawler's Kerrang Radio show.

Kate is pictured presenting Mandy Jones with her prizes at Reverb's Lionel Street Birmingham branch.

Meanwhile the 'Kaossilator a week' Reverb online Christmas prize draw winners were Bristol's Simon Drinkwater, Pawel Tor from Glasgow, Stockton's Kim Dawson and John Hillyer from Bedfordshire.

Watch out for more Reverb prize draws and competitions throughout 2010. Sign-up for our online newsletter to be sure you don't miss-out!

The Sale is on - Fantastic deals on Roland and Boss gear while stocks last. Prices are too low to show online so please call your local store now

Bristol - 0117 934 9955

Birmingham - 0121 248 5868

Stockton - 01642 671 222

Glasgow - 0141 204 0322

Winner of the first of our weekly Korg Kaossilator prize draw is Simon Drinkwater, pictured here (L) receiving his prize from Luke Spurgeon, at REVERB's Bristol branch.

Enter now for a chance to win this Monday's draw - simply go to our home page and click the main banner. Good luck!

Rock DJ and Big Brother winner Kate Lawler took time away from her Kerrang Radio show to check out the gear at Reverb's Birmingham store this week. After taming a few Fender Strats, Kate turned her attention to an electronic Drum kit, and the resultant cool rhythms suggest Kate could add drumming to a CV which also includes writing, modelling and, of course, wrestling...

Check Kate between 3pm and 7pm weekdays on 'Drive', her Reverb-sponsored Kerrang Radio show (105.2 MHz and digital), where Reverb are giving away fantastic prizes to winners of Kate's 'alphabet game'. Each weekly winner will receive a fantastic collection of world-class instruments, comprising a Roland SH201 synth, Korg Kaossilator, Squier Special Guitar and Amp package and Yamaha DTXplorer electronic drum kit!

An evening of inspiring demos, exhilarating music and fantastic deals. Come to REVERB and see how the Bose L1 Line Array System has redefined P.A.

There will be special deals on the nights - only in-store - including a FREE Electrovoice PL24 microphone, mic stand and XLR cable with every Compact L1 and Model 1 system, and a FREE Sennheiser Freeport Handheld Wirelss Mic System, plus mic. stand and connecting cable with every Model 2 system. Limited space so register now!

REVERB Bristol - Wed. 14th October at 7pm  Register FREE
Call 0117 934 9955 or email bristol@reverb-store.co.uk

REVERB Stockton - Wed. 28th October at 7pm  Register FREE
Call 01642 671222 or email stockton@reverb-store.co.uk

Korg introduce Stage Vintage Piano, microSAMPLER and next-generation Wavedrum.
          
The KORG SV-1. Stage. Vintage. Piano. AVAILABLE OCTOBER ‘09
The name pretty much says it all. The SV-1 Stage Vintage Piano offers the most rewarding compendium of electro-mechanical, transistorized, tape-driven, analog, and early digital keyboards ever available in a single instrument. Crafted using Korg's RX (Real eXperience) Technology; each sound is a detailed and authentic re-creation, accurately capturing the full range of expression and dynamics of the original.
         
The KORG microSAMPLER - SHIPPING NOW!
a compact keyboard sampler that you can play to your heart's content
The compact and powerful Korg 'micro' series is now joined by an incredibly fun-to-use performance sampler. Announcing the Korg microSAMPLER, a keyboard sampler that lets you enjoy easy-to-use full-featured sampling, a loop sequencer, and internal effects – all with an intuitive interface that's designed for realtime performance. Our unique sampling method allows you to record, edit and map as you sample – directly from the keyboard.

KORG WAVEDRUM - AVAILABLE DECEMBER ‘09
Percussion synthesizer for unprecedented sound and performance
With its wide dynamic range equivalent to that of an acoustic instrument, the WAVEDRUM responds perfectly to the performer’s action, from subtly nuanced touching and stroking to aggressive hitting. It has a wide variety of instruments ranging from standard acoustic percussion instruments to new and unique percussion sounds.

 

Line 6 Spider IV LIMITED OFFER! To celebrate the launch of the very latest Spider IV amplifier and FBV MKII controllers Line 6 is offering a FREE BackTrack worth £82.20 (MSRP)!!!

Buy any of the new Spider IV amplifiers with an FBV MKII foot controller from REVERB before September 30th to get your FREE BackTrack

To redeem your free BackTrack download and complete the entry form to return it with your UPC codes found on the packaging to:

Line 6 Europe
Spider IV Promo
4 Sopwith way
Drayton Fields Ind. Estate
NN11 8PB Daventry
UK

Everyone at Reveb was saddened to hear that Les Paul had passed away, aged 94. His contribution to music, and in particular the guitar, became a legend during his lifetime and he will surely be remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of music-making, both for his musical instrument innovations and as a popular and truly great guitarist.

 Gibson posted the following Press Release this morning:

 Les Paul, acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor, passed away today from complications of severe pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones. He had been receiving the best available treatment through this final battle and in keeping with his persona, he showed incredible strength, tenacity and courage. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the thoughts and prayers from his dear friends and fans. Les Paul was 94. 

One of the foremost influences on 20th century sound and responsible for the world's most famous guitar, the Les Paul model, Les Paul's prestigious career in music and invention spans from the 1930s to the present. Though he's indisputably one of America's most popular, influential, and accomplished electric guitarists, Les Paul is best known as an early innovator in the development of the solid body guitar. His groundbreaking design would become the template for Gibson's best-selling electric, the Les Paul model, introduced in 1952. Today, countless musical legends still consider Paul's iconic guitar unmatched in sound and prowess. Among Paul's most enduring contributions are those in the technological realm, including ingenious developments in multi-track recording, guitar effects, and the mechanics of sound in general.

Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 9, 1915, Les Paul was already performing publicly as a honky-tonk guitarist by the age of 13. So clear was his calling that Paul dropped out of high school at 17 to play in Sunny Joe Wolverton's Radio Band in St. Louis. As Paul's mentor, Wolverton was the one to christen him with the stage name “Rhubarb Red," a moniker that would follow him to Chicago in 1934. There, Paul became a bona fide radio star, known as both hillbilly picker Rhubarb Red and Django Reinhardt-informed jazz guitarist Les Paul. His first recordings were done in 1936 on an acoustic—alone as Rhubarb Red, as well as backing blues singer Georgia White. The next year he formed his first trio, but by 1938 he'd moved to New York to begin his tenure on national radio with one of the more popular dance orchestras in the country, Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians.

Tinkering with electronics and guitar amplification since his youth, Les Paul began constructing his own electric guitar in the late '30s. Unhappy with the first generation of commercially available hollowbodies because of their thin tone, lack of sustain, and feedback problems, Paul opted to build an entirely new structure. “I was interested in proving that a vibration-free top was the way to go," he has said. “I even built a guitar out of a railroad rail to prove it. What I wanted was to amplify pure string vibration, without the resonance of the wood getting involved in the sound." With the good graces of Epiphone president Epi Stathopoulo, Paul used the Epiphone plant and machinery in 1941 to bring his vision to fruition. He affectionately dubbed the guitar “The Log." 

Les Paul's tireless experiments sometimes proved to be dangerous, and he nearly electrocuted himself in 1940 during a session in the cellar of his Queens apartment. During the next two years of rehabilitation, Les earned his living producing radio music. Forced to put the Pennsylvanians and the rest of his career on hold, Les Paul moved to Hollywood. During World War II, he was drafted into the Army but permitted to stay in California, where he became a regular player for Armed Forces Radio Service. By 1943 he had assembled a trio that regularly performed live, on the radio, and on V-Discs. In 1944 he entered the jazz spotlight—thanks to his dazzling work filling in for Oscar Moore alongside Nat King Cole, Illinois Jacquet, and other superstars —at the first of the prestigious Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts. 

By his mid-thirties, Paul had successfully combined Reinhardt-inspired jazz playing and the western swing and twang of his Rhubarb Red persona into one distinctive, electrifying style. In the Les Paul Trio he translated the dizzying runs and unusual harmonies found on Jazz at the Philharmonic into a slower, subtler, more commercial approach. His novelty instrumentals were tighter, brasher, and punctuated with effects. Overall, the trademark Les Paul sound was razor-sharp, clean-shaven, and divinely smooth. 

As small combos eclipsed big bands toward the end of World War II, Les Paul Trio's popularity grew. They cut records for Decca both alone and behind the likes of Helen Forrest, the Andrews Sisters, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Dick Hayes, and, most notably, Bing Crosby. Since 1945, when the crooner brought them into the studio to back him on a few numbers, the Trio had become regular guests on Crosby's hit radio show. The highlight of the session was Paul's first No. 1 hit and million-seller, the gorgeous “It's Been a Long, Long Time." 

Meanwhile, Paul began to experiment with dubbing live tracks over recorded tracks, also altering the playback speed. This resulted in “Lover (When You're Near Me)," his revolutionary 1947 predecessor to multi-track recording. The hit instrumental featured Les Paul on eight different electric guitar parts, all playing together.

In 1948, Paul nearly lost his life to a devastating car crash that shattered his right arm and elbow. Still, he convinced doctors to set his broken arm in the guitar-picking and cradling position. Laid up but undaunted, Paul acquired a first generation Ampex tape recorder from Crosby in 1949, and began his most important multi-tracking adventure, adding a fourth head to the recorder to create sound-on-sound recordings. While tinkering with the machine and its many possibilities, he also came up with tape delay. These tricks, along with another recent Les Paul innovation—close mic-ing vocals—were integrated for the first time on a single recording: the 1950 No. 1 tour de force “How High the Moon."

This historic track was performed during a duo with future wife Mary Ford. The couple's prolific string of hits for Capitol Records not only included some of the most popular recordings of the early 1950s, but also wrote the book on contemporary studio production. The dense but crystal clear harmonic layering of guitars and vocals, along with Ford's close mic-ed voice and Paul's guitar effects, produced distinctively contemporary recordings with unprecedented sonic qualities. Through hits, tours, and popular radio shows, Paul and Ford kept one foot in the technological vanguard and the other in the cultural mainstream. 

All the while, Les Paul continued to pine for the perfect guitar. Though The Log came close, it wasn't quite what he was after. In the early 1950s, Gibson Guitar would cultivate a partnership with Paul that would lead to the creation of the guitar he'd seen only in his dreams. In 1948, Gibson elected to design its first solidbody, and Paul, a self-described “dyed-in-the-wool Gibson man," seemed the right man for the job. Gibson avidly courted the guitar legend, even driving deep into the Pennsylvania mountains to deliver the first model to newlyweds Les Paul and Mary Ford. 

“Les played it, and his eyes lighted up," then-Gibson President Ted McCarty has recalled. The year was 1950, and Paul had just signed on as the namesake of Gibson's first electric solidbody, with exclusive design privileges. Working closely with Paul, Gibson forged a relationship that would change popular culture forever. The Gibson Les Paul model—the most powerful and respected electric guitar in history—began with the 1952 release of the Les Paul Goldtop. After introducing the original Les Paul Goldtop in 1952, Gibson issued the Black Beauty, the mahogany-topped Les Paul Custom, in 1954. The Les Paul Junior (1954) and Special (1955) were also introduced before the canonical Les Paul Standard hit the market in 1958. With revolutionary humbucker pickups, this sunburst classic has remained unchanged for the half-century since it hit the market.

“The world has lost a truly innovative and exceptional human being today. I cannot imagine life without Les Paul. He would walk into a room and put a smile on anyone's face. His musical charm was extraordinary and his techniques unmatched anywhere in the world," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “We will dedicate ourselves to preserving Les' legacy to insure that it lives on forever. He touched so many lives throughout his remarkable life and his influence extends around the globe and across every boundary. I have lost a dear, personal friend and mentor, a man who has changed so many of our lives for the better."

“I don't think any words can describe the man we know as Les Paul adequately. The English language does not contain words that can pay enough homage to someone like Les. As the “Father of the Electric Guitar", he was not only one of the world's greatest innovators  but a legend who created, inspired and contributed to the success of musicians around the world," said Dave Berryman, President of Gibson Guitar. “I have had the privilege to know and work with Les for many, many years and his passing has left a deep personal void. He was simply put – remarkable in every way. As a person, a musician, a friend, an inventor. He will be sorely missed by us all."

With the rise of the rock 'n' roll revolution of 1955, Les Paul and Mary Ford's popularity began to wane with younger listeners, though Paul would prove to be a massive influence on younger generation of guitarists. Still, Paul and Ford maintained their iconic presence with their wildly popular television show, which ran from 1953-1960. In 1964, the couple, parents to a son and daughter, divorced. Paul began playing in Japan, and recorded an LP for London Records before poor health forced him to take time off—as much as someone so inspired can take time off. 

In the 1977, Paul resurfaced with a Grammy-winning Chet Atkins collaboration, Chester and Lester.  Then the ailing guitarist, who'd already suffered arthritis and permanent hearing loss, had a heart attack, followed by bypass surgery. 

Ever stubborn, Les recovered, and returned to live performance in the late 1980s. Until recently Les continued to perform two weekly New York shows with the Les Paul Trio, even releasing the 2005 double-Grammy winner Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played, featuring collaborations with a veritable who's who of the electric guitar, including dozens of illustrious fans like Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Joe Perry. In 2008, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame paid tribute to Les Paul in a week-long celebration of his life which culminated with a live performance by Les himself. 

Les Paul has since become the only individual to share membership into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Les is survived by his three sons Lester (Rus) G.  Paul, Gene W. Paul and Robert (Bobby) R. Paul, his daughter Colleen Wess, son-in-law Gary Wess, long time friend Arlene Palmer,  five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A private Funeral service will be held in New York. A service in Waukesha, WI will be announced at a later date. Details will follow and will be announced for all services. Memorial tributes for the public will be announced at a future date.   The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Les Paul Foundation, 236 West 30th Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10001.

Slash said, "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be, he was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honored and humbled to have known and played with him over the years, he was an exceptionally brilliant man."

Joe Satriani said, "Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed. He was the original guitar hero, and the kindest of souls. Last October I joined him onstage at The Iridium club in NYC, and he was still shredding. He was and still is an inspiration to us all."

Keb' Mo' said, “He's a guy who played right up to the end, that's what we all want to do! With his brilliant playing and invention of multi track recording, Les Paul changed the face of music history."

Bootsy Collins said, "Yes, it is very painful when you lose a man, his music, and his everyday presence here on this planet called earth. For us musicians that knew the bar that this man Mr. Les Paul set, not only for guitar players but for music in general, especially rock music, the world will never be the same. His famous Gibson Les Paul brand Guitar's are still to this day the number one hottest rock guitar on the market. I got the opportunity in 1991 to do a session with Mr. Paul when I was with Dee-Lite, we did a song called: "A little More of Les". yes, one of my corky titles of course, but It was such an inspiration to be in the presence of such greatness, he will be sadly missed by many. We love you Les!"

Joan Jett said, "I, and everyone at Blackheart Records, mourn the passing of our dear friend, Les Paul. He was a genius inventor, musical innovator, and a wonderful person. Without the advances he pioneered, the recording sciences and the electric guitar would have been left years behind. I will miss him so much."

Ace Frehley said, "The music industry has lost a giant! I'm very saddened by the news of Les Paul's passing. I was lucky enough to have known Les as a friend, and admired him as a musician and innovator. He forever changed the way we listen to music."

Butch Walker said, "Les Paul... I will always owe you.. bigtime..."

Billy Gibbons said, "Les Paul brought six strings to electricity and electricity to six strings. Les Paul was an innovator, a groundbreaker, a risk taker, a mentor and a friend. Try to imagine what we'd be doing if he hadn't come along and changed the world. There will always be more Les to come. That's certified."

Keith Urban said, “I have a mix of emotions today. On one hand, I am deeply saddened at Les Paul’s passing, and on the other a feeling of incredible gratitude and awe for his unquantifiable contribution to the world of music. His name adorns so many of the creations that I communicate through every night out here on the road...He is also very present every time I set foot in the studio and am able to lay multiple tracks as I record, when I use echo, etc., the list of his inventions, in addition to his famous signature model Gibson, are extraordinary. I also feel that even in his nineties, the fact he was still playing every Monday night in New York is perhaps the most beautiful and inspiring achievement of all. As Vince Gill would say, “Go rest high on that mountain Les...cause son, your work on earth is done.”

Joe Perry said, "As a guitarist and a fan of music in general, I know the amazing contributions Les Paul made in his lifetime to the art of making music. I think if the general public knew how much of that influence is heard every day in the music that they listen to, they would be amazed. He was a true genius. The few times that I had met him, he made me feel like I had known him forever. He was always sharp, ready to rock and he was always talking about his next gig. Knowing that he is not walking the earth anymore is sad and I have lost a friend. But every time I pick up a guitar I’ll know that his spirit is alive and well right next to me. "

Derek Trucks said, "Les Paul played until the day he died. I admire that... That's the way you live a life."

On his many achievements Derek Trucks said, "You could take any one of the many things he did and it would have been enough for most people. Inventing multi-tracking and then the 1st great solid body electric guitar. The amount of things he pulled off is pretty astounding."

Mick Jones said, “As a child I was introduced to the sound of Les Paul through my parent's record collection. It was a spellbinding moment when I first heard ‘How High The Moon’ featuring Mary Ford. His innovation and recording techniques contributed greatly to the creation of Rock music.”

Rickey Medlocke said, "I'm so thankful that this guy was such an incredible genius for developing such a great guitar. I am a 3rd generation Gibson user and I always will be. God bless Les Paul."

Tad Kubler said, "There are very few human beings in history that touched so many people the way Les Paul did. He shared his gifts with everyone and brought people together with his brilliance and devotion to music and the art of sound. It was a privilege to have met him. He will be incredibly missed. But our blessing is to know his spirit and soul will live for eternity in music everywhere."

Wes Scantlon said, "Les and I have the same birthday – it is an honor to have been born on the same day as such a genius guitarist, innovator and human being"

Neil Portnow (President/CEO of The Recording Academy®) said, "Three-time GRAMMY® winner Les Paul was a musical mastermind whose innovations in electric guitar and recorded music are unparalleled. A 1983 Trustees Award recipient and a 2001 Technical GRAMMY Award recipient, his career and contributions to popular music will forever be celebrated, and will continue to influence future generations of musicians. His magnetic charm and sunny disposition matched his incredible skill set, and he will always be remembered with great fondness, humility, and respect. The music industry has lost a true innovator and legend."

Terry Stewart (President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum) said, "Without Les Paul, we would not have rock and roll as we know it," said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “His inventions created the infrastructure for the music and his playing style will ripple through generations. He was truly an architect of rock and roll."

Elliott Easton said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Les Paul. It is simply impossible to overstate the impact he has had on the modern world and our culture. There are those that refer to Les as "the Thomas Edison of Music Technology". To me that is inadequate. Thomas Edison never invented a device that could make the world fall in love with you. There isn't a person working in the music industry today that doesn't benefit in some way from Les' pioneering work."

Brian Wilson said, "Les Paul and Mary Ford were among my most favorite musicians in the 50's. He was the first guy to do multi guitar multi track recording and that turned me on to guitars and stacking vocals for our records."

Johnny A. said, "I am personally very saddened by the passing of Mr. Les Paul. As well as being such an iconic figure in the world of music, as a player and inventor, Les was truly a gentleman with an unbeatable sense of humor. It has been my honor to have known and played with him. His spirit will surely be missed."

Dave Navarro, "Les is single handedly responsible for the direction and evolution of the modern rock movement. Period. If you are a fan of modern music, you owe Les Paul an enormous THANK YOU!"

Don Miggs said, "I used to promise myself that every trip back home to NY should be capped off with seeing Les perform. I knew he wasn't going to be around forever and seeing him was a "must-do." Sadly, I never made good on my promise but one night I was walking into a deli and who do I see? Yup. My palms went sweaty, my tongue felt thick and I got a pit in my stomach, but I stopped him with a grunt of some sort. He looked me square in eye like "don't miss this moment," and I gulped and said, "It's because of you I can put food on my family's table, thank you," and he said, "You've done that for yourself, son, but thank you." And he was gone. Ah, Les, thank you thank you."

Randy Bachman said, "I am deeply touched by the passing of Les Paul who I first met in 1959. As a guitarist, composer, electronic innovator and inventor he was beyong genius and there was none other like him. He was a true musical gift from God to the world and spent his life honoring that gift. I proudly play my Les Paul guitars every night on stage and never forget the moments we shared."

Gary Rossington said, "I am very saddened to hear about the passing of Les Paul, he was an amazing guitarist. I play a Les Paul guitar every night and it's the best sounding guitar ever made. I have a framed t-shirt on my wall, signed by Les Paul that I admire when I'm at home, Les was the best!"

 

Many who make music using their computer have been up to now left only dreaming of the power and soul that old-school vintage synthesizers deliver.

FXpansion are about to change all this with an evolutionary leap in software synthesis technology. D-CAM Synth Squad finally delivers the satisfaction of playing real analogue instruments for a fraction of the cost.

DCAM Synth Squad Includes:

• strobe - performance synth with a cutting modern edge
• amber - bathed in vintage psychedelia
• cypher - audio-rate modulation monster
• fusor - semi-modular sound design environment
  

The three included synthesizers - strobe, amber and cypher - bring the power and weight of old-school vintage synths to your desktop, while some fresh new ideas drag them kicking and screaming into the modern world.

Oscillators ooze immense sound pressure, amp stages can be overloaded for extra grit, and real-world chaos can be dialled into the circuit for delicious instability. These synths don't break with extreme settings, so you can abuse them just like the real thing. Meanwhile, the intuitive TransMod modulation system brings your sounds to life in new and expressive ways.

In addition to the synths, DCAM Synth Squad comes with fusor - a semi-modular sound environment. Fusor lets you layer the synths and combine them with extra modulation and an advanced arpeggiator/step-sequencer.

Fusor also includes some mind-bending effects and creative routing abilities. Like each individual synth, Fusor comes with an array of presets ready to explore and tweak.

REVERB are proud to be offering pre-orders of this exciting product. Be amongst the first to experience this powerful new synthesis and PRE-ORDER DCAM SYNTH SQUAD NOW!...

Shooting the band video has just become simple with Zoom announcing the Q3 mini-camcorder and 24/48 stereo recorder.

Anyone who's ever experienced a film with great audio knows how vital sound is to the movie. The Q3 Handy Video Recorder brings our renowned audio technology to the camcorder, making it the best sounding video camcorder you've ever heard.
 
The Q3 uses the same microphone capsules as our industry-leading H4n Handy Recorder and is perfect for recording anything where great audio and video are a must. From live musical performances and rehearsals, interviews, conferences to video podcasts, journalism, education, recitals, weddings or sports, the Q3's pristine audio quality takes your videos to another level.
 
Designed with everything you need to make your movies right out of the box, the Q3 includes HandyShare software for editing, and a 2GB SD card for up to 1 hour of video recording time. And the Q3 will also accept up to 32GB SDHC cards for a staggering 16 hours of moviemaking! 
 
When your shoot is complete, the Q3's cleverly designed USB cable lets you upload your movies to your computer. Then use HandyShare to edit and share them on your favorite websites including YouTube, Facebook and MySpace. Or, plug in the included TV cable and watch your videos on television.
 
With its high-quality, MPEG-4 SP video format at 30 frames per second, the Q3 renders crystal-clear video at 640 x 480 resolution. And the Q3's large, 2.4'' LCD screen with resolution of 320 x 240 makes viewing easy on the go. Its display also includes audio meters so you can quickly set and monitor your levels as you shoot. 
 
The Q3 has two condenser mics on-board, engineered in the same X/Y pattern as H4n Handy Recorder that gives recording pros the best stereo recording possible. Arranged with the right and left mics on the same axis, this design ensures that the mics are always an equal distance from the sound source for perfect localization without phase shifting. The result is a great sounding recording with natural depth and highly accurate stereo imaging every time... all at the touch of a button. 
 
The Q3's X/Y microphones are directional, so you can ''focus'' the mics on your sound source like an ''audio zoom'' function. Use the onboard audio meters to set the gain to Low, High or Auto so you can record in very loud or very soft environments. Or use the Q3's Auto Record Level function to automatically set the appropriate recording levels for the situation! Shoot your video with the confidence that the Q3 is capturing great audio at the absolute best level possible.
 
With the Q3, all your videos will sound like they were recorded in a professional studio. Ideal for shooting any kind of musical performance from jazz to classical to metal, solo to orchestral, the Q3 will make it fun and easy to shoot your music videos anywhere, anytime. 
 
The Q3 also makes it easy to share your videos with your friends on YouTube. Simply plug the Q3 into your computer, launch the onboard HandyShare software and select the videos you want to put on the web. And if your vision needs a few edits, you can use HandyShare to cut your movie before you share it with the world. 
 
To play music better, seeing your performance can be almost as important as hearing yourself. With the Q3, you get both capabilities. Music educators and students alike will find a plethora of applications for the Q3 from the classroom to the practice room. Ideal for recording auditions or making video lessons available to students, the Q3's amazing stereo recording will capture every nuance while the video rolls. 
 
The Q3 makes an excellent accessory for anyone who does videography as a full-time occupation or as a hobby. Imagine being able to use the Q3 for individualized video shoots of the bride and groom before a wedding. Or give a Q3 to everyone in the wedding party for personalized video clips. Capture the wedding music with ease. The possibilities are truly endless. And with pristine, focused audio, you'll never miss a moment, even in a noisy environment. 
 
Have great seats? Every crack of the bat, swing of the club or bone-crunching tackle can be captured with amazing clarity... especially when you're close to the action. Capture the sights and sounds of the game from the little leagues to the big leagues. 
 
It's never been more important for journalists and bloggers to be versatile in the field. Shoot ''on the scene'' video, edit and upload with ease, all with broadcast-ready audio. And because the Q3 has a standard tripod mount, you can put it just about anywhere for the perfect shot in any environment. 

The Q3 puts a little bit of video and a whole lot of audio together in one quick and easy to use camcorder that lets you produce great movies on the go!
 
Windscreen, Carry Pouch, 2GB SD Card, AV cable & two AA Batteries.

Built-in stereo condenser microphones with true X/Y configuration for true stereo imaging
Get up to 1 hour of video with 2GB SD card
Accepts up to a 32GB SDHC card for 16 hours of recording time
Large 2.4'' LCD display with a resolution of 320 x 240
Video resolution of 640 x 480 at 30 frames/sec
Video Format: MPEG-4 SP
NTSC / PAL TV output
Optics Lens Type: Fixed Focus (0.8m to infinity)
Audio formats with video include 44.1/48kHz 16/24-bit Linear PCM or MP3 up to 320kbps
Audio only formats include 96kHz 16/24-bit Linear PCM WAV
Auto Record Level automatically adjusts audio levels during recordings
Uses two standard AA batteries or NiMH rechargeable batteries
USB 2.0 with built-in cable
Windows and Mac OS compatible
Built-in speaker and tripod mount
Includes on-board editing software, YouTube uploader software, Apple Quicktime, TV cable, softcase, windscreen, 2GB SD card, two AA Batteries

The Zoom Q3 will ship in September - PRE-ORDER NOW
 

Why should guitar players have all the fun? The keytar makes a long-overdue comeback as the AX-Synth arrives in the UK. This iconic keyboard liberates musicians from the keyboard stand and allows them to strut centre stage - backed up by some of Roland's finest synth sounds.

The AX-Synth provides a wealth of creative control for live performance, including a Ribboncontroller, D Beam, Modulation Bar and COntrol Knobs. Long battery-life ensures trouble-free gigs. Read more and pre-order here.

Reverb's online prize draw for a pair of T In The Park tickets was won by Allan McDonald of Airdrie, who spent an unexpected weekend in the company of Kings Of Leon, Blur, Killers, Snow Patrol and over 150 other acts at the Balado festival. Allan is pictured (right) receiving his tickets from Reverb's Mick Wiseman in our Glasgow store.

As the song goes, the best things in life are free. And to prove this age-old adage, VOX has teamed up with KORG; the number one name in tuners to bring you some fab FREE gear when you purchase any Custom Classic, Heritage or Valvetronix VT amplifier from Reverb!

And, if you still don’t own the amazing Joe Satriani/VOX-designed Satchurator distortion pedal, then now is definitely the time. Pick yours up now, and Vox will send you a super-stylish and highly retro VOX Vintage Curly Lead absolutely FREE! So you'll sound and look the part.

Here's the details...
Purchase any Custom Classic or Heritage Series Amplifier and you'll receive a free KORG PitchBlack+ tuner (value £109.00 SRP)

Purchase any Valvetronix VT combo amplifier and you'll receive a free KORG GT-4 tuner (value £28.00 SRP)

Purchase the Saturator pedal and you'll receive a free super-stylish VOX Vintage Curly Lead (value £23.49 SRP)

Once you've made your purchase all you have to do is download and print off the claims form (see instructions below), fill in your details and send it to Vox with your proof of purchase. Your shiny new tuner or curly lead will be sent direct to your door – then you’ll really be ready to ROCK with VOX.

More information...

Pitchblack+ Chromatic Pedal Tuner

Korg tuners have been the professional’s choice ever since KORG introduced the world’s first hand-held tuner in 1975. Twenty million tuners later the KORG tuner range now features the class leading Pitchblack+, a truly a professional guitar and bass pedal tuner that’s indispensable for recording or live use. In addition to ultra-high precision tuning with an accuracy of +/-0.1 cents, and True Bypass you can also connect two guitars or basses, tune them differently, and even store your own custom tunings. The large multi-segment LED meter provides amongst others, a highly visible Full Strobe mode and Half Strobe mode, for even greater precision with excellent visibility.

GT-4 Dedicated Guitar/Bass Tuner with New Circular Display

The GT-4 is a revolutionary tuner with superb visibility. Dedicated for guitar/bass it features a large note name display in the center and red LEDs that rotate in a circular pattern. It supports seven-string guitars (7B through 1E) in Guitar mode, and six-string basses (Low-B and Hi-C) in Bass mode. While compact, it instantly indicates the pitch with the high precision you expect from Korg. The built-in high-sensitivity mic supports tuning of acoustic guitars as well.

VCC Vintage Coiled Cable

9 meters of the most chunky and funky cable that you could ever put between your guitar and amp. The classic curly cable was an iconic player in rock and roll history and this VOX Vintage Coiled Cable is robust, retro and highly desirable. Featuring a unique multi-gauge, individual conductor design optimized for particular frequency ranges the VOX VCC provides a reliable coiled cable that is truly musical.

 

Once you have made your purchase online or at one of Reverb's six UK Superstores, you can download your claim form here:
http://www.voxamps.com/downloads/PDF/promotion-claim-form-Vox-Tuner.pdf

Send completed forms to: VOX SUMMER OFFER, Korg UK LTD, 9 Newmarket Court, Kingston, Milton Keynes MK10 0AU.

Under the banner 'Perfect Performance', Yamaha have unveiled two new flagship keyboards in the shape of the 76-note S70XS and the 88-note S90XS.

Players, take note. You want the ultimate keyboard instrument for performing and creating? Yamaha have put it all together for you. Exceptional quality instrument sounds. A piano sound to die for. A truly realistic, naturally expressive keyboard. Convenient, comprehensive control.

Real-time controls for tweaking of the sound as you play. Audio recording to USB memory. Extensive computer music features. Ease of use, plus compact size and portability. Introducing the S90 XS and S70 XS Music Synthesizer.

Designed specifically for players, particularly those who want the highest quality piano sounds and expression, the S90 XS/S70 XS is a performer's dream.

Yet, casual players and hobby musicians will appreciate the exquisite sounds, advanced features and superb playability just as much as top professional artists.

 Read more on the new S Series synths here:

http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=4896

Boss and Fender® USA have collaborated to create the FRV-1, a stunning recreation of the 1963 Fender Reverb®.  A staple sound of rockabilly, country, blues, surf rock and even grunge rock, this tube-driven reverb sound is now available in an affordable, rugged compact pedal.

The FRV-1 recreates the classic spring-reverb sound of the 1963 Fender Reverb via patented COSM technology. Three classic controls for Dwell, Tone, and Mix allow players to refine their tone, adding buttery warmth or sparkling twang.

A classic reborn — the legendary sound of the1963 Fender® Spring Reverb returns as a modern stompbox. BOSS and Fender® USA have collaborated to create the FRV-1, a stunning recreation of the legendary ’63 Fender® Reverb via COSM technology. The FRV-1 puts that timeless tube-driven reverb sound under your foot in a tough, reliable compact pedal.

A Timeless Classic — the Fender® ReverbThe original '63 Fender® Spring Reverb is the sound that launched thesurf-music phenomenon, and is a staple of rockabilly, country, andblues. Later, it became commonplace in grunge and other modern genres.Now the same legendary sound can be had in an affordable, rugged compact pedal.
Recreates the legendary sound of the 1963 Fender® Reverb via COSM technology
Easy operation with three classic controls for Dwell, Tone, and Mix for creating sounds from buttery warmth to sparkling twang
Cool, retro appearance
Road-tough BOSS metal construction

Check-out the specs and place your order here:

http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=4887

Roland announces the new Juno-Di Mobile Synthesizer. This latest addition to the Juno Series is specifically designed for the musician on the go, providing a vast array of professional sounds in a lightweight, portable design.  The user-friendly design of the Juno-Di will deliver hassle-free live keyboard performances for both the seasoned musician and entry level user.

Travel Light, Play Heavy
On stage or in the streets, the JUNO-Di is a travelling musician’s dream. It’s lightweight, it can run on batteries, and it’s easy to use, yet it performs and sounds like a heavyweight synth. It’s packed with a wide variety of top-quality sounds — over 1,000 to choose from! It has a friendly “direct access” control panel for easy editing and a Song Player for larger-than-life performances. First-timers and pros alike will love this friendly, portable, great-sounding synth.
Professional synthesizer with over 1,000 instruments onboard
Friendly, intuitive user interface
Battery operation for mobile use (supports Ni-MH AA-size rechargeable batteries)
MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF playback capability via optional USB memory — perfect for backing tracks when performing live
Microphone input with dedicated reverb and vocoder effects for sing-along
PC/Mac Editor software included
Over 1,000 Great Sounds!
At the heart of this exciting new synth is a top-of-the-line voice engine that delivers world-class sounds — including grand and electric pianos, lush strings, beautiful guitars, powerful brass, percussion, plus banks of exotic instruments, modern synth sounds, and much more. The sound-bank is so diverse, it can compliment any style of music! And if you want to customise the sounds, the dedicated “Sound Modify” knobs on the front panel let you instantly cater each sound to your specifications, even while you’re playing. A software editor is also provided if you prefer more advanced editing via PC.

Simple Navigation

With so many sounds onboard, it could be a daunting task to find what you need. But fear not — the JUNO-Di simplifies the process of finding sounds with its dedicated category buttons. If you want a piano, for example, just press the Piano button. You can even assign your most-used sounds to the Favourite buttons for instant access. Editing is easy too. If you want to create layers or splits, dedicated buttons and the large LCD make the process fast and friendly. And don’t forget the onboard rhythm patterns, which can be easily adjusted on the fly with a dedicated tempo control. It’s a great tool for practice and performance.

Let’s Go!

The JUNO-Di was born to travel. It’s strong yet amazingly lightweight (only 5.2kg) making it easy to lift and carry. The battery compatibility lets you play for up to five hours without plugging in (uses Ni-MH AA-size rechargeable batteries). When used in conjunction with a battery-powered amp such as Roland’s famous CUBE Street or MOBILE CUBE, the JUNO-Di can be played and heard anywhere. A battery-life indicator on the front panel ensures that you won’t lose power unexpectedly.

Sing Along!

More than meets the eye, the JUNO-Di lets you plug a microphone into its external input and process your voice through the built-in vocoder. A dedicated reverb is assigned to the input, so you can add lush ambience to your voice without taking away from the main onboard effects. Sing along with your performances and transform your voice in colourful and creative ways, from silky smooth to sci-fi robotic.

Built-In Song Player

With its USB MEMORY port and Song Player function, the JUNO-Di enables direct playback and control of backing tracks from a USB key. You can play MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files, and control them from the dedicated buttons on the front panel. Impress your audiences with full-band performances from a single keyboard! Additionally, the Centre Cancel feature lets you sing along karaoke-style with audio files in the Song Player for a complete entertainment experience. You can also connect MP3 players directly to the JUNO-Di through its external input.

Taylor Guitars visit Reverb later this month for a lively evening of guitar-talk and test-driving!

The event promises the opportunity to meet the good folk from Taylor, talk guitars, enjoy demonstrations of the current range, be first to see some brand-new models, plus a unique chance to try and buy some fantastic rare and one-off models. Admission is free and there will be refreshments available.

Over thirty-five years Taylor have established themselves as one of the very finest American guitar brands, much loved by many of the world's truly iconic players. The current range offers something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned professionals alike.

The Taylor Roadshow is on Tuesday 23rd June at 7pm, at
Reverb, 61-67 Jamaica St. Glasgow G1 4NN

Please email Reverb to reserve your place:
glasgow@reverb-store.co.uk
or call the store on 0141 204 0322

Reverb is one-year-old this weekend, and to celebrate our anniversary each of our stores is having a Big Birthday Bash party! There's a Big-brand Raffle in each store with oodles of high-value prizes that can ONLY BE WON by visitors this weekend, so just turn-up and you'll have a real chance of grabbing some great gear. PLUS there's an overall star prize of a pair of KV Audio KX15 powered PA speakers worth £1599!

There's going to be top-brand demonstrations, live music, refreshments, freebies and UNREPEATABLE deals! A great day out for anyone who makes music (or wants to start learning!).

So get in the car, on the bus or train, and get down to Reverb! Contact your local store for details. (click on the 'stores' link above).

Yamaha Music Production and Reverb present a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the award winning MOTIF XS synthesizers with world-famous demonstrator and product guru, Mr Bert Smorenburg. Bert will be holding court at Reverb's Glasgow branch on Wednesday 17th June and Bristol branch on Friday 19th June, with both events starting at 7pm.

Bert will not only take you through the MOTIF range and explain the latest features in the new version 1.5 os, but will also show the brand-new and top secret product that will be launched at to the world at the London International Music Show a couple of days before this event.  This will be one of the first showings of the new top secret product, so come along and learn more about the product that Yamaha have tagged as 'The Perfect Performance'.  All we can say at the moment is that it has massive waveROM, knobs, sliders and that Bert is the man to explain all!

Yamaha Product Specialists will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have so, put a date in your diary and come along to be entertained and to learn more about the latest products from Yamaha Music Production.  Be one of the first in the world to experience the new instruments first hand.  

To reserve your place at the Glasgow event please email glasgow@reverb-store.co.uk
For Bristol, please email bristol@reverb-store.co.uk

There are some fantastic Roland and Boss deals available through May in our three Roland Planet stores (Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow).

1. Buy a V-Drums TD-12KV electronic drum kit and get an SPD-S Sampling Pad FREE

2. Buy two Boss Compact Pedals and receive a FREE BCB-30 Pedal Case!

3. Buy an FP-4BK Digital Piano and receive a FREE STAND worth £149

4. Buy a Juno-G synth and get a free SRX Expansion Board of your choice

5. Buy any Roland Cuba amp and receive 6 mnths Elite Membership of Lick Library

6. Buy an FR-1V Accordion and get a FREE Mobile Cube amp!

7. But any HP-203 Digital Piano and receive an 8GB iPOD Nano FREE!

8. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on Boss Fender Pedals (FDR-1 and FBM-1)

Call 0870 067 1234 for details.

 

How's this for a product-test? Yamaha took a Pacifica 112V and left the poor thing on the roof. For a month!

"The class-leading Pacifica 112V combines player-focused, stage-ready spec with no-compromise construction and set-up to create the best value player’s guitar on the market…”

That’s what the Yamaha website says about the Pacifica 112V – the guitar which has helped thousands of people learn their first chords and been on-hand for many a gig. But how does it really fair under pressure? Is this guitar really as road ready and hard wearing as they say it is?
Forget taking the guitar to a gig – that’s easy, Yamaha wanted to know how the 112V faired against something way more arduous - ‘Mother Nature’ herself. Here's what they did:

"After causing a disbelieving stir around the Yamaha office, and more than a few raised eyebrows, we grabbed a stock Pacifica 112V in cool sonic blue off the racks in the warehouse and took it to the roof.

Yes… you read it right, we took the guitar to the roof!

The guitar was then placed on an Ultimate GS-100 guitar stand and left there for a month to contend with wind, hail, rain and anything else nature decided to throw at Milton Keynes during the month of March.

So, what happened?
Well - not much. Click on the small photo above (this really is the guitar, fresh from the roof) - the strings are rusty and could do with a change, but the guitar still plays pretty much perfectly, the neck hasn’t warped, the pickups still work and the selector switch isn’t even crackling. Result!

In fact, the only thing which has happened is a minor surface lacquer crack at the base of the neck, which if you can make out, you’re doing very well – oh, and there were also a few rusty screws. Not bad for a month under the stars…

It might sound like a frivolous thing to do, but there is a serious point here.
When we say that our guitars are built to withstand anything you can throw at them, we really mean it. Our testing procedures during design and production are unfeasibly thorough and go into incredible depth to make sure that our guitars will really perform and can handle a tough life on the road. We know first-hand what this means, but having the confidence to really throw down the gauntlet and put the claim to the test is something else. Yes, we really did put a guitar on the roof for a month, and no, we didn’t know exactly what it was going to come out looking like. We were pretty confident, but not having the results of this kind of thing on record, we couldn’t really be sure…
But, like we thought, the Pacifica stood up just fine".

So next time you’re looking around for a new guitar, and if it being able to cope with the battering that you’ll give it on the road matters (and it should!), just ask one question: ‘Can it survive a month outside and live to tell the tale?’

The Pacifica 112V says yes.

 See Reverb's great range of Yamaha electric and acoustic guitars here: http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-list.asp?cat1=2&brand=105

Now in its tenth year, the annual MIPA awards took place at this year’s Musik Messe in Frankfurt where the prize for Best Guitar Head went to the Vox Night Train.

Regarded as the “Grammy” of the Musical Instrument/Pro Audio industry, the MIPA awards are voted on by over 100 magazines from around the world who compile a list of nominees in over 40 categories.

The Night Train is a 15-Watt, all-tube guitar amplifier head offering both classic and new VOX tones in a compact, portable, design. The newly launch compact V112NT cabinet will be available later this year to accompany the Night Train and  features a Custom VOX Celestion ‘Greenback’ speaker.

Buy the Vox Night Train guitar head from Reverb here: http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=3862

The press lined up and the crowds gathered to see Joe Satriani at this year’s Musik Messe in Frankfurt. Joe took to the stage on the Vox stand to give a show stopping in-depth Q&A session on his range of Vox guitar effect pedals.

Everyone at Vox is extremely proud and honoured to be working with Joe and the effect range now boasts the Time Machine and Big Bad Wah to compliment the already highly successful Satchurator distortion pedal. Since its launch early last year, the Satchurator has received much acclaim and a string of hit reviews. This all culminated at the 10th annual MIPA awards held at Messe where it won the prize for Best Guitar Effects.

The ceremony was attended by over 300 people from international music & audio manufacturers/distributors and Vox also received the award for Best Guitar Head for the Night Train. The MIPA awards are a truly international accolade with over 100 magazines from around the world compiling a list of nominees in over 40 categories, from which the final winners are chosen.

It was the icing-on-the-cake for Vox to have Joe and the award trophy together on the Messe stand. Joe then went on to hold a captive audience for over 45 mins, enlightening everyone on the design philosophy behind the pedal range and how he uses them on stage and in the studio. He also mentioned how he made extensive use of them while recording the new Chickenfoot album, a collaboration with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony (both of Van Halen fame) and Chad Smith (drums, Red Hot Chili Peppers). Chickenfoot will be touring the UK/Europe in June & July 2009.

Buy the Vox Satchurator pedal from Reverb here: http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=3870

Yamaha's inspirational Motif XS6, XS7 and XS8 workstations have received a prestigious award from the world's leading music jounalists.

Each year at Europe's largest musical instrument fair, the Frankfurt Musikmesse, the influential journalists from over 100 different international specialist music magazines come together to vote for the best innovations, products and instruments from the pro audio industry.

At this years show Yamaha scooped the prestigious MIPA award for the best product in the 'Keyboard Workstation' category with the world-famous MOTIF XS synthesizer.

The journalists and members of the MIPA represent titles from countries as wide-spread as Germany, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Great Britain, Italy, France, Greece, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland so Yamaha is delighted to pick up such a significant global award.

The Yamaha Motif XS is the 'Best Keyboard Workstation' 2009

 

Reverb join Fender in congratulating Jeff Beck on his April 4 induction as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The honor comes amid a flurry of recent activity for Beck, who is in the midst of a busy worldwide touring schedule and who had a brand-new DVD release mere days before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland.

As for that induction—it’s about time, we say. Beck has enjoyed an extremely influential and highly regarded 45-year career that, in the words of the Hall of Fame, “has been filled with unpredictable twists and turns” and is indelibly marked with “consistency in the experimental streak that has been a hallmark of his playing from the beginning” and a guitar style that “reflects a philosophy of spontaneity and freshness.”

From his hit-making and inventive mid-1960s blues psychedelia work in seminal U.K. outfit the Yardbirds (with whom Beck was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992) to his subsequent groundbreaking solo career in the Jeff Beck Group, on his own and in collaboration with many others, the perennially cool Beck has always had street and artistic credibility to spare and a truly unique and instantly identifiable guitar sound.

At the ceremony, Beck was inducted by longtime friend and former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page. Beck performed a rousing version of signature tune "Beck's Bolero" at the ceremony, joined mid-song by Page.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced Beck as an induction candidate in September 2008 and named him as an inductee on Jan. 14, 2009. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after their first recording was released. The induction ceremony took place in Cleveland (home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum) for the first time since 1997 and was broadcast live on Fuse TV.

Beck is having a very busy year, having wrapped up the two-month Australia-New Zealand-Japan leg of his current world tour in late February. He’ll follow a dozen U.S. tour dates in April with U.K., Canadian and European tour dates throughout June and July (see list of tour dates below). Beck’s touring band once again consists of veteran drum ace Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Tal Wilkenfeld and keyboardist Jason Rebello.

June    
24 Brighton, Brighton Dome
25 Birmingham, Symphony Hall
27 Manchester, Manchester Apollo
28 Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
30 Belfast, Ulster Hall
     
July    
1 Dublin, Vicar Street
3 Southampton, Guildhall
4 London, Royal Albert Hall

 

Epiphone have announced the release of the new limited edition “Oh, Pretty Woman” 12-string acoustic guitar. Produced in close cooperation with the legendary singer/songwriter Roy Orbison’s estate, this signature guitar is based upon Roy’s own 1962 Epiphone “Bard” 12-string acoustic guitar.  Orbison used his Epiphone acoustic to write and perform many of his most well-known songs, including his biggest hit “Oh, Pretty Woman.”

“As a young, brilliant guitar player growing up in West Texas, Roy would have never dreamt that he would one day have his own Epiphone signature guitar named after him,” says Roy’s widow Barbara Orbison. “Roy wrote ‘Oh Pretty Woman’ on his Epiphone 12-string acoustic guitar, which features one of the most instantly recognizable rock and roll guitar riffs and has remained iconic and fresh to this day. I hope the next generation of artists will feel inspired to write another great rock and roll song thanks to the Epiphone signature Roy Orbison 12-string acoustic guitar.”

The new Epiphone “Oh, Pretty Woman” is a faithful reproduction of the 1962 original and features a solid spruce top, a solid mahogany back, a rosewood 12-string bridge and vintage tuners.  For this limited edition release, the back of the guitar’s headstock includes a replica of Roy Orbison’s signature and the notation for the first measure of the world famous “Oh, Pretty Woman” introduction riff.  Also included in this limited edition offer is a hard case with Roy’s signature and “sunglass” icon on it, a certificate of authenticity hand-signed by Roy’s widow, Barbara Orbison and Roy’s son, Roy Orbison, Jr., a black & white photo of Roy with his original Epiphone Bard 12-string, a “sunglass” lapel pin and a copy of the “Oh, Pretty Woman” sheet music.  The certificate and photo come in a leatherette presentation binder.

The Epiphone limited edition “Oh, Pretty Woman” 12-string Bard outfit will be officially unveiled on Roy’s birthday, April 23rd, at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London, England.  The Roy Orbison limited edition 12-string package will be available from Reverb in September 2009.

Sign-up to our mailing list and be first in the queue when the Epiphone 'Oh Pretty Woman' guitar package arrives in the UK!

 

Radiohead are currently on a world tour in support of their latest album entitled In Rainbows.  For their very intricate live shows the band and their technician, Russ Russell, have turned to Kontakt 3.      

Russ's workplace comprises of an Apple Macbook Pro that sits on a rack of daisy-chained audio interfaces. The computer receives MIDI from two keyboard stations on the stage, operated by band members (and brothers) Jonny and Colin Greenwood. They play their parts on their respective controller keyboards and MIDI floorboards.  

On his computer, Russ runs Kontakt 3 as the main instrument for all sample-based sounds in the show. Both keyboard stations are routed to Kontakt, with each song having its own monolithic multi. "Kontakt is great to work with", says Russ. "It has allowed us to completely get away from all the frustration of hardware samplers. Editing and importing becomes quicker and easier, which allows the band to make changes or try new ideas without delay or fuss."  

Russ switched Radiohead's setup to Kontakt during the preparation for the 2008 world tour. "The band wanted to replace some old hardware from previous tours and consolidate those sounds into one central system.  For the live versions of the songs on 'In Rainbows', I worked with Kontakt. I used material from the studio production, and I also adapted some sounds from the Kontakt library - the Crumar Orchestrator gets quite a bit of use. After that, I basically went through the entire Radiohead catalogue and converted all the old sample material for Kontakt. I sampled a few hardware instruments and created multisamples. It's just made the organisation of all the keyboard sounds so much easier."  

During the show, Radiohead play all songs entirely live - no backing tracks or sequencers are used except for songs with a more electronic aesthetics, such as "15 Step", where synchronised percussive loops are triggered in real time by Colin and Jonny. In addition to playing sounds on Russ's computer via his controller, guitar and keyboard player Jonny Greenwood operates a mixture of analog devices and his own laptop. During the show, Jonny manipulates the synths and outboard devices by hand and foot.  

Bass player Colin Greenwood uses more of a conventional setup for his keyboard parts, comprising a controller keyboard and floorboard. All the changes in sound selections during or in between songs are operated directly by Russ, including some sounds from Pro-53 and other software synthesizers.

The Cure are set to pick up the Godlike Genius award at the Shockwaves NME Awards in Febuary.

Robert Smith and co will recieve the award and play live at the ceremony at the Brixton Academy.

Past winners of the award include John Peel, Primal Scream, New Order, Manic Street Preachers and the Clash.

Frontman Robert Smith used the Schecter Ultracure electric guitar wich is his signature model, as well as the Schecter RS-1000 Robert Smith acoustic guitar.

The Cure guitarist Porl Thompson uses the Porl Thompson Corsair Bigsby electric guitar, which also features his tattoo artwork.

 

Celemony’s Melodyne software has won the coveted MIA Innovation award for its DNA technology.  Music Radar, which selects what they feel to be a groundbreaking piece of technology, chose Celemony’s Direct Note Access to be an unrivalled technology. 

Direct Note Access, which will be available in Melodyne Plugin 2 early 2009, not only allows the correction of time, pitch, and formants of an audio file, it will ‘divide’ individual notes of a chord and each note can be manipulated or corrected. 

The Music Industries Association awards were held on 14th October. The sell-out event saw over 350 guests gather together to celebrate the successes of the previous 12 months in the music industry.

Customers that purchase Celemony Melodyne Plugin will get a free update to Plugin 2 (with DNA technology) is purchased now.

Nicky Wire, bassist and founding member of Welsh rock group Manic Street Preachers, is a long term fan of Italia basses.  He’s a huge fan of the Italia Maranello Classic bass, and has them in red sparkle, silver sparkle, and gold sparkle.

The Manics, after playing the 2008 festival circuit, are working on their ninth album and have said the new album will be "very heavy, very angular, very meaningful”.

Earlier this year the Manics won the coveted ‘God Like Geniuses’ award at the NME awards ceremony, following in the footsteps of the likes of The Clash, New Order, and Primal Scream. 

As of the 1st October 2008 Reverb has implemented a new pricing structure, offering our customers amazing prices both on line and in store. Our entire team is working hard to make sure our prices are up there with the best.

The on line offer will grow over the coming month and new exiting features will be arriving daily as the Reverb site grows.

If you spot a price that looks a little high compared to other on line retailers, pick the phone up and have a chat with our Tele sales team. (0870 067 1234)

Based on research from consumer feedback and a drive to uphold and enhance the legacy of the guitar, Gibson USA’s 2008 Les Paul Standard features a new asymmetrical neck profile that makes it one of the most comfortable and playable necks on offer. The neck also features an enlarged neck tenon for maximum wood contact between the neck and body.

Locking Grover tuners are also a first for the Les Paul, giving the 2008 Standard an improved gear ratio of 18:1, allowing for faster string changes. All newly designed controls, including custom-made, gold-plated potentiometers made by Bourns, one of the industry’s leading makers of guitar electronics, give the 2008 Standard a new level of sonic clarity and intensity.

The guitar utilises the revolutionary Plek system, a computer-controlled setup that carefully measures and dresses each fret, accurately measuring the height between the fingerboard and each string, virtually eliminating string buzz and providing exceptional playability. Other features include a set of Gibson's traditional Burstbucker Pro humbuckers featuring Alnico V magnets.

Les Paul himself, the American jazz guitarist and inventor, recently tested the latest version of the guitar which bears his name at the Iridium Club, New York on Monday, July 28, 2008. The highly respected musician played a few chords and described the instrument as: " a great new model from Gibson."

REVERB STORES NOW OPEN SUNDAY 

Glasgow, Birmingham and Bristol stores are now open 7 days a week. Call in on Sunday's between 11am and 4pm to have a relaxed shopping experience.

GLASGOW, Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4NN - Tel.0141 2040322

BIRMINGHAM , 89 Old Snow Hill, Birmingham, B4 6HW - Tel.0121 2485868

BRISTOL, 5 Rupert Street, Bristol, BS1 2PY - Tel.0117 934455

THE KETTLE IS ON!

Slipknot's new album, All Hope Is Gone, debuted at number 2 in the British album charts. The band's fourth studio album, was held off the top by indie bores The Verve.

Kid Rock's latest album, Rock N Roll Jesus, fell six places form number 6 to number 12, DragonForce debuted at number 18 with Ultra Beatdown, Nickelback fall 8 places from number 12 to number 20 with All The Right Reasons and dance rockers Pendulum are still hanging in there at number 38 with a re-entry of their 2005 debut album Hold Your Colour.

UK-based guitar amp specialists Orange have announced that stock with a total retail value of £62,000 has been stolen in a container from their depot in Borehamwood, UK. Here's the announcement that's on the Orange web site:

"Thieves broke into Orange HQ at Borehamwood on Saturday night (16th August) and stole 141 Tiny Terror combos with a total retail value of £62,000. So far, 121 Tiny Terror combos have been legitimately shipped into the UK and two pieces to Hungary, no others have been shipped anywhere in Europe.

"If you are offered a Tiny Terror combo or hear of somebody else who is, please contact mailto:info@omec.com?subject=Orange%20Amplifiers to help us and the police with investigations."

Orange are offering a reward of £3000 for information that results in the successful conviction of the criminals who carried out the theft.

Tickets for Reading and Leeds Festival 2009 are now on sale at this year's prices for a limited time only!

Click the link below and get your tickets now!

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/promo/cnieh1?tm_link=tm_music_f2

During a recent press conference before an appearance at the ETP Festival in Korea, Marilyn Manson announced he has a new recruit amongst his band’s ranks: Yamaha artist Wes Borland, formally of Limp Bizkit and currently of Black Light Burns.

Borland plays a signature CV820WB Yamaha electric guitar, a semi-hollowbody built for heavy music that he helped design from the ground up.

When asked about Wes joining Marilyn Manson, US artist relations manager, Mike Tempesta commented: “Borland is an incredibly talented guitarist and artist, and his talent combined with someone like Manson, who shares a similar artistic outlook, will make for some truly revolutionary music. The combination of Borland and Manson is a really powerful lineup,”

Manson has commented that the partnership will help form “the most indestructible Marilyn Manson.”

After fears of the future of Black Light Burns, Wes commented on his MySpace page saying: “I am joining Marilyn Manson, but Black Light Burns is still going strong and I have no problem operating in two bands,”. “MM is playing a show here in Korea, where I am now, in about 8 hours and then I’m on the way back home to start doing some guitars with Nick [Annis, BLB guitarist] on the next Black Light Burns record.”

Black Light Burns has just released a combination CD and DVD package titled Cover Your Heart and The Anvil Pants Odyssey on I Am Wolfpack/YMA Music Group’s label. The album is packed with reinterpreted songs of bands including Duran Duran (“Hungry Like the Wolf”), The Jesus Lizard ("The Art of Self Defense"), Sisters of Mercy ("Lucretia My Reflection") and PJ Harvey ("Rid of Me"), Cover Your Heart is a deconstruction and reconstruction of music that the band has loved and appreciated.

Meanwhile, Manson is in the middle of recording a new album, which is expected to be released sometime next year.

Roland is pleased to announce the TD-12KV, which adds a second CY-12R/C crash cymbal and accompanying MDY-10U cymbal mount to the highly acclaimed TD-12K V-Drums Kit.

The CY-12R/C V-Cymbal Ride/Crash is an expressive 12-inch dual-trigger electronic cymbal that offers the natural rebound, inertia and "swinging" motion of an acoustic cymbal. Also including cymbal choke capabilities, it is perfect for use as a ride, crash or even a splash cymbal on V-Drums systems and other electronic drum sets.

"The addition of a second CY-12R/C cymbal to the new TD-12KV will open drummers to new configurations, thus enhancing their performance capabilities,” says Martyn Hopkins, Brand Manager & Product Manager of the Drum & Percussion Division, “We are pleased to bring this additional component to our TD-12K V-Drums set at no additional cost to our customers."