Variax 600 joins the Line 6 modeling guitar lineup

New 4-String Euro LX Model from Spector: Handcrafted in the Czech Republic, the Euro 435LX is a 35" scale bass features a body of figured maple of alder with a slice of walnut and active EMG pickups.

Line 6 announces Rotary Speaker pedal

Charles Kramer was instrumental to guitarists: Article about Charles "Duke" Kramer of Gretsch guitars, who died last month.

Guitarist and trumpet player Jeff Healey signs with roots music label Stony Plain Records: Wow, I hadn't realised that he played the trumpet as well!

Me and My Guitar by Brian Wilson. (No, not the ex Beach Boy).

Right Hand Guitar Playing Tip: How to achieve speed.

First Chinese Guitar Festival opens in S. China's Hainan Province

Farley's Journeyman Guitar Tool: A "Swiss Army Knife" for guitarists. (Farley's? I thought they made rusks for babies?)

Ergo Guitars by Charles Fox: Charles Fox has introduced the Ergo Noir guitar at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. "The ergo noir is a high-performance 'super guitar' from the workshop of master luthier Charles Fox. The ergo is an instrument of unusual refinement and unlimited musical possibilities; a virtuoso guitar for exploring your most ambitious musical ideas and dreams. Besides sounding and playing like nothing else in the world, the ergo is also a compelling design object, an empowering musical partner, an inspiring creative muse, a player's dream, a performer's delight, a collector's prize, a serious investment and a high end walk on the wild side."

I recently got myself this Washburn WI64-DL secondhand at a very nice price. (It's much more purple in real life than the photo shows). As I may have mentioned before, I am not a fan of tone controls on guitars becuase they are usually pointless (i.e. they don't do anything other than roll off the treble) but this guitar features the Voice Contour Control (VCC) system which basically means you can mix between single coil and humbucker sounds - not just one or the other but all the "inbetween" positions as well!

Added to that it has the Buzz Feiten tuning system, and whilst I haven't quite worked out what exactly the Buzz Feiten tuning system actually is, I am not complaining because the guitar plays in tune all the way up to the top of the neck.

I've wanted one of these guitars since I tried out the Washburn WI64-DL at the London guitar show earlier this year. The guitar I've bought an earlier model that's now been discontinued, although I can't quite see from the specs on the Washburn website what the differences between the WI65-DL and the WI64-DL models actually are. But who cares? All in all, it's a fantastic guitar - a great buy.

New Book chronicles the history of Van Halen

What's rocking music: girls with guitars: article from The Guardian.

Ozzy is looking for new guitar player: interested parties should send a package showcasing their guitar skills to: Ozzy Osbourne Guitar Player, P.O. Box 5249, Beverly Hills, CA 90209.

The Who's Townshend destroys guitar for charity: "Pete doesn't tend to smash up guitars any more, but he made an exception in this case as it was for such a good cause."

For sale on eBay.co.uk: Danelectro Convertible, re-issue, semi-acoustic guitar

(item 7344141166 end time 27-Aug-05 13:25:35 BST)  SOLD

New Subhuman Model Guitar from Malden: Malden's latest electric guitar design is a double cutaway model featuring a mahogany body and dual high-output humbuckers. Is it just me, or does it look somewhat Parker-like?

Line 6 Announces TonePort UX1 and UX2 USB Audio Interfaces New interfaces designed for recording guitar, bass, and vocals on your computer.

Daguet Guitars: Guitars built to order by a French luthier. It's nice to see someone who doesn't just trot out the same old tired variations of Fender designs. Check out his Crestwood Deluxe replicas - they are stunning!

Unseen Hendrix footage released: Jimi Hendrix's legendary performance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 is to be released on DVD in its entirety.

Who recently hit this site using a Google search for danelectro convertible for sale uk? Drop us a line - I may be able to help you! Email me on gl.wilson AT ntlworld.com

For sale on ebay.co.uk: Parts-ocaster Strat, hardtail conversion, Squier etc...

(item 7343434490 end time 21-Aug-05 15:12:03 BST)   SOLD

For sale on ebay.co.uk: Silvertone / Harmony Archtop F-hole acoustic

(item 7343438827 end time 21-Aug-05 15:33:25 BST)   NOT SOLD - any offers?

iBooster Connects Guitars, Mics to Computers: more plug-in fun!

NS Design Introduces Bass Cello: "The Bass Cello allows any bass or cello player access to the exciting world of bowed electric sound," says Ned Steinberger, creator of the NS Bass Cello.

iUke USB Ukulele

ZZ Top Star Shows Off His Cars & Guitars: in his new book, "Billy F. Gibbons: Rock & Roll Gearhead".

ESP Launch Two New Guitars, LTD Range Expanded

This music made me pick up my guitar and play: Everyone's a fan, even the famous, and here some of them come over all gooey about the songs and albums that lit their fire - from the Times Online.

Here are a couple of new additions to my personal guitar collection:

The first is this clear acrylic Strat copy by Sanox Sound Creator (try as I might, I can't find out anything about them on the web). It's actually quite a good quality Japanese copy from the 1970s; Nile Rodgers from Chic used to play something similar, I believe. This particular example has been well-used and shows a fair few battle scars - the perspex is chipped beneath the bridge, and it has worn frets in places, etc. However, it does have that certain 'mojo' and it sounds and feels great - it's perfect for those Hendrix impressions! I have to confess that I actually prefer this beaten up old copy guitar to my real Fender Strat (a Japanese 'Antigua' reissue from 2004).

My other new addition is this Countryman guitar banjo. It's basically a banjo with a 6-string guitar neck on it, so it allows guitarists to play a 'second instrument' simply by using their current knowledge of the guitar. Sneaky, huh? A friend of mine commented that it's not a 'real banjo', but it sounds like one to me, and I can't be bothered with all that 4 and a half strings business! Anyway, it's a relative cheapy, I suppose, made in China but with an American-made Remo head, but it's very nicely built and as I say it has that authentic banjo sound.

Bullet Guitar Straps and Belts from SDA: pretend to be Lemmy.

Status Quo join Coronation Street and little Chutney gets a Telecaster!

Jimi Hendrix: I Don't Want to be a Clown Any More: one from the archives of Rolling Stone magazine.

Wietse's guitars: I love websites like this where people talk you through their guitar collections. This guy Wietse is from The Netherlands and he's built up quite a collection of interesting guitars by scouring his local fleamarkets. He's also refinished a few of the more damaged guitars and it looks like he's made a real nice job of them.