New Stuff From NAMM for Guitar Players and Collectors

Hi gang, it's Cliff. After a few days at NAMM, my feet were killing me. I felt like I'd walked a hundred miles. My pain is your gain however. I ran into some interesting stuff here at the NAMM show that I think you should know about. So here, in no particular order, are some cool brand new things from the show.

The left-handed PRS models

The Stringbeam even allows you to finger between the nut and capo.

Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) has three new announcements of note. First they have begun production of a new dragon guitar. If you have never seen the first PRS dragon guitars, check out the interview I did with Paul about a year ago. Well, PRS has released a new guitar called the Dragon 2000. This is a Custom 22 with a large dragon inlayed on the body all the way around the bridge. All I can say is WOW! Check out the "Golden Ax Award" article coming soon for full pictures and coverage of this instrument.

Also new are PRS left handed guitars. This will be great news for all you left handers that always wanted a PRS. Their Custom 22 and the McCarty models will be made in this style.

PRS is starting to incorporate a new acoustic pickup into their guitars as an option. A joint venture with L.R. Baggs, famed maker of the X-Bridge pick up system (See my interview with Tom Anderson for a more detailed report on the X-Bridge), the new acoustic bridge pickup has been tuned by way of equalization technology designed specifically for the PRS line of guitars. I talked with L.R. Baggs about this partnership and they are very excited about the current product and the prospects for further development with PRS. I've personally heard the system and it really does sound like an acoustic guitar. Definitely worth checking out all you electric and acoustic guitar fans.

To contact PRS, visit their web site at www.prsguitars.com.

The Stringbeam Capo

While at NAMM, I ran into a small manufacturer, just starting out, of an odd but interesting new form of capo. The Stringbeam, by Fabitek, allows you to mute or set combinations of strings at a given fret. Looking at the picture to the right, you can see that the Stringbeam has six separate string mutes that can be moved to mute/press each string or raised so the string can ring open at the nut. This is great for switching between alternate tunings. For instance, you could place the Stringbeam at the second fret, press down the D/G/B strings and quickly have a guitar tuned in open A. The inventor of the Stringbeam, Jim Carlin, also tells me that it is useful for muting strings on guitar solos to stop open strings from ringing. Having seen the device first hand, it is quite well designed, and manufactured mainly from steel. The cost of this little ditty is $59.95 U.S. and is only available from the manufacturer at this time. For more information you can contact Fabitek at (503) 762-9969, on the web at www.stringbeam.com, or email them at mail@stringbeam.com.

From Time Safe Inc. comes the ultimate in guitar cases. Designed by a vintage guitar collector, the Time Safe Case has many unique features including vacuum sealing (yes you read correctly, this is a vacuum sealed case), motion-sensor/alarm, temperature control, and humidity control. Obviously, this isn't your run of the mill guitar case for your run of the mill guitar. But, if you have something like a . . . oh . . . PRS Dragon 2000, this case is probably more than worth the money. The case has two tops or covers. This feature is not for added protection, but so you can display or show the guitar without breaking the vacuum seal. The inside cover is clear and UV light inhibiting to prevent fading of the guitar finish. The case can be hung on the wall or displayed with a built in floor stand. The clear display top also allows you to see the LCD display which shows the status of temperature and humidity within the case. The polycarbonate display/transport/long term storage case is available in 24 different form insert colors from black to pink. The features of this case go on and on. Needless to say, if you have a very special guitar (or forty of them) you should contact Time Safe real soon. To contact Time Safe Inc., phone: 1-800-742-4147, email: timesafe@visi.com, or check out their WEB site at www.timesafeonline.com. Tell them Cliff from HC sent you.


The Time Safe with both covers open.		The case can stand on the floor or hang from a wall so you can still display your guitars while protecting them.

Keep Jamming,

Cliff

Cliff Suttle (cliffnotes@harmony-central.com) has been studying music for over twenty years including studies at the University of Michigan. Fluent on keyboards, guitar, and bass, Cliff is currently playing in an all original rock band Middle Earth. Cliff's motto: Understand the theory and you can play anything.

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