Gear: July 2012
G&L’s Korina Collection concept all started “as a dare” of sorts as the company’s R&D team looked for a collector’s version of the ASAT Classic Bluesboy. Appealing to player styles as diverse as “hip-hop to alternative to straight-ahead American rock ‘n’ roll, the Bluesboy delivers the goods, and the marriage of the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover neck humbucker to the single coil G&L Magnetic Field Design bridge pickup is a match made in heaven,” according to the company.
Artists as wide ranging as George Pajon, Jr. of the Black Eyed Peas, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith are using G&L’s new guitar.
As G&L experimented with a mahogany body on a Bluesboy, a question persisted: “How about Korina? Would the magic still be there? Absolutely. Korina brought warm shades of Mahogany tone but with more snap and brightness tempered by a Paul Ferro fingerboard. If you’re a fan of the Bluesboy, you’ve got to check out this one”
This model also includes a three-position pickup selector, including volume and tone, a single-ply black pickguard, and a deluxe hardshell Tolex case with fitted interior. Street price for the guitar is in the $1,700 range. Visit glguitars.com for more.
KORG
Pandora Mini Effects Module
“Gear” reviewed the first-generation Pandora effect unit while Bill Clinton was POTUS. Back then, Korg‘s little pod (before pods were iPods) dramatically changed the concept of a multi-effect unit, placing dynamic sound and previously unheard of versatility into a compact body.
Today, the Pandora Series has become a big-selling favorite for guitarists and bassists, and the Pandora is now available in miniature version with similar effects at a lower price. Korg says its new “Mini Me” effects pod is an “anytime, anywhere, play that song on your guitar or bass with your favorite set of effects.”
Highlights include 200 preset programs (including song presets), and 200 user program locations for storing your own sounds. One-hundred-fifty-eight types of guitar amps and effects (up to seven effects at once), 100 different rhythm patterns, and a built-in metronome are stock. Pandora’s capable of changing the pitch of the aux input by one octave, and sports two-way power: batteries or USB. They currently list for about $100. More info is available at korgusa.com.
LAVA CABLE
Clear Connect II Guitar Cable
There’s considerable debate about the effectiveness of high-end cables on an guitar rig’s tone. Conisider us converts for utilizing better cables to quiet on-stage noise.
Lava Cable is doing guitar cables better these days with its Clear Connect II. New technology is enabling Lava to make a cord that “is now significantly better with completely redesigned solder-free Pure Plugs by Abbatron.”
Both the plugs and manufacturing processes have been improved to produce a more reliable unit that offers a patented process where the connectors are high-pressure crimped onto the cable with a most efficient ever signal path.
Specs include 98-percent shielding, with 99.99-percent pure oxygen-free copper for both shield and conductor. Lava says “it’s is a world-class cable capable of superb performance and durability in all situations.”
A 20-foot cable retails for $74.95 online at lavacable.com or through stocking Lava Cable dealers.
News & Notes
Guitar Center is holding a benefit concert to raise awareness for autism at Double Door in Chicago on Friday, July 27th at 8 p.m. Donation/cover is $7 and proceeds go to Austism Speaks. Bands on the bill include Drench, Hillbilly Idol, and Red Jr. More details can be found in this issue on page 5, or through Doug Reaves at Guitar Center Villa Park.
— David Gedge
