We’ve been checking out a lot of new pedals lately, as well as some new guitars and a few great used instruments that have come in. You’ll find a bit of each in this month’s staff picks – our favorites for August!
Josh Baldridge – Fender Classic ’50s Strat in Surf Green
There are always those guitars that just catch my eye and this Strat is one of them. Like a ’57 Chevy, this is a classic that is bound to turn some heads. Will Ferrell knows what I’m talking about.
Jim Baggett – Collings OM1A Cutaway Acoustic
Beautiful tone with remarkable volume in a very comfortable body size.
Eric Mardis – Collings CW Indian Rosewood Acoustic
This is a total cannon! Ad top with Rosewood, larger soundhole and Ad bracing – a real powerhouse. Nice deal too as it’s used.
Eric Putnam – Greenhouse Effects Stonefish Chorus and Vibrato Pedal
Great sounding chorus and vibrato. It can go from very usable sweet chorus or vibrato tones to crazy out of control UFO sounds. Lots of fun!
Ted Kritikos – Magnatone Twilighter 1×12 Combo Amp
The true, pitch-shifting vibrato on this amp must be heard to be believed. Completely natural and extremely musical. Plus, this amp sounds great at lower volumes, but can get as loud as you need it to. Very cool.
Matt Harmon – Repair Luthier – Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Offset guitars are starting to grow on me and this one is the best of Fender/Squier’s bunch. Coming in at an amazing price point of $399 you can’t beat the options this guitar has.
Susan Willits – Eastman MD404 Mandolin
Vintage-inspired, yet new and it sounds great! I love the oval sound hole. It gives nice, focused projection.
Thomas Hamm – Eastman AR371CE Archtop
I’ve been eying one of these for awhile now, and this one plays and sounds great. Perfect for some dark Timber Timbre and Dead Man’s Bones-style folk tunes.
Anne Tangeman – PRS Mira Korina Electric
I LOVE this guitar – it feels fantastic, sustains like crazy and has a very cool, classic vibe to it.