Fender's artist range reads like a who's who of rock royalty, and whether it's the flamboyant Jimmy Page Tele, the metalready Jim Root Jazzmaster or Kurt Cobain's southpaw Jag, there's always been something for every type of player - a fact exemplified by the Californian giant's latest releases. While on the surface, it may look like this duo of signature Strats are just simple variations on the tried and true formula from 1954, in reality, they showcase just how much can be done with this classic design - and how important an artist's vision is to their F signature instrument.
The first of these new six-strings comes courtesy of R&B superstar, Grammy-winner and songwriter extraordinaire, Steve Lacy. This eye-catching Strat perfectly combines tradition with contemporary to create a Swiss Army knife of tone that can handle any genre thrown at it.
Featuring the beloved Player Plus Noiseless single-coil pickups, a modern deep C neck, vintage-inspired narrow-tall frets and the fierce Chaos Fuzz circuit, Lacy has clearly put his own unique stamp on the legendary Strat design - but will it live up to its People Pleaser name?
Next up is arguably the most hotly anticipated guitar of the year-well, certainly among pop-punk fans - the Tom DeLonge Signature Stratocaster. Yes, that's right, the streamlined punk powerhouse is back with a vengeance. The original run was unfortunately discontinued in 2004 when DeLonge was enticed over to Gibson with his own ES-335, but luckily the re-released Strat is just as you remember it, albeit with a couple of tweaks.
Featuring the unaccompanied Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker that helped DeLonge craft his iconic sound, a solitary volume control and a slew of colourful finish options, this Strat is as simple as it gets and that's what we love about it.
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Total Guitar.
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Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Total Guitar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.
The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party. He explains what makes a great cover version - and reveals the one guitar and the one pedal he couldn't live without...
Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP
Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett is also a solo artist in his own right, and his latest EP Starry Nights & Campfire includes Lights covers of two great old rock tracks - Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and the ballad Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks, the Finnish band that did so much to inspire Guns N' Roses.
"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...
Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more... Born in Milan, his funk guitar sensibility can be traced back to the dance studio where his mother taught, and the tunes he heard blasting out of her boombox. "I like to experiment with a lot of genres, but the really interesting thing for me is I really grew up on funk, and a little bit of jazz and fusion music," he says.
- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE
Heavily requested on rock radio stations thanks to their unique twist on bluesy Americana, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are the kind of band that thrive in front of large crowds on hot summer days just as much as more intimate performances inside sweaty underground basements.
BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3
The Japanese giant cuts through the noise with its new practice amp
SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH
A great value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys
IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE
The most powerful amp modeller for its size, bar none
YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M
Yamaha's long-running doublecut finally gets a makeover
NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!
The 10 songs you should never cover. Or at least think twice before trying...