Found this on the tubes today. The Make Believe Company makes this awesome toddler’s (2-years-old and up) play guitar. From Fawn and Forest: Powered by a kid’s imagination and voice, the Guitar by Make Believe Company is a miniature version of the real thing. Forget fancy electrics + squeaky sounds, the wood Guitar is a [...]

Slide-guitar great Sonny Landreth has a new CD coming out in May 2009 released From the Reach in May 2008: When Louisiana-based singer/songwriter/slide-guitar great Sonny Landreth releases his ninth album in May, it will mark an artistic turning point of sorts. “From the Reach” features collaborations between Landreth and renowned guitar players Eric Clapton, Mark [...]

There were rumors earlier in the month about Zep recording and touring in 2009, but, alas, it seems that won’t happen. According to Jimmy Page’s manager: “Led Zeppelin are over,” he added. “If you didn’t see them in 2007 [at London's O2 Arena], you missed them. It’s done. I can’t be any clearer than that. [...]

Here’s yet another video from the NAMM show, this one of the father of modern shredding, Yngwie Malmsteen:

Now that the 2009 NAMM show has concluded, I’ve decided to consolidate a few of the guitar-related press releases and  Guitarbalooga posts related to the show in this post in more-or-less chronological order.

(via Blabbermouth.com) Paul’s latest CD is Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar (April 2008).

A week or two ago, I forced myself to watch this (hopefully intentionally) hideous commercial for Microsoft’s Songsmith, an application that creates accompaniment for tunes you sing into it a cappella: Works pretty well for the girl with the golden pipes. Could be fun for the kids. OR, I wonder what would happen if you [...]

Stumbled across this decent review of Hemispheres, a CD featuring two guitar greats, Jim Hall and Bill Frisell: With a number of inside-out improvisations mixed with respectfully reshuffled standards, this jazz-guitar summit between 50-year veteran Jim Hall and Americana-dusted experimentalist Bill Frisell dispels that notion. The two-CD package offers a set of home-recorded duo explorations [...]

B.C. Rich and Taylor aren’t the only companies announcing new models. Martin Guitar has announced several new models to coincide with the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show: We invite you to visit the Martin Guitar Museum and Visitors Center in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, for a special unveiling of the new instruments that we are [...]

Two new Kerry King (Slayer) B.C. Rich models were introduced at the NAMM show: the Beast V and Beast V NT. Here’s Rock to tell you more: Tell me Kerry doesn’t have the best goatee in rock-and-roll… Anyway, I love that Signature V in the beginning with the painted flames. The Beast V is a [...]

I think the press-release machine is stuck on high over at Taylor. Another release today announces their Built-to-Order (BTO) program, something I think is wonderful idea: BTO invites every day customers and enthusiasts alike “into the factory” to conceive and concoct a custom guitar with the perfect feel, appearance, and tone, paired with Taylor’s signature [...]

Here’s some footage of Ed talking about his new EVH, designed partly during a heavy-duty year of touring and partly from over 3-decades worth of tinkering with his guitars: I’m happy to see that Ed is still looking good. Update: Jan. 21, 2009 Here’ s some footage from NAMM of Nick Bowcott and Chip Ellis [...]

Yesterday, Taylor issued a press release to announce a new model (and to celebrate its third year): Upon the company’s third anniversary, R. Taylor has introduced a third body style: Style 3. The Style 3 is a classic, yet tailored, refined Dreadnaught body designed by luthiers and musicians to capture volume, and projection, while punching [...]

On Feb. 27-28, The Petaluma Phoenix Center is holding the “Phoenix Carnaval & Guitar Gala” in St. Petaluma, CA: The Guitar Gala will feature approximately 20 guitars (donated by the Gibson Foundation), each designed and customized by local and nationally recognized visual artists. Artists committed to the program: George Lucas, Devo, Seth Green of Robot [...]

Now, I must admit that I hadn’t heard of Wayne Krantz until stumbling across this press release from Abstract Logix posted on allaboutjazz.com: Guitar icon Wayne Krantz has signed with Abstract Logix to release his first studio album in thirteen years… …Wayne Krantz ,ex sideman with Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Donald Fagen, Chris Potter and [...]