Gibson Honors Jeff Beck with Limited-Edition “Yardburst” Les Paul
Gibson Custom Shop has unveiled a tribute to the iconic Jeff Beck, reimagining the 1959 Les Paul Standard that fueled his early career with the Yardbirds. Christened the “Yardburst” for its striking Dark Cherry Sunburst finish – meticulously aged to match Beck’s original instrument – this limited-edition release offers a chance to own a piece of rock and roll history. But if you’re serious about owning one, there’s no time to waste.
Gibson Custom has handcrafted just 130 “Yardburst” Les Pauls, and each is a faithful recreation of Beck’s cherished instrument. The mahogany body boasts a one-piece construction for optimal resonance, while the top is meticulously hand-selected to mirror the original instrument’s visual character. The Murphy Lab steps artfully age the guitar to capture the worn aesthetic and vibe of the original.
What’s more, the “Yardburst” features white bobbin humbuckers, the sound that defined countless rock anthems, and a black single-ply pickguard, Unpotted Custombuckers offer players a full-bodied, unfiltered tone – perfect for conjuring up Beck’s signature bluesy snarl and searing leads.
“Jeff Beck was enormously proud to have owned the original of this guitar,” says Sandra Beck, Jeff’s wife. This limited-edition release is a testament to the enduring impact Beck had on the world of music. A true innovator and a player who transcended genres, Beck’s influence on guitarists continues to inspire generations.
Limited Edition Marshall Amp Celebrates 100 Years of Celestion Speakers
Guitar amp legend Marshall Amplification has teamed up with speaker manufacturer Celestion to release a limited-edition amp to celebrate Celestion’s 100th anniversary.
The Marshall Celestion 100 is a handcrafted reissue of the iconic Studio JTM model, featuring a specially designed Celestion 100 speaker. Only 100 units will be available worldwide,
The Celestion 100 speaker is a recreation of Celestion’s earliest Alnico speakers, known for their warm and vocal mid-range with a touch of crunch on the top end. The amp itself is built in Marshall’s Bletchley factory in the UK and features finger-jointed cabinets, hand-welded chassis, and hand-soldered components.
The Celestion 100 also boasts a power switch that lets players switch between five watts and 20 watts, making it ideal for both stage and the studio.
“Celestion has been part of the Marshall family right from the very beginning,” says Steve Smith, Product Expert for Musical Instruments at Marshall Group. “The Celestion 100 is a perfect tribute to this shared legacy.”
The Marshall Celestion 100 is available from select retailers worldwide for a price of $2,999.99.
ESP Shreds its Normal Price Point with Budget-Friendly LTD Guitars
ESP are about to shredding the price barrier on high-quality guitars.The company has just released a six-pack of new LTD instruments in the 200DX series, aiming to bring ESP quality to budget-minded beginners and gearheads alike.
All six axes – the EC-200DX, M-200DX, and TE-200DX, each offered in two finishes – list at $399. They all look great, and if their feel and playability comes anywhere close to that of ESP’s higher end models – for which the company has developed a stellar reputation – the guitars should soon be flying into the hands of eager players.
Each guitar features the same high-output LH0150 humbuckers and TOM-style bridge with string-thru body for maximum sustain. The EC-200DX offers a classic single-cut look, boasting a beveled-edge “eclipse” body and a bolt-on maple neck A push-pull switch on the knob allows rapid shifts from humbucker to subtler single coil sounds. The guitar is available in blue burst and charcoal burst finishes.
The M-200DX leans into a more streamlined, modern aesthetic with its M-shaped body. The guitar has a slightly longer scale length (25.5″) and comes in blue burst and purple burst finishes.
The TE-200DX is a lightweight take on the classic ESP TE design. The guitar features a bolt-on neck, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and an angled headstock that shouts ESP. It’s available in deep blue burst and purple burst finishes.
Of course, the proof is in the performance, but ESP’s new LTD 200DX series could be the perfect choice for shredders and wannabe shredders of all skill levels, whether you’re looking for a great instrument to start with or a reliable backup model to take on the road.
JHS Stamps Its Name on High-Gain Distortion with the Hard Drive Pedal
For 15 years, JHS Pedals has been a name synonymous with innovative and quality guitar effects. Now, they’re entering the high-gain distortion arena with their first original circuit in this category: the JHS Hard Drive.
The Hard Drive promises a fresh approach to achieving modern, high-gain tones in a pedal format. It utilizes cascaded gain stages and a hard limiting circuit to push the sound, followed by a class AB amplifier section. This all feeds into a sweepable midrange EQ and a Baxandall bass and treble control, allowing guitarists to dial in anything from tight rhythm crunch to a wall of distortion that cuts through any mix.
“The idea was to develop a circuit that captured the best of the high-gain tones of the 90s and 2000s,” explains JHS founder Josh Heath. “We wanted to create a sound that embodied the energy and aggression of that era of rock and metal.”
The Hard Drive boasts a generous control layout, giving players the ability to meticulously sculpt their sound. Gain, volume, three-band EQ, a voice switch, and a tight button provide a vast tonal palette. The voice switch allows for a more scooped or a more prominent midrange character, while the tight button helps tame low-end mud at higher gain settings.
With its rugged construction and JHS’s usual attention to detail, the Hard Drive is built to withstand the rigors of the road. Whether you’re a bedroom shredder or a seasoned stage performer, the JHS Hard Drive promises to deliver the high-gain tones you crave.
The JHS Hard Drive is available now for $199.00 from JHS Pedals and select retailers worldwide.
Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Advanced: A Feature-Rich Amp and Effects Modeler
Harley Benton is expanding their DNAfx line with the introduction of the DNAfx GiT Advanced. This new modeler offers a comprehensive set of features for guitarists who crave tonal versatility and practical tools for practice and performance.
The DNAfx GiT Advanced features 55 amp models that capture the characteristics of various tube amp styles. Additionally, 26 Impulse Response (IR) cabinet simulations are included, offering classic and modern speaker tones. The unit also allows you to load your own custom IRs for even more customization.
With 151 built-in effects, the DNAfx GiT Advanced caters to a wide range of sonic preferences. From distortion and wah to modulation, delay, and reverb, you have the tools to create a vast array of sounds. Up to nine effects can be chained simultaneously, allowing for complex sonic layering.
An expression pedal provides hands-on control over effect parameters, while an 80-second looper and a drum machine with 40 patterns aid in practice and improvisation. The unit includes a built-in chromatic tuner and boasts a variety of connection options, including a 6.3mm mono input, balanced XLR outputs for PA integration, a headphone jack, and both micro USB and Type-C USB ports. The USB connection allows for editing patches, direct recording to your computer, and firmware updates.
The DNAfx GiT Advanced promises professional-grade audio quality thanks to its 44.1kHz sampling rate and 24-bit conversion. You can find it at the Thomann Music website for $239.
