Lyra

This dropped last week; Kiesel's Lyra (bolt-on) model, a collaboration between Kiesel & Greg Howe. Please be informed that the Greg Howe  signature model is still available, this is just an addition to the fold.

For the entire of last weekend, I was bothered by the Lyra name; it sounded terribly familiar; where have I seen / heard it before? Lyra is actually the brand name of the colour pencils kids use in school. So, there.

Pics: Kiesel / Artfriend

Licking it (1)

Unboxing soon :-)

Martin Howe

Something to look forward to- Carl Martin's Lick Box. It's a signature pedal as indicated. I'm a sucker for a stackable overdrive arrangement, especially one offered in a single housing. Pedal will debut this 1st August. 

GH24

So Greg How's Carvin is called the GH24 & it features some departures from its predecessors:

• Chambered body- this one is really something different as Mr. Howe's ESP/ Fender et al feature solid bodies. According to the manufacturer it's not meant to address weight issues primarily. There's a resonance formula going on & taming some brightness as well.
• EVOJ frets- supposedly an alloy that has qualities in between steel & nickel 
• Standard whammy bridge- yes, no Floyd Rose this time
• Carvin pickups- yes, No DiMarzios as well. So does this dinish the Greg Howe vibe? Hear it for yourselves:

Carvin welcomes Greg Howe

We've seen Greg Howe getting along with different brand names & it has to happen again very recently for a simple reason- LAGUNA guitars folded. As you can see here, Mr. Howe was using a Carvin in a recent rehearsal with his band, Maragold.

Here we see GH admiring his new guitar upon his endorsement confirmation. So Greg Howe joins the list of other potent players in the Carvin camp: Neil Zaza, Alan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale et al. Congrats!

Pics: Greg Howe @ Instagram

DV Greg

Greg Howe has just received his latest amp- a DV Mark Triple 6. This is basically a hybrid amp featuring a tube pre-amp section. I respect Greg Howe for sticking to his personal preference & not jumping into the current hype. It's all about what works for us, regardless of the implements.

 But the personal model has Greg's name on it, as well as his band's: Maragold

Howe's 5

Greg Howe is currently playing Laguna guitars, he also endorses DiMarzio pickups & the bridge unit in his LE924FR guitar is a GH5 model. 'GH' for Greg Howe but what's the 5 suffix all about? It's the number of attempts Greg & the DiMarzio team had before they got the pickup right- now you know.

Damp!

Many of us would have seen Greg Howe in action with his sister's hair band round his guitar neck. Functionally, it's hair band turned into a string damper. This is the most economical version, of course.

When Jennifer Batten started out (seen here still playing her Ibanez) she had a proper contraption fixed to the headstock of her guitar. This version featured a movable arm to bring the damper down to her strings when required. At other times, it could be lifted away.

The ambidextrous Michael Angelo had one in his guitar as well. The objective of this implement is to mute the strings so unfretted notes do not get in the way. Functionally, it's akin to having a noise eliminating device but it's one mechanically operating on one's guitar neck. Howe, Batten & Angelo are among the many players out there doing two-handed techniques intensively so this device is of great assistance in ensuring open string do not contribute to accidental contacts.

This damper also functions as a ready harmonic generator. Instead of having the fretting fingers do touch harmonics, the damper is a 'hands-free' substitute.

GH's Laguna

Super guitarist Greg Howe has teamed up with Laguna guitars to manifest the LE924FRT. This isn't a long term deal but a limited period collaboration & we know how Mr. Howe had done so with Peavey & ESP guitars, among others, for such enticements.

Current playlist: Greg Howe

Greg Howe's Sound Proof album is my current fix with these 3 numbers in repeat mode in my mp3 player:

• Reunion
• Morning View
• Child's Play
• If you need ot know what Greg Howe is about these days, these 3 would be more than sufficient proof of technical wizardry as well as the master's touch for great melodies.
  
  

Greg Howe: Sound Proof

I absolutely have no regrets taking a quick trip to town after work, just to fetch this great new release by Greg Howe today- superb!

GH continues his jazz/ rock expletives to excellent effect. The overall guitar tones are great & he cites Cornford as his new squeeze in the amp department in this release. There's not much clues as to which guitars were really employed though despite GH thanking Parkwood in his album's cover sleeve. We could only make a calculated guess as to whether his ESPs/ Fenders had any share here as many of the tunes are whammy laden. Regardless of the brand names he favour, this album is simply guitar education for those in need of inspiration.