Vintage @ DGMC

Vintage guitars are now available at Davis GMC. This fantastic Thomas Blug model is available in store- do check it out.

BluGuitar: Amp1

This is indeed a welcomed addition to the amplifier universe- BluGuitar's Amp 1. Showcased at the recent Musikmesse 2014, it's developed by Thomas Blug (hence the BluGuitar there if you missed it) & it's every bit an amp even if it lies flat on the floor.

But a closer look reveals the fact that the under arch there makes way for a typical speaker cab handle. So the message is clear; this is an amp, it needs a speaker cab. If you keep looking at it, you'd be further driven into disbelief- this is an amp? Yes, it churns out a 100W of Class D tube goodness, feeds into an 8/16 ohm speaker cab, has a built in noise gate, FX loop- the works. Coming from the lad who helped in the tinkering of H&K amps, it's something to look forward to. It's definitely aimed at players who prefer their tones to come from an amp as opposed to an effects unit/ pedals because many of us know what an amp offers in terms of plug-in chemistry. Hear from Mr. Blug himself:

H&K: Tubemeister 18

This is a new amp by Hughes & Kettner; the Tubemeister 18. It debuted @ Musikmesse 2011, it sounds very commanding, listen to the Thomas Blug demo here:



Hopefully it'll be available soon @ Woodworkz.

Rosewood, duh?!

It took me sometime to realize that my trio of all time favourite Strat players:

Stevie Ray Vaughan...

Jeff Beck...

... and Thomas Blug, all play a rosewood fretboard Strat. It's the sheer immersion in their music & technicalities that made me close my eyes & forget about the details of their guitars; I shouldn't be too distracted with music this good. To date, I just can't bring myself to purchase a Strat sporting a rosewood fretboard- it's all maple for me. Well the only 'Strat' with rosewood fretboard in my possession, isn't a Fender (it's my LTD ST-203! Yikes!).

What's the fuss with this difference, you might ask. The maple Fenders possess this very solid treble attack. It's very rewarding for someone like me who peddles heavy distortion even if there are single coils in the mix, knowing well the level of feedback & hum I would manifest with this kinda set up. I can still retain clarity if I pump the low frequencies up because the instrument retains top end authority, that's the joy of maple.

With rosewood fretboards, the single coils' top end are given less poke but maintain its clarity. The lower midrange responses are heightened instead. Stevie Ray Vaughan manipulated this tonal characteristic to maximum appeal, fusing the single coil snap (produced by thicker gauged strings coupled with high action) & drive saturation. His clean but driven tone is signature itself. I hear similar warm, (driven) overtones coming from Beck & Blug. Should have known it's the rosewood talking.

Blug's Vintage

You've been here before, you know how I adore Thomas Blug's music, yes? Remember Thomas Blug, no? That German chap, the Hughes & Kettner amp ambassador? No? Go Youtube him, all you supine homo sapiens...

Anyway, Mr. Blug recently struck a deal with Vintage guitars (UK) & what resulted was a recreation of his beloved '61 Fender Strat (which now costs a fortune...) which is named the Thomas Blug Signature V6. Do note the instrument's basswood body as preferred by Mr. Blug; & you thought it's a good-for-nothing wood to work with...

Thomas who?

You won't know Thomas Blug unless you are into Fender or Hughes & Kettner. Well, to many of us guitar dweebs, when it comes to all things shred-worthy & melodic, Neil Zaza would come to mind but you'd do well to check Mr. Blug out. He uses a battered '61 Strat (worth USD400K in the mean time...) to maximum effect, conjuring some very tasteful tunes & unbelieveable heaviness at times.