James

The latest in amp town - Blackstar's St James. Surprisingly, this amp is propelled on account of its unbearable lightness of being an amp. The 50W head is 6.7kg, the combo 12.8kg & the 2x12 cab 13.6kg. Drivers are Blackstar's collab with Celestion, a ferrite-based Zephyr. 

When an amp is being pushed on accounts of everything else but tone, what does that really tell you? For gigging musicians, this might be helpful but the pros have roadies & other handling mechanisms to see this through. Also, when you buy one for home use, chances are, it stays put at a spot. Lightest amp for your money - not quite the pivot for reputation. Amps are all about tone.

If Blackstar has a signature tone to be proud of, the Series One are the ones to pay attention to. This St. James series isn't a flagship tone as far as I am concerned, it's something a Vox can handle when it comes to a good, get-by tones. We also have Morgan & Two Rock if you don't mind paying silly money for this kind of tone. I need to try this one in person for its hidden magic. Maybe.

St. James amps are available at City Music

• 50W head: $1,395
• combo: $1,515
• 2x12 vertical cab: $630

LTD 2022: 7s

Still on single pickup guitars, actually - the LTD Black Metal Series are seeing a couple of 7-string models, this one is one of them; the EX-7.

This is the other; the Phoenix -7. By the way, both are baritones, sporting a 27" scale length. You get stainless steel frets with these guitars. The EX has EMG & the Phoenix, a Fluence, so the intention is clear - all out metal assault, no compromise. Also, these come with form fit cases, so that's value for money for both instruments. These are not high end LTDs, unlike the Deluxes but they are spec'd out well. Due to the single pickup nature, these will be a niche appeal. 
 

Pics: ESP international

VM Bari

Squier has a new Tele for 2022. 'New' here refers to the fact that it's a baritone instrument, sporting a 27" scale length. Its full reference: Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster. Folks, 'Custom' here is not a reference to a custom tier where appointments are exclusive & costly. It simply refers to the range of Telecasters in the 60s sporting a bound body & rosewood fretboard which are clear appointments in this guitar. It is also offered in black. Who plays a baritone guitar? The downtuned metal chaps, prog-ers & selected jazz cats. We often associate this non-standard tuning individuals as those who embrace excessive distortion exclusively - no. Some of us venture into down-tuning because that's the envelope where our ideas thrive in. When things get lower, there's always a string tension issue & that's where the baritone proves itself useful. Squier's Classic Vibe & Vintage Mod instruments are always worthy in terms of QC & tone. I personally consider them a little above the standard offerings in terms of tier standings. Let's see if these would be available here soon.

Pic: Fender International

JV

Fender released the JV Modified series this 2022 to re-live the 80s Japanese vibe. The irony of it all - back then, the Japanese were trying to keep up with American standards but today, they hold these in high regards. Those of us who were destined to handle / own one in person would know that these instruments hold their own when it comes to quality & tone. Some things to note:

• Bodies are basswood
• Special switch to activate neck pickup regardless of which pickup combo you're in
• Locking tuners - look like the Magnum-Lok Gotohs but Fender might have something totally their own 
• Medium jumbo frets
• Thick, soft V profile neck. The last soft V profile I came across that was a joy to play (because the V wasn't intrusive) was an Edwards. Hope this version is comparable

Pic: Fender International

LTD 2022 - Singles

I'm still looking through the LTD 2022 releases. Nothing 'new' just some interesting iterations. This year, they have entry level, single pickup models. In fact, they have a few, beginning with this EC-201...

... the Explorer-esque EX-201. That's right - reverse headstock ...

... the super shred-friendly M-201HT ...

... & the TE-201 (I still don't fancy that headstock). Each guitar is finished in black from one end to the other & feature 24 frets. These are simple, utilitarian guitar with a no-frills one pickup performance. You either embrace the limitations or move on with other models with more pickups on board. 

Single pickup guitars, well, they are risky business. You either have a local fan-base for them & enjoy good sale or you don't. Judging by these releases, the implication here is that the single pickup models, across the board, are doing well. No point making more of these if they don't bring in the money. I look forward to see these here at Davis GMC but it might take a while. These are affordable models & I sincerely hope the current shipping charges won't drive prices up excessively like they did to the PRS & Edwards guitars.

Pics: ESP Guitars

Solar 2022

Finally, an HSS guitar from Solar. Currently offered in the Evertune bridge version. Interesting thing here is that the single coil pickup is a stacked single coil & not the rail type.

Pic: Solar

Ibanez 2022 (2)

It's rather quiet at the Prestige AZ front. The only new member is a new colour for the AZ2204N - mint green which looks suspiciously like a pale shade of blue. Whatever.

Did you notice this at the Genesis section?