Guitar Noize - guitar news, crazy guitar designs and cool guitar videos

This is a cool video as it shows something that I have not seen mentioned yet. We all know that Dean Guitars have a few Dave Mustaine models including the new Dean Zero but I had no idea that Dean were building a Dave Mustaine signature acoustic guitar called the Mako. As you will see in the video above the guitar is called a Mako because it has shark gill shaped soundholes, shark tooth inlays and a sharp cutaway, the Mako also has a built in tuner which I find really useful on my own Takamine.

The Mako comes in either Classic Black or Transparent Black which has a Flame Maple top which looks really cool and works better with the Shark theme. For more info head over to the Dean Guitars Mako product page.

With NAMM just around the corner there are a number of leaks going around regarding new Ibanez models for 2010 and one that perhaps many would not have expected is the release of a Joe Satriani Signature Acoustic guitar, the JSA10 pictured above is, according to Voo-du blog going to retail for €1,111 and there will be a budget version called the JSA5 for about half that price. The guitar looks very similar to Steve Vai’s signature Ibanez acoustic so nothing really groundbreaking going on here I think more people will be excited by the release of the 24 fret JS series guitar called the JS2400 which will feature the Dimarzio Pro Track neck pickup. Also not sure if there is any truth in this but apparently the JS series are switching back to the original Edge tremelo, maybe this is due to not being able to use an intonation tool on the Edge Pro? Who knows we will have to wait and see what is uncovered at NAMM!

You may have seen yesterday that I featured Ken Parker Archtops, well when I found out about those guitars I also found about Jeff Babicz’s Signature Series guitars. Like Ken Parker, Jeff Babicz already has a successful guitar company Babicz Guitars which feature not only a very unique design and innovative features such as the Lateral Compression Soundboard, the Torque Reducing Split Bridge and Continually Adjustable Neck. Oh and if you don’t know who Jeff Babicz is, before starting Babicz Guitars he worked at Steinberger as the Plant Manager and built guitars for Eddie Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth and David Gilmour.

Pictured left is a Collosal Model which is the largest of all the Babicz Signature Series guitars. It’s a full size Jumbo and the pattern for construction was taken directly from a 1949 Gibson SJ-200. The model shown in the photo is made from African Mahogany with Side Sound Ports, German Spruce Soundboard, Vermilion Binding and Ebony Fretboard, Bridge and Retainer. The signature series guitars are all hand built by Jeff and are therefore very limited edition. Check out the construction process on the site with a series of photos that take you from start to finish.

You’ve all heard of Parker Guitars but I imagine most of you will be unaware that Ken Parker also makes Archtop guitars under the similar moniker Ken Parker Archtops and they look absolutely stunning. You can immediately spot that they are designed by Ken Parker due to the familiar Parker headstock although with a small difference as you can see in this photo. Pictured above is a guitar called Olive Branch made from a combination of Red Spruce and highly figured Koa, there is also a bit of Pernambuco here and there too including those tuning pegs. The string height can be adjusted by the player with a simple hidden screw that elevates the neck, adjusting the action without the need to retune. The tailpiece is anodized aluminum, and also is adjustable for height.

Check out the other guitars that are available from Ken Parker Archtops here.

Rock House Method blog has just published a press release from Ibanez announcing a new range of arch back acoustics called Ambiance. These reasonably priced acoustic guitars feature quilted Maple top, back and sides, gold Grover tuners, Fishman Sonicore bridge pickup, and the Fishman Aero Blend pre-amp with built-in microphone, notch filter and onboard tuner. The flagship model the AE300 has a list price is $857 which in my opinion is pretty cheap, the AE100 is a mere $570!

Ibanez say: “The new Ambiance models feature bodies with arched backs for both luthier-level looks and large, resonant sound.”

Last friday I featured Emerald Guitars’ new creation. Well aside from Emerald Guitars’ Custom Shop creations they also make a travel guitar that was “...born out of a need for a guitar that was small enough to take anywhere, Strong enough to endure anything and with a sound that would make you want to play it all the time rather than just when you are travelling.” The result of this desire is the X5, an acoustic guitar made from a one piece carbon composite body and neck and carbon fibre fretboard. The neck is apparently so stiff and strong that it doesn’t even need a truss rod. The nut and saddle are by Graphtech as are the bridge pins.

To see just how robust this guitar is check out what the Emerald crew put the poor X5 Life through! It survived being submersed in the Atlantic, climbing a mountain and being used as a canoe paddle!

“...a neat wah wah effect could be created by swishing the water around the inside of the guitar.”

YIKES! Don’t worry apparently it was still in tune after its ordeal. Check out the guitar specs page to hear some samples of the guitar in action. And if you fancy owning one of these robust guitars, you can buy one through their online shop for £545 with a pickup or knock off 80 quid without.