Guitar Highlight

• Ibanez Guitars
• Doolin Guitars
• Larrivee Guitars
• Sanden Guitars
• Washburn NV 100
• Lakewood M-1 Classic Cutaway

Ibanez Euphoria EP7

It's fitting that the first Ibanez signature acoustic guitar should be inspired by Steve Vai, the artist who has done so much for the evolution not only of Ibanez guitars, but of the guitar itself. Like his groundbreaking signature electric models, Steve's new Euphoria acoustic-electric has features found in no other guitar. The brilliant clear highs of top, back and sides of quilted maple are perfectly balanced with the acclaimed warmth of B-Band's UST pickup and A5 EQ. The result is a truly exceptional instrument. So exceptional that Steve has already used the guitar to record direct-to-board. If real acoustic-electric satisfaction has seemed to elude you, perhaps you've simply been waiting for Euphoria.

Each Euphoria EP7 is autographed on the guitar's soundhole label by Steve Vai.

Doolin Guitars

Mike Doolin has been a professional guitarist for 28 years and a luthier for 20 years. His background in music performance, software engineering and graphic arts contribute to the design of instruments which are both highly functional and strikingly beautiful. His instruments all feature his double-cutaway design which provides clear access to all frets. Standard models include Steel-String Jumbo, OM and Dreadnought, and Nylon-String Classical and Flamenco. Mr. Doolin works alone, hand crafting each instrument individually.

Of his use of B-Band pickup systems, Mr. Doolin says, "John Stowell turned me on to B-Band. I had been making my own coaxial piezo pickups and FET preamps, and those systems sounded about as good as any other piezo system I'd heard. But when I heard a B-Band, I put my soldering iron away - piezo technology just pales in comparison to B-Band's electret condenser film. "Practically all of my instruments are custom ordered, and about half of my clients request pickup systems. I always strongly recommend B-Bands, although I'm willing to install anything the client wants. The response from my clients has been overwhelmingly positive."

"I am also a performing musician, and use B-Bands in all my amplified acoustic guitars. I've been using the B-Band UST/AST combo with a Raven PMB-1 and a Yamaha powered speaker, and I've found an interesting way to blend them. The trick is to roll off all the treble from the UST and all the middle and bass from the AST, so you're effectively creating a crossover network to get the highs from the AST and everything else from the UST. B-Bands get less quack than any piezo pickup in the first place, but there's a component of that 'saddle' sound that comes from the location of the pickup. Using the 1470's highs, which are filtered through the bridge, top and bridge patch, solves this problem: the highs are sweet and sparkly and don't emphasize fret and string winding noise. Getting the body of the sound from the UST avoids the typical uneven response of mics and contact pickups, so you get much better feedback resistance and a generally smooth, balanced sound. I've never heard anything else that comes close to this combination - balance, sweet highs, excellent volume before feedback, and no quack."

Larrivee Guitars

Larrivee chooses B-Band

We are pleased to announce that Larrivee guitars is exclusively using B-Band pickups on their instruments. The new the B-Band A5 and A6 systems are exclusively available on Larrivee guitars. Two years of collaboration on design and technologies in a cooperative effort between B-Band and Larrivee Guitars has resulted in the production of the A5 and A6 preamps. A5 and A6 are state of the art, possessing natural and transparent sound, clarity and complete tonal versatility. The A5 and A6 faithfully reproduce the characteristic balance and tone that have made Larrivee guitars sought after by discriminating guitarists world wide.

B-Band A5 preamp used on the -03 series Larrivee Guitars:

The A5 is a Larrivee exclusive onboard side mount preamp system with a single source input with mono out. The A5 comes equipped with the B-Band UST. The onboard preamp has individual slide controls for volume, 4 band EQ, rotary notch depth and frequency for feedback suppression. There is also and phase control and low battery led indicator.

B-Band A6 used on the -05 and -09 series Larrivee Guitars:

The A6 is the new flagship of the B-Band onboard side mount preamps manufactured exclusively for Larrivee guitars. The A6 provides two inputs, one for UST and one for AST with individual gain controls on the front plate. Slider controls are used for the three band EQ, UST/AST mix control and master volume. The rotary notch depth and notch frequency are for the feedback suppression. A6 also has the phase control and low battery led indicator.

B-Band A2 used on the 10 series Larrivee Guitars:

The 10 series Larrivees come with the B-Band A2 installed with the UST. The second channel is left open. The user has an option to add the AST or a condenser mic to the second channel.

For more information on Larrivee Guitars visit www.larrivee.com

Sanden acoustic guitars

Handmade guitars from Sweden equipped with B-Band transducer systems from Finland.

"My goal has always been to build acoustic guitars where the design, tone and material interact as beautifully as possible." Michael Sandén

Michael Sandén founded Sandén Acoustic Guitars at the same time as he attended the Bozo School of Lutherie in San Diego USA. Here he first learned to build steel-stringed guitars and mandolins. Between 1984 and 1986 he studied with Gerog Bolin, building mainly classical guitars. Thereafter he worked for Mr. Bolin for two more years. In 1986 he received his degree as a qualified builder and in 1996 he received his diploma in guitar craftsmanship. Since 1983 he has been a member of the "Guild of American Luthiers" and has participated in several conventions.

He builds his fine guitars, and gives classes in building guitars, from his workshop in Helsingborg, Sweden. Michael builds approximately 2 to 3 instruments a month. Normally it takes 40 - 50 hours to completely finish one instrument.

There are four steel string models and one nylon string model available from Sandén. As standard, the instruments have Sitka spruce tops and East Indian rosewood back and sides. The necks are made of Honduras mahogany with an ebony fingerboard. The neck size can be made to the customer's order without any extra cost. All guitars have a two-way truss rod. The fingerboard also has a beautiful inlaid abalone butterfly at the 12th fret. The headstock is veneered both at the back and front for strength. Gold Schaller machine heads with ebony buttons are standard. All guitars are trimmed with a herringbone strip both front and back. The rosette is made of herringbone and mahogany. All models come complete with a B-Band 29L UST / A1 preamp system and a Hiscox hard-shell case.

Sandén also offers custom work and upgrades.

For more information check www.sandenguitars.com

Washburn Guitars

Washburn International introduces the new NV 100 guitar equipped with B-Band

The NV guitars are a result of skilled engineering applied to traditional materials to create the ultimate in professional-level acoustic guitars. They have no rival for live stage performances or studio use. The NV's Unibody construction is made up of one piece of hollowed mahogany with a spruce top. The slim, fast electric style neck has a bolted neck joint with a, patent pending, locking pitch adjustment, and coverless truss rod adjustment access. These guitars also offer features that are not available on any other acoustic, neck access to the 22nd fret of the 25 ½" scale, a bass balanced bridge, and a belly cut for player comfort.

"We set out to design a new acoustic electric that would be unlike anything available in the marketplace. I focused on practicality for the professional recording and performing artists. The general parameters were an amalgam of patented features, player comfort, road worthiness, audio execution, and a nouveau look that brings acoustic electrics into the 21st century." Said Larry English, Washburn's Vice-President of Manufacturing and Marketing.

The NV100 utilizes a B-Band custom UST (under saddle transducer) with a B-Band preamp, providing the ultimate in acoustic amplification. The NV has incredible intonation, a result of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System™.

For more information check the www.washburn.com.

Lakewood M-1 classic cutaway

The new Lakewood M-1 Classic Cutaway incorporates the sound of nylon strings with the comfort and feel of a Lakewood Grand-Concert guitar. The Cutaway and 14th fret joint allow great playability up to the 20th fret. The sound is powerful and very well balanced. We think that this instrument is a premium choice for alternative classical music and latin style guitar.

Appointments:

Also available:
M-32 Classic Cutaway Spruce/Rosewood
M-54 Classic Cutaway Spruce/Brazilian Rosewood

Lakewood Guitars original website