The Man Behind the MESA BOOGIE History

MESA Engineering, also known as MESA Boogie, is a manufacturer of guitar and bass amplifiers in Petaluma, California. MESA Boogie started operating in 1971. Already a wide variety of products MESA has created Read more

Dean Vendetta Guitar and Pedal Winners Announced

We here at Gear-Vault wanted to do something special for our readers to celebrate G-V’s 2nd birthday. Read more

Is It Wrong To Be Popular?

Music is a funny thing. From the time we are first inspired to pick up the guitar or any other instrument, most of us dream of stardom. Our fantasies are filled with visions of sold-out world tours, buses, hotel trashing, groupie wrangling, and all the rest. We dream of legions of loyal fans supporting us and our creative efforts who buy each CD we release, wear our t-shirts, and come out to our shows. Read more

JAMES HETFIELD takes Pie in the face for 46th Birthday

Video footage of METALLICA frontman James Hetfield getting covered in cream pies for his birthday at the conclusion of the band’s performance at the Sonisphere festival on Sunday, August 2 at the legendary Knebworth Park, United Kingdom can be viewed below. Read more

Ampeg Bigger Than Ever For Summer Touring Season

Presser–With this year’s summer touring season in full swing, Ampeg endorsers will be playing to millions of fans at the year’s highest profile festivals and stages. Read more

Metallica vs. Megadeth

Metallica and Megadeth are both thrash metal pioneers who helped usher in the modern era of heavy metal and both bands have enjoyed great success and popularity amongst rock music fans the world over. The question before us today is simply which band is better, which is a subject sure to cause much controversy and discussion. Read more

ESP Guitars – EX, EX Diamond Plate & FX

ESP Guitars is proud to announced 12 new models to be released this fall 2009. The new Standard Series models include some juicy updates to the Eclipse, EX, and V lines, plus two new 7-string guitars and a whole new body style for ESP: the Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models. p://gear-vault.com/esp-guitars-phoenix-ii-phoenix-ii-bass” title=”ESP Guitars Phoenix-II & Bass” rel=”dofollow”>Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models.

EX, EX Diamond Plate & FX
The ESP EX/EXP models have been the source of some great music in the past. Down through its development, this model has been the favorite of many great players including James Hetfield of Metallica. Well it’s time to bring the EX back into the ESP family! The new ESP EX comes in the classic 24.75” scale and features a mahogany body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard and EMG 81 and 60 pickups. Black nickel Gotoh tuners and bridge look sweet on the black finish.

Now, take that same guitar, beef it up with an anodized aluminum diamondplate body shield and you have the EX Diamond Plate! This guitar is so metal, it’s actually made from metal…at least the top, anyway.

If you’re into the EX shape and a natural finish, check out the ESP FX. It’s a natural mahogany-finished guitar in the EX body style, with the headstock shape from our F series. It features Sperzel locking tuners, a Gotoh bridge, and those amazing EMG 81/60 active pickups.

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EX

Spec:

• Set-Neck
• 24.75” Scale
• Mahogany Body
• Maple Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• 42mm Bone Nut
• Thin U Neck Contour
• 22 XJ Frets
• Black Nickel Hardware
• Gotoh Tuners
• Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
• EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
• Finish: SW, BLK

EX Diamond Plate

Spec:

• Set-Neck
• 24.75” Scale
• Mahogany Body
• Maple Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• 42mm Bone Nut
• Thin U Neck Contour
• 22 XJ Frets
• Black Nickel Hardware
• Gotoh Tuners
• Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
• EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
• Finish: BLK w/Diamond Plate

FX

Spec:

• Set-Neck
• 24.75” Scale
• Mahogany Body
• Mahogany Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• 42mm Bone Nut
• Thin U Neck Contour
• 22 XJ Frets
• Black Nickel Hardware
• Sperzel Locking Tuners
• Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
• EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
• Finish: PBS (Padauk Brown Satin)

ESP Iron Cross ESP James Hetfield Signature Guitar

Metallica’s rhythm guitarist and singer, James Hetfield, and ESP guitars collaborate to replicate a limited quantity ESP Iron Cross signature guitar. Based on Hetfield’s customized 1973 ‘Iron Cross’ Gibson Les Paul, ESP did a wonderful job with the relic finish to look exactly like James’ original Iron Cross. Read more

History of Floyd Rose – Inventor of Floyd Rose Guitar Tremolo

Floyd Rose is the revolutionary tremolo systems off time.
In 1964 a guitarist named Floyd Rose moved from Durango, Colorado to Reno, Nevada. There he started playing in bands. Floyd had many guitar artist influences. His biggest influence was Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix from one of his Woodstock performances.

Inspired by all these amazing guitar players he started wailing and playing hard on his whammy bar on his Fender Strat. However, he noticed the problems of his Stratocaster not holding up to his aggressive style and go out of tune. That was a problem, the tremolo systems back then would make the strings go out of tune to easily.

Floyd Rose was jammin’ on his Fender Strat and that’s when he noticed the E string was sliding around the winding on the tuner. That’s when he realized the friction around the nut was allowing the strings go out of tune. He then started thinking about some type of locking device.

Mr. Floyd’s day job was making jewelry inlays while being a musician.. Using his lapidary equipment, he created a locking nut using three wood screws. He realized that he needed to lock the strings at the other end of the guitar as well. While learning to cast metal parts, he created his first Floyd Rose Tremolo and installed it on his Gibson Les Paul.

With financial help from his parents, Floyd went to a machine shop to have another prototype of his double locking system tremolo created. He added the two mounting studs that mount the bridge. This version didn’t have fine tuners. In between bands, while developing his tremolo, Floyd worked as a sound tech for Randy Hansen. Floyd showed his tremolo system to Randy and he was very impressed with the tuning and stability. Guitar Player magazine mentioned it and the word started getting out.

Soon after, Floyd bought a milling machine and started producing more units in his basement. He didn’t waste any time to register his invention with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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In the early 1980’s at a music convention, Floyd’s Double Locking Tremolo grabbed the attention of Kramer guitars. The company saw great potential with his device. At the same time, A young guitarist named Eddie Van Halen was struggling to keep his guitar in tune. A Kramer Endorsee, Eddie was also impressed by the tuning stability of the new system. That’s when he embraced the Tremolo with no second thoughts.

Fine tuners were added to the system. This was a HUGE improvement because guitarist were able to tune the strings after locking the nut. Kramer initiated a strong marketing campaign the Tremolo and the creator.

Other companies started licensing the Tremolo. Ibanez created its famous Edge Tremolo, considered the best license Tremolo ever made. The Floyd Rose Exploded around the world, thousands of guitarists embraced the unit. Kirk Hammett from Metallica, Dimebag Darrell from Pantera, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and the list goes on…

Mr. Rose is known today as the most successful guitar hardware inventor. His creation is revolutionary!

Metallica – Lars Ulrich Interview

Sweden’s Slitz TV had conducted an exclusive interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich on 10.20.2008. The entire 24-minute interview can be viewed in three parts below.

METALLICA’s drummer Lars Ulrich has a laid back chat from past bassist, Jason Newsted, current bassists Robert Trujillo, opinions of internet, Metallica’s rowdy past to current band members, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Read more

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