Untitled - Guitar Center

P L A T I N U M
HOL I DAY E DI T ION 2007
Not all gear is created equal. There are special pieces that stand out, that rise
above the rest. Whether it’s a handcrafted custom shop guitar, a boutique tube
amp or coveted studio hardware, this is gear that makes a statement, inspiring
pride in the lucky few who own it and more than a little envy in their friends.
But make no mistake; the remarkable pieces we’ve collected in this guide are
not ornaments. They are world-class examples of artistry and industry-leading
excellence that conjure powerful gear-lust in even the most jaded, seen-it-all
veterans. Whether you’re a longtime collector or looking for that perfect first
step, at Guitar Center we stock a wide variety of top-quality gear guaranteed to
inspire and impress. So sit back, turn the page and let your imagination run wild.
Your next obsession awaits.
Platinum STORES
Guitar Center is proud to announce the launch of our new Platinum Store
experience: a select group of stores designed to cater to discriminating customers
who demand the very best. Luxurious Platinum showrooms are stocked with
boutique amps and pedals, so you can experience the remarkable gear you
see in this guide for yourself. Each of these exclusive stores is staffed with a
specially trained Platinum guitar specialist as well as a Platinum guitar tech. If
you’re looking for something unique, a guitar that is yours alone, we have the
nation’s largest collection of Fender and Gibson Custom Shop guitars available
for you to check out, or our Platinum specialists can help you order your dream
instrument from the custom shops of PRS Private Stock, Martin and Fender to
name just a few. If vintage gear is what you crave, you’ll find an assortment of
choice collectibles on-hand to satisfy your particular needs.
But, Platinum Stores are about much more than just guitars. For the very best in
professional recording gear, talk to one of our GC Pro account managers. They
can show you our top-of-the-line Pro Tools HD and SSL rigs, which you’ll find
set up and ready to explore at every Platinum Store. Musicians on the road can
take advantage of our Tour Support centers stocked with gigging essentials.
Drummers will find boutique drums and hardware. And producers and DJs
can take advantage of our selection of exclusive hi-tech drum machines and
samplers.
Platinum status doesn’t come easily – only a dozen of our stores have been
approved and carefully prepared. Contact your nearest Platinum Store for
more information or to find a particular product. Come in today and discover
something extraordinary.
P l at i n u m L o c at i o n s
Hollywood 323-874-1060
Manhattan 212-463-7500
Sherman Oaks 818-990-8332
Atlanta 404-320-7253
Nashville 615-297-7770
Hallandale 954-456-7890
Central Chicago 773-248-2808
Phoenix 602-375-3800
Dallas 972-960-0011
Edina 952-929-1680
Las Vegas 702-614-2143
West L.A. 310-475-0637
www.guitarcenter.com/platinum
In 1980, when Stevie Ray
Vaughan was still a struggling
young Texas guitarslinger,
he spotted a beat-up ’65 Strat
guitar in the window of an
Austin, Texas pawnshop.
®
Although he couldn’t afford the $350 at the time, his wife,
Lenora “Lenny” Vaughan together with seven friends
managed to scrape together enough money to buy him the
guitar for his 26th birthday. That very night, he wrote her
the tender love song bearing her name.
As the latest Fender® Custom Shop Tribute Series guitar,
“Lenny” will be produced in a limited quantity with only
185 guitars offered for sale in the United States, available
December 12th, 2007 exclusively from Guitar Center.
Visit guitarcenter.com/lenny for the complete Lenny story.
Fender custom Shop SRV Lenny
GC Price: $17,000.00
Fender ’64 Vibroverb Custom
GC Price: $2,449.99
Pictured is Stevie Ray Vaughan’s original “Lenny” Stratocaster® guitar owned by Guitar Center, not for sale.
Fender®, Stratocaster® guitar and the distinctive headstock and body designs commonly found on the Stratocaster®
guitar are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2007 FMIC.
All sales of the Lenny Fender® Tribute guitar are final and are excluded from Guitar Center’s 30/30 Policy (30
Day Return and 30 Day Guaranteed Lowest Price). The Lenny Fender® Tribute guitar is a special limited edition
and is strictly subject to availability.
P L A T I N U M
The pros rely on the Fender Custom Shop to
build guitars made with the exacting attention to
detail they demand.
Legends like Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson, and Andy Summers turn to the Fender Custom Shop
when they want to design a new signature model or duplicate an old favorite. Even if you’re
not a famous guitarist, you can still own a Fender Custom Shop guitar built by master
craftsmen like Todd Krause, Chris Fleming, and Yuriy Shishkov – the same guys who work
with the pros.
Guitar Center offers the widest selection of Fender Custom Shop creations, including their
acclaimed Masterbuilt, Relic, and Closet Classic instruments. These hand-built masterpieces
include reproductions of Fifties and Sixties classics that are 100 percent accurate and made
from the original tooling.
Visit Guitar Center today and take home a Fender Custom Shop guitar from our specially
selected stock. If you want something truly unique, our certified guitar experts will work with
you to order the Custom Fender of your dreams.
1951 NoCaster
GC Price: $2,509.99
1963 vcs strat with brazilian fretboard
GC Price: $5,999.99
1956 Relic Strat 2-tone Sunburst
GC Price: $2,899.99
1960 Relic Strat 3-Color Sunburst
GC Price: $2,549.99
1959 Bassman LTD
GC Price: $1,199.99
1957 twin reissue with Laquered tweed
GC Price: $2,509.99
P L A T I N U M
Nothing sounds more powerful
than a Gibson guitar plugged
into a Marshall amp.
Led Zeppelin, Cream and AC/DC are just a few of the bands
that made history with this magical combination, and players
like Slash, Zakk Wylde and Gary Moore keep that tradition
alive today.
Guitar Center carries a wide selection of Gibson Custom Shop
and VOS (Vintage Original Spec) guitars and the latest Marshall
amps so you can build the perfect rig. From the dazzling classic
beauty of an SG Custom with three humbuckers to the fat
hollowbody splendor of an ES-175, Gibson Custom Shop and
VOS guitars earn rave reviews from players who appreciate
fine materials and old-world craftsmanship. Marshall’s latest
amps are some of the most exciting they’ve ever created. The
Vintage Modern series delivers the coveted KT66-driven tones
that defined the sound of rock, while offering a broader palette
of modern high-gain textures to explore. For the guitarist
who craves flexibility, the new all-tube JVM offers four
channels with three modes each, making it the most versatile
Marshall ever.
Many guitarists find that their quest for the ultimate tone
always leads them back to Gibson guitars and Marshall amps.
Plug in to this pair today at Guitar Center for an experience
you’ll never forget.
LES PAUL CUSTOM OXBLOOD
GC PRICE: $3,299.99
ES137 CLASSIC BLUES BURST
GC PRICE: $1,799.99
FIREBIRD VII red metallic
GC PRICE: $1,959.99
SG CUSTOM REISSUE VOS classic white
GC PRICE: $3,699.99
1959 LES PAUL REISSUE VOS
GC PRICE: $5,199.99
ES175 REISSUE vintage sunburst
GC PRICE: $3,199.99
1960 LES PAUL REISSUE VOS
GC PRICE: $2,999.99
MARSHALL JVM410H 100-watt HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $2,329.99
MARSHALL 2466 VINTAGE MODERN 100-watt HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $2,349.99
P L A T I N U M
No one is more devoted to the art
and craft of building fine electric
guitars than Paul Reed Smith.
His dedication shows in every instrument PRS makes, but his
top-of-the-line, limited edition models, in particular, take the
definition of excellence to new heights. Limited edition PRS
models are investment-grade instruments that many collectors
consider the most desirable guitars built today.
Paul Reed Smith searches the world for the finest and most
exotic woods available, reserving the best materials for his
top-of-the-line instruments. His latest creations – the McCarty
Korina models and 1980 West Street Limited series, named after
the shop address where the PRS company was born – feature
materials such as premium-grade korina and figured sapele
imported from Africa. These uncommon woods look stunning
and produce refined tones in a class all their own.
Limited edition PRS guitars are in high demand, and Guitar
Center always maintains an impressive stock. We are proud to
offer the best selection of these remarkable instruments you’ll
find anywhere.
McCarty Korina Vintage natural
GC Price: $2,212.00
McCarty Korina vintage cherry
GC Price: $2,519.00
1980 West Street Limited Reissue
GC Price: $4,550.00
P L A T I N U M
Guitar Center proudly presents the U.S. debut
of two remarkable new amplifier lines.
Both of these companies stand out from the crowd with bold designs that take everything
players love about the tried and true standards and add new levels of versatility and
tonal ecstasy. And they’re both available only at Guitar Center.
Bruce Egnater has been designing amplifiers for 30 years. And all that time he’s been
ahead of the curve, meeting the changing needs of gigging guitarists with innovative
ideas and impeccable design. The new Tourmaster series features four distinct channels
– two with Clean/Vintage voicing, and two Overdrive channels – to deliver all the
tones you need with no compromise. Egnater’s innovative Power Grid lets you select
a different output level for each channel, so you can dial in tons of clean headroom
and a lower wattage crunch tone that’s just dripping with molasses-thick power
amp distortion. Beautiful sparkling clean sounds, classic overdrive, and ferocious
bludgeoning gain… it’s all here, waiting for you.
Blackstar, based in Northampton, England, is a new arrival to the world of highend tube amplifiers, but their founding team of dedicated tone fanatics brings over
50 years of combined experience to the table. Their handwired Artisan series begins
with the classic British sound, but it doesn’t stop there. Artisan models boast features
like variable power switches, so you can power down for increased power amp drive
at lower volumes, or Voicing and Bass Shape switches that greatly increase tonal
flexibility. These powerhouse amplifiers will take you from rich clean to aggressive
grind. Like the best British designs, even at high gain settings, Blackstar Artisan amps
retain a distinctive chime that lets high strings ring out. The result is harmonically rich,
responsive tone for any genre.
Come explore the best in modern boutique amplifiers, at your local Guitar Center.
Egnator Tourmaster 4212 Combo
GC PRICE: $1,599.99
Egnator Tourmaster 4100 Full-Stack
GC PRICE: $2,520.00
Blackstar Artisan 15-watt combo
GC PRICE: $1,350.00
Blackstar Artisan 30-watt combo
GC PRICE: $1,900.00
Blackstar Artisan 100-watt Half-Stack
GC PRICE: $2,520.00
P L A T I N U M
A new breed of amplifier
designer has turned the
pursuit of the ultimate tone
into an art form.
Harnessing the power of hi-gain circuitry, some
brilliant minds are building exceptional amplifiers
that respond to the subtlest expressive touch and bring
out your guitar’s best tonal characteristics.
These ‘boutique’ amps are made for very
discriminating clientele, players who want the
aggressive punch of a modern hi-gain amp, but
without sacrificing the tonal richness and feel of the
revered all-tube classics. They are produced in limited
amounts and constructed to exacting specifications.
Peter Diezel, VHT founder Stevie Fryette, Michael
Soldano and guitar uber-hero Edward Van Halen are
the masterminds behind some of today’s most highly
esteemed boutique amps. Diezel, EVH, Soldano and
VHT half stacks are the rigs that seasoned studio
musicians bring to sessions when nothing less than
platinum-quality tone will do, and you’ll often find
several of these amps in the backlines of today’s
biggest guitar stars.
Whether you’re looking for a versatile studio amp or
a rugged road warrior, these boutique amps deliver
tonal inspiration that will last a lifetime.
SOLDANO SLO100 HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $4,419.98
EVH 5150 III HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $3,099.98
VHT DELIVERANCE HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $3,029.98
DIEZeL VH4 HALF-STACK
GC PRICE: $5,698.00
Fender EVH Frankenstein
GC PRICE: $25,000.00
P L A T I N U M
A great distortion or overdrive
pedal is the key to unlocking
the full potential of your guitar
and amp.
The ‘secret’ behind the signature sounds of countless
guitar greats, distortion and overdrive effects expand your
expressive horizons by offering a vast palette of textures for
personalizing your tone.
Companies like Fulltone, Radial Engineering and Visual
Sound build pedals that are instruments unto themselves.
Whether you want to push your amp to its sweet spot or
radically re-shape your tone, there’s a pedal that’s just right
for you, one that gives you the boost you need while letting
your unique personality as a player shine through. These
exceptional stomp boxes provide the versatility of a whole
new amp channel without the hassles of modifying your
gear – just plug in and play.
The limited edition 50th Anniversary Vox Heritage Series
AC15 offers you the history of vintage Vox tone in a single
amp. More than just a reissue, it’s switchable between Vox’s
classic EF86 pentode preamp design for true firebreathing
distortion and a triode mode for a more civilized drive with
greater overhead. This amp combines the best of the classic
AC15 designs from the ’50s and ’60s with some modern
tone-shaping thrown in for the ultimate valve combo
experience.
Guitar Center offers an unparalleled selection of the finest
effects and amplifiers available. Come in and experience
them for yourself, and let our experts help you create a tone
that’s all your own.
Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde Ultimate Overdrive
GC Price: $139.99
Radial Tonebone Classic Tube Drive
GC Price: $189.99
Fulltone GT-500 DIsTORTION/BOOST
GC Price: $202.50
VOX Heritage series Limited Edition Reissue Handwired
Combo
GC Price: $1,999.99
P L A T I N U M
Creative inspiration is just a
foot tap away.
Chorus, delay, filters, flangers, phase shifters and other effect
pedals open up a whole new world of sounds to explore. A
killer effect can become the foundation of an entire song
like “Mysterious Ways”, “Run Like Hell” or add just the
right spice to drive a solo over the top like “Purple Haze”
or “Limelight”.
Some of the most inspiring pedals are designed by geniuses
who are half engineering whiz and half mad scientist – guys
like Mike Matthews, who started Electro-Harmonix almost
40 years ago, and the late Bob Moog, whose legacy lives on
with the acclaimed Moogerfooger line. Others come from
stomp box specialists like Japan’s Maxon Company and
Denmark’s T-Rex Engineering. Both build pedals with a
distinctive personality and dedication to quality you won’t
find from an ordinary mass-produced product.
Whether you want to recreate classic sounds (without
vintage stomp box headaches) or search new sonic frontiers,
Guitar Center’s impressive stock of boutique pedals will
change your life.
Moog Murf MF105 Resonance Filter
GC Price: $399.99
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Clone
GC Price: $118.99
T-Rex Replica Delay/Echo
GC Price: $399.99
Maxon od808 overdrive
GC Price: $134.99
P L A T I N U M
To get the most out of the
investment you’ve made
in your instruments, you
need the best accessories.
Whether you want top-of-the-line strings, an
attractive but durable case or a new slide, Guitar
Center offers a huge selection of high-quality
accessories for players who know that even the
smallest details make a big difference.
Let us show you how an audiophile-quality
Mogami guitar cable with Neutrik ends can bring
out overtones, frequencies and harmonics you
never knew existed, or how a Peterson Strobe
Tuner can tune your guitar with 100 percent
precision. Explore the expressive possibilities
of using a capo, like the innovative G7th which
eliminates tuning problems with its incremental
pressure adjustments. Find the most supple, softest
guitar strap ever made (hint: it’s a Moody). Our
impressive selection will help you find the products
that are perfect for you. We even carry a variety
of multiple instrument stands for displaying your
showcase guitars or keeping your gigging arsenal
organized.
Guitar Center’s Accessories Department is the
place to go when you want to get the guitarist who
has everything exactly what he or she needs.
Cleartone Coated Electric Strings
GC PRICE: $14.99
INCASE ELECTRIC GUITAR GIG BAG
GC PRICE: $199.99
Moody 2.5” wide Leather Strap
GC PRICE: $129.99
MOGAMI PLATINUM 20’ INSTRUMENT CABLE
GC PRICE: $144.99
G7th CAPO
GC PRICE: $39.99
PETERSON STROBO FLIP TUNER
GC PRICE: $199.99
Dunlop Joe Perry Boneyard Slide
GC PRICE: $16.99
Rockstand 5-Instrument Tolex Case Rack Stand
GC PRICE: $109.99
P L A T I N U M
With nearly 175 years of rich tradition, Martin
guitars are the standard by which all other
acoustics are judged.
While every Martin is special, their one-of-a-kind and limited-edition guitars showcase the
company’s devout dedication to craftsmanship. These museum-quality instruments may be the
ultimate tangible asset – breathtaking to look at, a wonder to play and pure ecstasy for the ear.
Owning one of these masterpieces is every guitar collector’s dream, but only a select few can
enjoy this rare experience.
Martin commissions the world’s finest inlay artists to create unique, collectible works using
their guitars as a canvas. Recent one-of-a-kind creations feature artisans like Harvey Leach and
Larry Robinson, and portray classic American themes, such as the hot rod and the history of
flight, in stunning detail. In addition to these exclusive treasures, Martin offers a select number
of the limited-edition D-100 Deluxe and D-50 Koa Deluxe, boasting some of the most ornate
inlay decorations ever offered.
Martin’s latest masterpieces represent the crowning achievement of their long and celebrated
history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a true piece of great American art
that will be treasured for generations to come.
martin HISTORY OF FLIGHT BY LARRY ROBINSON
GC PRICE: $130,000.00
martin D100 Deluxe Limited Edition
GC PRICE: $87,999.99
martin HOT ROD RACE BY HARVEY LEACH
GC PRICE: $100,000.00
Paul Reed Smith started
building guitars while
still in college and hasn’t
stopped since. If anything,
his passion and dedication
to building fine instruments
has only grown over the
years. Paul is also a man
who holds definite opinions
about what makes a great
guitar and what makes
a great guitar player, so
talking with him is always
interesting. We were glad he
was able to sit down with
us and talk about the PRS
approach and some of his
new guitars.
GC: Hi Paul. What was the inspiration for the
new SC 245 and the SC 250 guitars?
Paul: Look, I got a whole bunch of old Les Pauls
and new Les Pauls and old Gibsons out and started
measuring the scale length. It’s not 24 3/4”. It’s not
24 5/8”. It’s 24 9/16”. It’s 1/16” longer than 24 1/2”. 24
1/2” is what I’ve been using on the Santana model
forever. It’s essentially a 24 1/2” inch scale. It’s the
old scale. That’s the scale. So 245 means 24 ½inch” scale. So that’s where it comes from. It’s the
same scale we used on the Santana guitars and the
early shop guitars forever. And the reason I did it
originally was that it was easier to do in a computer
program with a rounded number. Because it was
very, very early computers that I did the original
fret scales on. It was actually Fortran cards. But
it ended up really working well on all those early
customs and for Santana, so we decided that we
would do a single cut that scale and it’s going
very well for us. 245s sound real good and they’re
selling through well and people like them – it’s just
going well. We’ve got a real run on 245’s right
now. That’s good. Essentially it’s an old vintage
guitar. Made the same way.
P L A T I N U M
I N T E R V I E W
The 250s are what our artists use. They’re similar to
the Tremonti. They’re powerful rock guitars that most
guys put much heavier gauge strings on and detune to
all kinds of tunings. We spent a lot of time discussing
whether we should ship them that way and we decided
not to do that because all the tunings are so different.
It’s like every tune, every band, every song is a different
tuning, so how do you pick one? So we decided to ship
them with standard tuning. But that’s what that 250
is about. It’s about putting bigger strings on, tuning
them down and having this huge rock tone that’s pretty
popular right now on the radio and touring.
GC: Paul, when did you make the transition from
the 24 1/2” scale guitars to 25s?
Paul: I switched to 25’s because when I showed a 24 1/2”
guitar to somebody in the old shop, I got an order from
about one in ten people. When I changed to a 25”
scale, I was getting more like six or seven people out of
ten that I’d get orders from. When I put the scalings in
between the two most popular scalings, all of a sudden
I wasn’t alienating anybody. You either had your short
scale guys or your long scale guys. I put it in the
middle, everybody would pick it up, go, “Oh, this is
cool.” The long scale guys liked it because they didn’t
have to tune to E Flat anymore. And the short scale
guys like it because the low E string, when you hit it
hard didn’t go sharp. You know on a short scale guitar,
you put a .42 on the low end and you hit it hard, it goes
“wo-oh-oh.” It goes almost up to F and back. When
you increase the scale length of little bit, it doesn’t do
that anymore.
GC: So, what scale are the original Singlecuts?
Paul: The original Singlecuts are a 25” scale. The
same as the 250s. And by the way, guys really like
the original single cuts, ’cause of that whole detuning
thing. The scale is just long enough that they can put up
to .62s on these guitars.
GC: .62s. That’s big.
Paul: Yeah. I mean, they’re drilling the tuning pegs out.
Most of the touring bands right now are not tuning in
standard pitch.
GC: If the original Singlecut is 25”, what’s the
difference between the SC 250 and the original
Singlecut?
Paul: Pickups and a bunch of other little things. The
250s have these big, powerful sounding pickups in
them. The original Singlecuts had somewhere inbetween a real powerful and a vintage sounding pickup.
But it’s just as powerful a pickup as you can want. It’s
a cool sounding pickup. I mean, Mark Tremonti
started us down that road, and he’s right. It
works. I can’t tell you how many guys we sent
the 250 to and they call me back with “This is
cool.”
GC: Are the pickups proprietary to the 250?
Paul: Yeah, pretty much. There’s one similar in
the Tremonti.
Paul: Yeah.
GC: Can you talk about Brazilian fretboards? Some say they sound
better. What’s your take?
Paul: It sounds different. It’s the stuff that they used in the 30s, the
40s, the 50s. It’s the stuff on old violins. I’m going to put you on
speakerphone. I’ll show you why. Hold on.
Okay, so you guys are there, right?
GC: Is it ceramic or alnico?
GC: Yeah.
Paul: They’re ceramic.
Paul: Here’s a piece of Brazilian rosewood. Listen (Musical knocking
sounds). That’s a neck blank I’m hitting. So it rings real well.
GC: Nice. Tell us about the Korina
McCartys.
Paul: Korina is African limba wood. It’s been
around for a long time. When Flying Vs and
Explorers were made long ago, the rumor on
the street when we were all growing up was the
wood was poisonous. That’s why they stopped
using it. Right?
GC: We heard that, too.
Paul: Yeah. It’s not. So, it was the reason we
made up as a group of guitar players as to why
they don’t use the wood anymore. Ted McCarty
told me why he quit using the wood. I said,
“What’s with the Flying V and the Explorer?”
He goes, “I saw a bar today the shape of a
failure.” And I said, “What do you mean?” He
goes, “Well, I saw a bar in a restaurant that was
a shape of a failure. It was a shape of a Flying
V.” He had just been in a Hard Rock Cafe and
the bar was the shape of a Flying V and, as far as
he was concerned it was a failure. Couldn’t sell
any of them. He made, you know, forty or eighty
of them and that was it. It was over. He said
people bought them from him and hung them up
as things to look at, but it was a complete sales
failure to him. So, that’s why he quit using it.
But he liked it. It was lightweight. It was good
stuff. So we found a supply of it and so we’re
running a whole bunch of them. And we’ve got
good stuff. We’ve got really good Korina. Clear,
nice, good neck wood, good body wood. It’s
great stuff. It’s a real lightweight African yellow
mahogany, is what it is. It’s cool.
GC: You guys are putting Brazilian fretboards
on those, right?
P L A T I N U M
I N T E R V I E W
GC: Yes!
Paul: It’s wonderful stuff. East Indian rosewood is a little bit softer
sounding. It’s a little bit softer wood. If you guys saw David Grissom
play at the trade show in Austin, he was playing an East Indian rosewood
fretboard. It sounded stupid good. So it’s not like there aren’t some
wonderful East Indian rosewood fretboards, but there’s a history around
Brazilian rosewood and it does ring real nice. It’s got a higher pitch than
East Indian rosewood, so it’s got a different sound.
We put it on because it is the classy rosewood. It’s harder. It’s got more
oil in it. I think it deflects your sweat a little bit better. But I don’t pick
up a guitar with Brazilian rosewood, “Oh, this one’s going to sound
good,” and pick up one with East Indian and go, “This one’s going to
sound bad.” I don’t do it.
GC: Right.
Paul: But that’s experientially based. It has a real history to it and it’s a
real classy wood and it rings real nice. But I’ll tell you what, you take
a fretboard and you put 22 slots in it, it’s not going to ring real well.
Right? Think about it.
GC: We hear you.
Paul: If you weight a piece of wood asymmetrically with more weight
at one end then the other, it’s intentionally trying to get it to not vibrate,
right, if you think about it. I mean, a tuning fork, if you weight it
unsymmetrically, would just stop ringing. But you’re right- it’s very
cool stuff. It sounds good. We put it on those guitars. It wouldn’t have
been true to the Korina Brazilian rosewood thing that went on in the
50s if we hadn’t done it. So I’d say you’re right, but I don’t want to
make some sort of overwhelming statement, it’s Brazilian rosewood or
nothing, ‘cause it’s just not true.
GC: Cool. Talk about the Mira.
Paul: The Mira is a new guitar for us. It’s a very good sounding guitar.
The guitar that Mike Walt played at the Experience was a brand new
guitar, made, like, the day before, and I think it hung as tough as any
of those guitars that these guys have been carrying over their backs for
years. So, the Mira’s going very well for us. We have a lot of orders
for them. It’s made in Maryland. It’s a lower price point guitar, but it’s
made by the same people. We make the bridges, the pickups, we make
everything. And it’s a new area for us, because it’s a flatter guitar with a
pickguard. Very different for us, but it’s going very well. Artists are just
calling non-stop trying to get them.
GC: They sound great, there’s no doubt about it. Can you expand a
little, tell us about spec and some of the thinking behind it?
Paul: They have special pickups in them that are very similar to the
245s. Kind of a real vintage-y sounding pickup. Simple volume control,
tone control, but done-right electronics with a toggle switch and a coil
tap switch. It’s the same neck we used on our Custom 24s. It’s a 24-fret
neck, so it’s a fairly lightweight guitar. It has a kind of retro looking
pickguard to it.
GC: Yeah, we bought some for the stores.
Paul: Your customers need to know they need to get their hands on one.
I think that they should, when they go into a guitar store, they should try
everything that tickles their fancy and make an experiential decision.
GC: Okay – as you know, the SE series is getting raves and awards
from all the magazines. What special measures do you take to get
PRS quality offshore?
Paul: Oh, man. I flew over there and we taught them. We said, “Look,
we want you to put the truss rods in like this and we want you to put
the frets in like this and we want you to do this.” When we were done
at the end of the day, he looked at me, he says, “Nobody like you has
ever been here.” I said, “What are you talking about?” He says, “We’ve
only had sales guys here looking for different looks. Nobody’s ever said
how they wanted the guitars made, ever. Nobody ever gave us drawings
for bridges to have made, the drawings for how we wanted to fret scales
done, how we wanted them to compensate. Nobody’s ever said anything
like this to us.” And what I ran into were people whose average time in
that factory had been working thirteen years. These people were really
good guitar makers. They just had never been asked to do what it was
that we were asking them to do. And then we said, “We want you to put
your name on the guitars.” And they said no. And I said “No, we want to
put your name on the guitar.” Said, “Nobody’s ever asked us to do that.”
I said, “Well, we want you to build these things with pride and if you put
your name on it, it will mean more to you.”
And I had a lot of people tell me that was a big mistake. And I
made a calculated bet that long-term, their pride and their quality of
craftsmanship would translate into the market and we would get those
kinds of accolades. But it took a while. A lot of people told us it was a
mistake when we did it. I mean adamantly told us it was a mistake. I’m
glad that we stuck to our guns. I’m really glad.
GC: We’re sure a lot of guitar players are, too.
Visit GuitarCenter.com/interview to read the full version.
The great American tradition
of acoustic guitar innovation is
alive and well.
Over the last several decades a handful of visionary builders
have established their own companies with the goal of
pushing the boundaries of guitar design to new heights. Their
innovative instruments provide bold, fresh voices that have
become the new standards for acoustic guitar tone.
Taylor and Breedlove lead the way forward with guitar
designs that define the next level of excellence. Taylor Grand
Auditorium guitars are renowned for their extremely wellbalanced tone, and their limited edition versions up the ante
with stellar, specially selected materials like Indian and
Brazilian rosewood. Breedlove’s modern designs deliver
rich, powerful tones, fast action and deep cutaways that make
these guitars a player’s dream. From the stage to the studio,
these guitars provide the performance and sound today’s most
discriminating players demand.
Experience just how good these new Taylor and Breedlove
guitars look and sound by visiting the acoustic guitar experts
at Guitar Center.
TAYLOR 914CE-LTD
GC Price: $5,999.99
BREEDLOVE FOCUS Grand Concert
GC Price: $2,999.99
Breedlove Northwest Classic
GC Price: $4,299.99
TAYLOR 914CE-LTD rosette and neck inlay
P L A T I N U M
Gibson acoustics have always appealed to
players with an eye for style.
From singing cowboys and blues legends to rock and rollers like Elvis Presley, the
Beatles and Pete Townsend. With a big, bold sound and classic styling that stands
out from the crowd, a Gibson acoustic is like the Cadillac or Harley-Davidson of
the acoustic guitar world.
The instruments handcrafted at Gibson’s workshop in Bozeman, Montana,
rank among the best acoustics in the company’s history. On models like the J45, Advanced Jumbo and Hummingbird, Gibson’s old-world craftsmanship and
vintage character blend with modern attention to detail and quality control to
produce timeless classics that will only improve with age.
Few experiences are as satisfying as feeling the power of a Gibson acoustic as it
resonates in your hands. Let us help you find the perfect Gibson to match your own
distinctive sense of style.
Gibson J-45 Round Shoulder Dreadnought
GC PRICE: $1,999.99
Gibson Advanced Jumbo
GC PRICE: $,1999.99
Gibson Hummingbird Custom Limited Edition
GC PRICE: $2,659.99
Gibson L-4A Cutaway
GC PRICE: $1,899.99
There is perhaps no interaction between
a guitarist and their instrument as pure as
playing a high-quality classical guitar.
When your bare fingers pluck the nylon strings and the body resonates warmly,
you can feel the centuries of guitar-building wisdom and handcrafted expertise
with every note. A masterfully built classical guitar responds to every detail of your
touch as if you and the instrument had become one.
Manuel Rodriguez and Sons build exemplary classical guitars using techniques
that Manuel Rodriguez Pérez learned as a craftsman working for master luthier
José Ramirez. For over 20 years, Pérez absorbed Ramirez’ wisdom and passed
it on to his son, Manuel Rodriguez Sr., who still builds Rodriguez guitars today.
The Manuel Rodriguez Sr. and Jr. models represent the peak of Rodriguez’ craft,
featuring the finest materials such as solid Brazilian rosewood and a perfectlyaged solid Canadian cedar top.
A hand-built Rodriguez classical guitar is an item of rare beauty, and a true work of
art. We invite you to indulge in the majesty of these prized instruments today.
Rodriguez MANUEL SR.
GC PRICE $14,999.99
Rodriguez MANUEL JR.
GC PRICE: $3,999.99
P L A T I N U M
If bass is your bottom line, Guitar
Center is the place to go for the finest
products available.
Today a wide variety of companies specialize in bass products that offer
an expansive choice of finely crafted instruments and state-of-the-art
amplification rigs to satisfy every need for those who keep the groove
in the pocket.
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind bass or a stunning custom instrument,
let one of Guitar Center’s bass experts show you our unmatched selection.
We offer exclusive instruments like the extremely rare Musicman Ball
Family Reserve StingRay 5 Serial #002 – featuring the most exotic
figured wood you’ll ever see on a bass – top-of-the-line Modulus basses
and Gibson’s incredible SG Reissue. We’re also the exclusive US dealer
of Markbass products, a premium line of heads, cabinets and combos that
bass giant Jeff Berlin calls the best-sounding amps he’s ever heard.
No matter how unique your style and preferences are, your ideal bass
rig is here.
MODULUS Q5 5-STRING
GC Price: $3,179.99
MUSICMAN BALL FAMILY RESERVE STINGRAY 5 Serial #002
GC PRICE: $7,499.99
Gibson SG Reissue Bass
GC PRICE: $1,199.99
MARKBASS F1 500-WATT FULL-STACK
GC PRICE: $2,479.99
NS DESIGNS CRM4 UPRIGHT
GC PRICE: $2,699.99
Ibanez SR1000 Prestige Neck-Thru Bass
GC Price: $1,299.99
P L A T I N U M
Microphones are the
recording engineer’s musical
instruments.
Whether you’re recording vocals, electric or acoustic
guitar, bass, piano, snare drums, cymbals or any
other instrument, different mics bring out different
personalities and character from each source. The right
mic can make the difference between a professional,
polished-sounding recording and one that sounds flat
and lifeless.
Guitar Center’s pro audio department is the place to
go to build your mic collection, or add a vital piece
to your arsenal. We carry a full assortment of modern
classics, including the AKG C 414 LTD, Neumann
U87 and TLM49, Blue Woodpecker Active ribbon mic
and the legendary Royer R-121 ribbon mic – versatile
workhorses that sound as beautiful as they look and
always inspire confidence from performers. Whether
you want an exotic vintage-style condenser mic or a
high-end dynamic mic, let Guitar Center help you select
the right mics for you.
AKG C 414 LIMITED 60TH ANNIVERSARY
GC PRICE: $1,199.99
BLUE WOODPECKER ACTIVE RIBBON MIC
GC PRICE: $999.99
NUEMANN U87 4OTH ANNIVERSARY SET
GC PRICE: $3,649.99
NUEMANN TLM49
GC PRICE: $1,499.99
Royer R-121 Ribbon Mic
GC PRICE: $1,294.99
P L A T I N U M
Great recordings are no
longer being made only in
famous studios.
The same tools and technology that top studios rely
upon, from manufacturers like Apogee, Manley, and
Universal Audio are readily available and accessible.
this allows musicians to record whenever creative
inspiration strikes and capture, edit and mix those
performances in pristine sound quality.
Great recordings start with the quality of the signal
chain. The first step is getting a pristine, greatsounding signal, and that’s where an outstanding
mic-pre and compressor come in. Manley Lab’s
SLAM has been hailed as having both the power and
the delicacy required to capture every nuance, and
the Universal Audio LA2A is simply, bar none, the
industry standard for compression.
You must be able to count on your converters to take
all the detail and subtlety of performance and transfer
it accurately to the digital realm. Apogee’s Rosetta 200
combines their famous analog to digital converters
with the rock-solid Intelliclock to make sure that the
sounds you heard are the sounds you get.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO LA2A LEVELING AMP
GC PRICE: $2,899.99
MANLEY SLAM STEREO MIC PRE
GC PRICE: $5,940.00
APOGEE ROSETTA 200 CONVERTER
GC PRICE: $1,795.99
P L A T I N U M
The digital revolution has
made it possible to create
professional studio-quality
recordings at home.
Today’s selection of pro audio gear is truly staggering,
but GC Pro consultants can help you outfit a stateof-the-art studio with the perfect equipment to
satisfy your professional needs. Whether you want
to audition a new pair of active monitors, explore
the power of a Pro Tools HD rig, compare the latest
mic preamps and outboard processors, or hear the
difference a professional set of headphones makes,
our personalized service and solutions make the
entire process simple.
The professional digital recording studio you’ve
always dreamed of having is now within your reach.
Our GC Pro Gurus will work with you to make your
digital dream studio a reality.
ADAM A7 NEARFIELD MONITOR
GC PRICE: $499.99 each
GENELEC 8030APM MONITOR
GC PRICE: $624.99 each
ULTRASONE PROLINE 650 HEADPHONE
GC PRICE: $299.99
NEVE 1081 MONO EQ
GC PRICE: $4,400.00
DIGIDESIGN 003 FACTORY
GC PRICE: $2,195.00
DIGIDESIGN PRO TOOLS HD3
GC PRICE: $13,995.00
P L A T I N U M
For a pro DJ, nothing compares
to the tactile control of fingers
on vinyl.
At the same time, digital technology provides modern DJs
with serious competitive advantages.
You now have the ability to store thousands of songs on a
lightweight hard disk, play songs you created in your studio
that same night in the club, and instantly download tunes
from artists all over the world.
Guitar Center carries the latest cutting-edge digital DJ
products that offer the best of both the analog and digital
worlds. We stock the same technology and tools you’ll
find installed in superclubs worldwide. Find out how the
melding of a Rane TTM 57 mixer with Serato Scratch
Live software gives you full control of digital files without
giving up the familiar feel of your beloved turntables and
CD players, or how the latest in hi-tech lighting equipment
can really take your show over the top.
The future of DJ technology is waiting for you at Guitar
Center. If you’re ready to take your performance to the next
level, we’re ready to show you how.
RANE TTM57SL SCRATCH MIXER WITH SERATO
GC PRICE: $1,499.99
TECHNICS SL1200 mk2 TURNTABLE
GC PRICE: $469.99
ORTOFON QBErT CONCORDE CARTRIDGE
GC PRICE: $164.99
APPLE MACBOOK PRO 15”
GC PRICE: $1,999.00
P L A T I N U M
Combine sight and sound to
transcend ordinary sensation
and captivate your audience.
Traditionally, the DJ and visual artist have remained
separate entities. It takes a rare mental bond and special
talent for the two to work as an effective team, but
thanks to new products like Pioneer’s DVJ-1000 DVD
turntable a DJ can now be a visual artist as well. The
DVJ-1000 looks and feels like Pioneer’s acclaimed
CD players for pro DJs, allowing you to scratch, loop
and manipulate DVD video and audio with the same
ease. Now visuals and audio are at your full command,
perfectly synchronized to every scratch, stutter,
breakdown and buildup you play.
Find out how easy it is to express yourself visually
with exciting new tools like the Pioneer DVJ-1000 and
the exciting new line of Robe lights, available today at
your local Guitar Center DJ Department.
PIONEER DVJ-1000 DVD SCRATCHER
GC PRICE: $2499.99 EACH
PIONEER DJM-800 SCRATCH MIXER
GC PRICE: $1549.99
P L A T I N U M
The modern equivalent of a
symphony orchestra.
Whether you’re composing music or performing live,
nothing compares to the power of having thousands
of sounds at your fingertips. With synthesis,
sampling, digital audio recording, effect processing,
sequencing, drum programming capabilities and
more, today’s keyboard workstations bring together
all of the latest and greatest music technologies in a
single instrument.
Whether you’re looking for a digital keyboard
workstation, a virtual analog modeling module or
even an authentic analog synth, Guitar Center offers
an unmatched selection of the latest products. From
the latest innovations, like the awe-inspiring modern
power of the Korg M3 88-key Music Workstation,
to boutique treasures, including the pure analog
majesty of the new Dave Smith Instruments Prophet
08 synthesizer, featuring classic Curtis filters and
innovative modulation sources, Guitar Center’s
Keyboard Department is where you’ll find the perfect
instrument for your unique expressive needs.
Music technology is evolving at an increasingly
rapid pace. Visit our experts to stay one step ahead.
KORG M388 WORKSTATION
GC PRICE: $3,499.99
KORG RADIAS RACKMOUNT SYNTH
GC PRICE: $999.99
DAVE SMITH PROPHET 08 SPECIAL EDITION
GC PRICE: $2,449.99
P L A T I N U M
The world’s biggest beat-makers rely on
the Akai MPC to create the grooves that
dominate the charts.
This groundbreaking production tool combines sampling, sequencing and drummachine functions to bring sampling to the masses. The new Guitar Center
exclusive MPC 2500 Limited Edition comes tricked out with carbon fiber look
and feel, white body with black buttons and knobs. It’s fully loaded with CD
burner, expanded memory, and an 80GB hard drive. Individually serialized, only
500 MPC 2500 LE will ever be made available.
Contact Guitar Center for more information on how you can make one of these
unique and amazing creative tools the centerpiece of your production studio.
To find out more about the Akai MPC 2500LE visit www.guitarcenter.com/
mpc2500le
AKAI MPC 2500 LIMITED EDITION
GC PRICE: $2,299.99
P L A T I N U M
Of all the drums in your kit, nothing
helps define your signature sound like
your snare.
Pro drummers own a wide variety of snare drums to help them find the
ideal sound in the recording studio, and many even change snares several
times during live performances to perfectly complement the songs.
If you want to put together a collection of world-class snare drums,
Guitar Center is the best place to begin and end your search. We carry
the top brands that pro drummers rely on most, like DW, Pearl, Pork Pie,
Tama and more. We also offer an impressive selection of hard-to-find
snares like the DW Neil Peart Signature Snakes and Arrows snare drum,
designed for Rush’s current tour. This remarkable snare features an Aztec
Red finish with hand-painted gold leaf and metallic grey graphics by
Louie Garcia, the DW master craftsman who finishes Peart’s own drums,
and it is at the heart of Neil’s touring kit. But it’s more than just the
graphics on this drum. DW’s unique Black Diamond hardware is made of
nickel, but it’s as hard and durable as chrome. The all-maple shell utilizes
DW’s proprietary VLT (Vertical Low Timbre) design, with a vertical
grain pattern that allows for a lower overall tone without sacrificing
resonance and attack.
Come into Guitar Center and compare our unmatched variety of pro
snares. Our expert staff will help you find the perfect match.
DW NEIL PEART SNAKES AND ARROWS SNARE
GC PRICE: $899.99
P L A T I N U M
Cymbal making is an ancient
and highly-specialized art.
Numerous companies make excellent drums, but when
it comes to cymbals only a handful of specialists have
the expertise and knowledge to craft truly exemplary
products. The Zildjian legacy reaches back to 1623,
when Avedis Zildjian established the company that bears
his surname. His traditional cymbal-making techniques
remain a guarded family secret to this day.
Armand Zildjian ran the company during its Golden
Era, making and hand-selecting cymbals played by
drumming icons like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. In
tribute to Armand, who passed away in 2002, Zildjian
introduces the Armand Series, which reproduces the
classic sound of their coveted thin A models from the
’60s. Each cymbal is individually cast using a secret
alloy formulated over 380 years ago to produce that
distinctive Zildjian tone and musical response.
If you need drums to go with Zildjian’s Armand Series
cymbals, look no further than Guitar Center’s exclusive
selection of DW drum kits. The warm, resonant tones
of a custom DW maple kit perfectly complements the
smooth overtones of Armand Series cymbals to provide
timeless character you’ve experienced on hundreds of
classic albums.
Guitar Center offers the perfect environment for testing
the entire range of Armand Series cymbals. Come hear
the difference 380 years of craftsmanship makes.
ZILDJIAN ARMAND SERIES
STARTING AT: $104.99
DW natural over ebony and ivory
exotic kit with 18x23” bass drum
GC PRICE: $7,100.00
stands, pedals and cymbals sold separately
P L A T I N U M
SELL YOUR
MUSIC ON iTUNES
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Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”) is the suggested retail selling price of a product provided to us by manufacturers. MSRP is a
benchmark to compare our discounts from MSRP to pricing offered by other retailers. Whether other retailers sell at MSRP will vary by product,
geographic location, type of store, and over time. Although we periodically update the MSRPs posted in our stores, direct mail offerings and
on our website as we receive them, in some cases manufacturers may change a suggested retail price without notice to us. Please contact the
manufacturer of a specific product for the most up-to-date MSRP information. MSRPs quoted for house or private label brands are developed
internally in consideration of comparable name brand products. We may commonly sell such products at prices lower than MSRP and, for any
given product, no sales may have occurred at MSRP. Although our limited time events are intended to be limited time events, our low prices
offered during these events may continue in effect after the event. Not all products are available in all stores. Please contact your local Guitar
Center for availability.
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