I have been following Deimel Guitarworks on Instagram for a while. With creative wiring, pickups behind the bridge, and Piezos embedded at various points in the guitar, Frank Deimel has been in the forefront of creating instruments for experimental guitarists. His latest, the Firestar LesLee Synchronizer, combines a fascinating, built-in Leslie effect created by automatically switching between pickups, as well as the ability to synch with modular synths, or any device that uses CV.
Eventide’s H9 became one of those instant modern pedal classics like the Line 6 DL4 and the EHX POG. As it basically allowed only one effect at a time, it was not uncommon to see the boards of professionals and more well off amateurs sporting two. This week Eventide revealed the H90, the equivalent of two fully loaded H9s in one box for a bit less money. But the H90 is not only twin H9s; it has some tricks of its own, with new algorithms (notably polyphonic pitch shifting) and routing options. It apparently was an epic undertaking to put together such a complex product during Covid, but that just adds to the Eventide legend.
The original Boss Slicer, the SL-20, was one of those pedals that was ahead of its time. Not enough guitarists were into the sequencer style sounds that it was capable of producing. Or, not into it enough to sacrifice the pedalboard space it required. With the release of the SL-2 compact version of the effect, Boss is betting that the increase of forward thinking guitarists, combined with the new compact size, will entice more people to slice.
One of the new generation of modern guitar masters interviews an OG. Fender presents Nick Reinhart interviewing and jamming with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame, as well as a performance by Moore’s group. As a bonus, I include the EarthQuaker Devices series Show us Your Junk, featuring Reinhart wittily describing his massive collection of sound generating gear. PS: If you haven’t watched the HBO Max series, Irma Vep, it is worth it just for Moore’s creative score.
Sorry I have been a little MIA with Guitar Moderne but my wife and I recently sold our house and moved to France. Hopefully that means I will get to see some of the wonderful European guitarists that have been featured in the magazine. I am playing some catchup here, so if you sent me something that has already been released please remind me. In the meantime here are some relatively new releases, including a bunch from Ramble Records, which has become something of a go-to label for modern guitar artistry.
