NEW PRODUCTS
We’re constantly hearing about manufacturers’ latest gear unveilings—stuff that’s so new we haven’t personally laid eyes or hands on it yet. We’re as excited
as you when manufacturers tell us about new toys coming down the pike (hello—we’re Premier Guitar, after all!), so we figure the least we can do is pass the
news along. Check back every month to get the scoop, and who knows—maybe we’ll end up reviewing the stuff you’re stoked about when it’s available.
Cordoba Fusion 12 Orchestra
Cordoba’s newest guitar, the 12 Orchestra, is the
first one in their Fusion series to have a non-cutaway,
full body. It’s available with a solid Canadian cedar
or European spruce top, Indian rosewood back and
sides, and a lightweight cedar neck with an ebony
fretboard. Cordoba describes the guitar as having a
warm, glowing nylon-string sound with the feel of a
traditional steel-string. The Orchestra comes equipped
with a B-Band A1.2 pickup, which has a volume control
mounted on the inside edge of the sound hole.
MSRP $755
cordobaguitars.com
Mansons MBK- 3 Pickups
Mansons Guitar Shop and
UK custom pickup manufacturer, Bare Knuckle, have
teamed up on the new MBK- 3 pickups that are aimed at the
contemporary player that seeks tight tone, huge bass response,
and powerful output. They are described as hard-hitting pickups that are suited to hard rock, metal, punk, and other unruly
tones. Combining the power of three ceramic magnets in the
bridge and an Isotropic Alnico V in the neck, these chrome cus-tom-etched pickups work in any humbucker-equipped guitar.
Street $288
mansons.co.uk
Action Custom Straps Blackheart 100 The Blackheart 100 is 2 1/2" wide and made of three different kinds of leather. The body is a soft and supple medium weight cowhide while the inlay is of even softer cabretta. The hidden back adjust- ment piece and the tailpiece are made of a tougher cowhide. The standard length is adjustable from 44" to 54". The Blackheart 100 is customizable, too. Online $195
actioncustomstraps.com Washburn WD55 Acoustic Series
One of Washburn’s newest lines of
acoustic guitars, the WD55 Series
features a solid Alaskan Sitka spruce
top, koa back and sides, and abalone
binding and rosette. Also, it has a
satin-finished mahogany neck with
a two-way truss rod, and is matched
with a rosewood fingerboard and
bridge with bone nut and saddle. This
series is available in dreadnought and
grand auditorium body styles, and a
Fishman tuner/preamp is standard on
cutaway electric models.
MSRP $801.90–944.90
washburn.com
WMD Acoustic Trauma Having troubles cutting through the mix? WMD’s Acoustic Trauma just may be your modern distortion solution. Its two special- ly voiced preamps drive a 3-band boosting parametric EQ that is said to voice your tone from subtle treble/bass boost to stop wah bite all the way up to an ear-splitting 11. A powerful
and transparent noise gate kills the noise caused by incredible
gain. The WMD Acoustic Trauma is an all-analog, true bypass distortion
pedal that comes with an 18VDC wall supply.
MSRP $299
wmdevices.com
MXL MPAC-01 Preamp
MXL announces the MPAC-01 Preamp, which is their first single-channel microphone preamp/compres-sor for use in recording or mixing vocals and instruments. It’s said to deliver precise signal control and
enhance recording. Features include an analog VU meter, a variable high-pass filter to control unwanted
low frequencies, a -20dB pad for high decibel recordings—guitar amps and kick drums—and switchable
phantom power. While the MPAC-01 functions as a compressor to control dynamics, the compressor
can be disengaged for use as a mic preamp.
MSRP $699
mxlmics.com
