NEWS
A/DA Returns with Reissues
By Rebecca Dirks
Lafayette, CA – Renowned guitar electronics company
A/DA has begun shipping their first new products since
closing in 1997. The company is re-launching with the
second reissue of the revered A/DA Flanger and the A/
DA Final Phase. Company founder David Tarnowski says
the reissue is the first of many new products, both original and reissue, that the new A/DA will be producing.
One of A/DA’s 2010 reissued Flangers.
Tarnowski founded A/DA in 1976 and remained with the company through 1997. In
the two decades of A/DA’s existence, the company produced numerous innovations in
effects pedals, recording amps, MIDI control, emulation, and rackmount gear. Tarnowski
hopes to pick up where he left off by advancing today’s guitar technology.
Today’s A/DA might never have existed if it weren’t for a chance meeting on a golf
course. Tarnowski had been working in software development when he met a local
guitarist on the course. After bringing some gear over for the guy’s band to check out,
Tarnowski was inspired to re-launch the company, beginning with legacy products and
expanding to original releases. A/DA was reborn in 2009 with the original goal of producing a combo amp. The plans soon changed to launch with effects pedals, and—due
to development and difficulty sourcing parts—production began in February 2010.
Tarnowski tells PG that the Flanger and Final Phase use identical signal paths to the originals. Due to the unavailability of the Reticon SAD1024 Bucket Brigade chips, the Flanger
uses NOS Panasonic chips, the same that were used in the 1979 Flangers. Tarnowski has
updated the circuitry outside of the signal path to allow for true-bypass switching.
According to Tarnowski, A/DA is currently developing an analog delay using late-‘70s
technology and a distortion pedal to be released in late 2010 or early 2011. He is also
considering reissuing the A/DA MP1 rackmount in pedal form, as well as producing
original software for guitarists.
FCC Reserves Channels for
wireless Microphone Use
By Rebecca Dirks
Washington, DC – Wireless microphone
users are now legally protected from
interference from existing or future electronic devices. The FCC issued an order on
September 23 reserving two TV channels
nationwide for wireless microphone use.
Legislators have been actively following the
FCC’s plan to allow unlicensed devices to
share the “white spaces” and the potential
impact on wireless microphone users. Illinois
Representative Bobby Rush submitted a
bill that would require wireless microphone
users to be protected.
“The legislation I introduced called for
interference protection for professional
wireless microphones in the wide variety of
venues in which they are used today,” said
Representative Rush. “This Order effectively grants that protection and will ensure
continuity of service for houses of worship,
theaters, music tours and venues, sporting
events, and the various civic and corporate
environments that rely on quality audio in
America today.”
adaamps.com
An Experience Hendrix tour guitar tech shows PG the now-sold 1962 Strat
backstage at one of the tour stops in March 2010. Photo by Chris Kies
Eric Johnson Sells Storied
1962 Strat
By Rebecca Dirks
a rosewood fretboard and was the inspira-
tion for Fender’s Eric Johnson Rosewood
Stratocaster. The Strat was stolen from Eric in
the ’80s and returned to him in 2006.
The guitar was sold through online retailer
EddieVegas.com, known for selling vintage Fender guitars and parts. “[Eric] just
freaked out one day and said he was only
going to play maple-neck Strats,” explained
Ed Matthews, a.k.a. Eddie Vegas. Johnson
is also known for playing a 1958 maple-fretboard Strat seen on Guitar Player’s May
1986 “Who is Eric Johnson & Why is He On
Our Cover?” issue and PG’s own June 2010
“Experience Hendrix” cover.
The ruling was praised by Congressmen
and women from Tennessee, New York,
and Nevada, where the increased presence of live music and entertainment
made the issue even more salient. Shure
Incorporated also lauded the decision.
“It’s clear that the FCC carefully considered the needs of wireless microphone
users while crafting this Order,” said
Sandy LaMantia, President and CEO of
Shure. “The reserved channels will provide a safe harbor in which musicians,
small theaters, houses of worship, and
businesses can operate their wireless
microphone systems without interference
from new TV Band Devices.”
C.F. Martin & Co. Launches
Concert Series
By Rebecca Dirks
30 PREMIER GUITAR NOVEMBER 2010
Minneapolis, MN – Eric Johnson’s 1962 sun-
burst Strat was sold in September for an undis-
closed amount. The iconic instrument featured
Matthews could not disclose the purchase
price or buyer’s identity, but told PG that the
buyer was, “an Eric Johnson fanatic.”
www.premierguitar.com
Nazareth, PA – C.F. Martin & Co. has
announced the launch of The Martin Guitar
Tour, a new concert series kicking off on
