JHS & Co. Ltd. Look Forward to Another Successful NAMM Show
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Press Release - for immediate publication Booth 5279 Hall B JHS & Co. Ltd. look forward to another successful NAMM Show John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. (JHS) the worldwide trade distributors for their proprietary Fret-King™ electric and bass guitars, Vintage® and Encore® electric, acoustic and bass guitars and Pilgrim® Folk Instruments, are looking forward to a successful NAMM Show 2016. Having secured representation in North America through Texas-based RBI Music back in June 2015, their Fret-King, Vintage and Encore guitar brands will all be on show in Hall B Booth 5279, along with a comprehensive range of the Paul Tebbut designed Pilgrim Folk Instruments range, including the brand new Morning Star series with their superb ‘tubaphone style’ tonerings. Fret-King guitars will see the official launch of the new Black Label ‘JJ’ John Jorgensen Signature model, designed by Trev Wilkinson in conjunction with the former Hellecasters and session supremo. John’s model will join the ranks of Fret-King Signature models alongside former band mate Jerry Donahue, jazz supremo John Etheridge, Queensryche’s Parker Lundgren, former Michael Jackson guitarist Gregg Wright, Procul Harum’s Geoff Whitehorn and UK blues guitarists Danny Bryant and John Verity. There will also be a select number of one-off Fret-King guitars pre-fitted with the groundbreaking Fishman Fluence pickup systems on display and ready to try. The very popular Vintage electric guitar range has taken on 8 new models, including its very first seven-string the V7HTBB, an homage to the ‘80s rock guitars with the V624M which has been honoured to receive 5 star reviews from a number of UK guitar magazines. Finally, the V72, V6P and V6H models provide an elegant upgrade to some classic designs with flame tops and great pickup arrangements. Vintage have also had their Dreadnought V501 acoustic and Press Release - for immediate publication VEC501 electro-acoustic models upgraded to include Graph Tech NuBone saddles, solid Sitka Spruce or Mahogany tops and Fishman Sonicore underside pickup and Isys+ USB onboard preamps on the electro-acoustic models. Another addition to the growing range of Vintage Paul Brett designed acoustic guitars is the VTR800PB-USB Viator travel guitar with Fishman Sonitone USB pickup, making a superb blend of classic and modern design that is ideal for recording on the move. Finally the JHS/RBI Music booth will feature daily demo’s at 2pm from German guitar virtuoso Thomas Blug demoing his Vintage V6MRTBG and V6MRHDX models through his amazing AMP1, so make sure you make time to visit and check out all these brand new guitars and much, much more! Other new launches to look out for at NAMM 2016 will be from Fishman, Supro Amplification, Pigtronix, Danelectro, Hughes & Kettner, Snark and HK Audio, so visit their respective booths to check out the new products JHS will soon be distributing in the UK and Eire as exclusive territory representatives. ENDS Fret-King,Vintage, Encore and Pilgrim instruments are distributed worldwide by John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. www.jhs.co.uk US Distributors (Fret-King,Vintage, Encore and Pilgrim) RBI Music www.fretking-vintage.com [email protected] 800-424-4724 Press Release - for immediate publication Booth 5279 Hall B Fret-King release John Jorgensen ‘JJ’ Artist guitar. Designed in conjunction with Trev Wilkinson the new Fret-King Black Label ‘JJ’ John Jorgenson Artist guitar is packed with a whole host of features. A world-class musician and virtuoso guitarist who has collaborated with the likes of Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan, John Jorgenson’s fretboard fireworks on The Hellecasters albums alongside Jerry Donahue and Will Ray remain favourites of guitarists everywhere, and with such an eclectic mix of genres, John needs a versatile guitar that can slip seamlessly from one style to another. The Fret-King JJ’s unique chambered body with faux ‘F’ holes is made from American Alder, with a Canadian Maple neck matched to a Indian Rosewood fingerboard, a Wilkinson WTB fixed bridge provides solid anchoring to the guitar, providing unparalleld sustain and ultimate tone transfer due to its three self-intonating brass saddles and cold roll steel chrome plated bridge/pickup surround. A Wilkinson/JJ WVOBT bridge pickup matched to a WTN/JJ neck pickup are coupled with two auxiliary ‘ghost’ coils under the JJ’s unique pickguard. These are activated with a push-push switch on the tone control, and as per John’s request these switch between single coil tones associated with a guitar of this style and a true hum cancelling noise reduction with no perceptible change in sound or tonality. We believe this is the first time any company has achieved this and it is a feature that John has been pursuing for many years now, even soliciting the help of Leo Fender himself to try to achieve this groundbreaking setup. Adding to this versatility is the ‘Vari-Coil™’ (activated by the 3rd control knob on the lower front bout) which dials in extra boost on the bridge pickup when John needs to ‘take it over the top’! Press Release - for immediate publication "The very first time I met Trev back in the early 80s I liked him right away” says John. “He had all the knowledge and creativity regarding guitars without any of the superior attitude that seemed to always come along with that knowledge, especially in the guitar world. He always seemed to have already designed something that I had wanted and wondered if it was possible to make! Already having enjoyed a number of Trev's innovations over the years, it's an absolute treat to be able to collaborate on a guitar with him now. I'm really excited about what we are coming up with and think other players will be too!" "Anybody who knows John, (says Fret-King designer Trev Wilkinson) knows he is a guitarist’s guitarist as he commands so many styles and genres of music”. He continues "We’ve known each other for quite a few years now and I am always amazed at his imagination when it comes to designing his instruments. It’s what I like to call a friendly guitar, but is still unique in its own right - very much like John himself!" Finished in the unmistakable two-tone Arcadia/Versailles Green with bound black and white faux “F” hole and reverse painted plexi-glass pickguard, it comes complete with a luxurious padded Fret-King bag. The Black Label ‘JJ’ oozes classic style, holds its own in every playing situation and is an invaluable addition to any guitarist’s arsenal. ENDS Distributed worldwide by John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. www.jhs.co.uk US Distributors RBI Music www.fretking-vintage.com [email protected] 800-424-4724 Colour - Arcadia Green/Versailles Green Body - American Alder Binding - Front Neck - Maple Scratch Plate - Versailles Green Fingerboard - Rosewood Scale - 25.5”/648mm Frets - 22 Medium jumbo Nut Width - 43mm nominal Nut - Graphite Tuners - Wilkinson WJ455 Bridge - WTB Pickups - 1 x WTNa2 1 x WVOBT Controls - 1 x Volume 1 x Tone 1 with bridge pickup voicing option x Vari-Coil (Hum cancelling and standard x 3 way selector switch Includes Luxury genuine Fret-King carry bag Press Release - for immediate publication Booth 5279 Hall B Vintage Guitars add new V6M24 models to the electric range. Designed with the needs of the modern player firmly in mind, the new V6M24 electric from Vintage is brimming with a host of features that can take you from the practice room to the world’s stages. With an American alder body perfectly matched to a bolt-on maple neck and fingerboard, its 24 medium jumbo fretboard allows the player to comfortably access those high notes thanks to its contoured low-profile neck joint. Like all Vintage electrics, it comes as standard with Trev Wilkinson designed hardware and pickup. The VS50IIK Vibrato system can take some serious abuse and yet still return to pitch time after time, thanks to the added inclusion of Wilkinson WJ07LH E-Z-Lok machine heads. Meanwhile, the Wilkinson WHHB double-coil pickups provide tight bottom end and crisp highs, perfect for a variety of genres. Available in a choice of Daytona Yellow, Laguna Blue and Ventura Green finishes, with matching reverse headstock, the V6M24 plays, sounds and looks the business, and a it won’t put a dent in your wallet either! ENDS Distributed worldwide by John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. www.jhs.co.uk US Distributors RBI Music www.fretking-vintage.com [email protected] 800-424-4724 Press Release - for immediate publication V6M24DY Daytona Yellow V6M24LB Laguna Blue V6M24VG Ventura Green Press Release - for immediate publication Booth 5279 Hall B Pilgrim launch new Morning Star banjo range. Pilgrim designer, luthier and celebrated musician Paul Tebbutt is no stranger to what makes a truly great banjo. With an extensive ‘reference library’ of vintage instruments Pauls latest quest for the Pilgrim brand has been to accurately reproduce the distinctive and elusive benchmark tone of the “Tubaphone” tone ring banjos of the 1920’s. “Many companies have attempted to replicate this iconic tonality,” explains Paul “and whilst the instruments might have looked the part, the tone rings used just didn’t sound anything like the original banjos! Back in the early eighties we developed a 'Tubaphone style’ tone ring with bell foundry in Leicester which were very highly regarded and came very close to the sound I was trying to achieve”. Fast forward to 2015 and the brand new Pilgrim Morning Star range features four distinct models that combine classic looks, with fine tone woods and premium hardware.