ERIC DAHL
SILVERTONE 1444 MODIFIED “ SIXTIES ” REISSUE BASS : The revived Silvertone brand has two great new models that they released at the NAMM show this summer but my favorite is the new 1444 bass . Black Silver Flake finish , nice hardware , easy to maneuver neck and just fun to play . It ’ s also available in Copper Metallic and Silverburst . The price hasn ’ t been released yet but it should be available in the next few months .
www . silvertoneguitars . com
GUILD SURFLINER ELECTRIC GUITAR If you ’ re looking for a kitschy cool guitar at a crazy cheap price the new Guild Surfliner is calling your name . The solid maple neck is super smooth and plays fast . Guild Rocker pickup switches above the DeArmond Aerosonic LB-1 pickups provide added tonal variation . Strings through body design provide extra sustain and tuning stability with six inline tuners on the headstock . Priced at only $ 620 the Guild Surfliner solidbody electrics are a great value and cool guitars !
KALA BAKITHI SIGNATURE ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC U-BASS Known as the Graceland bassist , Bakithi Kumalo has teamed up with Kala for his new signature model U-Bass . It has Kala Round Wound U-BASS strings . Solid mahogany build with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge . U-BASS Active EQ electronics and includes a custom Bakithi padded gig bag . If you ’ re looking to add some unique bass sounds to your praise team this could be the answer . This model provides plenty of low-end bass tones in a ukulele package , priced at $ 299 this is a must have .
TAYLOR 700 SERIES KOA Taylor expanded their Koa wood offerings into the 700 series at the NAMM show this year with the 722ce ( Grand Concert ) and the 724ce ( Grand Auditorium ) models . What is unique about these guitars is that Taylor isn ’ t trying to match up the Koa as is typically done but letting the variations in the wood play out . Each guitar has a Koa top , back and sides along with V-bracing . The super-thin finish really allows the guitars to ring out also . Both guitars are stunning and play and sound phenomenal and are priced at $ 3,499 . I preferred the 724ce .
ORBA 2 I ’ m not even certain how to fully explain this palm sized instrument but Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater introduced me to it at the NAMM show . The original Orba by Artiphon was popular but the new Orba 2 does even more and can integrate with an App on your smartphone . The Orba allows you to compose and create music anywhere including piano , bass , drums , chords and with a built-in looper . Essentially you have many instruments in a portable package that can be output for recording or live play and it is just a lot of fun . I can see Orba 2 being great for songwriting , teaching or just creating on the go . Priced at $ 149.99 the Orba 2 is the future of interactive portable music gear .