Category: Uncategorized
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What’s The Deal With Locking Tremolos?
By C. Locking tremolo bridges are a revolutionary design in the world of electric guitar. Often misunderstood, they remain a key component of many electric guitars and music of the 1980’s that offered players a dynamic range of pitch modulation and the ability to execute expressive techniques like dives, pulls, and flutters. Essentially, these bridges…
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Choosing Your Pickups: Filter’Trons
By C. This time on “Choosing Your Pickups”, we’re going to be exploring a pickup option that’s somewhat off the beaten path from your more traditional offerings. While we’ve yet to touch on the many more available options out there, it’s about time that we shine the spotlight on these distinctive pickups, as they have…
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The Fender “Mandocaster” Electric Mandolin: A Charming Piece Of A Golden Era
By C. The Fender Electric Mandolin is a remarkable little instrument that embodies the essence of both tradition and modernity. It takes the age-old charm of the mandolin and infuses it with the spirit of Fender’s 1950’s golden era. The result is an instrument that not only pays homage to its acoustic roots but also…
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In The Shop: 1950 Gibson J-45
By C. From body sizes, tone woods, scale lengths and so on, the world of acoustic guitars offers players many options to choose from when selecting their ideal instrument. And while there’s never a shortage of specs and features to consider, it’s hard to go wrong with a tried and true classic model. Just arrived…
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Fender Pickups: Evolution Through Eras
By Randy “ToneMaster” Thompson Fender pickups, those magnetic marvels beneath the strings, have undergone a fascinating evolution over the years. Each era of Fender’s history has brought forth innovations, experimenting with designs, magnets, and winding techniques, shaping the distinctive tones that define Fender guitars. Let’s journey through the different eras of Fender pickups, tracing the…
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Surround Sounds: The Stereo Guitar Revolution
The 1960s were a transformative period in the world of electric guitars, marked by groundbreaking innovations and the emergence of several iconic models that would steer the course of modern music. Among the many popular guitars that emerged during this decade, the stereo model electric guitars stand out as both a product of their time…
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What’s The Deal With Fender’s Custom Colors?
Fender’s custom colors from the 1950s and 1960s represent a fascinating chapter in the history of electric guitars. During this period, Fender offered a wide range of unique and eye-catching finishes that set their instruments apart from the competition. These custom colors not only played a significant role in the aesthetics of Fender guitars but…
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In The Shop: 1964 Epiphone Coronet
We’re never short on cool vintage pieces here at IVG, and between our 4 shops across Southern California, we occasionally come across guitars owned and played by some of music’s most legendary artists. This week in the shop, we’re taking a look at an excellent 1964 Epiphone Coronet, with a bit of this celebrity status…
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Choosing Your Pickups: Stratocaster Single-Coils
The Fender Stratocaster, often simply referred to as the “Strat,” is one of, if not the most iconic electric guitars in the world. There’s certainly a number of design aspects that make Strats sound the way they do, but one of the key components to a Stratocaster’s distinctive sound is its single-coil pickups. These pickups…
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The Fender Coronado: A Departure From Tradition
The Fender Coronado electric guitar holds a special place in the pantheon of iconic instruments. A product of the mid-1960s, the Coronado represents a departure from traditional solid body Fender designs and remains a unique cherished relic of the CBS era. With its distinctive semi-hollow body, unique aesthetics, and a sound that blends twangy brightness…
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