For nearly twenty years Fender® and modern blues sensation Kenny Wayne Shepherd have shared a stage and they are now officially announcing the September 2008 release of his new signature model, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster® guitar.
The Children of Bodom announced the release of their LP Something Wild Limited Edition (300 copies) Picture Disc LP+ Bonus Track.
From The Ask the Teacher Section at Rock House (http://www.rockhousemethod.com/) comes some good advice from John McCarthy.
PRS Guitars announced on their web site (http://www.prsguitars.com/) the release of the Mira Maple Top model; an instrument that combines the retro vibe of the PRS Mira with the figured maple tops that PRS customers have come to expect. This new model is an evolutionary instrument stemming from the increasingly popular Mira. The maple top provides the guitar both a distinctive visual and tonal identity. 
Sparrow Guitars announces the new All-Canadian line of solid-body Rat Rod and Twangmaster models, set to debut at MIAC 2008. The Canadian versions of the Rat Rod and Twangmaster are designed, manufactured, finished and assembled in Vancouver, BC Canada and feature top-of-the-line components and hardware. 
2 of Rock Houses Artist/Instructors, Bobby Thompson and Ravi Bhadriraju along with their bad Job for a Cowboy have announced new tour dates!
Rock House Artisit/Instructor and world famous bassist David Ellefsons band F5 have unleashed their sophomore album, “The Reckoning,” which is available now via OarFin Distribution (Koch). The record was produced by Ryan Greene and reveals a deeper, more complex sound than the band’s 2005 debut, “A Drug For All Seasons.”
Rock House, the leader in music instruction is announcing that Oli Herbert lead guitarist of the metal band ALL THAT REMAINS has joined Rock House’s roster of instructors. Oli and All That Remains have released three studio albums and are set to release their fourth entitled OVERCOME on September 16th. Oli’s instructional products will be jam-packed with the fundamental techniques that have propelled him into one of today’s most noted guitar players. The Multi level program will feature a Level 1 and Level 2 DVD where Oli will give lessons on lead technique, creating great rhythms, writing harmony guitar sections, sequences, patterns and a whole lot more. Production of the DVDs which are geared for intermediate and advanced level players is slated for late August with release date of November 2008.
Pick-ups. If you play and electric guitar or bass you have them but what exactly do they do?Rock House co-owner John McCarthy explains the simple aspects of pick ups.
"The Pick-ups work like a microphone", McCarthy explains "they pick up (hence the name) the sound of the strings and send the signal to your amplifier through your guitar cable. The closer the strings get to the pick-ups the louder the sound will get."
There are a lot of different pick-ups to choose from but here are 2 of the most popular types:
Thieves broke into Orange HQ at Borehamwood on Saturday night (16th August) and stole. 141 Tiny Terror combos with a total retail value of £62,000. So far, 121 Tiny Terror combos have been legitimately shipped into the UK and . 2 pieces to Hungary, no others have been shipped anywhere in Europe.
Columbia Records announced today the October 20th release of AC/DC's widely-anticipated Black Ice, the band’s first studio album in eight years. Black Ice features 15 new tracks from brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd. The album was produced by Brendan O’Brien at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC.
As "the most famous name on drums" moves into its 100th Anniversary in 2009, Ludwig Drum proudly introduces Ludwig Centennial Series Maple Drums. The Ludwig Centennial Series fuses the need for reliable gear with the desire for perfect drum tone in one exceptional package. Expandable to fit the needs of any playing style, Centennial Series Drums are Ludwigs answer to the battle-cry of the mobile percussionist.
The Centennial Series Drums start with 6-ply (toms and floor toms) and 8-ply (snare and bass drums) North American Maple shells. Augmented with Ludwig’s new Classic Micro-Lug, Vibra-band mounting system on toms, and 2.3mm drum hoops, Centennial Series presents the road-worthy player with new ways to expand their spectrum of tone. Centennial’s three “Core” shell packs each come standard with a bass drum (20”, 22”, or 24”, each with a 20” depth for added low and punch), a 12” rack tom, 16” floor tom, and snare drum. Where it goes from there is up to the player. Available kick drums, snare drums, and component drums from 8” to 18”, add the ability to custom configure the kit is in the hands of the drummer. Finish options include transparent high-gloss and Ludwig’s new 2mm SuperFlake Sparkle Lacquers, for a spectacular look to augment Centennial’s massive sound.
“Ludwig snare drums have been the industry standard since 1911 and the tradition and quality continues on today better than ever with a sound that could only be Ludwig”, said Kevin Packard, director of marketing, combo percussion. “Ludwig’s family of artists extends across so many genres; from rock to jazz to country and beyond; that’s why we wanted to create something that would be at home in any playing situation”.
Centennial Series “2-Up/2-Down” Shell Configuration Silver SuperFlake Sparkle Lacquer Finish (Model #s LRC22, LRC7510, LRC1314F), Centennial Series 20” Core Shell Pack (Model #LRC20), Centennial Series 22” Core Shell Pack (Model #LRC22), and Centennial Series 24” Core Shell Pack (Model #LRC24) are all currently available for to order. Retail prices start at less than $1400.
For more information on these and other striking additions to the Ludwig family of products, visit www.ludwig-drums.com.
A new wrinkle in the ever-evolving CHILDREN OF BODOM U.S. trek has developed as COB has tapped metal veterans Testament as special support for its NYC tour stop on October 9 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Testament - currently on the road alongside Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell and Motörhead as part of this summer's "Metal Masters" tour - is touring to back its latest studio album, The Formation of of Damnation. The tour's previously-announced opening acts Between the Buried and Me and The Black Dahlia Murder will also appear. The major market CHILDREN OF BODOM's U.S. headlining jaunt is the band's first in support of Blooddrunk and follows the quintet's red hot summer North American "Gigantour" live dates as hand-picked support for heavy music legends Megadeth.
The String Cleaner was voted Best in Show at The 2008 Summer NAMM. A cool little device that claims to extend the life of your guitar strings. 
If you have one of then odd shaped really cool guitars then here is the gig bag for you. New from Kaces is the Radical. For more info http://www.kaces.com/
When writing a song you want to keep in mind that you need to catch your audience’s attention quickly. Often your first line is the most important line in the song. If they turn you off, you don’t get a chance to hit them with that “zinger” line you’re happy about in the second verse.
In all fairness I have found out that another Rock House Artist, Kevin McCeery, and his band UGLY needs your vote too. In their latest my space bulletin they announced that although they don't much care for contests they couldn't help but throw their name in the hat for a chance to tour with Motley Crue.
I do a lot of surfing through guitar sites. I check out the competition as much as I can. I find it funny though that when I see on their sites "The #1 Guitar Message Boards" or "The Best Guitar Message Boards" and I check it out, well there just haven't been many posts. Most of them have about 20-30 messages posted since the first of the year. I'm not going to name any or put anyones site down. Information is information where ever you find it. In fact there are several that are pretty darn good. But if you have been to those boards and have been frustrated with the amount of information you have found, don't sweat it.
Nashville, Tennessee...August 4, 2008....Gibson Guitar, the world's premier musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology announced several job fairs to take place in August at the Gibson USA Plant on Massman Drive in Nashville, Tennessee.
After 30 years of playing the guitar I’ve done the unthinkable……… I started taking instruction again. Yep, this old jammer bit the bullet and is seeking the advice of someone that has been instructing for about as long as I’ve been playing. The reason?
A news flash from Leo Nocentellis camp. Catch Leo on Discovery TLC Miami Ink - New Orleans Special. The show airs this Thursday, August 7th, at 10:00 PM and replays at Midnight on Friday August 8th. 
I've been looking for something to blog on Scott Healy for awhile. The Rock House Artist/Instructor ( www.rockhousemethod.com ) has been hard at work and finished up his new project The Coalition "Naked Movies." 
Jimmy Rutkowski announced the winner of his guitar giveaway on The Audio Vamp Blog on their my space site a few days ago. The winner was Mark Nourie. Mark is an upstanding member of The Rock House Community http://www.rockhousemethod.com/ and I couldn't think of a better guy to win the guitar. Well errrr other than me. 
Press release from the blog at http://www.myspace.com/atreyurock
From David Ellefsons web site http://www.davidellefson.com/
WOW! Think you have what it takes to keep up with The Children of Bodom? Well then here's an excellent chance to do that. The COB and their sponsors want to see what you got. If you got the right stuff you can end up in Los Angeles on stage with the boys from The COB. Here's the details from http://www.cobhc.com/
Part 8 on the series of the types of careers in the music business and music industry. Here is the last part of this series. Good luck with whatever field of study you choose.
Gary launched his career in 1993 with the hit song "Hocus Pocus." His fiery guitar technique helped to propel it into the top 5 on Billboards charts, out pacing all others as the most frequently played rock song of the year. He will appear in a DVD which will be a multi-level program designed for intermediate and advanced players who want to learn and understand the way he uniquely blends Rock, Blues and Surf guitar techniques into his music. In addition, the content will also include instruction on how he writes instrumental songs and the leads. Production is slated for the Fall of 2008, with a release date scheduled for early 2009. 
The Floyd Rose tremolo systems are different then normal bridges, here is the skinny.
Gibson USA’s new Shred-V Flying-V, the Guitar of the Moth for August 2008, takes the style and attitude of the fearsome Flying V a step further. Two EMG 85 pickups deliver high-output, screaming tone, perfect for aggressive hard rock and metal, and a new Kahler 221 5k tremolo system allows stable tuning and dive bombs. The Shred-V is outfitted with black chrome hardware, and an ebony finish that captures every detail and sharp style of the Flying V. The Neck is one-piece mahogany with Gibson’s traditional Flying V profile - A hybrid between the standard ‘50s rounded contour and the ‘60s slim taper profile. An ebony fingerboard with black acrylic dot inlays unique only to the Shred-V. Locking Grover tuners keep the guitar in tune when pushing the Kahler tremolo system to its limits.
Want to improve the tone on your strat? Here's an article from Premiere Guitar online with 10 ways to modify your strat. The link for the article is below.
