Guitar Beans - November 27, 2024
Today’s issue: It’s been a crazy and fun week in guitar-land. I won’t always get to write headlines this wild, but today we have Chase Bliss’ Mystery Box which went straight to the moon, the new OBNE Dark Star Stereo Reverb, the new Boss Katana Mini-X practice amp, Gibson suing Trump guitars (which I didn’t even know was a thing), and US Customs seizing 3000 counterfeit Gibson’s. 🙃 🙃 🙃
🎸🫘 Guitar Pedals
Chase Bliss Mystery Box
Joel Korte and the Chase Bliss team went full Willy Wonka about a week ago when they announced the Chase Bliss Mystery Box - “Each mystery box will contain, at a minimum, one Chase Bliss pedal and a few additional goodies. The value of all Mystery Boxes will be greater than $349.00 USD. Some boxes will contain special treats, including but not limited to: One-of-a-kind hand-painted pedals, rare & discontinued pedals, bonus pedals from Chase Bliss pedal friends, and the elusive golden pin – which will reward you with free Chase Bliss new pedal releases…for as long as Chase Bliss is a company.” There have been a few companies to do mystery boxes, but none quite on this scale before. The Chase Bliss team had to go ahead and stop the project before their intended date of December 2, 2024 due to high demand! Some of the extra goodies included will be 10 Unclean disotrion from Non-Human Audio, 10 randoms from EAE, 10 from randoms Mask Audio Electronics, 20 b-stock Ottobit Jr., 10 random from JFX, 100 random from Sonic Explorer, 10 Dark Star Stereo from OBNE, 10 The Lover from Empty Head Effects, 10 assorted from Siltone Amps, and an Unknown number from Wrenn & Cuff.
Old Blood Noice Endeavors Dark Star Stereo Soundscape Reverb
This V3 is a much-anticipated update to the Dark Star and takes it’s three modes and spreads them out across a larger pedal where all features can be used at once. Dark Star is a versatile lo-fi reverb designed for creating pads and slow-attack textures, featuring controls for signal degradation, filtering, pitch shifting, and delay. With stereo I/O, analog dry-through, and MIDI integration, it offers extensive flexibility for any rig. Its expressive controls and preset capabilities make it a reverb that doubles as a creative instrument.
OBNE Expression Ramper - Dark Star V3 Colorway
Same great ramper - new colorway to match V3 Dark Star Stereo. The Expression Ramper lets users toggle or cycle between two expression settings (A and B), functioning either as a single sweep or a continuous LFO activated via footswitch. Its compact design minimizes pedalboard space while unlocking new sound possibilities for any pedal with an expression input.
Beautiful Noise Effect’s Endless Sleeper II
Beautiful Noise Effects has introduced the Endless Sleeper II, an analog-voiced dual-delay pedal featuring two digital delay lines with adjustable delay time, feedback, and modulation controls. It offers a range from 30ms to 1500ms, with longer delays introducing lo-fi characteristics. The pedal includes a self-oscillation mode, a GLIDE control for pitch modulation with selectable waveforms, a CRUSH control for bit-crushing effects, and an experimental feature that routes the output of one delay into the input of the other for complex ambient textures.
Nobels Introduces DEL-mini: Compact Stereo Delay with Versatile Features
The Nobels DEL-mini packs three delay modes—Tape, Analog, and Digital—into a compact and budget-friendly pedal. It features tap tempo, selectable mono or stereo I/O, and true or buffered bypass, delivering expansive delay options for any setup. Glow-in-the-dark knobs and its space-saving design make it a practical and versatile choice for all players.
Nobels Unveils ODR-mini 2: Compact Overdrive with Enhanced Features
The Nobels ODR-mini 2 builds on its predecessor with the addition of an external bass cut knob for precise low-end control. It retains the classic Spectrum Tone control and now features an upgraded metal enclosure with integrated Mounty-P Mounting Plates for durability and convenience. This compact analog overdrive pedal also includes true bypass and glow-in-the-dark knobs for maximum usability.
Matthews Effects Technician: A Versatile Dual-Channel Audio Manipulator
The Matthews Effects Technician combines reverb, delay, resonance filter, and looper functions with modulators for unique sound design. While its well-organized interface and distinctive arcade switches set it apart, its focused feature set may appeal to a niche audience. This versatile but specific multi-effect pedal offers a compelling alternative to devices like the Line 6 DL4 and Source Audio Collider.
Keeley Introduces HALO Core: Compact Delay Pedal with Signature Andy Timmons Sound
The Keeley HALO Core delivers Andy Timmons’ iconic “Halo” delay sound with selectable quarter note and dotted eighth note modes. Featuring stereo I/O, tap tempo, and controls for high-pass filtering, tone, and tape saturation, it offers professional-quality delay in a compact, user-friendly design. Ideal for both amp and effects loop setups, the HALO Core combines versatility and simplicity.
Land Devices Moonbow: A Unique Dual-Mode Filter and Channel Strip Pedal
The Moonbow adapts a voltage-controlled dual-mode filter with a hot-rodded channel strip from Land Devices’ Mixer, offering gentle compression or bold saturation. With controls for gain, output level, filter cutoff, resonance, and a high-pass/low-pass toggle, it provides tonal versatility for both instrument and line-level inputs. The inclusion of a CV input for external control enhances its functionality for experimental sound design.
Beetronics Introduces Larva Morphing Phaser: Versatile Analog Modulation Pedal
Beetronics has unveiled the Larva Morphing Phaser, a 6-stage analog modulation pedal featuring dual independent phaser settings for seamless transitions between distinct sounds. It offers modes such as Phaser, Vibee, and a standalone preamp, with intuitive controls including tap tempo and dual morphing presets. The Larva’s design caters to a wide range of instruments, providing both subtle warmth and bold lead tones.
Polarbear Effects Raposa: A Lo-Fi Delay Pedal for Experimental Sounds
The Polarbear Effects Raposa is a PT2399 delay pedal designed to emulate the imperfections of worn tape decks, featuring dark repeats, tape warp modulation, and random signal dropouts. Its controls include adjustable mix, delay time, low-pass filtering, and failure rate, with tap tempo and infinite repeats for added versatility. The pedal’s unique imperfections and flexible customization make it ideal for crafting experimental and lo-fi soundscapes.
🎸🫘 Guitars
Gibson Hummingbird EC Collection: A Modern Take on a Classic Acoustic
Gibson’s Hummingbird EC Collection reimagines the iconic Hummingbird acoustic guitar with contemporary features, including a cutaway design for enhanced upper fret access and built-in electronics for amplified performance. This series maintains the traditional square-shouldered dreadnought body and ornate pickguard, offering a blend of classic aesthetics and modern playability.
Schecter Unveils Synyster Gates Custom 7-TR Headless Signature Guitar
Schecter has announced the release of the Synyster Gates Custom 7-TR Headless Signature Guitar, a headless variant of the popular Synyster Custom model. This seven-string guitar features a sleek design aimed at enhancing playability and comfort, catering to the technical demands of modern guitarists. The instrument is expected to be available soon, offering fans of Avenged Sevenfold’s lead guitarist a new option in their signature lineup.
🎸🫘 Guitar Amps
Boss Katana-Mini X: Compact Amplifier with Rechargeable Convenience
The Boss Katana-Mini X is a portable guitar amplifier that builds upon its predecessor by incorporating an internal rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for six AA batteries or an optional power supply. This compact amp offers a range of tones and effects, making it a versatile choice for guitarists seeking mobility without compromising sound quality.
🎸🫘 Other News
Gibson Accuses Trump Guitars of Copying Les Paul Design
Gibson Brands has issued a cease-and-desist letter to 16 Creative, the company behind Trump Guitars, alleging that their instruments infringe upon Gibson’s Les Paul body shape trademark. This action follows Donald Trump’s promotion of a Trump Guitar resembling the Les Paul, priced up to $10,000. Gibson has a history of protecting its designs, having won a similar case against Dean Guitars in 2022.
U.S. Customs Seizes Over 3,000 Counterfeit Gibson Guitars in Record Bust
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, has seized more than 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars at the Port of Los Angeles. If genuine, these instruments would have an estimated market value exceeding $18 million. This operation marks the largest seizure of counterfeit musical instruments to date.
Thanks for reading this issue of Guitar Beans. We’ll see you soon!
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