108 ROCK STAR GUITARS AT NAMM 2020: Tony Franklin

108 ROCK STAR GUITARS AT NAMM 2020: Tony Franklin

Known as the “Fretless Monster”, Tony Franklin has played alongside some of the greatest names in music history. He got his big break in 1984 as bassist in stellar supergroup The Firm, with guitar legend Jimmy Page, vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band). Franklin’s signature fretless growl was a distinctive and instantly recognizable element of the band’s first hit, Radioactive.

After two hit albums and substantial touring with The Firm, Franklin subsequently performed with Blue Murder (John Sykes, Carmine Appice), David Gilmour, Kate Bush, Whitesnake, Roy Harper, Pat Travers, Tony McAlpine, Gary Hoey, Donna Lewis, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Italian superstars Vasco Rossi and Eros Ramazzotti and many others. An in-demand session bass ace, he has appeared on hundreds of albums.

In January 2006, Fender proudly introduced the Tony Franklin Signature Model Fretless Precision Bass guitar, a replica of the instrument Franklin has used throughout his career. In it's 14th year of production, Fender introduced a new color, Lake Placid Blue to the line in January 2020.
2006 also saw the Sony release of Tony Franklin: Not Just Another Pretty Bass, Franklin’s first sample loop library.

In 2011, Franklin joined Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s band, and toured extensively throughout the world. Franklin can be heard on Shepherd’s album, “Goin’ Home”, released in Summer 2014.

2015 saw Franklin recording and touring with Heart Of Storm, live Rock Ballet - with world class Russian ballet, and live rock band featuring Doug Aldrich, Gregg Bissonette, Derek Sherinian, Brent Woods and Brandon Fields. A Live DVD was shot at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.

Franklin closed the summer of 2015 touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band opening for Van Halen, culminating in two shows at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

2016 brought further touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, numerous recording sessions, and saw Franklin as a Rock Star Counselor at Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, alongside Zakk Wylde, Warren Haynes, Steve Vai, Ginger Bakerof Cream and David Crosby. As of March 2020, Franklin has appeared at thirteen Rock Camps, alongside members of Deep Purple, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, REO Speedwagon, Jon Anderson of Yes, Judas Priest, Alice In Chains, Van Halen, Paul Stanley of KISS and Cheap Trick - where Franklin was enlisted as Musical Director, arranger and conductor for the band's performance of The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album. Franklin is also a featured artist in the upcoming Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp documentary, set for Summer 2020 release.

In 2017, Franklin toured Japan extensively with Japanese superstar Eikichi Yazawa, culminating in 5 nights at the Budokan, the legendary Tokyo venue.

Summer 2018 brought the release of Franklin’s Fretless Bass Instructional Course through TrueFire. Autumn 2018 saw Franklin fronting his own band in Europe playing material from his extensive career including music from The Firm, Whitesnake, Blue Murder and Pink Floyd.

In the summer of 2019, Franklin toured with Jason Bonham and his Led Zeppelin Evening show, opening for Peter Frampton on his Farewell Tour. Franklin also played numerous shows with Raiding The Rock Vault, the awarding winning Las Vegas music show, including dates in London on their maiden voyage to the U.K.

With a bass solo album nearing completion, Master Classes, counseling, constant writing, touring and recording, Franklin says: “I’ve only just begun!”

Duration: 06:04

Related

Ace Frehley – Cherry Medicine - (Official Music Video).
News & latest Releases

Ace Frehley – Cherry Medicine - (Official Music Video).

Ace previously released the title track, "10,000 Volts" and single "Walkin' on the Moon." Rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal simply wouldn’t sound, look, or feel the same without Ace Frehley. Among hundreds of accolades, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inducted him in 2014 as a Co-founder and the original lead guitarist of Kiss. Guitar World named him in the Top 15 of its “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time” and plugged the lead from “Shock Me” on the “50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.” Magnifying the imprint of his catalog as a solo artist, Foo Fighters cut a fan-favorite cover of “Ozone,” and he even jammed out “New York Groove” alongside The Roots on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The late Dimebag Darrell of Pantera proudly sported a tattoo of Frehley on his chest, while Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine celebrated him on X/Twitter as “My first guitar hero.” 10,000 Volts upholds an incredible legacy for Frehley, spanning 50-plus years in the limelight. Back in 1978, he delivered his solo debut, Ace Frehley. It reached platinum status and exploded as “the highest-selling of the four Kiss solo albums in the Soundscan era.” Pitchfork even retrospectively rated it a rare “8.5” score. In 1987, he dropped Frehley’s Comet. Following Anomaly in 2009, he went on to make history once again. His 2014 Space Invader LP captured #9 on the Billboard 200 and emerged as “The only solo album by a past or current Kiss member to reach the Top 10 on the chart.” 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. He notably maintained his momentum with Spaceman [2018]. "'10,000 Volts,' in its own time, in its own way, is similarly staggering – quite simply, OVERWHELMING. 10,000/10 -- Ghost Cult Magazine (February 22, 2024) RRHOF-inductee and guitar legend Ace Frehley releases a new video for "Cherry Medicine," featured on his new album, "10,000 Volts." His highly-anticipated album will be released tomorrow. Produced and co-written by Ace and Steve Brown, the uncontainable energy on the 11-tracks showcases some of Ace's best works since his '78 solo album. On "Cherry Medicine," a mean palm-muted chug underlines his pensive vocals where he confesses, “I knew I had to change my ways for sure to keep you by my side.” The track showcases another side of Frehley with its saccharine and sweet, soaring hook as he promises, “I love you, cherry medicine. You heal my every need and some.” He seals the sentiment with another powerhouse solo.
03:417 months ago
The Gibson SG SUPREME Is BACK for 2024 - Full Demo & Overview.
New Releases - Guitars/Bass/Gear

The Gibson SG SUPREME Is BACK for 2024 - Full Demo & Overview.

The Gibson SG Supreme is BACK for 2024 in Fireburst, Wine Red, Translucent Ebony Burst, and a Gibson.com exclusive Ebony three-pickup model. ▶ Products used in this video: Get YOUR Gibson SG Supreme HERE: https://bit.ly/48fGUfp Shop ALL Gibson SG guitars HERE: https://bit.ly/3UxfVc6 Dinesh is using a Gibson Falcon Amplifier - get yours HERE: https://bit.ly/3Uxg3Z8 SG players, now it’s your turn! 25 years after it first appeared, the Gibson SG Supreme is back for 2024. With an AAA-grade figured maple top, Burstbucker Pro pickups, and a striking mother-of-pearl headstock inlay inspired by an original Gibson design from the Art Deco era, this isn’t just an electric guitar; it’s a statement and a contender for best electric guitar of 2024! The new Gibson SG™ Supreme guitars feature a beautiful AAA-figured maple top (plain maple on the three-pickup exclusive model) on a mahogany body for a full, balanced tone that gives you that resonance and sustain you need when hitting the heavy notes and big lead lines. The mahogany neck has an ebony fretboard with a compound radius, 24 medium jumbo frets for absolute comfort when playing guitar, and Super Split Block mother-of-pearl inlays so you can see them underneath the house lights when you’re on stage! The headstock on the Gibson SG Supreme is adorned with a striking new mother-of-pearl “Chandelier Inlay” inspired by a design from the 1940s that was discovered in the Gibson archives. The Burstbucker™ Pro (neck, plus middle pickup on the three-pickup exclusive model) and Burstbucker Pro + (bridge) pickups are paired with push/pull volume controls for coil tapping and individual volume and tone controls (with three volume controls and master tone control on the three-pickup exclusive model) that are hand-wired to Orange Drop® capacitors. These appointments make the Supreme series SG guitars some of the best electric guitars for those who need multiple sounds at their disposal as you have absolute control over every aspect of your guitar’s sound, able to enjoy full-fat humbucker tone or single coil P-90 inspired tones too. The three lush finishes, Fireburst, Wine Red, and Translucent Ebony Burst, are elegantly highlighted with gold hardware, making this not only a great-sounding and highly flexible instrument but also an exceptionally beautiful-looking modern rock machine. But that’s not all! The EXCLUSIVE Ebony finish SG Supreme is loaded with three pickups, so you have even more tonal options! A hardshell case is also included with each Gibson SG Supreme, so your guitar is safe on the way to rehearsal and while you travel to your next gig. Don’t settle. Play Supreme. Learn more HERE: https://bit.ly/3UxfVc6
05:187 months ago
Marty Schwartz Epiphone ES-335.
News & latest Releases

Marty Schwartz Epiphone ES-335.

NASHVILLE, TN (August 22, 2023) 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Epiphone, a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has now set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone is proud to announce a partnership with the global influencer and music educator Marty Schwartz to create his very first Epiphone signature artist guitar. The Marty Schwartz ES-335 from Epiphone is now available worldwide at authorized Epiphone dealers, and in limited capacity on www.epiphone.com. "Teaming up with Epiphone to bring my dream guitar to life is an absolute milestone in my musical journey,” says Marty Schwartz. “This guitar embodies everything I love about playing and teaching. We've truly created a guitar that's as unique as the journey it represents." “Marty Schwartz is a tremendous talent whose infectious joy for learning and teaching guitar allows players of every level to easily connect with him all across the globe,” says Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer, Gibson Brands. “We are proud to partner with Marty for this very special ES-335 model.” Marty Schwartz or as he’s better known online as, Marty Music has been the face of guitar education on the internet for the last decade and a half. With nearly 4 million YouTube subscribers, over two billion video views, and a career longer than most rock bands, Marty has arguably taught more people how to play guitar than anyone else in the world. Marty knows quite a bit about what features a great guitar should have. His new namesake signature model ES-335 from Epiphone features a smooth-playing 60s SlimTaper Rounded C neck profile with an Indian laurel fretboard, small pearloid block inlays, and a Marty Music logo on the back of the headstock. The 5-ply layered maple body is capped with a beautiful AAA-figured maple veneer and is finished in Sixties Cherry. Rock solid tuning stability is ensured by the Grover 502C Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatic tuners and Graph Tech nut, while the other ends of the strings are anchored with an Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop bar tailpiece. The flexible electronics include Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO pickups, each with a push/pull phase switch; a hardshell case is also included.
04:0813 months ago