Mike Bloomfield Prototype, Live in New York

If you're like us, you were wiping the drool off your chin looking at the gorgeous Gibson Custom Shop Mike Bloomfield Les Paul Prototype unveiled a few weeks ago at NAMM. And if you're in the New York area, you have a chance to see and hear this particular guitar in person at B.B. Kings on February 7th, played by Jimmy Vivino, according to Allen Bloomfield's blog. Allen Bloomfield is Mike's brother, and he is the rightful owner of the prototype Bloomfield Les Paul. It's cool that he's loaning out that beautiful Les Paul to do what it's meant to do. Jimmy Vivino will be performing at B.B. Kings to celebrate Al Kooper's birthday.

You Say It's Your Birthday: Eddie Van Halen

A very Happy Birthday to Eddie Van Halen, who turns 54 today. Eddie's officially back, with a successful reunited Van Halen tour under his belt, a new wife-to-be, and a deal with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to build his new EVH Wolfgang guitars and EVH 5150 amps. What's next for EVH? According to Eddie when we met him at NAMM (pictured below with Music Zoo Owner Tommy Colletti), a revolutionary new guitar bridge coming this year. More on that soon.

Jennifer Janesko's Pinup Art Guitars

We were just, you know, living the "Gibson Lifestyle" when we noticed this article about Pinup Artist Jennifer Janesko. Whaddya know? The guitar she calls "Video Vixen" (above) is currently consigned in our pre-owned section. It's a great looking guitar, in pictures and in person.

Charvel San Dimas Natural Series Review

This month in Premier Guitar's "Hot Rod Strat" issue, Steve Ouimette reviews The Music Zoo Exclusive Charvel San Dimas Mahogany Natural guitar. He loves it! Check out the full review in the online edition of the Premier Guitar here.

NAMM 09: Charvel Builds Custom Guitars Live

Charvel set up a full workbench in their booth this year and actually built some custom guitars from start to finish live and without commercial interruption. They all wore oil finishes, since it would be impossible to spray paint in their NAMM booth. There was one in particular we really dug, and are bringing it home. It had a real rosewood neck and a birdseye fingerboard:


The Music Zoo's owner, Tommy Colletti and Charvel's Mike McGregor with the NAMM Show-Built San Dimas Custom:


Let it be known: Tommy can really shred. We all really liked the way that guitar sounded through the EVH halfstack:

NAMM 09: Martin Booth

Everybody was tripping out over the Psychedelic Custom in the Martin booth, even Chris Martin:


This one-of-a-kind will surely end up in the Martin Museum.






The Music Zoo's owner, Tommy Colletti, was checking out the new Limited Edition 000-28M Eric Clapton:


We were also digging the new 00-42 Linda Ronstadt:

NAMM 09: Duesenberg Booth

Duesenberg is making their first amplifier, the "Doozy! One". We sat down and played it through their new pedals and, well, drew a bit of a crowd. It had great low-end and mid-range detail, and a really nice crunch without sounding harsh. There were some new guitar models and prototypes on display:






The Duesenberg guys invited us down to their annual NAMM party Saturday night, just down the road in Fullerton. Compared to the freak show that went on every night at the Hilton, it was downright classy. We rocked out to Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and the Dirty Knobs:


Also at the Dirty Knobs show was artwork by Ronnie Wood on display:

NAMM 09: Hofner Booth

We love all the Hofner guitars and basses, but we came down to their booth this year to check out just one thing; the upcoming '58 Violin Bass.


From what we hear, this run is limited to only 58 pieces, and each will be made by the same luthier who built Paul McCartney's original '58 Hofner. Then he will retire. Here's the beautiful flat back:

NAMM 09: Zemaitis Booth

Two things worth noting at the Zemaitis Booth; first, a neat new line of Zemaitis guitars with carved tops:







And two, all Zemaitis guitars will enjoy a list price decrease (yes, decrease) in 2009. The guitars will remain exactly the same, just more affordable.

NAMM 09: Trillium Amplifiers

We stopped by Trillium Amplifiers to say hello, and we found a surprising new look for their ultra high-end amps. These are called the Custom Series:


According to the Trillium guys, some people were too afraid to gig with the original Trillium amps (which look like they belong in the Smithsonian) so they built these. They are all made with solid, dovetailed cabinetry, two-tone painted finishes, and have the same high-end guts as the originals. There were even matching pedalboards:

NAMM 09: ESP Guitars Booth

By far the coolest thing (in our humble opinion) in the whole ESP Guitars booth was the new limited edition James Hetfield Iron Cross model:


Only 40 of these are being made in full ESP trim, and The Music Zoo will definitely have one or two. It's inspired by the '73 Les Paul James used to play.


The Music Zoo also put in orders for the new Kirk Hammett "Ouija Board" guitars:




There were 3 limited edition LTDs on display, all of which we will be getting:






ESP also had a lot of nice custom paintjobs on Custom Shop guitars, but unfortunately they weren't being offered to dealers. The Music Zoo will be stocking a lot more Custom Shop ESPs this year, so let these whet your whistles while we come up with some of our own:

NAMM 09: Paul Reed Smith Booth

PRS dropped a few bombshells recently. First, they are making acoustic guitars now:


And, while they were at it, they decided to roll out a whole line of amps as well:


To us, the best news was the new Sunburst Series. It's comprised of the Sunburst McCarty, Smokeburst McCarty, and Sunburst SC245, they have the new 57/08 pickup (which is supposedly dead-on the PAF vibe), and (finally!) nitro-cellulose lacquer finishes:

NAMM 09: Dean Booth

Dean Guitars were up to their usual hijinks: Dean Girls, celebrities, and more Dean Girls. Heavy Metal God Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) was on hand signing autographs:


Dean CEO Elliot Rubinson being interviewed by a highly trained team of future Pulitzer-prize winning journalists:


...which was lead by a woman you might recognize, VH1 Rock of Love's Lacey Conner:


And that wraps up Dean at NAMM '09! Oh, sorry, there was actually a guitar or two... here's the new limited edition Leslie West model:

NAMM 09: Godin Booth

We have been becoming more heavily involved with Canada-based Godin guitars in the last few years, and were very pleased to get a personal tour of their new products by none other than Robert Godin. It was refreshing to speak with the owner of a company who really knows his products, and is clearly involved with all aspects of design and production. Here he is speaking with The Music Zoo's Tim Reynolds and Mark DiDonna:


The biggest news in the booth was the new Passion guitars. They will be limited to certain dealers, The Music Zoo included. These guitars are chambered, are extremely resonant, and have custom single coil pickups. We dig the inlaid "pickguard" and the apparent high quality. Hearing Robert talk about them, there is no question where the "passion" came from:




In other Godin news, the Seagull acoustic line now has a solid back and sides on certain models, looking far more expensive than they are:


Here is the new Godin Multiac Grand Concert Duet Ambiance Light Burst:


And the new ACS SA Natural Flame Limited Edition:


We were very impressed with a new, low-priced line of guitars from Godin called Redline. These solidbodies have real flame tops, a built-in tuner, and to us, look right on the money: