ANDRE ORSEL to realease new album with his band ELIXXIR
eliXXir started out as a band playing covers from famous fusion bands, like the Yellowjackets, Weather report, Scott Henderson etc. After many changes in the occupation of the band, the remaining musicians formed a strong core for eliXXir and so André started writing his own material. This turned out to be a long and bumpy road, in which André constantly had to change perspective of the band and his music.
But it was because of this journey that eliXXir got his own unique sound. This long road finally resulted
in their first album called another view, which is being distributed throughout several countries right
now. In this album you can clearly hear the different time periods this band went through. The result is
a great sounding band, with a great album and superb musicians.
André plays his BLADE RH-4 guitars but has recently aquired one of the new X-Fire TITAN models which cover a lot of new tonal ground.
For more information, check their webiste: www.elixxir.nl
BRENT JOHNSON endorses the BLADE® Dayton
Brent Johnson was born in Texas into a house filled with music and began playing the guitar at the age of four. His father constantly exposed him to different styles of music, artists like Elvis Presley, Freddie King, Johnny Cash, Stevie Ray Vaughn, T-Bone Walker and countless others were always present.
Shortly before he started high school, his family moved to New Orleans and Brent began trying to soak up the sounds of the crescent city while gigging at clubs and festivals throughout south Louisiana. In 2002, Brent was introduced to Bryan Lee through a mutual friend beginning a long and fruitful musical relationship. Bryan Lee is an institution in the NOLA blues scene.
Thanks to his time with Bryan, Brent has had the pleasure of playing with Blues legends like Buddy Guy and Lonnie Brooks as well as some of the best known names in contemporary blues.
Brent is playing the BLADE Dayton Deluxe customized with 2 Blade LP-92 pickups.
ANDY JONES ON TOUR WITH VAN MORRISON
Long time friend and Blade endorser Andy JONES is currently on world tour with VAN MORRISSON. Andy has been working in the London scene as a session guitarist for years.
His credits include QUEEN (Brian May & Roger Taylor), Patti Austin, Hamish Stuart, the BBC Radio Big Band,. Also an important part of his early work is the west-end shows which Andy has been playing for years on a daily base. Andy is using his BLADE Custom Shop BCS’62 on tour as well as his BLADE TEXAS Vintage. The picture was taken during soundcheck at the London Royal Albert Hall.
New BLADE® X-Fire Series
The roots of the BLADE® X-Fire Series are firmly anchored in the Heavy 80’s. They are built for warped metal sonic power with ear-splitting ferocity and gut punching impact. Blade’s proprietary VSC (Variable Spectrum Control) opens an unprecedented level of tonal variety in this genre of guitars. The offset double cutaway body sits right where you want it to for great access to all playing positions. The neck is slightly wider than our other necks with plenty of room for massive bends and tapping. It has a thicker profile for a powerful feel in your hand and a thicker, fuller tone. Massive frets further enhance the playability. A tapered heel and Blade’s Full Contact neck joint give exceptional access to the upper registers. The hard body edges and distinctive headstock accent the no-nonsense personality of this great line of instruments. It’s time to get caught with an X-Fire.
BLADE® X-Fire (XF-120) – a foundation in solid rock. The North American maple neck and alder body lay the groundwork for this screaming demon. An East Indian rosewood fingerboard in outfitted with custom off-center X-Fire inlays and the medium width C-profile neck feels solid and comfortable. Both the fingerboard and headstock are bound in white for further distinction. The humbuckers are calibrated for even response and tonal balance, while enhancing the harmonics. A Blade VSC-3 ensures total tonal elasticity. The XF-120 is also available outfitted with EMG’s (81/85 combination). Thru-body stringing adds sustain and articulation of individual notes. The TOM bridge is finished in elegant Black Nickel as the rest of the hardware. The BLADE® X-Fire - lean, mean and meant to be seen.
The BLADE® X-Fire Titan (XF-230) is built on the same material chassis as the XF-120 but features chamfered horns for an elegant and exclusive optical impression. The two humbuckers are Alnico 2 based and calibrated and balanced with the hot vintage style single coil for optimal tonal balance. The VSC-3 brings further tonal enrichment. The ebony fingerboard exhibits the X-Fire custom offset inlay pattern. Both the fingerboard and headstock are bound in white for further distinction. A Floyd Rose license tremolo is sunk into the body for augmented playing comfort and accuracy. All hardware is Black Nickel. The BLADE® X-Fire Titan is truly a guitar of titanic scope.
The Durango Line Expanded – Enter the Durango Deluxe 3 & 4
The Durango line was launched in 1994 and it just keeps getting better. This year the Durango Deluxe 3 & 4 join the family with a new look and feel. The body is 3 mm deeper and 30 mm longer giving the instrument both optically and physically better balance. The beefier body fattens up the tone with rich midrange harmonics. The new body rout brings increases playing comfort brings the instrument closer to you, the musician. The headstock has been redesigned to complement the larger body.
Durango Deluxe 3 – The Meanest Durango of All Time
All you have to do is look at it. This is one mean machine. Strap one on and it already feels aggressive. Plug it in and you know you’re in for a hell of a ride. The Durango 3 is perfectly balanced and completely comfortable so you can concentrate on thrashing out your licks. The newly designed LHN-5 humbuckers deliver warm mids and sweet treble, rich on overtones to complement the fatter carved top mahogany body. The matt silver nickel pickup covers accent the new colors –stealth black, tungsten burst and storm gold.
Durango Deluxe 4 – Beauty and the Beast
Who said “you can’t have everything?” Great balance, delicate contours, fat tone, a fast neck and looks to kill for. The new LHN-5 humbuckers with Alnico 4 magnets love to sing with exceptional sustain enhanced by Blade’s TOB-16 bridge. The VSC-3 delivers the total tonal flexibility the Blade is famous for. The maple capped mahogany body is available in Antique Honey Burst, Antique Tobacco Burst and Black Cherry Burst.