Monthly Archives: January 2026

Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst

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The Gibson CF-100 was an innovative design when Gibson offered it’s first flat-top cutaway instrument in 1950. Players touted the ease of playing provided by the Florentine cutaway and smaller body design and this Limited Edition remains true to its history. Featuring vintage style three-on-a-plate white button tuners, large trapezoid inlays, traditional tear drop pick guard, and open slotted belly-up bridge. Finished in Gibson’s famous Vintage Sunburst finish.

New and improved for 2016

  • Cutaway Design: Comfortable small body Florentine cutaway design.
  • Bridge: Rare belly up open slot bridge design.
  • Pickguard: Traditional tortoise tear drop pickguard.
  • Improved Feel: Fingerboard edge is softened to comfortably fit the contour of the player’s hand
  • Enhanced Finish: Finer grit sandpaper and polishing compounds for gloss finish.
  • Premium Setup: Utilizing state-of-the-art German engineered Plek technology to create the finest playing surface possible. Hand finished for the world’s finest feel and playability.
  • Smoother hand rubbed and oiled fingerboard and bridges: New penetrating and finishing oil last longer and maximizes woods natural vibrancy

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

Lynch Launches Mr. Scary Guitars

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Mr. Scary Guitars are unique, highly modified and one of a kind customized hand-crafted instruments, specifically designed, carved and crafted by the “hands” of George Lynch. Mr. Scary Guitars are made in very limited quantities, come with certificates of authenticity, and are individually named and numbered.

George Lynch works closely with customers to build to their exact specs as much as possible. Options include wood types, neck dimensions, pickup windings, hardware options and finishes.  Hardware is heavily distressed and engraved, and pickups are all custom-wound to match each guitar. Average build time can be anywhere from one to six months depending on Lynch’s touring and recording commitments.

For more information visit www.mrscaryguitars.com.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

The Charvel Pro Stock DS1

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Make a statement. The Charvel Pro Stock series delivers more new tonal and stylistic options to the new world of the modern guitar player.  The Pro Stock DS1 has a single-cutaway mahogany body with a carved top and neck-through-body design.

Features include a mahogany neck with contoured heel, cool color-contrast binding (Gold Metallic features cream binding) and pickup bobbins, compound-radius rosewood fingerboard (12″-16″) with 24 jumbo frets and alumiloid keystone inlays, Seymour Duncan® ’59™ humbucking neck and JB™ bridge pickups with 3-way toggle switching, Charvel bridge specially designed for compound-radius fingerboards, satin chrome hardware, three-on-a-side locking Charvel tuners, and metallic and sunburst finishes with matching headstocks. Available in Black, Blue, Red Metallic, Gold Metallic and Cherry Sunburst (dual Seymour Duncan® ’59™ pickups on Cherry Sunburst model only).

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Watt Head

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I have used Marshall tube amplification for more than 20 years. Though temperamental, I have found Marshalls to offer great tube distortion with maximum gain and crunch. I have found the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL great for both live recording and studio use. I have the 100-watt model.

So… how does it sound?
The the clean channel at low bedroom volumes sounds great. Also, driven at high, concert level volumes, the distortion and tube crunch is clear and punchy. NOTE: The unit reviewed is a 100-watt model and is really meant to be DRIVEN at high volumes and preferably with a tube pre-amp on the front end or through the effects loop.

This amp has tons of gain and the head offers four channels of distortion to choose from. Everything from AC/DC crunch to soaring death metal, mid-scooped distortion. If you like the sound of a Mesa then STAY AWAY. This amp is 100% Marshall JCM sounding.

Major Drawback: The Effects Loop
The effects loop is a little undesirable as you do not have a volume knob control, but rather a -/+ DB cut button that only offers you only two choices: loud and louder. You would have to run the effects loop like a power amp and control the amount of volume with an external volume control. This issue can be nasty in a small club or your apartment where you want to use the effects loop with low volumes, but not have to run an external volume control.

Summary Conclusion
This amp is very versatile with four different channels of tube crunch to choose from. My 100-watt model has been rode hard and has been very reliable for both live concert and studio use over the years. The prices on these units have dropped into the mid $500’s on EBAY, so the price is very competitive verses a Soldano Hot Rod 50 or a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. If you can live with just a two volume options in the effects loop, or don’t use the effects loop at all, pick one of these units up and pair the head with a Marshall/Celestion cab. You won’t be disappointed.

— Johnny D.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.