NAMM 2014: JHS at NAMM 2014

NAMM 2014: JHS at NAMM 2014 -

Worldwide independent trade distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. is taking its best ever selection of instruments to NAMM 2014, with a raft of great new models receiving their exclusive unveilings at the show.

Sharing a stand with its new USA distributor, LPD Music, JHS is showcasing its Fret-King, Vintage, Pilgrim, Santos Martinez and Laka ranges of guitars and folk instruments.

The Trev Wilkinson-designed Fret-King range continues to go from strength to strength, and new for 2014 is the Black Label Exige Standard, an offset double cutaway rock monster with huge-sounding Fret-King pickups, available as a standard model, in Cherry Red and Natural Amber.

Alongside the entire Black label range will be a number of Trev Wilkinson's luxurious, UK-built Fret-King STVDIO Series one-off masterbuilt marvels will also be on display.

JHS and Trev Wilkinson have refreshed the Vintage electrics range for 2014. The singlecut V100, doublecut VS6 and semi-acoustic VSA ranges now all feature a unique and ingeniously designed drop shoulder and offset heel, which provides improved access to the upper frets and opens up your playing.

In conjunction with Jerry Donahue, and Trev, Vintage will preview the new Vintage V58JD Reissued which uses unique Wilkinson single coil pickups custom wound to Jerry's exact recipe and his custom wired five-way switch and circuitry, Trev has created an instrument which achieves Jerry’s vision - one single guitar which can emulate a huge number of the most instantly recognisable solid-body and semi-acoustic tones out there.

On the Vintage acoustics front, new for 2014 is the Vintage Viator, a travel-sized parlour guitar designed in cooperation with worldwide guitar authority Paul Brett. The Viator features a solid sitka spruce top, sapele back and sides and customised x-scalloped bracing, making it ideal for playing authentically in any number of styles. Don't let the small body fool you, as this is one loud guitar! The Viator is perfect for playing at home or taking with you on your travels, thanks to the supplied Vintage custom Viator luxurious padded carry bag.

The Pilgrim folk instrument line is bigger and better for 2014, and designer Paul Tebbutt will be attending the NAMM show to promote this growing range of banjos, mandolins and mandolas. With new designs and praise from the likes of clawhammer banjo legend Ken Perlman and Joe Mac one of the UK’s finest bluegrass banjo players, the Pilgrim range is set to surge in popularity in the coming months.

JHS is also showcasing the best of its Santos Martinez classical guitars range – which included the UK's Music Industries Association award winning Raymond Burley signature model – and the superb Laka line of ukuleles.

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