🚂 The Fender Hype Train Rolls Into Town + Sandblasted SE's From PRS 🏝️

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This is ELECTRIKJAM, your weekly dose of electrifying insights and updates from the world of guitars, gear and (mostly) metal music.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• 🎸 New Guitars: Yungblud’s SG Junior just dropped, PRS has some new sand-blasted limited edition SE models.

• 🤗 Touchy Feels: Chris goes hands-on with the uber-hyped Fender Player Series II – it’s very, very good.

• 🎛️ Pedal Porn: Audiofab and Electro-Harmonix debut some new, juicy pedals and one is a rejigg of an absolute classic from way back when.

• 🎧 New Music: Jack White dropped a new album from outta nowhere. It’s called No Name and it’s drenched in fuzz.

• 🎙 The ELECTRIKJAM Podcast: Is Music Dead To Young People? That’s what Uncle Rick (Beato) reckons; but is he correct?

• 🕹️ The Octave Game: Wanna learn the power of octaves? I’ve put together a fun, interactive lesson that’ll get you up to speed and using octaves like a boss in no time.

🎛️ Gear Drop Alert: New Pedals and Guitars You Need to Know About ⏬

🎸 Yungblud’s SG Junior: Punk Rock, Meet Iconic Design

Yungblud just unleashed his first signature guitar—a white SG Junior that’s as bold as his music. This Epiphone features a mahogany body, P-90 Pro pickup, and a SlimTaper C profile neck, all designed for maximum playability and that classic rock punch.

The P-90 pickup is great for big, earthy tones and Epiphone has designed the guitar to hold its tune for prolonged periods of time. Always a good thing.

As for the price? It comes in at just over $500, so it’s a solid mid-range option for anyone that fancies something a little different in their collection.

Yungblud says, “This SG Junior is entirely my own, and it already looks f***ing iconic.” Whether you’re a fan of Mr. Yungblud or just love killer guitars, this one’s worth a look.

🎨 PRS Sandblasted SE Series: Art Meets Tone

PRS is back with the Sandblasted SE Series, offering a unique visual and sonic experience. Built on the CE platform, these limited-edition guitars feature swamp ash tops that have been “sandblasted” to highlight the wood grain, available in five striking colors: Blue, Green, Purple, Red, and White.

With a 24-fret bolt-on maple neck and a rosewood fretboard, these guitars are not just about looks—they’re made to play.

On a personal note, I don’t think I’ve seen a cooler finish on a guitar than that dirty-ass lime green one you can see on the far right in the picture.

Perfect for any sleaze-rock affectionados out there.

🎛️ Electro-Harmonix POG3: The Ultimate Octave Pedal

Electro-Harmonix has cranked things up with the new POG3 Polyphonic Octave Generator. Building on the legacy of the original POG, the POG3 introduces six separate voices, 100 presets, and extensive I/O options.

It’s the most powerful version yet, massively upping the ante on 2005’s model, letting you explore everything from subtle octave layers to full-blown sonic mayhem.

This thing’s a full-fledged powerhouse, with more voices, more control, and more versatility than ever. Ideal for doom, sludge, experimental (or should I say, experimetal) or getting your Jack White on.

🎛️ Audiofab’s New Pedals: Chonky Boi & Elektra Amanto

Audiofab has rolled out two vintage-inspired pedals that should be on your radar:

• Chonky Boi: This distortion pedal covers everything from light crunch to heavy growl. With controls like Chonk, Heft, Purr, and a Scratch switch, you can dial in your perfect tone and even overdrive your amp for extra grit.

• Elektra Amanto: Capturing the essence of classic flanger tones, this pedal offers a wide sweep design and modern features in a compact, durable package. It’s perfect for nailing those lush, sweeping effects without needing a high-voltage power supply.

Check em out here.

Pricing:

• Chonky Boi: CA$179 (~$137 USD)

• Elektra Amanto: CA$279 (~$213 USD)

Whether you’re chasing classic flanger vibes or looking to unleash some serious distortion, Audiofab’s new pedals have you covered.

LATEST PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️

JACK WHITE IS BACK AND HE’S NOT FUC*ING ABOUT 🔥 

What a huge surprise from a legendary guitarist and songwriter. Jack has not promoted this album in any way, and it was originally only available at his Third Man Vinyl shop initially. The record itself was plain white, with a plain white sleeve that says “ No Name” in Jack’s signature blue azure color.

These were slipped into the bags of unsuspecting customers. No credits on the album sleeve, and most people didn’t even realize they had the record until they got home!

Third Man Records were just giving away this seemingly blank disc. Remember when Jack hid his albums in furniture that he repaired? This stunt was a lot like that.

After people figured out that this was the new Jack White album, he told fans to rip it and upload it to the internet. Give it away to friends, and share it across the world. This all happened before the record appeared on streaming services.

The record was recorded in Jack’s Third Man studio over about a year, between 2023 & 2024. The album definitely features Jack reaching back into the past, proving that his hit records with The White Stripes were no fluke, and while he may have evolved over the years…Jack can still tear down the house with minimalistic rock.

The catchy hooks and roaring guitar riffs that put Jack on the map 22 years ago are here in a very raw production style. It sounds like he just picked up where the White Stripes left off in 2011.

I appreciate the musical experiments that Jack has performed over the last few years, as well as his various bands. But something was not quite right with his recent output.

The reason that The White Stripes worked so well was because of the self-imposed restrictions and rules that Jack and Meg set for themselves. Without that restraint, Jack has strayed a bit from his simple, catchy Rock N Roll roots.

Although it is still undeniable that Jack White has done more in 20 years than artists who have a legacy and ten times the album sales, he hasn't done anything really groundbreaking lately. I think White realized this and decided to remind us that he is, in fact, still the king of blending blues and rock in a raucous way.

“No Name” starts bombastically with riffs and sounds right out of a classic Led Zepplin or AC/DC album. This is a serious return to form, something we have often opined during our podcasts.

Richard and I often said that Jack White should go back to his stripped-down Rock approach. At almost 50 years old, Jack has delivered that in spades. Anthony Fantano said that Jack is like the Willy Wonka of music at this point, doing whatever he wants, always to great success. We agree!

GUITAR RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK ✅ 

Fender Player II Series: The Best Bet For an Entry-Level Fender?

We finally got our hands on a few of the new Player II models, and these are priced so competitively that it might be the best pro-level guitar you can buy right now.

Despite the price sitting well under $1000, these models have specs and features that are ready for the stage and studio.

From the redesigned pickups to the specially treated necks; The Player II Series punches way above its price point. Fender has even started using Rosewood again for the fretboards, a feature that has been missing for several years.

We got to play the Telecaster model, and it feels AMAZING. The two models that I got to play felt like a used guitar. It felt like it was already worn in by another player for the last few years.

This is due to the rolled fretboard edges, a premium treatment usually only seen on more premium instruments. It feels like a well-loved, yet brand-new guitar.

This is a direct response to companies like Schecter and Ibanez that have been making “Strats” and “Tele” models that outperform Fender.

Schecter especially has been sneaky with the Nick Johnston models, offering more for $800 than Fender could at the time.

Unlike Gibson, Fender is keeping up with the demand. Fender has never been a company that relies on a legacy to sell guitars.

It seems that Fender has tapped into the psyche of the younger generations, and now offers a pro-level solution for guitarists just getting started on their journey.

Fender isn't stupid, and I see young people playing Stratocasters on stage all the time. These new indie bands may be a dime-a-dozen when you see such an exhaustive list of band upstarts with silly names.

But those kids are playing Fender.

Take note Gibson, we have told you how you can turn your sinking ship around, but will you heed our warning?

Eventually, Gibson will run out of Dentists and lawyers to sell guitars to…

THIS WEEK’S LESSON / TIP 🧑‍🏫

BITE-SIZED NEWS FOR THE ROAD 🍪

We covered all the big news up top, but here’s a quick recap of some other stuff that happened:

🎯 Music Man Jason Richardson Cutlass Goes Super Limited Edition

Music Man has unveiled the Jason Richardson Cutlass, and it’s ultra-exclusive—only 25 pieces available worldwide. This model features a stunning figured maple top, custom pickups, and premium hardware, making it a must-have for collectors and shredders alike.

🎛️ Gamechanger Auto Series: Patchable Pedals For Modular Setups

Gamechanger Audio just introduced the Auto Series, a set of three patchable pedals designed for modular setups. These pedals offer endless possibilities for creating unique effects chains, perfect for experimental guitarists looking to push the boundaries of their sound.

🎸 Mooer GTRS M810 is The Smartest Guitar You’ll Come Across This Year…

The Mooer GTRS M810 is here, and it’s bringing the future with it. This intelligent guitar is packed with built-in effects, wireless connectivity, and a sleek design, making it a versatile tool for modern musicians who want it all in one package.

🔥 Orange In White Oriverb For Orianthi’s Signature Amp Combo

Orange Amplification has revealed the Oriverb, a 2×12 combo amp designed in collaboration with guitar legend Orianthi. This amp combines classic Orange tone with modern features, including Celestion speakers and a stunning white Tolex finish, making it as powerful as it is stylish.

ALBUMS YOU (PROBABLY) SLEPT ON 🤣

Metal is great. But far too many bands ever make it outta the club circuit. This means LOADS of outstanding albums do not get the attention or praise they deserve. 

Each week we’ll be shining a light on a forgotten classic, a record we love dearly that we think you guys will too.

Today’s deep-cut is one of the heaviest albums I have in my record collection. The Lament Configuration by December. The beast of an album was produced by Devin Townsend and was released on Earache Records in 2002. 

The production is insane. I love how this record sounds. From the crushing opener to the closing track, it literally does not let up for a minute – it just kicks you in the face and then proceeds to stamp on you. 

From a production vantage point, it is one of my favorite-sounding records. Everything is so precise but there’s space in the mix, you can hear the room, and like classic metal albums from decades ago, this gives it an earthy, organic quality that just isn’t present on most new records these days.

STANDOUT TRACKS 👑

• Waiting For Rain

• Icenine

• Host

• Vertigo

Bonus points if you spot the lifted Deftones riff in one of the tracks – it’s literally note-for-note!

If you like heavy music and you haven’t checked this album out, well… you’re in for a massive treat. 

December are no longer a thing; I think they split after the release of their second (and no way near as good) record in the mid-2000s. 

Either way, The Lament Configuration will forever live rent free on my shelf and get regular spins when I want to melt some faces. 

SMELL YOU LATER 👋

That’s it for this week. I hope you liked the new format (we switched newsletter providers).

Confession time: we’ve not really taken our newsletter all that seriously. That changes today. From now on, each Saturday morning, we’ll deliver you a redux of everything that happened in the guitar world from the preceding week, including:

• New guitar launches

• New pedals and gear

• New albums

• Free PDF lessons / video tutorial to help you not suck on guitar

• And a whole lot more

All you need to do is pour a coffee, pull up a chair and kick-back.

And if you have any questions / suggestions, just reply to the email.

Also, if you could vote in the poll below, that’d be awesome – we’ll have a new one every week (the next one will be more interesting. Promise!)

Peace.

Chris & Richard

PS – if you could do us a MASSIVE solid and click that share button below, that’d be awesome!