Radial Engineering® is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its founder, Peter Janis. Peter Janis is best remembered for his passionate dedication to his family, friends, and work. He launched Radial in 1996 with its signature Radial JDI direct box, the first in what would become an extensive line of professional products and brands with a solid reputation for ruggedness and reliability that continues today around the world.

“Peter’s accomplishments were many and his legacy will live on here at Radial, but what will be remembered more than anything was his passion for friends, music and fellowship,” said Roc Bubel, Director, Sales and Marketing for Radial. “Our industry has lost a true innovator and visionary, and we take solace in knowing that Peter’s legacy lives on here at Radial through the products, passion, dedication, and commitment to excellence that he founded the company on.”

JTEX Electronics and Combinator are pleased to announce an all-new, modular & affordable onboard tone-shaping solution for bassists and guitarists alike – the Distiller CE (Combinator Edition) variable low-pass filter.

Distiller CE is a small, onboard LPF with 3-way resonance control, custom-tuned by Combinator and offered as a revision of JTEX’s stock Distiller circuit – originally based on Alembic’s famous and unique 12dB-per-octave filter.

The CE edition differs in its range of adjustability, operating more as a top-end “tuner” of pickups’ resonant peaks than a full-range filter. Combinator (aka bassist/vocalist/producer Sean Fairchild) uses the Distiller CE in place of a typical preamp’s active treble or passive tone control, variably sculpting his high-end response between 1 and 10 kHz, while adding up to +12dB of peaking boost at the cutoff frequency – allowing for emulation of many different classic and modern pickup voicings.

Similar to the way a passive tone control can create a small peaking boost at its lowest range of adjustment, an active LPF with adjustable peak gain can replicate that behavior anywhere along its range, approximating different pickup personalities and tones. Both the Distiller and Distiller CE feature a 3-way selectable boost control, with settings for flat/no boost, +5dB, and +12dB.

Learn more and purchase at linktr.ee/combinator

Rattlesnake® Cable Company Unveils Rick-O-Sound Splitter Bundle: A Must-Have for Rickenbacker® Enthusiasts…

Rattlesnake® Cable Company, renowned for its high-quality, handmade cables, proudly announces the release of its Rick-O-Sound Splitter Bundle. This exclusive bundle is designed specifically for Rickenbacker® guitars equipped with Rick-O-Sound output wiring, offering musicians an exceptional tool to elevate their sound.

The Rick-O-Sound Splitter Bundle includes two key components:

1. TRS to Dual Mono Splitter Box: This laser-engraved splitter box is drilled and hand-assembled with top-notch components, ensuring durability and superior sound quality.
2. TRS Snake Head Cable: Our premium US-milled dual conductor TRS Snake Head cable, is known for its reliability and performance.

This bundle allows players to split their Rickenbacker®’s pickups into two distinct routes, enabling connections to two separate amps, diverse pedalboard routing, or other creative configurations.

“The Rick-O-Sound Splitter Bundle is perfect for musicians looking to harness the full potential of their Rickenbacker guitars,” said Hank Donovan, co-founder at Rattlesnake® Cable Company. “By pairing our high-quality splitter box with the TRS Snake Head Cable, we provide a versatile and reliable setup that enhances the Rick-O-Sound experience.”

To celebrate the launch, Rattlesnake® Cable Company is offering this bundle at a special 20% discount. Musicians can now upgrade their gear with this essential combination, crafted to deliver unmatched performance and versatility.

View the Rick-O-Sound Splitter Bundle here: https://www.rattlesnakecables.com/bundle/splitter-bundle/

Epiphone Jack Casady Fretless Bass…

Epiphone Unveils the Jack Casady Fretless Bass Designed By the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Legend, Melding His Years of Experimentation in Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.

For over 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone is proud to continue its longest signature artist partnership with the legendary bass player, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Jack Casady. Designed by Jack Casady and Epiphone, the new Jack Casady Fretless Bass is available worldwide now at authorized Epiphone dealers and online via epiphone.com/en-US/p/Electric-Bass/Jack-Casady-Fretless-Bass/Aged-Royal-Tan.

As a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, legendary bass player and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jack Casady’s full driving tone and innovative melodic bass work have defined the role of bass guitar in rock and roll for decades. Liberating the bass from its traditional role as part of the rhythm section, Jack’s pioneering approach to bass brought the instrument to the forefront. The new Epiphone Jack Casady Fretless Bass was and is the culmination of years of experimentation by Casady to find an instrument with a superior electric tone and the response of an acoustic bass. It features the Casady-designed JCB-1 Low-Impedance Humbucker and a three-position rotary impedance control for a wide range of tonal versatility. Now, for the first time in a Fretless version, the Epiphone Jack Casady Bass comes with a premium gig bag.

Explore the new Jack Casady Fretless Bass from Epiphone: HERE.

Positive Grid launches Spark 2, the next evolution of their cutting-edge smart guitar practice amplifiers and Bluetooth® speakers.

Engineered for acoustic, electric guitar, and bass, Spark 2 delivers an immersive practice and playing experience. Enjoy detailed sound and an all-new upgraded speaker design powered by Positive Grid’s exclusive Sonic IQ Computational Audio technology. With an onboard creative looper, optional battery power, and intuitive AI features for tone exploration and practice, Spark 2 is the gateway to a musical experience that goes beyond expectations. 

Proprietary Audio and Advanced Technology
Spark 2 represents a leap forward in amplifier design. It integrates a new DSP amp modeling engine with double the processing power, and at 50 Watts, it packs 25% more volume than the original. Positive Grid’s proprietary Sonic IQ Computational Audio delivers incredibly detailed and dynamic sound. New HD amp models, enhanced by multi-band dynamic range compression and virtual bass augmentation, redefine the sonic landscape.

Equipped with two premium FRFR speakers and reflex ports, Spark 2 offers wide stereo imaging and broader frequency response, ensuring refined bass and clear, immersive sound.

Built-In Creative Looper
Spark 2’s built-in Groove Looper features hundreds of hyper-realistic drum tracks. From basic loops to multi-layered soundscapes or the ultimate jam session, this intuitive tool inspires endless creativity. Onboard amp controls provide quick, on-the-go looping functionality.

AI-Powered Tone and Smart Jam
Spark AI revolutionizes tone exploration. Describe any desired tone in the Spark app – from practical to outlandish – and Spark AI will suggest tones to audition or download. The more it’s used, the smarter it gets, delivering the perfect sound.

Additional smart features make it easy to practice, learn new songs and improve playing skills. Smart Jam listens to the user’s playing style and generates accompanying bass and drum parts, while Auto Chords analyzes any song streamed and displays the guitar chords in real time, to make learning and practicing new songs easier than ever.

Enhanced Hardware Design and Portability
Spark 2 allows for storing up to eight customizable presets directly on the amp for quick access to favorite sounds. Perfect the tone with large, visible onboard controls for looper, EQ, gain, reverb, and more.

Designed for convenience, an optional rechargeable battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime for on-the-go sessions. The new double-thick strap and durable build ensure easy and secure transport. Spark 2 is also Bluetooth® ready, allowing for music streaming and jamming along with favorite tracks anytime, anywhere.

Multiple Outputs and Advanced Features
Spark 2 offers versatile connectivity with a headphone out for private practice, stereo line outs for external audio sources, and a USB-C port which enables it to function as an audio interface. WiFi-enabled, Spark 2 allows convenient over-the-air firmware updates, keeping the amp up to date with the latest features and improvements.

“I’ve used a ton of practice amps while touring the world for over 38 years and it was always just a technical, bland exercise,” says guitar virtuoso, singer-songwriter and producer Nuno Bettencourt. “Spark 2 is like taking Madison Square Garden wherever you go – epic and versatile.”

Color Options
Available in Pearl or Black finish with a dark weave grille and premium finish.

Special Event, Upgrade Pricing & Availability
Join the special live premiere event featuring Nuno Bettencourt and surprise guests on August 1, 2024, at 8:00 am PT/11:00 am ET. Visit positivegrid.com/pages/livestream for more details and to sign up for a reminder.

Regularly USD $299, Spark 2 will be available at special early bird pricing during the pre-order period. Registered Spark 40 owners can also receive exclusive upgrade pricing.

For more information and to sign up for pre-order alerts, visit positivegrid.com/products/spark-2.