There has been a big increase in interest in fretted instruments including ukelele, banjo (especially G Banjo), mandolin and resonator guitars. Bluegrass and folk are defenitely very popular genres and are percieved as very cool. Personally I was weaned on issues of BMG magazine in the 60’s and have allways had a hankering to play blue grass banjo since first hearing Lester Flatts and Earl Scruggs.They are so closely related to guitar that many guitarists migrate from one to the other with ease. We try and keep a good representation of instruments at all price ranges. In our opinion the Ozark range of fretted instruments is second to none and this forms the core of our stock.

Makes stocked include Ozark, Rally, Crafter, Stagg, Vintage, Kala, Mahalo, Lanikai.

Check out the Southampton Ukele Jam based at The Talking Heads in Southampton.
If you have any interesting stuff to do with Banjo, mandolin, resonator and ukelele please mail it over with pics if possible.

Godin Multiac

We have a latest addition to the acoustic department with the delivery of a Godin Multiac. These are highly respected innovative instruments. The following was taken from the Godin specification:

The ACS blends classical guitar concepts with elements of solid body design. The incredibly comfortable neck from the Multiac Nylon is used here with a Maple body & Cedar top to achieve our most affordable synth access guitar ever. Although the body is chambered, response from the maple top is more typical of a solid body design than that of a traditional acoustic guitar. This design results in an instrument that is virtually free of feedback, making it easy to use even when the band gets loud.

The engine in both the ACS-SA & ACS-SA Slim includes individual transducer saddles powered by a customized preamp system from the RMCTM Pickup Company. This system not only produces superb amplified sound, but also produces a hexaphonic output through a 13-pin connector enabling direct access to RolandTM GR-Series guitar synthesizers.

We do encourage customers to try out instruments so if you are in the area pop in and give it a go.

Vypyr Display

THe Peavey Vypyr range of modeling amps has now been complimented by the addition of a 60 watt and a 120 watt valve combo.
These are serious kick ass amps and are a serious contender if you’re looking for a gigging amp.for a gigging amp.
Peavey say the following:
The Peavey Vypyr Tube 120 and Vypyr Tube 60 combos, a pair of tube-powered modelling guitar amplifiers in the award-winning Peavey Vypyr Series, are now available from Peavey retailers.

The Vypyr Tube 120 2 x 12 and Vypyr Tube 60 1 x 12 combo amplifiers feature 24 amp channel models – two channels each of 12 popular amps for the first time anywhere – plus 11 editable preamp “stomp box” effects and 11 editable post-amp “rack” effects with dual-parameter control, global reverb and global delay. The Vypyr Tube 120 and Tube 60 utilise a 6L6GC tube power amp styled after the Peavey 6505.

With twice the processing power, models and effects of competitive modelling amplifiers, the Vypyr Series dramatically redefines the power and scope of modern guitar amplification. Vypyr amplifiers are based on powerful 32-bit, floating-point SHARC processors that enable highly detailed accurate modelling as well as vastly enhanced flexibility and features than ever before available in guitar amplification.

Peavey Vypyr amps are endorsed by hard rock’s top guitar players, including Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu of Trivium, Matt Tuck of Bullet For My Valentine and Phil Demmel of Machine Head.

Amplifier models included in the Vypyr Tube models include Peavey 6505, JSX®, Triple XXX® and Classic® Series models, as well as B-Kat, Brit, Plxi, Dlx, Twn, Dzl, K-Stein and Rec models. Preamp stomp-box models include TubeScrm, XR Wild, X Boost, Fuzz, BC Chorus, Analogue Phase, Analogue Phase, Auto Wah, Squeeze, MOG and Ring Modulator, while rack effect models include Tremolo, Chorus, Envelope Filter, Slap Back, Flanger, Octaver, Phaser, Rotary Speaker, Reverse, Pitch Shifter and Looper.

Players can add the optional Peavey Sanpera foot controllers to activate the on-board looper and expand the amp’s 12 built-in presets to up to 400 programmable, with five simultaneous effects. The Vypyr also acts as its own computer audio interface, with a built-in studio-quality USB 2.0 output that is recognised by computers as an audio device.

Lakland Display

Currently our range of bass guitars includes the fantastic USA built series of Peavey Cirrus basses, Musicman, Lakland, Fender, Bass Collection, Hofner, Ibanez and ESP.

Our Amplifier range includes, Eden, EBS, Ashdown, Peavey, and Marshall.

We offer a full pickup and pre-amp installation service. Current brands that we fit in-store include, Seymour Duncan, EMG and the legendary John East J Retro Pre-amps.

We also carry a good selection of bass friendly effects units by, Carl Martin, MXR, Electro Harmonix and Boss.

Our string selection caters for every possible player out there. 4, 5, 6, 8(and above), Stainless, Nickel, Flatwound, Black Nylon, Custom Gauges, Double Ball End and Acoustic. From top manufactures, Elites, Rotosound, DR and Peavey.

FEATURED BASS

Lakland Skyline Decade bass

Lakland celebrates its first 10 years in style with the introduction of its latest model – The Decade.

This new model incorporates several new design elements for Lakland: a unique body shape; Lakland Chi-Sonics; and a new truss rod wheel
for neck adjustments.

Designed in collaboration with members of the dudepit forum  who were “instrumental” in bringing the Decade to life. They provided valuable suggestions from the initial prototype to actually naming the bass. Proof that Lakland listens to its customers!

Legendary Southampton alternative DJ Hammy is the longest running alternative DJ in the area , yes he’s old. He  has moved from the Rhino Club to the Soul Cellar for the big Wednesday alternative music night of the week.

The Soul Cellar is the premium live music venue for soul, reggae, funk and alternative genres.

Frets have worked closely with John from the Soul Cellar whenever possible most recently with a Mapex drum clinic with Jason Bowld. We are pleased to see DJ Hammy make the move to such a  prestigious venue.

So check out Wednesdays at the Soul Cellar.

Lakland Bass Guitars are among the market’s most well respected instruments; favored by discerning players and professional artists worldwide. The vintage comfort and contemporary ingenuity of our basses deliver an unparalleled playing experience. They are made by a small specialised company. This is very unusual these days and is actually very refreshing to deal with people that are actually involved in making the guitars

Since the introduction of their flagship models in the mid 1990’s, their basses
have been recognized for their superior tone, playability and construction.
At Lakland, they invest in innovation and set new benchmarks for quality and versatility. They listen to the instruments and to the people who play them.

Now that Greyum May has rejoined us at Fret Music (he just missed us so much!) we were looking for a decent bass players bass. Lakland is just that bass. We will be carrying twelve pieces in stock. They have started to sell through already. Come on in and have a look and give them a try.
We also have now started stocking the Eden range of bass amps. We now feel we have a bass dept worth visiting so come on in and take a look.