Welcome to Guitar Times, your weekly digest of what matters in the guitar world. I track news, releases, and stories from across manufacturers, dealers, artists, and auction houses so you don’t have to wade through every site and feed yourself. Here’s what caught my attention this week.
Fender is marking Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary with a full signature collection covering all of the band’s key players—new limited-run Strats for Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers, plus a Precision Bass for Steve Harris and a Jackson model.
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Enter an exclusive charity raffle for the chance to win a Tony Iommi Signature Guitar, personally signed by the Black Sabbath icon and used over a number of years in his home and studio. Proceeds support the Heartlands Hospital Appeal.
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A long-lost Beach Boys Dumble that has spent the past 35 years in Hawaii has surfaced—and Jason Momoa is using it on his new album.
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The EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 combo amp uses massive digital processing power to create a faithful model of the EVH 5150III 6L6 tube combo.
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Fender has rolled out a new firmware update for its Tone Master Pro amp modeler, adding new amps, cabs, effects, and quality of life improvements.
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“The Loudest Amp Ever Built.” With Stonehenge-grade sonics and dedicated, onboard Tufnel and St. Hubbins modes, this take on the JVM410H is limited to just 11 units worldwide, only available in the US, and exclusive to Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange.
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A 100-watt amp head weighing only 2.5 pounds.
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Paradise Guitar Studio is UA’s first end-to-end virtual studio for guitar.
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Xenodrive is a hands-on tool for shaping your sounds in the studio or during live shows—from nuanced harmonic enhancement to total sonic destruction.
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D’Addario has added to its growing guitar strap line-up with the Neoprene Comfort Strap, which has been specifically designed for heavier guitars.
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Steve Cropper, masterful guitarist and member of Stax Records’ Booker T. and the M.G.’s, has died at age 84.
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This Week’s Signal
Artist signature guitars increasingly behave like cultural collectibles, not just playing tools. Scarcity drives value before these instruments are ever played. Fender’s Iron Maiden 50th anniversary collection and the Tony Iommi charity raffle both demonstrate how artist-associated instruments command attention and premium positioning regardless of their intended use.
That’s it for this week. Guitar Times exists to save you time—I read and watched it all so you don’t have to. Each week you’ll get a concise snapshot of the guitar industry and the people shaping it. See you next week.
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