This week on Guitar Gear Gems, we checked out the Keeley HALO Core, which sold out in seconds! Then we look at Dweezil Zappa’s new signature guitar and the new Mayfly Audio Sunrise pedal.
HALO Core – Blink, and you’ll miss it!
The limited edition HALO Core by Keeley Electronics was launched last week, and only 300 units are available. Keeley states that this exclusive delay pedal will never be manufactured again and it sold out in what felt like seconds!
HALO Core Key Features:
- True Stereo for Immersive Sound
- Tap Tempo for Perfect Timing
- Switchable Trails or True Bypass
- All-Wet/Dry Modes for Versatility
- High Pass Filter, Delay Tone, and Saturation for Sound Shaping
The HALO Core delivers the legendary Andy Timmons’ “Halo” effect in a streamlined and user-friendly pedal. This studio-grade delay pedal features true stereo in/out, tap tempo and essential controls for sculpting your sound.
It’s perfect for guitarists who want professional quality without the complexity of the Halo Andy Timmons Dual Echo. It’s just a pity they only made 300 of them.
Thankfully, the ‘full fat’ original is still available.
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa unveils his signature weapon: a custom-built guitar by Shabat Guitars. This modified Shabat Lynx boasts high-end features and a killer sound, making it the “ultimate rock machine” according to Zappa himself.
Lynx DZ
The Lynx DZ guitar features an alder body and maple neck. However, Shabat specialises in a distressed nitrocellulose finish and top-shelf hardware, such as Kluson tuners and a Vega-Trem tremolo system.
Lollar pickups take centre stage, featuring a custom El Rayo humbucker in the bridge for thick leads, flanked by Lollar Special single-coils for classic Strat tones.
The secret weapon?
A single “tea-cup” knob with a push/pull phase-shift effect Dweezil calls “the weird knob.” This adds a swampy, octave-like character for a unique sonic palette.
Dweezil emphasizes the guitar’s performance focus: “This is the rock machine where you feel like you are ready to dig in and just make this thing scream.”
EVH-inspired?
It’s not exactly cheap, but it offers exactly what Dweezil wants in a guitar. To me it has a very heavy Van Halen FrankenStrat-vibe to it, just with two added single-coil pickups and no Floyd Rose. This makes sense, as Eddie was a big influence on young Dweezil Zappa, and so he must have some of that Van Halen DNA in his playing to this day.
I’d play it all day long! But then I make guitars like this for myself frequently.
Lynx DZ MSRP – USD 4499
Mayfly Audio Sunrise
The Mayfly Audio Sunrise allows users to achieve iconic amp sounds without the bulky setup. This compact pedal delivers a smooth breakup perfect for expressive playing, meticulously modelled after legendary Fender Blackface reverb amps.
This amp-in-a-pedal could be the solution for many guitarists looking for an ultra compact rig for playing live, recording and home use.
Key Features
- Analogue circuit design for pure, realistic tone
- Responsive Treble, Mid/Bass dials for precise sculpting
- Volume and Master Volume for dynamic control
- Lush Stereo Reverb with adjustable depth and character
- Tweakable cabinet simulator for American or British amp tones
- Stereo headphone jack for silent practice
- The pedal-friendly design seamlessly integrates with your effects chain.
- True Bypass maintains pristine signal clarity when disengaged
Compact & Versatile
Plug straight into PA or DAW systems for hassle-free recording. This Canadian-built pedal could make a great backup for a main rig, or could be the heart of your pedalboard setup. Either way it manages to squeeze many useful features into one unit.
MSRP – CAD 399
