LA-based builder, Sunset Guitars has just announced three new electric guitars and related new technology. The guitars include The Performer, a chambered Alder body with a highly figured Maple top; The Soloist, a 13” semi-hollowbody with Mahogany body and Spruce top; The Artist, a 15” semi-hollowbody with Mahogany body and Spruce top.

All Sunset Guitars have multi-piece Maple necks (think archtops, for example), double cutaway body shapes, and the heel starting at the 17th fret for high fret access. The guitars are built in the USA, with the tops and bodies hand-carved from select grade woods.

Over the past 37 years, Taylor Guitars co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug have weathered economic storms, seen the rise, decline and reemergence of the acoustic guitar industry, and gone on to build the top-selling acoustic guitar brand in the United States.

For two inexperienced "kids" with a dream of having their own guitar shop, the odds of success were stacked against them. Now for the first time ever, Bob recounts the valuable lessons that enabled the duo to overcome formidable challenges and flourish in his new book, aptly titled Guitar Lessons: A Life's Journey Turning Passion into Business.

ANSIR Music, known for their basses and guitars that utilize a unique, patented "Angled-Neck" approach, has launched a new, redesigned website and matching Big Guitar Wall, both designed by Jeffrey D Brown, the creator of The Guitar Wall and founder of Zapoppin Media (the publisher of GuitarPR).

The new ANSIR website features a rich wooden look and clean feel combined with a focus on the major factors that differentiate the company's line of basses and guitars. These include custom designing and building each instrument with the player's "perfect playing angle" already built-in, a throrough explanation of the ANSIR methodology, videos, demos and more.

DBZ Guitars has announced a new guitar neck design. Unveiling of DBZ’s cutting edge new necks, called the Dean B Zelinsky "Z-Glide" Reduced Friction Neck (patent pending) took place at the 2011 NAMM show in Anaheim, California.

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The Z-Glide guitar necks, which will be available as an option on DBZ USA Custom Shop Guitars, utilize a surface designed to let your hand glide effortlessly up and down the neck. Dean Zelinsky’s Z-Glide necks eliminate the sticky/clammy feeling gloss lacquered necks are known to produce.

Hirsch Guitar has announced the Hirsch SB-1 Radius 'smallbody' electric guitar, offering guitarists a new, high quality travel option.

The Hirsch patented design features a full-size scale length, tremolo bridge and traditional machine-heads, retaining the curves of a classic electric, yet coming in at under 31" in total length and 2kg in weight. The set neck and ergonomically contoured heel provide easy access to all 24 frets, while on the body, a 28" front and back surface radius offers comfort whether played seated or standing up.