JHS All American Overdrive - made right in KCMO!

Mass Street Music is stoked to announce that our very first batch of JHS Pedals have arrived!  Owner and builder Josh Scott and our rep John Loux from JHS came over  with eleven (count ‘em, ELEVEN) pedals ranging from clean boots and compressors to overdrives and fuzz.  Some of our favorites so far are the killer All American Overdrive, the Mini Foot Fuzz, and the Sweet Tea Overdrive/Distortion pedal.  A couple of the ones in stock right now, for our first round, are demos and though they are in perfect shape, you can save some real dough on them.  Demos are marked ‘used’ though they are nearly perfect. JHS is becoming widely popular and can be found on pedalboards of studio session musicians as well as on large stages with artists such as Switchfoot.  Their original designs aren’t run-of-the-mill, but are unique and really allow you as a player dial in your “own” sound.  Plus, being a mere 30 minute drive away in KCMO, they’re pretty much neighbors!  This makes it awesome for getting product VERY quickly, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for, just call.  We can have it here in a jiff!  – Brian S.

Here’s the gear we’ve been eyeballing most at the store this month….

John Flynn – Grosh ElectraJet Custom

Three Grosh P-90s, incredible black sparkle finish, perfect weight…it’s outstanding.

Unbelievably cool!

Jim Baggett – Collings D2HAaaa Brazilian

A beautiful looking and sounding Brazilian. Really excellent.

Click photo to see other shots - this back was just too pretty to not to showcase here!

Tim Nelson – Collings D1 Custom

We have been having Collings build us some special guitar for years. Our latest series are some very basic looking but amazing sounding guitars built from specially selected Sitka spruce tops, Adirondack bracing, and no tongue brace. These guitars all feature the vintage now neck profile. The Sitka tops we are having them use for these guitars are hand picked for certain attributes we believe contribute to a more open, broken-in sound.

The tongue brace is in between the upper face brace and the neck block. It’s a flat brace that looks a little like a tongue depressor you might see in a doctors office. Open up and say ah. Some of the most sought after Martin guitars, from the 1930s, did not have a tongue brace. This particular guitar has everyone here pretty excited.

Simple elegance, exceptional sound

Brian Soden – McPherson MG 4.5 Port Orford Cedar/Striped Macassar Ebony

McPherson guitars have it all…looks, tone and feel.  This particular MG 4.5 has beautiful, select tone woods that not only sound incredible, but look amazing…an ultra comfortable neck that you could play all night, and finally, craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.  The Macassar Ebony look fabulous in our photos, but in person it knocks your socks off.  Finally, the L.R. Baggs pickup makes you ready for the stage.  This guitar is truly an instrument that you’ll enjoy for years!

Brian's favorite!

Jason Jones – Eastman E10D

An absolutely amazing guitar for the money. Far and away the best sounding guitar under $1000. Don’t believe me? I feel so strongly about this guitar that I bought one for myself!

Jason liked this one so much, he bought one for himself!

Matthew Khomsi – Zvex Wooley Mammoth

I have always heard this pedal being popular among bassists, but holy cow, this pedal sounded absolutely sick with a Grosh ElectraJet and a Dr. Z head!  Heavy saturation with an almost octave-like effect that never lags behind.  Zvex has designed an outstanding pedal.

Absolutely sick, according to Matthew

Matt Christenot – Kala KA-KS Soprano Ukulele

This is a great ukelele.  The intonation and sound quality are great.  I like that it has “guitar style” tuners.  This just feels like a really solid instrument than other ukes I’ve seen in the past.

The Kala KA-KS soprano uke!

Repair Shop: Mike Horan – Kala Ukes

I love the new Kala ukeleles.  Nice craftmanship, good fret work, and great projection—these ukes are steal at this price.  My current favorite:  the Kala KA-FMS with the gorgeous spalted maple back and sides.  Wow!

Mike gives the Kala Ukes a thumbs up!

Isaac Flynn – Electro-Harmonix #1 Echo

This delay pedal sounds incredible. It’s extremely versatile, and most importantly, it really allows the guitarist to sit in the pocket while playing it. I’m obsessed with delay pedals, so I’m sure I’ll be adding this one to my collection soon. Electro-Harmonix rules.

They don't call this #1 for nuthin'

Anne Tangeman – Grosh ElectraJet Korina

This is just an incredible guitar. Really nice and light, great sustain, great feel, killer pickups, plus beautiful looks that are a perfect cross of vintage and modern. I really think the Grosh EJs will be considered a new classic down the road and this, one of only two so far made from Korina wood, will be really treasured.  If I didn’t have a camera on my wish list right now, this one would be mine.

A modern classic!

Chucho – Beatles Yellow Submarine Guitar Strap

Chucho thinks the design is not only super-Beatle-cool, but this strap is well made. He said it needs more cardboard packaging for chewing though.

Coolest new strap, and Chucho's pick of the month

We’ve got some incredible events coming up at Mass Street Music and hope you can join us for one or all of them!

Friday, June 11, 7:30 pm – Bluesman extraordinaire ROY BOOK BINDER at Mass St. Music - Tickets $15 – get them here

His show here last September was phenomenal and we’re lucky to have him back this summer! Roy Book Binder is an exceptional blues player, renowned storyteller, prolific author and teacher. Book Binder studied at the hand of Rev. Gary Davis and through his legendary performances has kept alive stories and songs from the past as well as entertaining with original compositions. From blues and ragtime to folk and country blues, he’s a real musical raconteur and we’re very excited to host this phenomenal player and entertainer. Check out our Mass Resonator Blog interview with Book Binder too!

Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 pm – TAYLOR ROADSHOW! – FREE

One of our favorite in store events with our friends from Taylor Guitars sharing unique one-off Taylor guitars, tales of Bob Taylor, and giving away lots of cool free stuff. This year every attendee gets a free subscription to Premier Guitar, gets to register to win a free Taylor plus there’s free Elixir strings and other goodies while supplies last. We’ll have snacks and beverages on hand too. It’s a guaranteed good time.

Saturday, June 26, 9am – Elbow Room FREE BEGINNING UKE WORKSHOP - FREE

Starting on uke? Want to brush up? Or just curious why this wee traditional instrument is so popular? Our own Jason Jones, a uke enthusiast, will go over a variety of ukes and teach a song or two on soprano. Bring your uke – we’ll also have a few of our new Kala ukes here to use.

The past few weeks have been very exciting here at the store!  With the announcement of two new amp lines on the way XITS and Tungsten, I’d like to add that Jetter Gear will be in our store very soon!  Jetter makes some of the most organic overdrives on the market and we’ve got one of each on order, including their latest model simply titled ‘Tritium’.  Stay tuned to the blog…I’m so pumped about these new pedals that you’re sure to hear me gushing over them as soon as they arrive! – Brian S.

Folks – super excited about the new summer issue of Fretboard Journal which is arriving in the store any day – this issue has the great Dave Rawlings on the cover and a great interview with him. Also Jethro Burns of Homer &  Jethro fame (infamy?), King Sunny Ade, a great profile on Huss & Dalton, a really nice look inside Gene ‘B-Bender’ Parson’s world, the unique luthiery of Allan Beardsell and a heck of a lot more – including all the great  photos they always deliver. I got a sneak peek at the issue and it’s one of their best. Keep an eye on the back ad pages for our first ad in Fretboard this issue – we love the magazine and are really proud to support them as an advertiser.